The following was originally posted on Newsarama.com:

Marvel’s World War Hulk isn’t your ordinary company cross-over event. It’s really a series of interconnected ‘reunions’: the Hulk returning to his home on Earth; some of the original Champions reuniting to help the Hulk in his crusade for vengeance; the Hulk’s fist reuniting with the faceplate of Tony Stark’s Iron Man armor; and the reunion of fan favorite artist Gary Frank with the character that garnered his first mainstream artistic success, the Hulk. Hot off of the successes of Midnight Nation and Supreme Power, Frank’s announced inclusion on Greg Pak’s follow-up to the epic Planet Hulk storyline was met with cheers and adulations from hardcore Hulk fans.

We were fortunate enough to steal Gary away from his busy schedule to chat with him for a few moments about his upcoming work on World War Hulk; as well as, his history with the character and his thoughts on some of the artistic talent rising to the forefront of the industry.

Newsarama: How does it feel to be returning to the Hulk? How are things different this time around?

Gary Frank: It feels great. The Hulk is always going to have a special meaning for me because it is the book that really got me going at Marvel in the US. I suddenly found myself drawing a character I had loved as a kid, which was great, and right slap in the middle of the greatest run from one of the book's greatest writers. It seems that anyone who has followed the Hulk's history has a special fondness for the stories that Peter [David] was doing around that time.

I've been dying to just get back to drawing the character again. In the intervening years since I was last on the book, I've thought a lot about how I'd like to approach things if I ever got the chance. Little things like the features having a brutal and ancient look to them, or trying to give the impression of great power without resorting to blowing him up into something grotesque with muscles upon muscles.

Coming back now was cool because it seems that Greg has really given the book a shot in the arm. People are talking about Hulk with an excitement that reminds me of the David/Keown times.

NRAMA: What do you remember of your initial stint as the regular Hulk artist?

GF: Just the good parts, luckily. Seriously, though, it was an unbelievable time for me. There were some great soap opera moments which were a lot of fun. I guess I was the reverse of many artists in that I found the character scenes easier in the early days than the action stuff so I couldn't have asked for more from Peter.

NRAMA: What’s it like to work with Greg Pak? Does he keep close tabs with you during your artistic process—or does he basically let his scripted work stand on its own?

GF: He scripts very tightly; but whenever I felt I needed to make an adjustment, he was always great about it. I think a good writer accepts that a reasonably experienced artist should know their own limitations and lets them have the freedom to fine tune the mechanics of the story-telling.

NRAMA: What’s been the most challenging part of The Incredible Hulk issues of World War Hulk for you as an artist?

GF: Well, there are a lot of technical issues that crop up when you draw a book that is part of such a big event. A lot of things have to marry into events in other books which means a lot of blank spaces being filled in as and when [the individual works are completed]. To be honest though, the challenge was the same as it always is. The thing I worry most about is clarity. Can readers immediately see what is going on? Do they know where this character is coming from? Those are the things I worry about most.

The thing that ruins a comic for me is the moment when I have to try to work out what is going on and, in that instant, lose the immersion in the story.

NRAMA: When you draw the Hulk—do you draw inspiration from anywhere? He’s not just some big green dude right?

GF: No, he isn't. The Hulk, to me anyway, represents something that exists within us—something primal and terrifying. To that end, I've tried to give him a kind of primitive, animalistic quality, like the sudden ‘throw up’ of ancient genes. He is a manifestation of our rage and unlimited potential for destruction—things we should have evolved beyond which we can't quite suppress.

NRAMA: Of Hulk’s new “Warbound” allies, who is your favorite? Of all of his overall supporting cast members—who do you enjoy drawing? Anyone not so much?

GF: Without giving the game away to those that haven't read it yet, I have to say that I loved doing She-Hulk. I love that book and what Dan Slott has done with the character so I was keen to play around with her (so to speak).

NRAMA: Do you have a favorite Hulk story you’ve worked on or piece you’ve drawn?

GF: I really enjoyed the wedding/bachelor party issues [from the original series]. They were a lot of fun. I find the art a little hard to look at these days, though. Presently, on the art front, I am pleased with the cover to #107.

NRAMA: Pick your favorite: Savage, Joe Fixit, the Professor, the Maestro, the Devil-Hulk, or the latest incarnation, what Greg Pak referred to in his interview with Newsarama as the ‘Gravage’ Hulk? What do you think fans should call Greg Pak’s version of the Hulk?

GF: Savage—definitely. It's the classic, pure version. I think [the newest] version should be called “Green Scar-tacus”.

We can drop the hyphen once it enters worldwide usage.

NRAMA: Who are some other contemporary comic artists that you enjoy? Have you noticed any young artists that are rising to the forefront of the industry?

GF: I should be careful because I don't know how old most of the guys are—being in Europe, I don't get to meet many of my peers—and I'd hate to offend someone who may have been working away for years while I remained ignorant of their career.

There are a lot of great guys out there at the moment. I don't get to read too many comics because I'm a long, long way from a comic shop that stocks US stuff—but there are guys whose work I will try and grab whenever it is available. At the moment, I really love looking at Leinil Yu's work. He draws with such balls and confidence. Can I use the word ‘confidence’? (laughing)

NRAMA: Yes, sure – just this once. What kind of advice would you give young artists that want to pursue careers in the comic book industry?

GF: Storytelling, storytelling, storytelling. All things come and go but a good story, well told, will always keep readers coming back. If you learn how to tell a story properly, there will always be a writer willing to throw you a script.

NRAMA: What projects will you be pursuing after World War Hulk ends?

GF: I'm afraid that announcement will have to wait for a little while yet. Sorry.

NRAMA: To wrap up, would you like to tease all of the bloodthirsty Hulk fans with any kind of tease in regards to anything you’ve had to draw for the project so far? Did you get to draw a certain “armored a-hole” getting smashed by the Earth’s mightiest mortal?

GF: For a panel and a half. The rest of that particular reunion happens elsewhere. I will say that the Hulk's meeting with Hercules will hopefully be savage enough to give the bloodthirsty Hulk fans their fix.

For the complete article with additional images, click here.

Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.