Greg Pak has tossed his two cents in at the Beat’s Annual Year End Survey. Click here to check it out.
And click here to read Pak’s “Comic books and the Apple tablet” article, which expands on his thoughts in the Beat survey.
“Incredible Hulk” and “Incredible Hercules” tapped for the Comic Book Club’s Ten Best Comics of 2009
“Incredible Hulk,” written by Greg Pak, and “Incredible Hercules,” written by Pak and Fred Van Lente, have both placed in the Comic Book Club’s list of the Ten Best Comics of 2009. Watch the video below for the full scoop.
“Incredible Hercules” makes about a million “Best of 2009” lists
“Incredible Hercules,” written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, continues to rack up appearances on more “Best of 2009” lists from comics bloggers. Here are the latest:
CBR’s Top 100 Comics of 2009:
“Incredible Hercules'” continues to be the best superhero comic on the market. The stories are a mix of great elements: action, excitement, pathos, and best of all humor. The characters continue to be fascinating as well. Thanks to this series, Hercules is now one of my favorite characters, and even though he’s a god, he’s one of the most human of Marvel’s heroes. Plus, this year Pak and Van Lente showed that Herc’s sidekick, Amadeus Cho, was just as compelling a character as the titular god.
Josh On Comics – Best Character of 2009: Hercules:
Brilliantly funny, and a pleasing tonic to the hordes of more responsible, some would say boring heroes, van Lente’s [and Pak’s] Hercules manages to be an utter buffon while remaining immensely likeable. His relationship with Amadeus Cho is also very sweet, the two of them are currently one of my favourite pairings in comics.
The stories are great: battles with Amazons, teaming up with Namora, going on an odyssey with other gods to take down a skrull god…they’re just a lot of fun and I really look forward to reading more.
Newsarama Best Shots Best of 2009:
Bronze – The Incredible Hercules (Marvel Comics): One of the very best books Marvel has been responsible for, the continuing tale of a god, his human sidekick, and his child-aged father (who also happens to be the king of the gods). Humor, action and drama are all represented equally in this book, reminding us that not everything in the Marvel Universe has to be doom and gloom and politics. His battle (as Thor) against Thor (as Hercules) is a true highlight of the book. Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente deserve credit for not only rehabilitating an at-best second tier character, but making The Incredible Hercules a true must-read title.
Film Fodder’s Top Ten Series of 2009:
In short, we have a series that is funny, fun, all within continuity, and it still manages to make itself relevant to meta-events like Dark Reign. All that, and I didn’t even talk about Amadeus Cho, one of the best new characters in Marvel to date.
Marvel has a gold mine In the Incredible Hercules with its humor and the buddy dynamic of Amadeus Cho
Randy Lander’s Inside Joke Theatre — Favorite Ongoing Series
Comics Alliance — Best Use of a Pen and Paper Role Playing Game as the Basis of an Exciting Plot
Comic Book Club Best of 2009 – Alex’s List
Comic Book Club Best of 2009 – Justin’s List
Greg Pak and other comics creators reveal 2010 resolutions at MTV’s Splash Page
Filmmaker and comic book writer Greg Pak drops a few hints about what he’s working on and looking forward to in 2010 at MTV’s Splash Page blog.
Check it out.
Zona Negativa names “Magneto Testament” “Lo mejor del 2009”
“Magneto Testament,” written by Greg Pak with art by Carmine DiGiandomenico, has been named the Best Comic of 2009 by ZonaNegativa.com.
Click here to read the entire article — in Spanish!
Pak Talks Comics: Comic books and the Apple tablet
Disclaimer: Everything written below is the sole opinion of yours truly based on personal experience and published news reports. I have no insider knowledge about any actual tablet or any company’s efforts to prepare for its coming.
By Greg Pak
In 1999, Apple changed my life as a filmmaker by introducing Final Cut Pro, a digital video editing program that allowed me to cut professional quality video on my home computer. Without Final Cut Pro, I might never have been able to make any of my post-film-school short films or my feature film “Robot Stories.” And so I might never have gotten a job working as a writer for Marvel Comics.
This month, I’m hoping Apple changes my life as a comic book writer by releasing the much-hyped but never confirmed Apple tablet, which according to the latest rumors is called the iGuide or iSlate, has a 10.1 inch touch screen, and will be announced on January 26, 2010.
In my digital comics fantasy, a gorgeous tablet computer supported by an integrated, easy-to-use and reasonably priced online store will lead to the exponential growth of the comics buying audience. Prices of individual comics will fall, but the circulation will be so much higher that profits will increase handsomely. A whole new generation will grow up reading comics every day, big comics will become blockbusters, small comics will build healthy niche audiences, and we’ll all grow sleek and fat and happy.
How can that fantasy become reality? Read on for one comic book writer’s two cents:
ComicAttack loves “War Machine” #12
“War Machine” #12, the final issue of Greg Pak’s series, has nabbed a rave review from ComicAttack.net. Here’s an excerpt:
Pak has been impressive this entire series and brought War Machine to another level in my opinion. His interpretation of Rhodes feels the most real and has substance that (at this point anyway) makes him seem more viable and not some knock off or throw away character. Pak has introduced us to the strategist and forward thinker as well as the hero that is Jim Rhodes.
…
I suggest grabbing the trade as soon as it’s available and again I’ll say this: War Machine is one of the best books you’re not reading!
“Magneto Testament” makes a ComicAttack Top 5 of 2009 list
“Magneto Testament,” written by Greg Pak with art by Carmine DiGiandomenico, has been named one of the Top 5 comics of 2009 by Jeff Jackson at ComicAttack.net. Here’s the blurb:
One of the best stories Marvel has published ever, in my opinion, like Old Man Logan, featured a character not in his traditional element. This story fleshed out the background of Magneto in the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz. It was horrible, beautiful, and meaningful. Forget Hulk, this is Greg Pak’s best work.
“Magneto Testament” named Favorite Collected Miniseries of 2009 by ComicList
Comic Lists’s Geek Goggle Year Ender has given the Favorite Collected Miniseries of 2009 nod to “Magneto Testament,” written by Greg Pak. Here’s the blurb:
Normally I don’t purchase trades if I own the single issues but this series was too good to pass up on in the collected form and it included a ton of extras in it. The volume had extensive information about the Holocaust as well as some of the items used to research this story. If you did miss this mini series it’s probably better to pick up the collected edition because of all of the extras.
More bloggers put “Incredible Hercules” on their Best of 2009 lists
Herc is better than all other superhero comics that came out in 2009, and frankly is about the only thing that gets me into the shop these days. It’s not just hilarious, but a smart integration of myth, archetypal heroic storytelling, and awesomely retarded superhero b***s***. All the epic godly grandeur, improbable science, and fantastic sound effects are grounded by one of the more believable relationships in comics, the friendship of Hercules and Amadeus Cho.
MY FAVORITE ONGOING SERIES (SUPER HERO): Incredible Hercules by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente.
There were a number of ongoing titles I followed this last decade which I would consider great comics (see below), but above them all I’ve chosen Incredible Hercules.
Maybe the most fun superhero book in years. On the surface, a super-goofy adventure book staring Herc and teen sidekick/super-genius Amadeus Cho, full of giant fights and the best sound effects in comics. On closer inspection, it becomes a great exploration on the nature of heroics, and the relationship between superheroes and their older brother, ancient myth.
UPDATE: Add Jeff at Jim Hanley’s Universe to the list!
Folding in intricacies of greek myth, quantum mechanics, asides that do everything from brilliantly extrapolating the mechanisms of the afterlife to the best sound effects in comics (SUKKA-PUNCH!), rip-roaring action set pieces and complex yet accessible stories, this is the smartest comic on the stands while never loosing its goofiness.