August 24, 2009

Greg Pak Interview

Greg Pak jumped onto the Incredible Hulk comic book a few years back and amazed the world with his Planet Hulk and World War Hulk storylines. Now he is coming back to the Incredible Hulk comic book with even more stories to tell! Greg was nice enough to answer a few questions. To check on what else Greg is up to, make sure to check out his website at www.pakbuzz.com.

IHEOD: Welcome back to the Incredible Hulk!!! I am sure Marvel had to twist your arm to come back, right?
GP: Yeah. I woke up with a gamma poodle head in my bed and figured it was time to sign on the dotted line.

IHEOD: What was the biggest draw to coming back to the Hulk character?
GP: The Hulk remains my favorite comic book character of all time. I’ve been lucky enough to tell two huge stories with him already, and now we’re going to pay off all the themes and conflicts we’ve set up over the past three years. It’s a pretty rare thing in comics to have the chance to tell stories this big, so I’m pretty much on top of the world these days.

IHEDO: A lot has changed since you were last on the book, what has surprised you the most?
GP: Actually, I haven’t been surprised too much because I’ve been in on all the shenanigans! Jeph Loeb and I have been planning some pretty crazy stuff since “World War Hulk” -- it’s a kick in the pants to be at the point where we’ll be able to start showing you the payoffs.

IHEOD: Is there anything from the Planet Hulk/WWH storylines that you didn’t get to tell and want to finish off in the new book?

GP: It’s been a total blast. Jeph’s passionate, hilarious, endlessly inventive, and incredibly supportive. I should also tip my hat to the rest of the Hulk brain trust -- which includes editor Mark Paniccia, assistant editors Nate Cosby and Jordan White, writers Jeff Parker and Fred Van Lente, and artist Ed McGuinness. We had a big Hulk summit in the Marvel offices a couple of months ago that was a total blast. What I love is how many crazy risks everyone’s willing to take. We’re pushing the envelope in terms of insane action and huge emotional storylines.

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.

IHEOD: We’ve heard talk of World War Hulks. What can you tell us about it
GP: It’s a massive storyline that begins in January and will run through Jeph’s “Hulk” book and my own “Incredible Hulk” book. It’ll pay off big themes and plotlines that began as early as “Planet Hulk” and ran through “Skaar” and “Hulk.” And it’ll feature Banner, Red Hulk, and Skaar, along with a superstar cast of Marvel Universe and Hulk-related supporting characters. As with all the big stories we write, it’ll be absolutely accessible to a casual reader who picks it up with issue one. But it’ll satisfy longtime readers with massive payoffs to the themes, mysteries, and plotlines that have been percolating for two years now.

And did I mention the smashing? There’ll be lots of that.

.IHEOD: What are you and Jeph trying to accomplish with the storyline?
GP: We’re going to smash like no one’s ever smashed before. And we’re going to tell the biggest emotional story ever to hit the various central characters in the Hulkiverse. This is a world-changer, folks. Seriously.

IHEOD: Can we expect any of the PH/WWH cast of characters to be involved in the World War Hulks storyline?
GP: At least one of the characters who played a big supporting role during “World War Hulk” will play an equally big role in “World War Hulks.”

IHEOD: Any surprise guest stars in the storyline?
GP: Absolutely. I can’t say too much, but we’re seeding some hints in “Incredible Hulk” #601, which hits stores on August 26.

IHEOD: Who are the Intelligensia? Are they all Hulk-centric villains (if they are villains…hmmm) or do they cover the Marvel Universe?
GP: Let’s just say it’s a group of characters who have been active in various secret ways throughout the history of the Marvel Universe. And their biggest, craziest plans come to a head during “World War Hulks.” Some of their members are Hulk-centric characters. But the group’s members come from all corners of the Marvel Universe -- and will have an impact in ways you can’t begin to imagine.

IHEOD: Granted you and Jeph have planned out the storyline through WWHs, do you already know what you want to do beyond that?
GP: You bet. But I ain’t telling just yet! I’ll just say that “World War Hulks” will shake the foundations of the Hulk books and set up an incredibly rich dramatic foundation for new stories that’ll knock your socks off and take the Hulk places he’s absolutely never been before.

IHEOD: Any villains out there that the Hulk hasn’t fought that you would like to throw at him?
GP: Someday the Hulk needs to take on Doom. I can see Assistant Editor Nate Cosby writing the HULKKADOOOM! sound effects already.

IHEOD: Are you still surprised at how well received Planet Hulk was and how it has already become a classic Hulk story? (I myself have started to get only Planet Hulk sketches at comic conventions) Why do you think it was so well received?
GP: I was lucky to come on board the title at a time when the fans really wanted to see the Hulk cut loose, and that was exactly the kind of story I was itching to tell. I also had this notion of the Hulk finally stepping up as a hero. And maybe that underlying emotional story of the monster finding a world in which his savage qualities are needed is one of the things that’s made the story satisfying to folks. I think we all feel a little monstrous and out of place -- that’s why stories about mutants and vampires and wizards and outcasts and underdogs of all kinds have been so incredibly successful. “Planet Hulk” embraced that notion of the Hulk and his Warbound as monsters -- but then let them grow through blood and fire and pain and struggle into the heroes we all aspire to become ourselves, deep down inside. In short, maybe it’s that underlying sense of inclusion and hope that helped draw folks in.

And then, of course, there’s all of slashing and smashing and lava monsters and wildebots and beautiful warrior women. That stuff probably didn’t hurt, either.

.IHEOD: Did you have any involvement with the upcoming Planet Hulk animated movie? Were you surprised when you first heard they were making it?
GP:: I was thrilled when I first heard about the project and even more thrilled when they brought be on board as a consultant. The trailer is absolutely incredible -- I can’t wait to see the final product.

IHEOD: Was it hard to leave the Skaar book (even though you are bringing him along for the ride?) Did you and Paul Jenkins talk before he took over the book?
GP: Paul and I had some great conversations about Skaar and Planet Sakaar and I love where he’s going with the “Son of Hulk” book. I was fine with making the transition first because the main storyline I’d been building in “Skaar” is continuing in “Incredible Hulk” and second because Paul was so full of amazing ideas I knew he’d knock the “Son of Hulk” book out of the park.

IHEOD: Besides comics, what else have you been up to?
GP: I’m shooting a new short film this month. It’s called “Mister Green” and it’s part of an ITVS initiative that’s funding a number of science fiction short films. (And sorry to disappoint, Hulk fans, but no, it doesn’t have anything to do with the Green Goliath.) We’re shooting over two weekends -- just finished the first two days, which went extremely well. I’ll probably be posting some images from the shoot at www.pakbuzz.com pretty soon, for anyone who’s interested!

IHEOD: Favorite summer movie so far?
GP: I’ve been working on so many writing deadlines I actually haven’t seen much of anything in the movie theaters this summer. But I’ve absolutely loved the two movies I have seen -- “Star Trek” and “Up.” I’d watch ‘em both again right now if I didn’t have a script due!