Pak Talks Comics – Super Giant Reader Q&A!

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By Greg Pak
Over the next few months, I’m reworking the format of my “Pak Talks Comics” column for BrokenFrontier.com. The new and improved column should appear towards the end of the summer. But in the meantime, I’ll continue the Reader Q&A portion of the column right here at PakBuzz.com, so keep those questions coming and read on for answers to the latest batch!
WARNING: Some spoilers ahead for a few recent issues of “Incredible Hercules,” “Skaar,” and “Magneto Testament.”
Hrungr: With the Olympians now on Earth along with the Asgardians, does anyone remember that the Celestials had ordered them to stop interfering with humanity? Or is it a case where humanity has grown to the point that the gods are simply another group of superpowered beings?
GP: Thanks for the question, Hrungr. As you’ll see, Bill has a similar question about the nature of the gods below – I’ll answer them together in a second. Also, since we’re on the subject, “Incredible Hercules” #129 hits comic book stores today — feel free to check out the preview!
Bill Frank: I just want to start out by saying that I am really enjoying your and Van Lente’s run on “Incredible Hercules.” You both seem to have caught the real feel for a mythological character that some writers miss. With that in mind, I was wondering a few things about your run that can be roughly divided into three sets of questions, if you don’t mind:
In universes like Marvel’s there are a myriad of super powerful beings with powers and abilities rivaling if not surpassing gods. Some beings like Eternals have been mistaken for gods in the past and have almost identical power-sets except they are science based instead of magic based. When writing a series like “Incredible Hercules,” what separates gods from other super powered beings? What distinguishes Hercules, an immortal super-strong man from other immortal super-strong men like Gilgamesh or Wonder Man or makes him different from being just some ancient superhero?
GP: I’m not saying this is the case, but it’s within the realm of possibility that all of the powers of Herc and his relatives could be explained via Marvel science; maybe they’re not gods, just immortal superhumans. But for millennia, Herc has been told he’s literally a god and has been worshipped as a god. So a huge part of his story is this struggle with questions of a god’s prerogatives and responsibilities. Characters like Wonder Man and the Hulk and Wolverine, who might be functionally immortal, haven’t had that millennia-long struggle with the question of godhood that Herc has, nor do they come from a family and culture of fellow gods struggling with the same issues. Those are major differences that create different animating themes for these characters.

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Ain’t It Cool likes “Planet Skaar Prologue”

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Here’s an excerpt:

Now we get to see the Jolly Green Giant’s Lil’ Sprout tussle with the FF, She-Hulk, Norman Osborn, and allllmost take part in a slugfest with his father. Writer Greg Pak keeps this story moving at a brisk pace. He touches all of the bases in terms of plot. And in the end, this was probably the best gamma powered comic from Pak since PLANET HULK.

Click here to read the whole thing.
“Planet Skaar Prologue” was written by Greg Pak with art by Dan Panosian. The book hit comic book stores on May 20.

Greg Pak returns to “Incredible Hulk” in August!

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Marvel has just revealed that “Planet Hulk” and “World War Hulk” writer Greg Pak will return to the “Incredible Hulk” title in August with issue #601. Newsarama’s Matt Brady interviewed Pak about his plans for the book. Here’s an excerpt:

NRAMA: Okay, and then – in August, you’re on Incredible Hulk #601. The solicitation for July’s Incredible Hulk #600 states that it’s by the regular Hulk team of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness. What story are you going to be telling in that series, then?
GP: Incredible Hulk #601 springs out of Jeph and Ed’s mind-blowing Incredible Hulk #600 and the momentous events of Skaar #12 and launches a brand new Hulk series written by yours truly with art by the brilliant Ariel Olivetti! Those same insane events will reverberate thunderously through Jeph and Ed’s “Hulk” book starting with issue #13. That’s right, Marvel fans — the Hulk’s story has become so huge he’s taking over two big books!
This is the first giant climax of the insane plans Jeph and I have been cooking up from the beginning. We’re about to pay off some huge mysteries and emotional storylines in some of the biggest ways you can imagine — so dontcha dare miss a single issue!

Click here to read the whole thing.

Marvel.com talks Skaar, Herc, and War Machine with Greg Pak

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Marvel.com’s Kevin Mahadeo has interviewed writer Greg Pak about “Planet Skaar,” “Incredible Hercules,” and “War Machine.” Here’s an excerpt:

Marvel.com: PLANET SKAAR PROLOGUE #1 hits stores this week, probably both figuratively and literally as I doubt the comic page can alone contain the smashing. What can fans expect to see in this kick off issue?
Greg Pak: Skaar, Son of Hulk, hits planet Earth—and planet Earth hits back! The book follows through on the epic storyline we’ve been building since the last page of WORLD WAR HULK and through the previous 10 issues of SKAAR: SON OF HULK, but it’s also designed to be absolutely new reader friendly. All you need to know is that the Hulk has a big, green, furious, half-alien son who’s on his way to Earth—the rest is explained as we launch into the action of the story. And the story co-stars the Fantastic Four, She-Hulk, Norman Osborn, the Warbound, and, of course, Bruce Banner, aka the Incredible Hulk! We’re talking massive smashing and massive emotional payoff along with a shocking twist that will open up a whole new world for Skaar. So, don’t dare miss it!
Marvel.com: You mentioned the Fantastic Four appearing. We know Reed Richards is the one who discovers that the Jade Giant’s son is coming to town. Why does Reed take it upon himself to stop Skaar? Why not contact some of his former Illuminati buddies?
Greg Pak: Reed has a very direct answer to this question on page 13 of the story. He also has a theory that addresses some key questions about the Hulk post-World War Hulk that might be of great interest to Gamma fans.

Click here to read the whole thing.