Another excerpt from the Pak Talks Comics “War Machine” #1 director’s commentary

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Greg Pak has written a column for BrokenFrontier.com about the creative decisions behind “War Machine” #1. Here he talks about the scene on page 1:

… Santo Marco is a fictional country found only in the Marvel Universe. Every atrocity in “War Machine” has real world antecedents and we’re striving for immediacy and realism in both the storylines and Leo Manco’s brilliant art — the image of anguished UN peacekeepers standing by while people are murdered because their mandate prevents them from intervention is based on horrific accounts of the genocide in Rwanda, for example.
But I always planned to use fictional countries because for better or for worse, War Machine’s actions will have a transformative, long-term impact on the nations he visits. Magneto’s history in the real world events of the Holocaust works because the history informs the character rather than the other way around. But the stories we’re telling in “War Machine” require the character to change the course of history for the nations he deals with. It just didn’t sit well with me to use real world human beings who are suffering unbelievably horrific atrocities even as we speak as characters in a story that would require outcomes that ultimately contradict real world events.

Click here to read the whole thing.
And click here to read the first six pages of “War Machine” #2, which hits comic book stores on January 21.

Pak Talks Comics: Inside the engine of “War Machine” #1

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Greg Pak’s latest “Pak Talks Comics” column for Broken Frontier features an inside look at the creative decisions behind “War Machine” #1 — along with some hints of what’s coming up in “War Machine” #2 and beyond. Here’s an excerpt:

I’d had an eye on Rhodey for a while — I’d written an alternative version of him into the “1602 New World” miniseries and had tried to work him into a couple of other projects over the years. And I’d been researching the Holocaust for the “Magneto Testament” miniseries, which had led me to read about more recent genocides and atrocities. The new “War Machine” series seemed like a perfect place to tackle a character I’d always loved while exploring difficult questions of war, interventionism, and violence in the name of justice.

Click here to read the whole thing.

Comixtreme raves about “Magneto Testament” #4

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Adam Chapman at Comixtreme has posted a rave review of “Magneto Testament” #4, written by Greg Pak with art by Carmine DiGiandomenico. Here’s an excerpt:

Pak has done an absolutely brilliant job on this mini-series. It is so obviously crafted with such loving care, not to mention an enormous amount of careful research. It is perhaps the best writing I’ve ever seen from him, and I hold in high esteem a bunch of his works. But this is just something else entirely.
The artwork by Di Giandomenico is breathtaking. It immerses you in the story so wholly and fully, makes you believe what you’re seeing on the page, makes you feel all of the emotion that he puts on every face. Exquisite work. I love his pencils, ever since discovering his work on Battlin’ Jack Murdock. He was the main reason I started reading this book, I will follow him anywhere. A brilliant penciller who is deserving of the highest accolades.
An excellent read, yet again. Pick up this entire series, and you won’t be disappointed. An amazing read, from the moment you open the cover. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!

Click here to read the whole thing.

Comixtreme lauds “Incredible Hercules” #124

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Adam Chapman of Comixtreme has posted a glowing review of “Incredible Hercules” #124, written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente. Here’s an excerpt:

This book has a sense of fun and adventure which is rare in comics these days, and this issue is a perfect indicator of that. Hercules and his two female allies try to save Amadeus Cho and save the world at the same time, as Cho himself tries to engineer an escape.
…
The characterization of Namora, Hercules, Cho and Athena is once-again spot-on, and very entertaining. I really liked the ending as well, and am interested to see just where it goes and what it means. I’m sure it won’t last long, but knowing Pak/Van Lente, the have something good up their sleeve.

Click here to read the whole thing.

Chadzilla Roars about Greg Pak’s “Battlestar Galactica” Vol. 1

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The blog Chadzilla Roars has given the first volume of Greg Pak’s “Battlestar Galactica” comics series a rave review. Here’s an excerpt:

The creative team captures the tense drama and white knuckle action of the series, with the byzantinian plot twists they throw at the reader every few pages feeling organic to plot, rather than coming across as cheap “Gotcha!” gimmicks. I’ll be picking up and cracking open Volume 2 at some point in the, I hope, not too distant future. I’ve got some catching up to do.

Click here to read the whole thing.

TFAW loves “War Machine” #1

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The bloggers at TFAW.com have posted a review of Marvel’s “Dark Reign” books and have some special words for “War Machine” #1, written by Greg Pak with art by Leonardo Manco. Here’s an excerpt:

War Machine #1 is nothing short of spectacular. We travel to the Republic of Santo Marco in South America to find a tribal war that’s reaching a breaking point. In flies our hero to save the day! Manco’s art is gritty and realistic. I found myself laughing out loud several times because Pak’s dialogue pretty much demands it.

Click here to read the whole thing.