Anticipation…
The first issue of Greg Pak’s new run on “Incredible Hulk” hits comic book stores tomorrow, and some bloggers are getting excited. Here are some excerpts:
Rick Marshall, MTV:
“INCREDIBLE HULK” #601 (Marvel): The Jade Giant returns to his own ongoing series with this new issue, and while I tend to shy away from issues likely to require extensive knowledge of recent continuity, the return of “Planet Hulk” and “World War Hulk” writer Greg Pak makes this an attractive time to jump into the Hulk universe. Pak is one of the best there at is at telling a great Hulk story, so there’s never been a better time to jump on the big. green bandwagon.
…Pak wrote some of the best Hulk stories in a while when he took him off-world in Planet Hulk. So it’ll be nice to see him back on the book.
This is old friend week for me and Marvel. Since Greg Pak is back on a Hulk book, so am I.
Atomic interviews Pak on Hulk
Atomic Comics has interviewed “Incredible Hulk” writer for their latest “Radiation Interrogation” column. Here’s an excerpt:
AC – When we last saw Bruce he was “Hulk no moreâ€. Now he has to come face to face with his son. But is it really Banner’s son or is it Hulk’s son?
GP – That’s an excellent question, sir, and it goes right to the heart of the story we’re telling. Skaar and Banner may have very different answers to that question, which could lead to some interesting conflicts.
AC – How is Skaar showing up on Earth and hanging around with Bruce going to be treated by the other Marvel heroes?
GP – Bruce Banner is going to pick a lot of fights during the course of this storyline. The heroes may have a tough time deciding whether the real threat here is Skaar or Banner himself.
Click here to read the whole thing — and don’t miss “Incredible Hulk” #601, hitting stores tomorrow!
IncredibleHulkOnline.com interviews Greg Pak
Incredible Hulk Online has interviewed writer Greg Pak about his return to “Incredible Hulk” beginning with issue #601 this Wednesday. Here’s an excerpt:
IHEOD: Your book will actually have Skaar and Bruce Banner who can not currently turn into the Hulk. How does that dynamic change the stories you can tell?
GP: It’s a fantastic dynamic for exploring the fundamental themes that have made the Hulk a classic character. Banner’s always tried to find a way to stop the Hulk from rampaging. Now he’s trying to deal with his Hulkish son. The great thing is that it makes Banner himself more active and outwardly focused. And the Banner/Skaar dynamic provides the opportunity for immediate, back-and-forth conflict and dialogue that the Banner/Hulk dichotomy doesn’t always permit. One effect is that the new book may end up having a few more laughs, which I dig. At the same time, the father/son issues in the story are as deep as any themes I’ve tackled in comics, which gives us the kind of human drama that I love to really sink my teeth into as both a writer and reader.
IHEDO: 7. What can you tell the diehard Hulk fans like myself who are anxious to see a little bit more of the big green guy than we have in the last year?
GP:: All good things come to those who wait. There’s a plan behind all of this and if we do our jobs right, the payoffs are going to blow your minds. The goal here is to take you on a crazy journey down paths you didn’t even know existed to a destination you never imagined — and when you get there, you realize it’s exactly where you want to be.
Bloggers say nice things about Greg Pak’s comics
Ben Morse on “World War Hulk”:
It’s a timeless tale twisted in enough ways to be novel and it’s also packing the secret weapon of the one and only John Romita Jr. on art, and his pairing with Pak could not be more perfect as he draws just as grand as his writing counterpart tends to plot.
Jennifer Smith on “War Machine”:
And all of these characters, be they male or female, are strong, intelligent, and very, very good at their jobs. When the women are in danger, they’re saved due to the efforts of a mixed-gender team – as are the men. And if some non-white characters have shady criminal histories, they’re balanced out by those with impeccable records. These characters defy stereotypes and pigeonholing, and though their cultural backgrounds have obviously had an impact on their lives, as we see specifically in flashbacks to Rhodey’s childhood, their race isn’t their sole defining feature.
Marvel interviews Greg Pak about “War Machine” #9
Marvel.com has interviewed writer Greg Pak about “War Machine” #9, which features the beginning of a final showdown between James Rhodes and Norman Osborn and hits stores on September 16. Here’s an excerpt:
“Norman’s always playing multiple hands [and] only he knows if he sees Ultimo and Rhodey himself as tools or threats,” Pak notes. “But all will revealed over the course of issues #9 and #10. And Norman may find himself playing a very specific role that he absolutely didn’t anticipate. The Rhodey/Norman showdown will be a massive fight with life-changing consequences. Only one armored hero will be standing at the end of this one.”
Given the number of unforeseen obstacles that Rhodey has had to deal with in the last few issues, it might seem as if very little has gone according to any type of plan. But looks can also deceive, according to Pak.
“Rhodey’s all about adaptation these days,” reminds the writer. “His primary power is the ability to assimilate any new technology he comes into contact with. So he’s well equipped to adjust to changing circumstances. But Rhodey absolutely has a master plan and a huge endgame, all of which will be revealed in issue #10. I’ll just say that Ultimo isn’t the only reason he came back to the United States.”
Preview of “Incredible Hulk” #601
Writer Greg Pak’s return to “Incredible Hulk” begins this coming Wednesday with issue #601, featuring art by Ariel Olivetti. ComicsBulletin has posted a six page preview.
Check it out!
Preview of “Incredible Hercules” #134
Comic Book Resources has posted an exclusive preview of art from “Incredible Hercules,” written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and penciled by Reilly Brown.
Click here to view the pages.
“Incredible Hercules” #134 hits comic book stores on September 9. Here’s the solicitation text:
“The Replacement Thor” continues as the Mighty Hercules, wearing the Thunder God’s togs and towing a most unexpected guest star along to provide the pyrotechnics, descends to mysterious Svartalfheim to save the day from a new threat among the Dark Elves. But everything changes when the wicked Elven Queen turns out to be as languorously lovely as she is lethal! What Would Thor Do? Probably not what happens in this book!
2009.08.12 – “Battlestar Galactica Omnibus”
A giant “Battlestar Galactica” trade paperback collecting Greg Pak’s “Returners” storyline hits comic book stores on August 12. Here’s the scoop from Comixology:
Newsarama interviews Pak and Van Lente about “Assault on New Olympus”
Lucas Siegel of Newsarama has interviewed writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente about the “Assault on New Olympus” storyline coming to the “Incredible Hercules” book later this year. An excerpt:
VAN LENTE: At least. And the shocking climax of New Olympus will have a major radical shift in status quo for Hercules that will tie in even closer to the mainstream goings on of the Marvel Universe…
PAK: But it’s totally a Hercules story as all the plotlines we’ve been doing throughout our whole run will be coming to a head. From the very beginning we planned out a huge arc for Herc and Amadeous, and it’s all leading up to this huge climax. But it’s all part of the master plan here in telling a story that really matters for these characters.
NRAMA: Can each of you give readers one specific moment from an upcoming issue that they should really look forward to?
PAK: I’m gonna heavily plug the moment when Hercu-Thor meets Thor-cules. In Incredible Hercules #136. Just imagine the hijinks that will ensue. We’ve got Hercules on a mission posing as Thor, and at the climax of this mission, a guy who looks remarkably like the real Thor shows up in a Hercules costume. Hijinks a plenty will be there, and perhaps some “THRAKADOOM”s as well.
NRAMA: You realize how ridiculous that sentence was: “Hercu-Thor meets Thor-cules.”
PAK: (laughs) Yeah! That’s the tools of our trade, my friend, ridiculousness and improbable word play.