Seven page preview of “Incredible Hercules” #115

Marvel.com has posted a seven page, colored, lettered preview of “Incredible Hercules” #115. The book is written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente with pencils by Khoi Pham and hits stores on Wednesday, March 19. Pak, Van Lente, and Pham will also sign copies of the book on the 19th from 6 to 8 pm at Jim Hanley’s Universe, 4 West 33rd St., New York City, across from the Empire State Building.
Click here to check out the preview.

More love for “Incredible Hercules” #114

Comixtreme continues to love “Incredible Hercules” — here’s an excerpt from Adam Chapman’s review of issue #114:

Two years ago, the thought of a high-profile book starring Amadeus Cho and Hercules would not even have been a consideration, not even enough fodder for a joke. And yet here the book is, consistently engaging and interesting, making Hercules more interesting and entertaining than ever before, and making Amadeus Cho himself ever more interesting with additional shades of grey being added to his character. This is one of, if not the BEST Marvel book currently being published, a true success story, that Hercules has managed to headline a book that respects his character and makes him a serious hero again.

Click here to read the whole thing.
“Incredible Hercules” #114 was written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente with pencils by Khoi Pham. Tell your local comic store to hold a copy for you today!

Inside the Comic Writer’s Studio interviews Greg Pak


Eric Moreno has posted an extensive interview with Greg Pak as part of ComicBloc.com’s “Inside the Comic Writer’s Studio” series. The article covers everything from earliest influences to Ann Richards to improv comedy to Robot Stories and Warlock and Hulk. An excerpt:

ELM: When working with sci-fi concepts, can you just go all out and let loose all of your wildest ideas, no matter how implausible they may be or do you still have to reign some of them in?

GP: During my years doing improv comedy, one of the best things I learned was to take one crazy idea and explore it thoroughly. On an improv stage, there’s always a huge temptation to toss aliens and the Titanic and a presidential assassination subplot and an Elvis impersonation into a scene about a mouse who doesn’t like cheese. And you might get some cheap laughs with each new, crazy addition. But then you can easily lose the chance to really explore that mouse and his cheese problem and get to some really deep, character-based, emotionally resonant laughs.

In a similar way, sci-fi stories tend to work best when you take one concept and explore it thoroughly. The madder Hulk gets, the stronger he gets. That’s the central hook and it provides the essential metaphor. It might be cool to see him start to fly when he’s sad and get really smart when he’s hungry and shoot optic blasts from his eyes when he’s happy. But then it’s very easy to lose track of the story and end up with briefly flashy spectacle without heart or a point that no one wants to read after a few pages.

Click here to read the whole thing.

Newsarama’s Best Shots loves “Incredible Hercules” #114

Corey Henson has written a rave review of “Incredible Hercules” #114 for Newsarama’s Best Shots. An excerpt:

Much like Walt Simonson’s classic run on The Mighty Thor in the 80s, writers Van Lente and Greg Pak are mixing Hercules’s mythological history with his modern day superhero adventures. Hercules and his teenage companion, Amadeus Cho, are fugitives on the run from SHIELD and a small squad of Avengers led by Herc’s relentless brother Ares. Ares has poisoned Hercules with Hydra blood, driving him mad and inducing hallucinations of his life as a Greek god. It’s a terrific way to use the character, as I’ve never really really bought into the stories where Hercules, and similarly Thor, are treated as standard superheroes. The characters are much richer when their mythology is referenced, as they stand out more from the pack of their spandex-wearing colleagues. Besides, a lot of times, the mythological stories are way crazier and more fun to read about than anything seen in most comic books.

Click here for the full review.
“Incredible Hercules” #114 was written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente with pencils by Khoi Pham and colors by the late Stephane Peru. The book hit comic book stores on February 20.

“Incredible Hercules” #114 scores a rave from Comixtreme

“Incredible Hercules” #114, which hits comic book stores Wednesday, February 20, has scored a rave review from Blake M. Petit at Comixtreme.com. An excerpt:

As I’ve come to expect from Greg Pak, this was a highly entertaining, truly exciting issue. He and Fred Van Lente have managed to seamlessly blend Hercules’ classical origins with his status of a superhero, with flashes from everything from a pre-Illiad Troy to Herc’s stint with the Champions of Los Angeles… I’ve got to say it again – I’ve quickly fallen in love with this book. It’s one of Marvel’s best.

Click here for the full review. And click here for a preview of the first six pages.

Tuesday Sneaks! Khoi Pham pencils from “Hulk Vs. Hercules”!

We’re launching a brand new feature here at PakBuzz.com — Tuesday Sneaks, wherein we show off awesome (and usually never-before-seen) preview art from upcoming Greg Pak comic books.
Today, feast your eyes on these gorgeous Khoi Pham pencils from the “Hulk Vs. Hercules” one shot written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and arriving in comic book stores on April 23. Tell your retailer to reserve a copy for you today — and come back next week for more! thrilling! Tuesday Sneaks!

2008.03.19 – Pak, Van Lente, and Pham to sign “Incredible Hercules” #115 at Jim Hanley’s Universe in NYC

“Incredible Hercules” co-writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and penciller Khoi Pham will sign copies of “Incredible Hercules” #115 at Jim Hanley’s Universe in New York City from 6 to 8 pm on March 19.
The event also includes a discussion of how their comic book comes together from concept to script to finished art.
Jim Hanley’s Universe is located at 4 West 33rd St., New York City, across from the Empire State Building. For more information, visit Jim Hanley’s Universe.
Comixtreme calls “Incredible Hercules” “one of a very few ‘must-read’ books in the Marvel line-up” while EyeOnComics.com writes, “This is everything one could hope for in a Marvel super-hero comic: clever, down to earth, action-packed and entertaining.”

A Tribute to Stephane Peru

Today’s “Pak Talks Comics” column at BrokenFrontier.com is a tribute to Stephane Peru, the brilliant “Incredible Hercules” colorist who passed away over the weekend.
“Incredible Hercules” writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, editors Mark Paniccia and Nate Cosby, and penciller Khoi Pham show off five gorgeously colored pages from “Incredible Hercules” #114 and discuss sky textures, embers and ash, pink convertibles, and the greatness of Stephane Peru.
Click here to read the column.