The following was originally posted on BrokenFrontier.com:

BF talked with Greg Pak, who’s pen was behind this brave new world, and got his feelings about how Planet Hulk turned out, as well as a few hints of what is to come.

BROKEN FRONTIER: How much doubt was there when you first proposed "Planet Hulk"?

GREG PAK: Actually, the project was first proposed to me – [Marvel Editor-in-chief] Joe Quesada had a vision of the Hulk on an alien planet in an arena fighting monsters with a battleaxe. When I heard about the project, and heard they were thinking of me as the writer, I had no doubt at all in my mind – I was hooked from the word "battleaxe." Actually, I was hooked from the world "Hulk," but "battleaxe" was a pretty awesome bonus.

BF: Were you surprised by how well the story arc has done, especially since it was so different from past Hulk tales?

GP: I don't know that I was surprised, exactly, but I was certainly relieved and excited and grateful. The Hulk has a history of crazy sci-fi adventures and has even been exiled from the Earth before – so the basic concept of the story wouldn't come as a total shocker to long-time Hulk fans. The question was always how well we'd handle the concept.

But I had a huge amount of confidence in my amazing collaborators and, under the expert guidance of Hulk editor extraordinaire Mark Paniccia, had hammered a detailed outline that laid out an epic story we all really believed in. So confidence was high, although fingers were certainly crossed as the first issue hit stores.

BF: After the first few issues, and it was obvious that "Planet Hulk" was a hit, did you feel more at ease, and have more leeway with the characters?

GP: I definitely felt more at ease, but the story progressed just as we'd planned. However, the strong fan response definitely confirmed for us that the plan was the right one.

BF: Since most of these characters and the setting of Sakaar were your doing, did Marvel put any restrictions on the world outside of what you did to the Hulk?

GP: I had an astoundingly free hand in creating the world of Sakaar and all of the supporting characters. It was really an amazing opportunity – and I can't thank Joe and Mark and all the “big cheeses” enough for it.

BF: Now that the end of "Planet Hulk" is arising, let's talk a bit more about the world of "Planet Hulk". How much of the story did you have worked out when you begun the plotting?

GP: The whole story was outlined. I knew exactly how the final issue would play out before I ever began writing the first issue. This was a huge help – it meant we could seed elements in the very beginning that wouldn't pay off until the end.

In fact, from Day One of "Planet Hulk," we pretty much knew how "World War Hulk" would pan out – and had a good idea for the third part of our epic trilogy. So there are things we set up last February that are going to pay off almost a year from now.

BF: Were there any characters that were last-minute additions that came about well after the plotting had begun?

GP: The robot Arch-E-5912 is the only semi-principal character who wasn't planned from the beginning. He started off as lava monster fodder in Incredible Hulk #93, but later, particularly after Miek had gone through his transformation, I kind of felt the need for a lighter character to toss in a quip here and there, and Arch-E-5912 rose through the ranks. Oh, and the subplot with Elloe's mother and Miek's Queen were developed as we went along. The outline had spaces for the conflicts those characters represented, but the characters themselves didn't materialize until I wrote the actual scripts.

BF: Were there any aspects of "Planet Hulk" that you wanted to do, but never came to fruition?

GP: There's a side story with Elloe being tempted to betray the Hulk and become the new Queen of the Imperials that would have been nice to explore a little more fully than we the room for.

And early on, I had this insane idea that one of Hulk's cohorts should be a crazy dog boy – the idea was that it was one of those dogs the Russians or the US shot into space and left to die, but it had gone through a wormhole and through some cosmic twist had evolved into an intelligent creature and then ended up on Sakaar. I still love the idea. But instead, that character became Miek, an oppressed native insectivorid, which worked better in terms of helping set up the imperialist world of the planet.

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BF: Is there any part of the story that you feel didn't come out as you wanted? What part of the plotting do you wish you could take back?

GP: Right now I'm too close to the whole thing to want to take anything back. I feel like Tolkien – my only regret is that we couldn't make it longer!

BF: How much of Sakaar existed before you were given the reins of Incredible Hulk?

GP: None of it. That was one of the huge gifts of the project – they let me create an entire world, with its own history, zoology, politics, and mythology. An incredible experience. This is a good place to throw in some major props for pencilers Carlo Pagulayan and Aaron Lopresti, who made that world come to life, and Anthony Flamini, who helped describe and develop the details of the world in the Planet Hulk Gladiator Guidebook.

BF: Do you feel there are still stories to tell? Have you put any thought into telling more of the lives of the denizens of Sakaar?

GP: Absolutely, there's more to tell. And it looks like we're going to. I can't say anything more specific right now, but we haven't seen the last of the characters, world, and themes of "Planet Hulk."

BF: Your take on Hulk was one that was intelligent and driven to make a difference. At the beginning, did you have to wrestle with how to portray the Big Guy?

GP: I always knew that the Hulk needed to be smart to survive on Sakaar and to fully experience the emotional epic we had in store for him. But in writing that first issue, it took a few passes to get the right feel for just how he'd talk.

In the end, I found myself thinking about Clint Eastwood in his Spaghetti Western days – he wouldn't say much, but when he talked, it'd be tough, hard, and to the point. And usually either scary or funny, or both.

BF: Was there any specific influences for any of the characters?

GP: I'm a huge fan of Bill Mantlo, who had a classic run on the Hulk and also wrote the Micronauts, one of my all time favorite Marvel comics. In Micronauts, Mantlo had an insectivorid character named Bug whose dialogue was punctuated by "tik", so in a bit of an homage, the dialogue of our insectivorid character Miek is punctuated by "kik."

BF: If you could have stranded any other hero besides the Hulk on a planet of your own making, who would it have been?

GP: That's an awesome question. I'm working with Hercules as one of the major heroes in Incredible Hulk #106-109, and I think he'd be a great character for that kind of experience. Maybe just 'cause he already has the sandals.

But I actually think Tony Stark would be the best character to throw in there in terms of the emotional story – it'd be pretty hardcore to make him have to experience what he put the Hulk through.

And then there's a great "What If" story out there involving Banner – what if Banner, not Hulk, had ended up on Sakaar? Of course, that story might be just one page long – Banner gets killed when the shuttle crashes. But if he survived the crash, maybe Banner's smarts could keep him alive for a while – and then might we eventually end up with... Bruce Banner, Warlord of Sakaar? Okay, I'm gonna stop talking about this one – I need to email Mark and start pitching a one-shot!

BF: Was it liberating to be able to play with a Marvel character without any real restrictions, as the world was yours to do what you wanted with?

GP: Absolutely. But what made it even better was that we knew the huge emotional story we were telling – and knew how it would all tie back into the Marvel Universe in the end. We got to tell this insane, crazy epic – and have it really matter in terms of the Hulk's life and the Marvel Universe. Solid gold.

BF: You are also writing Battlestar Galactica for Dynamite. Did writing two science fiction tales simultaneously help or hurt, or was there no effect at all?

Click to enlargeClick to enlargeGP: The themes of Battlestar Galactica and "Planet Hulk" are distinct enough that I don't find myself thinking about one while writing the other. But both books involve year-long storylines, and in terms of structure and pacing, it's been helpful to compare strategies for the different books as I've gone along.

Incidentally, the first Battlestar Galactica trade is supposed to hit stores in the next few weeks – I'd humbly encourage anyone interested in sci fi with big ideas and strong characterization to check it out. It helps to have some familiarity with the show, but some of the biggest fans of the comic have never seen the show – so don't be shy!

BF: Obviously you can't give away what happens in the final issue of "Planet Hulk", but do you think the Hulk could ever truly be happy?

GP: He can absolutely be truly happy. But whether the universe will let him stay that way for more that thirty seconds remains to be seen...

BF: With the Hulk returning back to Earth, can you hint to us what other creatures of Sakaar will come back with him?

GP: At least three of his Warbound companions will join him. Beyond that, I can say no more. But you definitely don't want to miss Incredible Hulk #105 and World War Hulk #1.

BF: Having to make Hulk interact in the confines of Marvel Universe, does it feel like a restriction compared to the last year of Incredible Hulk?

Click to enlargeClick to enlargeGP: We planned for "World War Hulk" from the first day we talked about "Planet Hulk," so his return is an organic and essential part of the great epic story we're telling, and I'm having a blast writing it. Sure, there's more coordination required, as the book now has to coordinate with dozens of ongoing characters and storylines in the Marvel Universe, but everyone's on board with the story and I'm having a huge amount of fun talking with the various writers and editors about the different tie-ins and crossovers.

BF: Having Hulk off-world, are you looking forward to getting to take part in Marvel's post-Civil War world?

GP: You bet. We got to dip into the Civil War storyline in our Amadeus Cho backup story in Incredible Hulk #100; now we get to wade right into the conflicts and divisions within the Marvel Universe as the Hulk returns to Earth.

BF: Finally, how long are you scheduled to write for the Hulk after "World War Hulk"?

GP: After "Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk" comes part three of our trilogy – can't say more than that right now, but it's gonna be awesome.

For the complete article, including preview art, click here.

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The following was originally posted on DiamondSelectToys.com:

Hulk Like Brains...

UPDATED: Added more images below.

The next superhero powerhouse to join the ranks of Marvel Select is none other than the gluttonous green ghoul – Zombies Incredible Hulk! Possessing an appetite the likes of which Galactus has never seen, the comparatively mild-mannered Hulk was unfortunately transformed into an even angrier Hulk when the zombies came to his universe…

Sculpted by Marvel Toys and featuring 14 points of articulation, this eight-inch behemoth rules the Zombie-Verse with a vengeance and was even responsible for the death of the Silver Surfer! But honestly, can you blame him? A zombie’s gotta eat!

Joining the ranks of the already-debuted Zombie Spider-Man and Colonel America, each figure in this line also comes with a base featuring a truly grotesque sight – the dismembered corpse of the Silver Surfer! Collect all three and assemble one of the greatest zombie teams since… well… ever!

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The following was originally posted on ComicBookResources.com:

This June, when the Hulk's massive ship enters the skies above New York City and the Green King issues his proclamation of war, it won't be just the costumed heroes of the Marvel Universe that have to take action. Many normal non-powered citizens will have to overcome their fears and help their fellow citizens out by serving and protecting them and helping them make sense out of the chaos that arises from “World War Hulk.” Some of these non-powered citizens will star in “World War Hulk: Front Line” a six issue mini-series by writer Paul Jenkins and featuring art by Ramon Bachs, Shawn Martinborough, and Chris Moreno. CBR News spoke with Jenkins about the series which features the return of intrepid reporters Ben Urich and Sally Floyd and the latest case of Sally's boyfriend, Danny Granville a Detective for the NYPD's Costume Division.

“World War Hulk: Front Line” came about because of the strong sales and response to the “Civil War: Front Line” mini-series. “I think what happened was when we started doing ‘Front Line' it was a good idea,” Jenkins told CBR News. “It was a good fit. It worked well with ‘Civil War' and it sold really well. Since the sales of the first series we're great we got to talking about what ‘Front Line' could be. Joe Quesada said, ‘How do you feel about doing a war in the trenches style comic with those characters?' So we did it and as we started doing it; it became clear that ‘Front Line' was a good idea.

“So Joe, my editor Tom Brevoort and some other guys at Marvel said, ‘Why don't we see how many of these events ‘Front Line' would be good for?'” Jenkins continued. “‘Front Line' was the man on street perspective, the other information, the supplement to the big event. It illustrates some of the things that the guys doing the main story don't have a chance to illustrate. So in this case what happens when the Hulk comes to Earth? People look up and they see aliens. Perhaps the culture shock might be so bad that some people might not be able to live with themselves? We're just trying to do stuff like that.”

Sally Floyd and Ben Urich are two of the people hoping to help their fellow citizens make sense of the culture shock of “World War Hulk.” The two journalists, having been profoundly impacted by the events of ‘Civil War: Front Line,' will be reporting on the events of “WWH” with a new perspective. “Sally had an agenda. She spent years writing an opinion piece. She had a massive amount of pre-conceived notions about the government conspiring to take away our civil liberties but at a certain point in the story a congressmen who she had sparred with for years, and who in some sense is representative of the government tells her, “I was in Vietnam. I got shot. I had pieces of bullet fragment in my legs. I was tortured. I suffered through all that knowing that I would never take away anybody's right to call me a jackass in public. You want to call me that? Good for you. That's what I fought for.' He rocks her world. ‘You call me predictable?' He says. ‘Which one of us is the most predictable?' He points out to her what she is.

“Ben Urich started out saying, ‘The story is the thing, Sally. The slanting of the story is not what matters. We go rightly or wrongly with what is true,'” Jenkins continued. “But if you don't accept that there is a publisher's agenda, you're not living in the real world. If there is no such thing than what is Fox News? What is the New York Times? Many of the established news outlets clearly have a slant one way or another. So, Ben undergoes a transformation as well because when he gets to the end of ‘Civil War: Front Line' he suddenly begins to realize that he and Sally have this story; it's the story of Tony Stark and what he did in order to do one of the most difficult things he ever had done. When Ben gets the story he realizes it isn't as important as what Tony Stark has done and if he tells the story he's going to undermine what Tony has done. This shakes his world as a reporter. A reporter has to tell the story, but for him to tell that story would immediately jeopardize what that story is. So Ben makes a choice and it hurts him in the future. He's going to really struggle with ‘should I have told that story or not?'”

When “World War Hulk: Front Line” begins, a few weeks have passed since Ben and Sally had undergone their career altering changes and the duo launched “Front Line,” their own news publication. “They've been struggling with their venture,” Jenkins said. “There are so many news outlets and some of them are amateurish. There's so much competition and with an online paper it's a bit difficult.”

Ben and Sally's luck may be about to change though. “At a certain point a mysterious benefactor comes into their life and says, ‘I want to bankroll you guys.' They ask, ‘why?' and the answer is that whoever it is that's bankrolling them wants them to compete directly with J. Jonah Jameson,” Jenkins explained. “Their benefactor immediately says. ‘I've got an agenda. I want you to nail Jonah Jameson to the wall. I want you to be better than him.' So the question is who is their benefactor?”

Sally and Ben's mysterious benefactor certainly has the bankroll to turn “Front Line” into a legitimate competitor with the “Daily Bugle.” “They take over ‘The Alternative.' Sally's former paper,” Jenkins stated. “Their benefactor buys ‘The Alternative,' their printing presses and everything and turns it into ‘Front Line.'

Their benefactor's agenda may involve a publishing war with J. Jonah Jameson, but Ben and Sally are most concerned with reporting the stories that arise from the Hulk's return to Earth. “The important stories are: what is happening while everybody is looking up to the sky and watching the massive battles above them? What happened to the sets of evacuations?” Jenkins explained. “They started gathering people in Central Park, The Financial District and other places in Manhattan and they start getting people out of there. Then you go to a place like Mott Haven and nobody's bothered to show up to coordinate and hasten the evacuation of that neighborhood, where the people are much poorer.”

The evacuations are just one of a number of stories arising from “World War Hulk” that Ben and Sally look into. “They look into what people do: are they brave? Are they foolhardy?” Jenkins stated. “They're going to watch what happens as the Hulk and all these other massive characters float around like gods smashing the crap out of things and people are like, ‘Stop! This isn't fair. Stop smashing things. Give us a break.'”

While the first story of “World War Hulk: Front Line” will have Sally and Ben pounding the pavement in pursuit of stories, the second story in the book will have Sally's boyfriend Detective Danny Granville pounding the pavement in search of a criminal. “Danny works for the Costume Division of the NYPD,” Jenkins said. “In this story Danny is partnered with Korg, one of the Hulk's allies. There's been a violation of an agreement and Korg is pissed; so they'll have to launch an investigation. It's kind of a neat ‘Alien Nation' buddy type story.”

Jenkins has wanted to tell stories like “Costume Division” for awhile now. “I really want to do crime fiction in the Marvel Universe,” he said. “It goes back to a story I wrote a few years ago in ‘Peter Parker #36' that I thought had neat possibilities. It was about this guy who works for an insurance company and his job was to investigate claims that have been made against the company for superhero damage. Human nature being what it is many people would just lie through their teeth. They'd claim the Green Goblin blew up their house and he'd find out it was a lightning strike, which they weren't covered for.

“Because his job was so mundane and he had been a police officer before, he thought it would be a big score to find out Spider-Man's identity,” Jenkins continued. “So he follows patterns and noses around and finally comes up with his conclusion as to who Spider-Man is. So he goes to the Daily Bugle offices and knocks on the door and Jonah Jameson answers and he says to Jonah, ‘I accuse you of being Spider-Man!' Over the course of the story I had all these great ideas.”

When “Costume Division” begins, Danny Granville's life is fairly good, but complex and it's about to get a whole lot more complicated. “He's got a new girlfriend named Sally. She's hot, but she's kind of a pain. He's quite a nice fellow and he's quite shy actually so she's totally all over him and dominates him in the power structure,” Jenkins explained. “Also there's a big giant ship in the sky and his job is to make sure that ship doesn't fall and squish people.

“He gets this call and they say, ‘We need you for something,'” Jenkins continued. “He asks, ‘What?' and they tell him. He's like, ah @&%$. He's a very reluctant hero but he's quite a competent guy. He finds out what it means to investigate a crime like this and it's a little bit different from the way he thought and it's a little bit more dangerous than what he thought.”

Jenkins hopes readers respond to the “Costume Division” story in “World War Hulk: Front Line” because he'd love to tell more stories featuring Danny Granville and the other detectives of that division. “I really want to do a book called ‘Costume Division,'” Jenkins stated. “I think it would be so much fun and I think it would suit me very well. So hopefully in the future we can do a mini-series or something.”

In addition to the two main stories of “World War Hulk: Front Line,” featuring Ben Urich and Sally Floyd and Danny Granville, readers will be treated to a third two page story in every issue, of a much lighter tone. “It's basically me and Chris Moreno [Jenkins ‘Sidekick' collaborator] making fun of everything we do,” Jenkins explained. “In one of the stories the state of Rhode Island can't persuade anyone to join their superhero team. The stories are totally goofy. It's just fun. Chris and I have so much fun doing the comics that we do. We just wanted to do a couple of back up stories for Marvel and I think it's great to see Chris doing some stuff for Marvel.”

“World War Hulk: Front Line” is an anthology series that aims to provide something for all types of readers. “We've got these funny two-page back up stories. We've got crime fiction, and we've got sort of a reflection on the way ‘World War Hulk' affects things,” Jenkins said. “I think there's plenty in there for people and it's kind of a different approach from ‘Civil War: Front Line.' It's nice to do a bit of humor in a book with a slightly higher profile. Hopefully the strength of the series will continue and we'll be able to do a ‘Front Line' for every event.”

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The following was originally posted on GamingHorizon.com:

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance fans rejoice, as Activision has announced the new Marvel characters that will appear in an Xbox Live downloadable content package to be launched later this month. The characters include Cyclops, Doom, Hawkeye, Hulk, Magneto, Sabretooth, and (everyone's favorite) Venom. Included below are character biographies (for the rare few who are unfamiliar with the new "heroes") and screenshots.

THE HULK:

Real Name:
Robert "Bruce" Banner

Aliases:
Annihilator, Captain Universe, Joe Fixit, Mr. Fixit, Mechano, Professor, War, Bruce Bancroft, David Banner, David Bixby, Bob Danner, Bruce Jones, Bruce Roberts, David Blaine, the Green Scar, Green Goliath, Jade Giant

Identity:
Publicly known

Occupation:
Unemployed, former nuclear physicist

Citizenship:
USA

Place of Birth:
Dayton, Ohio

Powers:
The Hulk possesses an incredible level of superhuman physical ability. His capacity for physical strength is potentially limitless due to the fact that the Hulk's strength increases proportionally with his level of great emotional stress, anger in particular. The Hulk uses his superhumanly strong leg muscles to leap great distances. The Hulk has been known to cover hundreds of miles in a single bound and once leaped almost into orbit around the Earth. The Hulk has shown a high resistance to physical damage nearly regardless of the cause, and has also shown resistance to extreme temperatures, poisons, and diseases in addition to regeneration of damaged or destroyed areas of tissue at an amazing rate.

The Hulk's body also has a gland that makes an "oxygenated per fluorocarbon emulsion", which creates pressure in the Hulk's lungs and effectively lets him breathe underwater and move quickly between varying depths without concerns about decompression or nitrogen narcosis

Abilities:
Dr. Bruce Banner is a genius in nuclear physics, possessing a mind so brilliant that it cannot be measured on any known intelligence test. When Banner is the Hulk, Banner's consciousness is buried within the Hulk's, and can influence the Hulk's behavior only to a very limited extent.

Weapons:
None

For the complete article, click here.

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The following was originally posted on Marvel.com:

Marvel Ultimate Alliance is expanding. Get the scoop on two new playable characters: Hulk and Sabretooth. Check out some new powers, achievements, costumes and more!

Hulk

Role: Heavy Hitter

Hulk big. Hulk strong! Hulk has huge hit points and does major melee damage. It pretty much goes without saying that as he levels up, Hulk will become the major powerhouse of your team.

Known Team: Avengers

Xtreme Power: Hulk Smash

Arleady huge Hulk grows even bigger during this power, then jumps into the air and slams his meaty paws back down for huge AOE (area of effect) damage.

Achievements: Ol' Jade Jeans has several achievements, including one for unlocking all his costumes through extended play. Unlock Mr. Fix-It and get those points!

For the complete article, click here.

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The following was originally posted on WizardUniverse.com:

As the Green Goliath gets ready to unleash his wrath on the world that rejected him, writer Greg Pak recalls the big guy’s metamorphosis into a righteous warrior

The Hulk’s rage is about to be let loose on Earth. As Marvel gets ready to launch World War Hulk in May, writer Greg Pak talks to Wizard about the defining moments in the “Planet Hulk” story running through Incredible Hulk #92-#105.

The Illuminati exiles the Hulk

The Hulk’s rage has always been an ever-growing threat to humanity. At the beginning of the “Planet Hulk” arc, Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Strange and Black Bolt come together as the Illuminati to exile the Hulk from Earth after he sets his rage loose on Las Vegas. Banner was placed in a shuttle headed toward an uninhabited planet where he could harm no one, but the shuttle flew off course, entering a wormhole and taking the Hulk to the savage planet Sakaar.

PAK: When he first arrived on the planet, he could be injured and possibly even killed because his body had been weakened passing through the wormhole to get to this planet. For one of the first times in a while, the Hulk had been vulnerable. He is full of rage! His so-called friends exiled him. He hated everybody and everything.

The Warrior

Once the Hulk landed on Sakaar, he was captured and sold into slavery. He eventually made his way into the Great Arena as a gladiator.

PAK: What makes it a special story in terms of the Hulk’s development is that he went through a lot of changes, not just in terms of the role he was playing on this planet but in terms of his attitude and who he is. He’s actually bonded with his fellow gladiators. They are his warbound companions, and over the course of the story, he’s identified with the oppressed people on the planet and has become a freedom fighter. That’s a huge transition for the Hulk.

Rejects the offer to be free

When a rebel crew of freedom fighters offers him salvation from the arena, the Hulk refuses their offer and opts to stay as a warrior, presumably because he has gained much popularity as a gladiator and wants to bask in the glory.

PAK: I think it’s one of the points of development the Hulk has gone through. He’s gone from angry and selfish to angry in a righteous way, in a way that is based on a community. In the first part of the story, it is unclear which way the Hulk is going to go. When he first teams up with these other warriors, he isn’t doing it in the sense that this is a great community and he wants to be a part of it. He’s doing it in the sense of, this is how I’m going to survive. And it’s touch and go exactly what he is going to do.

At that point, it doesn’t make sense [for the Hulk to decide], “Yeah, I’m going to join your freedom fighting group.” Partly it’s because he doesn’t trust anybody when he arrives onto the planet. That’s one of the first times somebody asks him for his trust. And he has no reason to do it at that point. It’s only later when he sees what is going on in this planet that he makes that transition.

Warbound

Hulk eventually comes to trust the freedom fighters and they make an agreement to fight as a team. They swear an oath that no matter what may come, they will suffer it together.

PAK: Usually when the Hulk is joining a group of earthbound heroes, he’s seen by them as the crazy wildcard. They do it sort of knowing there is something off about him. Basically, they do it with caveats. What makes it different [with his fellow warbound on Sakaar] is that the Hulk and them have all risked their lives together. They were all on equal footing and they all needed each other to survive. The Hulk’s experience with the warbound has been more intense because it has been a life-or-death situation all the way through.

The remarkable thing about the warbound is that these are a group of monsters that come together to do the right thing. It’s like when you put these monsters together and give them the right kind of context, it’s that kind of notion, you’re only a monster if you accept it.

Refuses to leave with the Silver Surfer

The Hulk and Silver Surfer find themselves on Sakaar, where they are enslaved and placed under obedience disks. Under the emperor’s control, Silver Surfer had to go up against the Hulk. Of course, Surfer wasn’t strong enough for the Hulk. Once freed from mind control, Surfer destroyed all the slaves’ obedience disks and then offered the Hulk salvation: to leave the planet with him. However, Hulk refused, and opted to stay with his new friends.

PAK: I love the way the Silver Surfer worked into the story. When I was doing research for this, I was reminded of the first meeting between the Silver Surfer and the Hulk. It’s one of these Silver Age stories, but it’s incredibly moving, actually. The Hulk had been hounded by humans and he’s running off, and he sees this gleam up in the sky and thinks it’s a UFO or spaceship, and he’s like, “I’m going to go track them down and make them take me off this planet, to find somewhere else where people will leave me alone.” The Surfer in that early encounter realizes he is miserable and not at fault for his rage.

So later on, in issue #95, the Hulk tells the Surfer that years ago he wanted him to take him away, and the Surfer says he can do that now. And Hulk replies, “You don’t get it, I’m already there.” Now he’s gotten to that planet he wanted to go to, where he could be who he was and find a place. That’s a huge admission for the Hulk—he isn’t a touchy guy. He is the Clint Eastwood of comics. He doesn’t talk about his feelings.

Green vines grow where Hulk’s blood is spilled

Throughout Planet Hulk, the big question is if the Hulk is the Sakaarson, the savior of Sakaar, or Worldbreaker, the destroyer?

PAK: That’s an ongoing thing because that’s really almost part of every superhero, it’s almost part of all of us. We all have this capacity for doing great things and doing terrible things. And sometimes the very things that make us able to do great things make us do terrible things. That is an ongoing tension in human life, so these stories of the Hulk allow us to explore that.

Amadeus Cho discovers the truth

We know the Hulk shall return to Earth. Thanks to the help of 16-year-old boy genius Amadeus Cho, maybe he’ll return a little less angry. The only voice that actually defends the Hulk, Cho criticizes the Illuminati for its actions against the Hulk.

PAK: Yeah, there is definitely a different side to this story, and these various heroes are going to have to think about that and face that when the Hulk returns.

Liberates the planet from the Red King

The malevolent emperor of Sakaar meets his end at the hands of the Hulk, ending the war on the planet.

PAK: What I always had been interested in, is that people always ask, “Is the Hulk a monster or a hero?” On Earth, people are always calling him a monster because when he gets angry, he starts smashing things. In the civilized world that’s not really permitted, but if you break it down and look at each one of the times he goes nuts, he’s always sticking up for the little guys or he’s fighting someone who has done something wrong.

“Planet Hulk” gave us the opportunity to see what would happen if we put the Hulk in a world where his anger and strength were virtues, where the world needed someone with his kind of rage and strength.

Crowned emperor

After liberating the planet from the Red King, the Hulk is crowned emperor of Sakaar.

PAK: In issue #102, the Hulk finally defeats the Red King and in #103 he marries the Grace King Warrior, who first started off as his opponent but later joins him. And that’s sort of a meeting of tribes that bonds this world together, and the Hulk becomes their king.

Reveals who he is to Shadow Guard

The Hulk shows Shadow Guard, and readers, that he is more than just a savage beast, that he is also human. Quite possibly one of the most intimate moments readers have had with the Hulk.

PAK: People typically think of Hulk and Banner in this Jekyll and Hyde relationship, where the Hulk is all the rage that Banner keeps bottled up. During the course of “Planet Hulk,” something different has happened. The rage of the Hulk has become more focused and righteous instead of childish. It’s not just personal fury, it’s become rage that has a use and moral purpose behind it. And as Hulk has found a place on this planet, Banner has reconciled with it. I think that indicates something in the relationship between Hulk and Banner, that there is a way in which Banner may be understanding and accepting of what’s going on in a way that he wasn’t before. Maybe he’s pretending to be that way. But there is definitely a development there.

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The following was originally posted on Newsarama.com:

This May, the road to war begins in World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker, as the Hulk begins the long journey to revenge. Written by classic Hulk scribe Peter David and featuring the art of Al Rio, Lee Weeks & Sean Phillips, World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker brings you up to speed on the Hulk’s recent journey and provides the perfect jumping-on point for readers new and old, who will get a rare glimpse into the psyche of the jade giant.

Months ago, the Illuminati sent Hulk into space, hoping the monster would find peace on another world, leading to the now classic Planet Hulk storyline. Hulk landed on Sakaar, and now through a series of tragic events, the Hulk is back…and he isn’t just going to smash—he’s going to destroy!

In the wake of Civil War, the MU is already in enough chaos as it is, but it’s one boy named Amadeus Cho whose actions may take things to the next level. In Hulk #106, Cho prepares for the Hulk’s arrival by gathering a group of super heroes to side with the Hulk in the coming war. Who will join with the Hulk and who will fight him?

Stephen Gerding, of Kung Fu Rodeo, couldn’t stop raving about Planet Hulk, the best selling epic tale of which every issue sold out and which leads into World War Hulk. “We’ve been treated to a Hulk-as-Conan storyline that writer Greg Pak has made into the most interesting time in the Jade Giant’s life since Peter David left the book,” said Gerding. “Combine the writing with stronger than I’d expected art and amazing covers from Ladronn ... and you have the biggest surprise from Marvel in years.”

With the Planet Hulk HC collection arriving in June to coincide with World War Hulk roaring into the summer, Marvel urges retailers to check their orders for World War Hulk, as the rave reviews for Planet Hulk continue to roll in. Fans, don’t miss your first chance to join the excitement in the pages of World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker and Hulk #106.

Note: the page count on World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker has increased from 48 to 64 pages and will now feature an extensive sneak-peak at the World War Hulk event at no extra cost!

WORLD WAR HULK PROLOGUE: WORLD BREAKER (MAR072086)
Written by PETER DAVID
Penciled by AL RIO, LEE WEEKS & SEAN PHILLIPS
Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 4/12, On-Sale – 5/2/2007

INCREDIBLE HULK #106 (MAR072085)
Written by GREG PAK
Pencils and Cover by GARY FRANK
Rated A …$2.99
FOC – 4/12, On-Sale – 5/2/2007

HULK: PLANET HULK HC (APR072362)
Written by GREG PAK
Penciled by CARLO PAGULAYAN, AARON LOPRESTI, JUAN SANTACRUZ, GARY FRANK, TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
Cover by LADRÖNN
392 PGS./Rated A …$39.99
FOC – 5/10, On-Sale – 6/13/2007

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The following was originally posted on ComicBookResources.com:

The Ghost Rider's road of vengeance is slowly winding its way into the center of the Marvel Universe. In "Ghost Rider" #10 — in stores today — the Spirit of Vengeance continues his battle with one of the demonically possessed casualties of “Civil War” and this June, Johnny Blaze's fiery alter ego will confront Marvel's Green Gamma Powered Goliath head on as “Ghost Rider” ties into “World War Hulk.” CBR News spoke with “Ghost Rider” writer Daniel Way.

When Johnny Blaze arrives in Manhattan to tackle the Hulk, he shouldn't expect to be treated like the cavalry arriving in the nick of the time to save everybody. To the heroes and citizens in New York, watching Ghost Rider and the Hulk tangle is comparable to how the citizens of Tokyo feel when Godzilla shows up to battle another monster. “Once he gets there everybody is just going to fall back,” Way stated. “They're not going to help. Especially Dr. Strange, he knows the score. He thinks, ‘If Ghost Rider can beat the Hulk great. If Hulk takes out Ghost Rider great because Ghost Rider is just as much a threat as Hulk is at this point. This plan he's got going is not safe and Dr. Strange has explained that quite clearly. The best situation is that the both take each other out.”

Since Johnny Blaze is in control, Ghost Rider just might get himself taken out in his battle with the Hulk “Ghost Rider left alone is extremely powerful; it's almost boundless.” Way said. “Johnny Blaze is kind of the safety switch that keeps Ghost Rider from going super nova. So the more Johnny is in control, the less powerful the Ghost Rider is; which is not a good situation to be in when you're wading into a fight with the Hulk. Johnny is going to have to rely on his wits which are a pretty limited resource.”

Even with only a limited amount of power available, Ghost Rider's battle with the Hulk should still be pretty brutal and spectacular. “I gotta tell you, the fight between these two characters, I can't wait to see it on paper. I didn't hold back on anything,” Way stated. “I think we worked in some really cool stuff. There's one shot in there that's going to be remembered well.

“Ghost Rider” #12-13 will feature some guest star appearances by other Marvel heroes. As we mentioned before though, Johnny Blaze shouldn't expect any of this characters to give him a hand with the Hulk. “This battle will be closely monitored,” Way stated. “All eyes are on this battle in this two-parter. Two characters in particular are watching it.”

The spectators observing the fight between the Spirit of Vengeance and the Green King might include members of the Initiative, America's superhuman army. If that's the case they'll have to carefully consider how they handle Ghost Rider. “Ghost Rider is not a superhero. He's a supernatural,” Way explained. “So you can't really enlist him and going after him would be a losing proposition. You can't really kill him. It's kind of, and we should introduce this into the Marvel Lexicon, the Hulk Complex; the harder you beat on him the worse it gets.

“Now down the line,” Way continued. “there are a couple of big developments we need to get out of the way, but yes it is possible that Ghost Rider will ‘Come Back to Earth' and get involved. Eventually he's got to really get in and mix it up in the Marvel Universe. That's part of the plan, but he has some stuff to get off of his plate first.”

One of the things Ghost Rider needs to get off his plate is his crusade against the 666 avatars of Lucifer. “Ghost Rider's battle with Lucifer has not gone unnoticed and actually that's a big component of the story arc after the ‘World War Hulk' tie-in. That arc is going to be the big because Ghost Rider is reaching the end of the chain and it's about time for the big face-off.”

“Right from the get go I really wanted to streamline what Ghost Rider was and I think that's all coming together,” Way continued. “Ghost Rider is the Spirit of Vengeance and its human host. What is the human host all about? That's one of the only big questions left and that one gets answered in the arc after the ‘World War Hulk' tie-ins.”

For the complete article, click here.

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The following was originally posted on Newsarama.com:

Click on the images below to see some of Lee Week's preview art from WWH Prologue: Worldbreaker.

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The following was originally posted on Newsarama.com:

WORLD WAR HULK #2 (of 5)
Written by GREG PAK
Penciled by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
The puny human "heroes" of Earth, including Reed Richards, Iron Man, Dr. Strange and Black Bolt, called the Hulk a monster and shot him into space. Now the Hulk has returned with a rage that knows no bounds—and he has a posse! Can the mightiest powerhouses of the Avengers stop the Hulk and his cadre of super-powered Warbound gladiators as they carve their path of mayhem through the concrete canyons of Manhattan? Can battling Ben Grimm and the rest of the Fantastic Four save Reed Richards from the Hulk's wrath? And what hope can She-Hulk have of calming her great green cousin's terrible rage?
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

WORLD WAR HULK: FRONT LINE #2 (of 6)
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Art by RAMON BACHS, SHAWN MARTINBROUGH & CHRIS MORENO
Cover by JOHN WATSON
Your man-on-the-street view of WORLD WAR HULK continues here - - with three separate features all written by Paul Jenkins! First, Ben Urich and Sally Floyd, now running their own newspaper, attempt to single-handedly cover a story that even the big boys can't -- featuring art by Ramon Bachs (CIVIL WAR: FRONT LINE)! Then, costume division detective Danny Granville and the alien known as Korg race to figure out who killed one of Hulk's allies - - with art by Shawn Martinbrough (JSA Classified)! Finally, Chris Moreno (Sidekick) proves that the Hulk’s invasion of Manhattan is actually something to laugh at!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

INCREDIBLE HULK #108
Written by GREG PAK
Penciled by CARLO PAGULAYAN
Cover by GARY FRANK
By hook and by crook, teen genius Amadeus Cho has done the impossible -- assembling a team of heroes crazy enough to side with the Hulk upon his return to Earth. But what happens when these Renegades finally come face-to-face with the Hulk's alien Warbound allies -- while civilians struggle to survive in the shattered streets of Manhattan? Amadeus Cho may just learn the difference between playing a hero -- and being one. Featuring the return of "Planet Hulk" artist extraordinaire Carlo Pagulayan with his first pencils on Planet Earth in over a year!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: WORLD WAR HULK
Written by JOHN RHETT THOMAS
In June, WORLD WAR HULK explodes onto the Marvel scene and SPOTLIGHT is going to be there to cover it - once we make sure our reporters have their life insurance policies updated! The Green-skinned Goliath has returned from Planet Hulk and he wants to pay back the do-gooders who ponied up for that supposedly one-way ticket into outer space! And if there's any collateral damage? Well...it wouldn't be a good issue of MARVEL SPOTLIGHT without that! We'll be talking to HULK creators past and present, pulling back the curtain on the big event of 2007, as well as taking a look back at the classic HULK stories of the past! Armed and ready to deliver the biggest, broadest Hulk coverage out there, we'll be bringing beans, puppies, buckets of industrial strength Gamma-Ray-B-Gone - anything we can think of to protect us against the rampaging man-beast that is the Incredible Hulk! Be there or be scared!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

WORLD WAR HULK: GAMMA CORPS #1 & 2 (of 4)
Written by FRANK TIERI
Penciled by CARLOS FERREIRA
Cover by STEPHANE ROUX
The Hulk. The Abomination. The Leader. The Harpy. Doc Samson. Born of gamma radiation, they represented a new chapter of humanity. Now, spawned through their respective DNA has come the next generation... the Gamma Corps. Recruited and trained by the enigmatic General Ryker, their mission is a simple one-- to kill the Incredible Hulk. And considering he's facing 5-1 odds, is that a mission even this new and improved version of the Green Goliath can prevent?
32 PGS. Each/Rated A …$2.99 Each

WORLD WAR HULK: X-MEN #2 (of 3)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by ANDREA DI VITO
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
It's an all-out action issue as the Astonishing X-Men battle the Hulk in defense of Professor Xavier's dream! You've never seen a Hulk/Wolverine matchup this savage! Plus, what other members of the extended X-Men family will respond to the distress call...and will there be anything left when they do? Featuring Juggernaut!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #4
Written by DAN SLOTT
Penciled by STEFANO CASELLI
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
WORLD WAR HULK CROSSOVER!
"GREEN ZONE" Part 1 of 2
When the Hulk and his Warbound invade America, the Superhuman Armed Forces answer the call! Our young recruits have seen plenty of action, but will it prepare them for ALL-OUT WAR?! In this time of crisis, will SHE-HULK be able to take IRON MAN'S orders? And what is HARDBALL hiding from everyone? Believe it or not, it's a secret that could turn the tide of the entire WAR!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

GHOST RIDER #13
Written by DANIEL WAY
Penciled by JAVIER SALTARES
Cover by GABRIELLE DELL'OTTO
“Apocalypse Soon,” Part 2 (of 2)
A WORLD WAR HULK TIE-IN! Well, Johnny got what he wanted. Temporarily setting aside his quest for the remaining avatars of Lucifer, he has forced the Ghost Rider into a confrontation with The Hulk in hopes of saving the innocent. But who’s going to save Ghost Rider? The straight-up beat-down of the decade rumbles to its shocking conclusion!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

IRON MAN #20
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by BUTCH GUICE
Cover by GERALD PAREL
A WORLD WAR HULK TIE-IN! With Iron Man missing after his battle with the Hulk, S.H.I.E.L.D. is thrown into chaos! Acting Director "Dum Dum" Dugan has to decide whether to try to find Tony Stark, the man who's pushed S.H.I.E.L.D. in a direction he disagrees with...or whether to seize control and run things his way. Also, discover the fate of Iron Man after facing the Hulk's wrath!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #10
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Pencils and Cover by PHIL HESTER
WORLD WAR HULK tie-in!
Ant-Man is still on the run, hiding from S.H.I.E.L.D. But now things have changed--the Hulk has come to town. Will Ant-Man finally be the hero he was born to become and defend New York City from the Green Goliath? Or will he use this opportunity to loot and pillage a devastated New York? This book ain't called Irredeemable for nothing!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

AVENGERS CLASSIC #2
Written by DWAYNE MCDUFFIE
Penciled by MICHAEL OEMING
Cover by ART ADAMS
Stan and Jack bring you AVENGERS #2 in all its Hulk-out glory! Plus a bonus back-up story by Dwayne McDuffie and Mike Oeming featuring the INCREDIBLE HULK in a story of misunderstanding and mayhem! Don’t miss out, it’s only 3 bucks!
And check out that far-out Art Adams cover! It’s a gas!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

HEROES FOR HIRE #12
Written by ZEB WELLS & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by CLAY MANN
Cover by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
When Humbug discovers that insect members of Hulk's Warbound have plans of their own for Earth, the Heroes for Hire infiltrate their great stone starship. But can Humbug be trusted, or is he being seduced by visions of a bug-friendly future? Go behind the battle lines of WORLD WAR HULK in the second part of this exciting crossover! Plus: a special backup tale featuring a top-secret S.H.I.E.L.D. plan to assassinate
the HULK!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #1
Written by PAUL BENJAMIN
Penciled by DAVID NAKAYAMA
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
The debut of the newest member of the critically-acclaimed MARVEL ADVENTURES line! Caught in a blast of gamma radiation, brilliant scientist Bruce Banner now finds himself in times of stress turning into the living engine of destruction know as THE INCREDIBLE HULK!
32 PGS./All Ages …$2.99

HULK VISIONARIES: PETER DAVID VOL. 4 TPB
Written by PETER DAVID &BOB HARRAS
Penciled by JEFF PURVES & DAN REED
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
The golden god-man Glorian wants to give the gray Hulk an emotional makeover, but the mysterious Mister Cloot thinks they'd both look better in demon red! Peter David's remarkable run continues as the Hulk goes after gangsters, ghouls and the Grey Gargoyle! Plus: wrestlers, killer whales and more! Guest-starring Iron Man and Werewolf by Night! Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK #355-363, and MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #26 AND #45.
232 PGS./Rated A …$19.99

ESSENTIAL DEFENDERS VOL. 3 TPB
Written by LEN WEIN, CHRIS CLAREMONT, STEVE GERBER, BILL MANTLO, MARY SKRENES, TONY ISABELLA, JIM STARLIN, DON MCGREGOR, ROGER SLIFER, GERRY CONWAY & SCOTT EDELMAN
Penciled by SAL BUSCEMA, KLAUS JANSON, VINCE COLLETTA,MIKE ESPOSITO, FRANK GIACOIA, JOHN TARTAGLIONE, SAM GRAINGER, JIM MOONEY, GIL KANE, JIM STARLIN, DAN ADKINS, DON NEWTON & DON HECK
Cover by ED HANNIGAN
There's nothing the non-team can't handle when mutants, gods, demons and miscreants of the 1950s all get their crack at the sensational super heroes of the seventies! With Luke Cage! The Guardians of the Galaxy! The Son of Satan vs. the Sons of the Serpent! Brain transplants, foreign intrigue and the tumultuous terror of Tapping Tommy! Daredevil, Yellowjacket, Bambi! And introducing...an Elf!? Featuring the first appearance of the ever-reliable Wrecking Crew! Collecting31-60, and Annual 1
592 PGS./Rated A …$16.99

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The following was originally posted on HardHero.co.uk:

Finally – a long-awaited Marvel statue series created exclusively for Western Europe!

This exciting new series will be produced at 1/10 scale: Heroes and villains will come to life - flying, running, leaping, and ready for battle! All scaled for displaying together.

This new series promises to be one of the most sought-after collections under the Marvel banner. Each character will be limited to no more than 1000 pieces for all of Western Europe, including the United Kingdom. Every statue will be individually crafted, hand-numbered, and packaged in a full-color collector’s box.

The Incredible Hulk Statue stands 9" tall and comes in two editions; a 900 piece Limited edition and a 100 piece Artist Proof edition. The statue will retail for $69.95 and $75.00 respectively. There is also a matching Thing statue available. Click here to place your order.

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The following was originally posted on NewYorkPress.com:

The big movie news at the beginning of this week arrived with the announcement that Louis Leterrier (who helmed the popular sci fi Transporter movies and the Jet Li action flick Unleashed) will direct Edward Norton as the not-so-jolly green giant in Marvel Studio's The Incredible Hulk. Universal plans to release the big budget project in the summer of 2008. It's one of those odd situations where a studio confronts the fact that they fucked up a popular franchise and now seems to be trying to do penance for its sins, hoping that commercial viability still beats at the heart of the material.

Ang Lee survived the 2003 disaster of Hulk with his Oscar win for Brokeback Mountain, but the movie itself was shunned by pretty much every intended audience. When Joel Schumacher made those terribly hokey Batman movies in the late Nineties, Warner Bros. took years to confront the problem and get a better project together. The new Hulk project, however, sort of feels like too much too soon. The failure of Lee's project still lingers in the memories of many people who sincerely hoped for a better realization of a classic character. Response to casting Norton in the lead role has ranged from ecstatic to chagrined, with very little middle ground. I could go either way; actually, the Hulk is one of the most malleable of classic comic book characters. The psychological implications of a creature whose sole reason for existing is inner rage opens up innumerable storytelling possibilities. As an example, check out this sampling of "The Incorrigible Hulk," written by"Hate!" comics scribe Peter Bagge. If you're not familiar with Bagge's work, I highly suggest checking out the years worth of "Hate" comics available at most comic book outlets. He's not your typical superhero scribe--but his take on the Hulk, commissioned a few years ago by Marvel and still unpublished, makes you wonder if exploring the social ramifications of the character might be a better direction than millions of dollars worth of CGI. Wishful thinking, I know.

For more on Bagge and this comic, check out this interview from UGO.com:

UGO: Will the Hulk comic you did ever come out?

PETER: I don’t know. My editor at Marvel keeps asking me not to whine too much about it because there is still a chance it might come out. It all has to do with corporate politics.

UGO: Did it have anything to do with the Hulk movie?

PETER: No, let’s back up a bit. About three or four years ago, a few guys were put in charge of Marvel when they were in really bad shape. They figured they had nothing to lose so they asked some people who don’t normally do superhero comics to do them. They went kind of nuts, which is great, but if you ask me they didn’t go nuts enough. Since then, Marvel has huge a string of huge blockbusters recently, especially Spider-Man. Now the company is worth a fortune, which has next to nothing to do with the comics. But what the comics sell is peanuts compared to the movies and the merchandising. Some new board members, who are trying to protect their investment, very carefully manage their more valuable brands. When the editors asked me to do Spider-Man, they were thinking the exact opposite because people who wouldn’t normally buy it would buy it. But now the new people running it don’t want Peter Bagge f**king around with their characters. My vision of the Hulk doesn’t match with theirs.

UGO: I interviewed Kyle Baker a few years ago after he had done this story of Superman as a baby and all these crazy things happened to the baby. They never reprinted until the Bizarro book. When I asked him about it, he said he doesn’t care about the story because he doesn’t own it. “They could buy the story from me and toss it in the trash.”

PETER: I’m not quite that cynical.

UGO: You?

PETER: To a degree, I agree with that. If it winds up never in print I won’t be devastated like I would with something that was my own. But if this was my own thing I wouldn’t be in this situation. It’s because we don’t own the right to these characters, we don’t know when or if it will ever see print. Of course, working on it as much as I did, I spent six months on it, I hate to see all that labor wasted because I thought it came out pretty good.

UGO: Is the Hulk story like your Spider-Man one?

PETER: I think it’s a little bit lighter. I tried to make it more action-packed with splash panels because I thought that Spider-Man was pretty verbose. The Hulk is about Bruce Banner with his dual personality, and I commented on how everybody can do that now to a smaller degree with modern medicine like with Valium and Viagra. Everybody is trying to control or alter their personality.

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The following was originally posted on TVShowsonDVD.com:

The Incredible Hulk - It's Official Now! Hulk - 2nd Season Smashes to DVD in July!

Since last Thanksgiving the website of Executive Producer Kenneth Johnson has had news that mid-summer 2007 would see the release of The Incredible Hulk - The Complete 2nd Season on DVD. Now Universal has made that official, with an overnight announcement for a July 17th release date! Yay!

The 5-disc set will go for $39.98 SRP. Video will be in the original full-frame, and audio will be in English mono as originally broadcast. English subtitles will also be present. A couple of months ago, we reported that Johnson's website said that KJ was contributing an on-camera interview and rare behind-the-scenes photos for the set's extras. However, the studio has neither confirmed nor denied that information so far. There should be 22 episodes on this set, including the double-length episode "Married", guest-starring Mariette Hartley in that season premiere special.

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The following was originally posted on Newsarama.com:

Q: Finally - the editorial retreat is still coming up next week - any clues as to some of the bigger issues on the table?

You: “We'll be going over a lot of stuff, most of it a tightening to our post Civil War plan, fallout from World War Hulk, the life and times of Peter Parker, the future of the Ultimate Universe, the repositioning of the X-Men and this little idea that Bendis has had percolating for the world of Avengers.”

For the complete article, click here.

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Head on over to www.incrediblehulk.com for a great new interview with Gary Frank, Incredible Hulk artist extraordinaire!

Bruno

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The following was originally posted on Marvel.com:

Marvel Ultimate Alliance: 4 New Exclusive Screenshots

Quality Assurance for the new Marvel Ultimate Alliance characters--Hulk, Nightcrawler, Cyclops, Hawkeye, Venom, Magneto, Sabretooth and Dr. Doom--has been extended a bit, but the heroes and villains will be making their way to Xbox Live shortly.

In the meantime, peep these four new screenshots exclusive to Marvel.com, watch the new trailer again, check out the rest of our Marvel Ultimate Alliance coverage and keep checking Marvel.com for an updated release date.

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The following was originally posted on ComicsContinuum.com:

TOP COW'S UNHOLY UNION

Written by regular Witchblade scribe Ron Marz and drawn by the artist of the upcoming The Darkness ongoing series Michael Broussard, Unholy Union will be 40 pages and will cost $3.99.

Here's how Top Cow describes the book:

"When Jackie Estacado, the ill-fated mob boss cursed with the inheritance of The Darkness, is brought into court he's fairly certain he can beat the charges. Unfortunately for Jackie, Ghost Rider, the Spirit of Vengeance, is not so easily escaped. If this clash wasn't enough to get fans pulses pounding, the Incredible Hulk is simultaneously rampaging through New York City and both Dani Baptiste, the current bearer of the Witchblade, and Sara Pezzini, the former bearer, must try and save the city while Doctor Strange monitors all these events with great interest. With this much action, the stand alone special demanded an over-sized treatment with extra pages of thrilling content! And if that wasn't enough, the issue also contains a special preview for this summer's Top Cow Event First Born."

"We packed as much as humanly possible into this one," Marz said. "I think we ended up with a story that gives each of the characters a moment in the spotlight, includes plenty of over-the-top action, and even plants a seed for Top Cow's upcoming First Born storyline.

"So we've got all that, plus ample opportunity for artist Michael Broussard to show off what he's capable of. For a guy who's just beginning his career, Michael is amazingly accomplished. He's the real deal, and I'm happy to be working with him."

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Head on over to www.incrediblehulk.com for a great new interview with Chris Sotomayor, the colorist on the Incredible Hulk.

Bruno

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Head on over to www.incrediblehulk.com for a great new interview with Randy Bowen, sculptor extraordinaire!

Bruno

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The following was originally posted on ComicCon.com:

THE PULSE: For those who missed Planet Hulk, can you summarize what happened to the Incredible Hulk these past months and what state of mind he's in right now?

GREG PAK: Warning -- "Planet Hulk" spoilers below!

A group of so called Marvel "heroes," including Mister Fantastic, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, and Black Bolt, decided the Hulk was a monster and shot him into space in a shuttle, exiling him to the savage alien planet of Sakaar where the Hulk was enslaved and forced to become a gladiator. At first consumed by rage and mistrustful of everything and everyone, the Hulk eventually bonded with his fellow gladiators -- and then the oppressed people of the planet. The Hulk turned rebel, fighting against the wicked Red King and ultimately becoming the planet's conquering emperor, taking the great woman warrior Caiera the Oldstrong as his queen. For the first time in recent memory, the Hulk had a place in the universe -- a world, a people, a queen, and even an unborn child. And then the puny humans' shuttle exploded, destroying a million souls, including the Hulk's queen and child.

Now the Hulk is returning to Earth. And he's going to teach those who exiled him who the monster in this story really is.

THE PULSE: Now that you have most of Planet Hulk behind you, looking back, what do you consider the biggest highs of creating this new chapter in the life of the Hulk?

PAK: Every issue was a high. This is probably the most satisfying comic book project I've worked on thus far. Right now, I'm still on a buzz from getting that last issue out the door. Penciler Carlo Pagulayan really outdid himself with that issue -- every panel is just gorgeous and evocative, and that last two page spread? Just amazing.

THE PULSE: If you were able, is there anything about this story you wish you could tweak now, seeing how it all turned out on the final pages?

PAK: So far in prepping for the hardcover, I've found just two corrections. This has really been a labor of love -- I think every person who worked on the book went above and beyond, making every page and every panel the best they could be.

As a writer, one thing I wish is that I'd made a bit of space to expand Elloe's story. She's the only one of Hulk's Warbound companions whom we never showed telling the others the story of her past. We definitely know her story and gave hints of it in scenes with her father, Lavin Skee, and her mother. But there's definitely more to explore there. Someday...

THE PULSE: Now that Hulk's headed towards earth with a mad on for the Illuminati, it seems as if this might divide the heroes like the Civil War .... I know you don't want to spoil everything, but who are a few of the heroes on the Jade Giant's side that people might be surprised to see thinking Hulk's in the right? Flip side, who are some of the opposition that folks might find it hard to believe would oppose him in this?

PAK: Sneaky, sneaky, Jen! You know I can't say too much, here. But I will say during the course of "Incredible Hulk" #106-109, teen genius and number one Hulk fan Amadeus Cho will try to recruit a number of heroes to fight on the Hulk's side. I won't say who joins him, but I will say that among the people he encounters are She-Hulk, Doc Samson, Namor, Hercules, Angel, Namora, S.H.I.E.L.D. Commander Gabe Jones, and the Scorpion. Who says yes and who says no? Find out starting with "Incredible Hulk" #106 on May 2!

THE PULSE: It seems as if the events in the Incredible Hulk right now have been very purposely thought out and considered, even before anything unfolds on the page. How long has it taken you to template the events that you wanted to play out in this story?

PAK: We've been planning for this story for almost two years, when I first started working on "Planet Hulk." What goes up must come down -- we always knew that as "Planet Hulk" wrapped, "World War Hulk" would begin. So I've been hammering out this storyline with the help of editor Mark Paniccia and the input of a slew of other Marvel editors and writers over the course of many, many months.

THE PULSE: What have been some of the biggest challenges with making sure everything unfolded in the way you wanted on the printed page? How tough was it to get this all to play out?

PAK: Once we nailed the outline down, I was good to go. A good outline makes everything clear -- so from the beginning, we knew our themes, our key plot points, and the main thrust and purpose of each issue within our larger epic. Of course, there were a million challenges along the way, but it's relatively easy to handle small problems when you understand how everything fits together in the big picture.

THE PULSE: It seems as if Warbound might just be the tip of the iceberg for the future of the Hulk .... how far down the line are your plans for this series?

PAK: I can't reveal too much -- I'll just say that the Warbound and the themes and world of "Planet Hulk" won't be forgotten.

THE PULSE: Many comic fans are excited that Gary Frank is returning to the pages of The Incredible Hulk. How does it feel to have him bringing your words to life?

PAK: Gary Frank is incredible. Like all the artists on "Planet Hulk," he's a demon for detail and has done an incredible job cramming a huge amount of information into each panel while keeping the images clean and gorgeous and dynamic. And he draws a mean Jen Walters -- and an even meaner She-Hulk -- check out "Incredible Hulk" #106 for more!

THE PULSE: How much input have the artists you've worked with recently had in the presentation of the story? How open are you to their feedback?

PAK: Having been trained as a film director, I tend to have a very strong sense of what I'm looking for in terms of visual storytelling and I probably load up my comic scripts with more visual details than another writer might. But just as I'm always eager to work collaboratively with my cinematographer on a film set, I'm always thrilled when my pencilers bring that extra something or find a better way of depicting a scene than I could ever have imagined on my own. Aaron Lopresti and I used to trade emails all the time during "Planet Hulk" -- Aaron's also trained as a filmmaker, actually, and has a great sense of story.

He'd catch all my mistakes and often add a panel or two to make sure we were telling the story clearly, which was awesome. In the case of "World War Hulk," John Romita, Jr. has opened up the script in a number of key places, turning what were small panels on a multi-panel page into giant full page splashes. He's a legend for good reason -- he knows better than just about anyone on the planet how to make those big moments blow off the page.

THE PULSE: How do you think working on this type of epic comic book story has changed the way you view the creative process behind the comic books in general?

PAK: It's confirmed to me the enormous value of having a strong editor. Mark Paniccia's been my partner in crime throughout the entire process -- "Planet Hulk" would not be the book it is without his constant guidance, support, and creative input. It's a been a kick every step of the way in no small part due to the fact that every time I had one of my big crazy ideas, Mark could see how it fit into our story and themes and encouraged me to go for it. For months, the highlight of my week was huddling with Mark in dark corners of the Marvel office cackling over the next insane thing we were going to do. I'll also say that Assistant Editor Nate Cosby played a huge role as well -- he coordinated all of the corrections we'd make to the balloons along the way, challenged me to make things better and clearer, and always gave me every opportunity to nail down every line of dialogue to all of our satisfaction. That kind of support and respect makes a huge difference.

THE PULSE: What have you enjoyed the most about working on a story of this scope?

PAK: There's a huge amount of pleasure in seeing things pay off that we seeded over twelve issues ago. The slow burn is awesome.

THE PULSE: What other projects are you working on?

PAK: I'm writing the last issue of my "Battlestar Galactica" run for Dynamite, which has been a heck of a ride. The first trade should be hitting stores soon, actually -- check in with www.pakbuzz.com for publication dates. And I'm about to start two new projects for Marvel, which I can't talk about just yet, alas. I'll just say that one of them may be the most challenging project I've ever undertaken and the other is a crazy fever dream come true. How's that for a teaser?

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The following was originally posted on Newsarama.com:

NRAMA: Moving things over to the guests, then…we’re going to have you to put modesty aside for a moment, as you are one of a small handful of creators asked to be part of this…What do you hope as an individual to bring to the table at a session like this one? A particular unique skill or insight?

Greg Pak: As the "World War Hulk" guy, one of my jobs was to help set the stage for brainstorming about what comes next. And I tried to impress Ralph Macchio with a reference to an obscure Marvel villain from the seventies at least once a day.

NRAMA: What corner of the Marvel Universe do you expect or would like to see get some love in the next year or so?

Pak: All Hulk, all the time, baby!

NRAMA: Greg, given we know World War Hulk is in fact just the second act of a three act Hulk story, is that your role this week? To make sure that not only WWH but what comes after is understood by all as the bigger framework is built?

Pak: This summit gave us a great chance to delve into possible post-"World War Hulk" ramifications for the Marvel Universe, and I'm extremely excited by some of the ideas that came up -- particularly those regarding one of Hulk's primary WWH antagonists, whose alliterative name I dare not mention. Editor Mark Paniccia and I also hobnobbed quite a bit about our plans for our super-secret third part of our trilogy -- my personal coup for the day was securing a certain key character to play a big lead role in the book.

For the complete article, click here.

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The following was originally posted on WizardUniverse.com:

The Green Goliath returns to Earth with revenge on his mind, and we outline his unstoppable battle plans against the heroes of the Marvel Universe

The time for talk has come and gone—the time for smashing has arrived.

Over a year ago, the Illuminati—Marvel’s secret society consisting of Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Professor X, Namor and Black Bolt—deemed the Hulk too dangerous to remain on Earth and banished him to space. They thought they’d found a peaceful planet for his exile; instead, a wormhole knocked the Jade Giant off track and landed him on the savage, war-ravaged planet of Sakaar. Now, the Hulk has found his way home, and he’s not alone.

“To survive [on Sakaar], the Hulk had to be crafty,” says Greg Pak (pronounced “pock”), writer of Incredible Hulk and, starting in June, the five-issue miniseries World War Hulk. “He had to make friends, and they became his warbound companions. He has learned from them, and has a whole new level of smarts when it comes to how he fights.”

During the Hulk’s exile, the Marvel Universe has undergone Civil War, with Tony Stark—aka Iron Man—emerging as the figurehead of a new, more organized superhuman community, but one still feeling the sting of internal strife.

“There’s a whole new level of organization which theoretically should make it easier for them to respond to this kind of threat,” begins Pak. “But there are a lot of people, key people, who have an issue with the current regime. What happened during Civil War may affect who is crazy enough to side with the Hulk.”

Join Wizard as we play armchair Iron Man, pitting the toughest of the Marvel Universe against the Hulk and then watching them fall like dominoes as Pak gives us the inside scoop on Marvel’s most hard-hitting event of the summer.

THE SENTRY

WHAT WORKED BEFORE: The one-time best buddy of the formerly childlike Hulk, the powerful Golden Guardian of Good will likely be Stark’s first line of defense as he marshals his other forces. In the past, the Sentry possessed the power to calm the Hulk and make him docile—and if he can do that here, he can lure Jade Jaws in for the takedown.

WHY IT WON’T ANYMORE: To put it bluntly, this Hulk ain’t dumb. Now a cunning strategist, the Hulk would predict Stark’s deployment of the Sentry and take measures to ensure he will not be ensnared. A shocked Sentry, never the most stable guy to begin with, won’t be able to keep his sh-- together, and the jarring change in his old pal will prove his undoing.

PAK TALK: “It’s worth remembering that the last time the Sentry and the Hulk spent any time together [in the 2000-01 Sentry miniseries], Sentry lied to Hulk, and Hulk ended up getting every bone in his body broken. The old Hulk might forgive Sentry for that, but who knows this time around.”

THE AVENGERS

WHAT WORKED BEFORE: With the Sentry down, Stark turns to his elite strike force, the Mighty Avengers, while the prodigal New Avengers likely also get involved to ensure the safety of team member Doctor Strange. Strength in numbers has always been the advantage that Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have held over the Hulk; in this case, relatively minor nuisances like Spider-Man, Black Widow, Iron Fist and the Wasp can keep him distracted as powerhouses Ms. Marvel, Luke Cage, Wonder Man and Ares prepare to knock him out. If all else fails, it’s time for the Sorcerer Supreme to get busy.

WHY IT WON’T ANYMORE: The Hulk’s not alone anymore; his army from Sakaar nullifies the Avengers’ edge in personnel and allows him to pick and choose his targets. Strange, the one guy who might be able to turn the tide, may hesitate, as he felt conflicted over sending his old Defenders teammate into space in the first place. A split second of deliberation is all the cunning Hulk needs to remove the mystic from the board.

PAK TALK: “Would the New Avengers have any sort of interest in helping the Hulk, given that they don’t like this new regime Tony has going on? Would the Hulk ever be able to forgive Strange so that could happen? It should be pretty interesting to see what happens with all that.”

THE FANTASTIC FOUR

WHAT WORKED BEFORE: His personal troops somewhat exhausted, Stark turns to one team that has proven capable of handling the Hulk in the past: the FF. While the Thing slugs it out with his perennial rival, the Human Torch serves as an irritant, buying Mr. Fantastic enough time to cobble together some sort of device to contain their foe. If that doesn’t work, well, the Invisible Woman has knocked down the Hulk before.

WHY IT WON’T ANYMORE: Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman: currently out of the picture. Black Panther doesn’t possess quite the same level of smarts as Reed Richards does, and while Storm boasts an impressive power set, it’s not on the same level as Sue. The Hulk tears through this less fantastic lineup and moves on.

PAK TALK: “[The Thing] and the Hulk have a lot in common. Ben is not susceptible to the same kind of rage, so it’s easier for him to be accepted, but he has still been vilified by ignorant people. In a lot of ways, Ben has more in common with the Hulk than [he does] with Reed Richards.”

THOR

WHAT WORKED BEFORE: If Stark’s lucky, Thor will still answer his calls after that clone cyborg debacle during Civil War. Should the Thunder God enter the fray, he can prove the difference maker, as he boasts physical strength on par with the Hulk as well as abilities that tall, green and gruesome lacks, such as flight and a nifty all-purpose uru hammer.

WHY IT WON’T ANYMORE: Again, Hulk’s got an army—one that includes former Thor sparring partner Korg, one of the stone men from Saturn—and there’s nary an Asgardian in sight these days. Sakaar’s finest fighting forces swarm Goldilocks, then Hulk swoops in with a smirk and a nasty right hook.

PAK TALK: “Part of the thing about this warbound crew from ‘Planet Hulk’ is that they’re not scared of anybody. They have fought in legendary mythic battles against foes nobody should be able to defeat and they’ve triumphed. If Earth wants to throw a god at them, they’re perfectly ready to go for it.”

IRON MAN

WHAT WORKED BEFORE: Bodies strewn about him on the battlefield, Tony Stark has no choice but to finally pull himself out of reserve and enter the fray. No dummy, when Iron Man has gone up against physically superior specimens such as Thor and the Hulk in the past, he doesn’t just go in swinging; historically, he builds bigger, badder armors designed specifically to take out his target. With a souped-up version of his old “Hulkbuster” gear, Shell-head cranks the repulsor rays up to 11 and does the job himself.

WHY IT WON’T ANYMORE: The Hulk has faced Iron Man’s toys before, but this time he brings a few of his own to the table. Having spent months on an alien planet with exposure to a multitude of advanced cultures, Hulk possesses some technology even Iron Man will find impossible to combat. Nobody has earned the ire of the Hulk more than Tony Stark, and the king of Sakaar will leave nothing to chance in this final battle.

PAK TALK: “Whether or not you agree with [Tony], you can’t deny his belief in what he does or that he’s willing to play the villain and have everybody hate him if the result is that the world is safe. That may be his greatest weapon in this fight: He will do whatever is necessary. Just as Iron Man has never really had to deal with a Hulk who won’t hold back, the Hulk has never had to deal with an Iron Man who won’t hold back.”

THE INITIATIVE

WHAT WORKED BEFORE: Before he takes off to battle the Hulk himself, Tony Stark leaves the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D. with one final order: “If I don’t come back, get that superhero army we’ve been training on standby.” Once Iron Man falls, the true war of attrition begins.

WHY IT WON’T ANYMORE: Actually…this could work, but the scale of destruction would make Civil War look like a minor schoolyard scuffle. Armies, superhuman or otherwise, mean all-out war, and that means major collateral damage and casualties. To paraphrase Dalton from “Road House,” no one wins in a fight like this.

PAK TALK: “The Initiative is one of those things that Hulk, having been away over the course of Civil War, doesn’t know anything about. They may indeed be the ace in the hole.”

SMASH HITS

'World War Hulk' carries the Earth-shattering battle into these tie-in titles

GHOST RIDER The Spirit of Vengeance journeys to New York City in June’s issue #12 by writer Daniel Way and artist Javier Saltares. Johnny Blaze may have the flaming stones to go head-on with the Hulk, but will he get barbequed? The action flows into July’s issue #13.

HEROES FOR HIRE It’s four issues of all-out war for the HFH crew beginning with June’s issue #11 courtesy of writer Zeb Wells and artist Clay Mann. While the Avengers of the world take on the Hulk, Misty Knight and company take it to his troops.

IRON MAN The guest creative team of writer Christos Gage and artist Butch Guice pit Tony Stark against a rampaging Green Goliath intent on kicking his iron ass in issues #19 and #20, due out in June and July, respectively.

IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN The chaos reaches a fever pitch in July, as issue #10 finds Ant-Man trying his best to take advantage in an adventure by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Phil Hester.

WORLD WAR HULK: FRONT LINE A six-issue miniseries launching in June and shipping every other week, this latest edition of the street level look at the Marvel Universe reunites Civil War: Front Line creators writer Paul Jenkins and artist Ramon Bachs as well as stars Ben Urich and Sally Floyd, who do their best to get the story behind the Hulk’s angry return.

WORLD WAR HULK: GAMMA CORPS What does the war mean for other irradiated friends and foes of the Hulk? Writer Frank Tieri and artist Carlos Ferreira answer that question in this four-issue mini-series beginning in July.

WORLD WAR HULK: X-MEN When the Hulk attacks Professor X seeking to know what role the telepath played in the Illuminati’s decision to launch him into space, it will be up to every single X-Man to halt the path of destruction in this three-issue June-launching miniseries by Gage and artist Andrea Di Vito.

WORLD WAR HULK: YOUNG AVENGERS Earth’s Mightiest Teenagers have their first encounter with the Hulk in this August one-shot by the all-star creative team of writer Jeph Loeb and artist David Finch.

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The following was originally posted on ComicsContinuum.com:

FIRST LOOK: INCREDIBLE HULK #106

Incredible Hulk #106 will arrive in stores on May 2 from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Greg Pak, with art and cover by Gary Frank.

Here's how Marvel describes the book:

"'Warbound,' part 1. When the Hulk returns to Earth for the senses-shattering events of 'World War Hulk,' we can all guess which puny humans will fight against him. But which of Earth's heroes will fight for the Hulk? Don't miss the shocking revelations as Amadeus Cho, the boy genius who took on Reed Richards on behalf of the Hulk in Incredible Hulk #100, confronts She-Hulk and Doc Samson -- and precipitates a gamma-powered smash-fest in the wilds of Jersey!"

Incredible Hulk #106 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.99.

For the complete 5 page preview, click here.

For an updated 8 page preview, click here.

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The following was originally posted on ComicsContinuum.com:

FIRST LOOK: WORLD WAR HULK PROLOGUE: WORLD BREAKER

World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker will arrive in stores on May 2 from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Peter David, with art by Al Rio, Lee Weeks and Sean Phillips and a cover by John Romita Jr.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Hulk is coming and no power on Earth can stop him from getting revenge on the Illuminati! What events have led up to the super-human battle-to-end-all-battles? As Hulk's great stone ship approaches the planet, he prepares for the war on the horizon by reliving past conflicts with Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange and the Inhumans. This is the perfect jumping-on point for this summer's super hero-smashing, city-leveling, bone-crushing, Marvel history-making event!"

World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker will be 64 pages and will cost $3.99.

For the complete 4 page preview, click here.

For an updated 7 page preview, click here.

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The following was originally posted on ComicBookResources.com:

Pittsburgh--This just in. The Pittsburgh Comic Con taking place this weekend, April 27-29th in Monroeville, PA is hosting it's amazing charity auction to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation this Saturday, and Michael Golden's heart-pounding rendition of the savage Hulk will be smashing in to add some mean-green-machine muscle to the worthwhile occasion.

Measuring an ample 24x24, this canvas giclee by Golden is an artist proof of 1/1 signed by the creator, and features his rendition of a classic rampaging Hulk dealing with a little rush hour traffic. It's a perfect Golden piece to appear as this same work has just been selected for inclusion in the renowned magazine, "Spectrum 14," not to mention that Golden is the main designer for all the Hulk signage at Universal Orlando. Yup, that Hulk in the Orlando airport is indeed a Golden!

This is a rare opportunity to own a Hulk piece by Rogue's co-creator and help a great charity all at the same time. And, as if you needed another reason: ON THE BACK of this stretched cotton canvas, available only at the Pittsburgh Comic Con charity auction, is an original Michael Golden sketch!!! We suggest framing this piece so that you can also display the original pencils bursting from the seams of this fantastic piece of artwork.

And, as mentioned, it's all for a terrific cause--Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, reaching more than 144,000 children worldwide, and becoming one of the world's most well-known charities while maintaining it's grassroots ideals. As the Foundation continues to mature, it's mission will remain steadfast; working so that children of the past, present, and future will have an opportunity to share the power of a wish. (Visit www.wish.org for more information.)

While Golden won't be on hand at the Pittsburgh show this year, you can bid on this work as well as pieces by many attending artists, at the auction scheduled for Saturday, April 28th from 7:00-10:00 pm. For more information on the Pittsburgh Comic Con and possible proxy bidding on this piece, contact pcomicon@floodcity.net or visit www.PittsbughcomiCon.com

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The following was originally posted on ComixFan.com:

GREG PAK: HULK SMASH PUNY ILLUMINATI!
By Gary M. Miller, Comixfan Staff Writer

Since his entrance into the comics scene in 2005 writing such Marvel Comics titles as Warlock and X-Men: Phoenix Endsong, independent filmmaker Greg Pak has seen his star steadily rising. Now, after over a year reporting the Incredible Hulk's adventures on the faraway planet Sakaar, during which the titular hero has seen a rise in sales and growing appreciation in the comics press and public, Greg--and the Hulk--are off to war. (No, not Civil War--that event is so 2006.)

World War Hulk is a five-issue miniseries with tie-in issues across the Marvel line. Recently, Comixfan talked to Rhodes Scholar (!) Pak about "Planet Hulk," World War Hulk, and all the minutiae that have made The Incredible Hulk into one of Marvel's "must-read" series.

Comixfan: For those who haven't been following "Planet Hulk," give us some background on the saga that's been going on for this last year, leading inexorably into World War Hulk.

Greg Pak: A group of so called Marvel "heroes," including Mister Fantastic, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, and Black Bolt, decided the Hulk was a monster and exiled him to an alien planet. Weakened by the trip through the wormhole that took him to the savage planet of Sakaar, the Hulk was enslaved, then forced to become a gladiator. Bonding with his fellow gladiators, the Hulk became a rebel, fighting against the wicked Red King and eventually becoming the planet's conquering emperor, taking the great woman warrior Caiera the Oldstrong as his queen.

Now the Hulk is returning to Earth. And he's going to teach those who exiled him who the monster in this story really is.

Comixfan: The genesis of "Planet Hulk" was in Joe Quesada's vision of the Hulk holding a giant broadsword in an alien landscape. What, then, was the impetus for World War Hulk?

Pak: From the beginning we knew that if you send the Hulk away, he'll eventually come back. And much smashing would ensue.

Comixfan: What separates this "Hulk vs. Everyone" story from previous such battles?

Pak: In the classic battles in The Incredible Hulk #300, #316, and #321, the Hulk was insane -- mindless rage personified. He'd been stripped of rationality by Nightmare in #300--in #316 and #321, Banner had been separated from the Hulk's body by Doc Samson. But the Hulk's not only fully aware of who he is and what he's doing -- during the course of his time on Sakaar, he's developed an entire ethos and community. When he comes back to Earth, he knows exactly what he's doing and why and is utterly convinced of the justice of his actions -- which should make him far more terrifying to those who are in his sights.

Comixfan: You've touched on changes to the Hulk since the last time such a large-scale battle has occurred. Can you elaborate?

Pak: The Hulk has been through many different incarnations -- the average person's probably most familiar with the caveman-speak savage Hulk and the mute Hulk from the television series. But for "Planet Hulk," we're taking inspiration from Peter David's run as well as the original Stan Lee stories from the very first appearances of the Hulk back in the 1960s. Our Hulk is crafty--he doesn't say much, but when he speaks, it's clear he knows exactly what's going on and how to deal with things. He's smart enough to learn and strategize -- which means he can understand and take responsibility for his actions. But at the same time, he's as angry and savage as ever. So we have a character who can really struggle with this central question of whether the Hulk is a hero or a monster.

During the course of our story, the Hulk's grown from someone who's full of rage towards everything and everyone to someone who's actually begun to trust the people who prove themselves to him. The strength and anger which make humans call the Hulk a monster are actually virtues on the savage planet of Sakaar. And as he's led the Warbound gladiators against the Red King, the Hulk has begun to wrap his head around the possibility that he might actually have a place, a world, a people, and a Queen to call his own.

Comixfan: The Hulk's alter ego, Bruce Banner, has been conspicuously absent from the majority of "Planet Hulk," and gone with him the dichotomous tension some say is essential to the Hulk. Will this dynamic change in World War Hulk? And how does the metamorphosis between man and monster operate these days?

Pak: Banner's always been present in "Planet Hulk" -- we just haven't seen him. We've given some hints in The Incredible Hulk #103 about Banner's evolving relationship with his big, green alter ego -- more will be revealed during the course of World War Hulk.

Comixfan: The Hulk can be a formidable force by himself, but he's had his "Warbound" group to side with on Sakaar. Introduce us to some of the Hulk's allies during World War Hulk.

Pak: In The Incredible Hulk #103, Hulk married the wicked Red King's former bodyguard, the fierce woman warrior known as Caiera the Oldstrong. His other allies include the insectivorid Miek, the last king of his dying race; the nameless Brood Creature, perhaps the last surviving member of the species best known as impacable X-Men foes; Korg the Kronan, a great stone man who was one of the very first opponents of the Earth hero you puny humans know as Thor; Elloe Kaifi, an angry young Imperial woman from Sakaar; and Hiroim the Shamed, a Shadow Priest turned warrior.

Comixfan: Tell us more about the Hulk's queen, Caiera--how the idea for her came to be, and explain the differences between her and love interests in the Hulk and Banner's past.

Pak: One big idea of "Planet Hulk" was to see how the Hulk would react if he were thrown into a world where his anger and strength might actually be virtues. Caiera is a woman warrior on this savage planet who can actually match the Hulk's strength -- and appreciate him precisely because of his fury and power. I'm a big fan of previous Hulk/Banner love interests, such as Betty, Jarella, and Kate Waynesboro. But most of these women spent most of their time in love with Banner, or in love with the Banner in the Hulk's body. Caiera may be unique in loving the Hulk first and foremost as the Hulk.

Comixfan: Which of the Hulk's Warbound allies has been the most interesting/fun to write? Why?

Pak: I love 'em all. Korg has probably been the most fun from the beginning--he's a rock, the Warbound's heart and soul, and I've really enjoyed finding his steady voice. More recently, Hiroim's been developing in interesting ways--his spiritual struggle feels more compelling with each passing issue. But it's Caiera who's been the most gratifying to write over the past few issues -- she's grown enormously as a character, progressing from the Hulk's enemy to wary ally to lover and Queen. She has incredible strength and integrity -- it's been a real kick watching her develop.

Look for big moments for...[all of the Hulk's] Warbound -- in the pages of World War Hulk.

Comixfan: The Hulk seems to be quite at home on Sakaar. He's king, he's married, he has friends there. Is he merely returning to Earth for revenge, or is there more to it? And do all of the Hulk's Warbound brethren reach Earth?

Pak: At least three will return with him. Beyond that, I can say no more. All will be revealed in The Incredible Hulk #105, the climactic issue of the "Planet Hulk" saga.

Comixfan: The converse of the above: who are some of the Hulk's main antagonists once he returns to Earth?

Pak: The Hulk has four principal targets -- Mister Fantastic, Iron Man, Black Bolt, and Dr. Strange, the four so-called heroes who exiled him to Sakaar. But anyone who gets in his way had best update any relevant health insurance documents.

Comixfan: With all the emphasis on the Hulk's new warbound friends and on the conflict with Earth's superheroes, will the Hulk's main friends on Earth, such as Rick Jones, Betty Banner, et al, be seen during this conflict? What about General Ross, and the Hulk's other foes?

Pak: I can't say too much for fear of spoilers--but at least one of the characters you mention above will play a key role in World War Hulk.

Comixfan: Much has changed since the Hulk departed Earth--all more or less detailed in 2006's big Marvel event, Civil War. How does the Hulk view what has happened in his absence, and how do those situations play into the setup for World War Hulk?

Pak: Again, I can't say too much for fear of spoilers, but fallout from the Civil War has affected a number of characters in interesting ways--and may help determine which Marvel heroes are crazy enough to actually side with the Hulk when he returns. The story of these heroes is told in The Incredible Hulk #106 to #109, which runs concurrently with the World War Hulk miniseries.

Comixfan: Could this same storyline have been told without the backdrop of Civil War? Why or why not?

Pak: In an interesting way, this story has framed the Civil War. The Illuminati exiling the Hulk heralded the beginning of the divisions that led to Civil War; now, the Hulk's return will play out against the aftermath of Civil War.

Comixfan: What will the main thrust of The Incredible Hulk (the main title) be during World War Hulk?

Pak: We all know who's going to fight the Hulk when he returns--but who will fight for the Hulk? The ongoing series follows teen-genius-on-the-run Amadeus Cho, a.k.a. Mastermind Excello, as he tracks down potential allies of the Hulk in anticipation of the Green Goliath's return to Earth. [If you're interested in seeing where She-Hulk and Namor stand, don't miss The Incredible Hulk #106 and #107, respectively.

Comixfan: From writing the World War Hulk mini so far, have there been any characters, aside from the Hulk and his Warbound brethren, who have stolen the show, or been just plain fun to write? Who and why?

Pak: Within World War Hulk, I'm having a ton of fun with Dr. Strange--his scenes promise to be both poignant and terrifying. Within The Incredible Hulk book, Amadeus Cho and Hercules are a huge amount of fun to write -- they're part of a group of renegades who will play a critical role in The Incredible Hulk #108 and #109.

Comixfan: What other Marvel staffters were involved in planning World War Hulk?

Pak: Editor Mark Paniccia is my chief partner in crime. But in a project this big, many, many people have provided input along the way. Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada has played a critical role, all of the various Marvel editors have had their say, and the project's been discussed at a number of creative summits where other writers had a chance to bat ideas around. And now that the tie-in books are underway, there's a whole 'nother group of writers and editors that we're conferring with as we proceed in order to make sure all the stories make sense and fit together.

Comixfan: As a first-time writer of a line-wide event, what have you found to be the pros and cons of writing a story on such a big scale?

Pak: The pros include having the chance to play with all the toys in the Marvel Universe at once, which is incredible. The cons include the fact that a story gets analyzed by a dozen or more people and you have to constantly convince the group of how essential and awesome each element of the story is. Of course, in many ways, that's actually a positive, since the rigorous criticism and feedback you get on a project like this can really hone a story in a fantastic way.

Comixfan: World War Hulk will have many tie-in issues (a Peter David-written prelude, World War Hulk Prologue: Worldbreaker; Christos Gage's World War Hulk: X-Men mini; etc.). How much freedom have you had in shaping the storyline, how much coordination have you done, and how much have you left to your capable editor, Mark Paniccia, and Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada?

Pak: With an event this big, there are a million different factors which can affect the story -- from practical issues like publishing schedules to creative challenges like making the story work in conjunction with dozens of other ongoing stories within the Marvel Universe. Throughout the months of story development, there were multiple times when Mark and I would need to rework the outline based on a brand new kink. I think the trick is to know what your story is--to fully understand the central premise and emotional experience of your main character. Then you can roll with the punches, adjusting small and big details when necessary, because the central story's crystal clear--it's just a matter of choosing the best path to take in telling it.

Without a doubt, Mark's the true coordinator -- the grand shepherd of the entire event. But he's pulled me into every stage of the process as the kind of resident expert on the characters and stories and themes of "Planet Hulk" and World War Hulk, which has been great -- it's always fun to talk with other writers and it's a blast to bounce ideas around and see what folks are doing with the characters. I've been trading emails with Paul Jenkins (who's writing the Frontlines tie-in) and Christos Gage (the X-Men and Iron Man tie ins) and just had a very fun exchange with Zeb Wells regarding his Heroes for Hire crossover, which'll have everyone buggin' out.

Comixfan: The classic trouble with line-wide crossovers often comes down to style over substance. What differentiates World War Hulk from other big events?

Pak: Just about nothing promises more incredible action that a Hulk-versus-the-Marvel Universe storyline. So for sheer visceral thrills, you just can't beat World War Hulk. But what makes the story really work is the emotional arc at its core. We've been planning this story for years; it's the culmination of all the character building that's been going on all year in "Planet Hulk." This isn't just the biggest action piece in ages; it's also the biggest and most critical emotional and character piece for the Hulk in recent memory. Don'tcha dare miss it!

Comixfan: Well said. On that note, let's start closing things out. Personally speaking, what have been the highlights of working on The Incredible Hulk for your first year?

Pak: Every single issue's been a highlight. Honestly, "Planet Hulk" may be the most gratifying creative experience I've had thus far in comics--working with editor extraordinaire Mark Paniccia, artists like Carlo Pagulayan, Aaron Lopresti, and Gary Frank, and the entire creative team has been a dream. I think all of us have felt that the book is something special and have gone that extra mile to make every panel and every word as perfect as possible. I remember talking with Chris Sotomayor about the color palate of the planet -- he came up with the brilliant idea that the Hulk should be the only green thing we see--except for Caiera's eyes, giving a kind of subtle hint of their eventual relationship. I remember Aaron Lopresti doing five or six layouts of one big splash page until he found just the right image. I remember assistant editor Nate Cosby calling me to talk about the best word to pick for the Sakaarian equivalent of "mile." It's been an amazing experience, and I hugely appreciate all of the people who have worked so hard to make it come together.

Comixfan: You say one of the key lures to World War Hulk is matching the Hulk against the entire Marvel Universe. What do you have to say to those out there who may not be huge Hulk fans and are sitting on the fence as to whether to participate in Marvel's latest big crossover story?

Pak: First, you should be a Hulk fan! The ginormous hardcover trade of "Planet Hulk" is coming out in June, I believe, and that's a great chance to jump on board an epic Hulk tale that leads right into "World War Hulk." A large number of our readers hadn't ever read the Hulk or hadn't followed the book for years and are now hooked--it's an easy place to start, so come on board!

Second, World War Hulk features some giant moments for a number of key Marvel heroes as they face the consequences of their actions from before and during Civil War. If you want to find out what's happening to the big guns in the Marvel Universe this summer, you need to read World War Hulk.

Comixfan: One last thing: have you gotten your "Planet Hulk" action figure (released as part of the first wave of Hasbro's Marvel Legends series) yet? Seeing such a thing must be a pleasant surprise.

Pak: I did indeed get it, and it's awesome. Of course, now I want figures of Caiera and Korg and Hiroim and Brood and Elloe and Miek...

Comixfan: Thanks for the great interview, Greg. Anyone wishing to know more about Greg's future projects can visit his website, http://www.pakbuzz.com!

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