http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/ HulkSmash.net is the sister site for HulkMovie.com and is an up to date online resource for the Hulk. This site contains the latest information on the Hulk comic book series as well as all other Hulk-related items. en Copyright 2007 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:47:27 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Testing http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/12/test.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/12/test.html Updates Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:47:27 -0800 ComicbookResources.com: On the eve of World War: Hulk #1, CBR News returns for the final installment of our Tale of the Tape series. Last time, writer Greg Pak played fight doctor and gave us his thoughts on a possible match up between the Hulk and Dr. Strange. Now in round four, we're pitting the Green King against Marvel Comics' walking and thinking arsenal, the invincible Iron Man. Let's get ready to rumble! Iron Man's exiling the Hulk into space is just the latest chapter in a long and sordid history between the Green Goliath and the Golden Avenger. The Hulk and Iron Man have known each other for years as both friends and enemies, Greg Pak told CBR News. They founded the Avengers together -- but the Hulk quit when he heard the hateful remarks uttered by Iron Man and the others when they were fighting a shape-shifting enemy who was pretending to be the Hulk. As the Hulk said, I never suspected how much each of you hates me, deep down!' In subsequent years Tony Stark helped Bruce Banner on several occasions -- trying to cure him of the burden of the Hulk and helping create an exoskeleton for the wounded Hulk buddy, Rick Jones. But as much as Banner and Stark may like each other, Iron Man and the Hulk consistently seem to end up on opposite sides. It makes sense -- both men began as law-and-order scientists working for the military. But while Stark became Iron Man, who more often than not spent his days defending the same institutions that Stark had, Banner became the Hulk, who spent most of his time raging against the army and the government and the superheroes and all the stupid puny humans who hated and hounded him. In many ways, Iron Man and the Hulk might be two of the most diametrically opposed Marvel heroes around. Given the number of times he's come to blows with Iron Man in the past, the Hulk can't be too surprised by Iron Man's role in exiling him from the Earth. So Iron Man's betrayal probably doesn't sting the way the betrayal of a genuine friend like Dr. Strange must. But the Hulk lost his whole world, including his queen and unborn child, in the explosion of the shuttle the Illuminati used to send him to Planet Sakaar. So while he may not feel that extra personal pain because of Iron Man's betrayal, the Hulk's rage towards Iron Man nonetheless remains incalculable. When the Hulk and Iron Man finally confront each other, the Green King's incalculable rage over his exile will be met by the Armored Avenger's steadfast conviction that banishing the Hulk was the right thing to do. Deep inside, Tony Stark may grieve for Bruce Banner, Pak said. But Iron Man believes with all his heart that his job is to safeguard the people of Earth. And he's convinced that to do that job, he had to exile the Hulk from the Earth. As he sees it, millions of lives are at stake -- his sense of responsibility probably prevents him from indulging in personal feelings of remorse that could weaken his resolve and possibly endanger the entire world. The will that must be required to control entirely natural human emotions in that kind of way is almost impossible to conceive -- but hey, they don't call this hero Iron Man' for nothing. While Iron Man's emotions may not play a part in a confrontation with the Hulk, his intellect most certainly will. Stark's cunning and scientific acumen are just two weapons in an arsenal that he can bring to bear against the Hulk. Tony Stark is one of the world's most brilliant inventors, Pak explained. He's created suits of armor that have helped him conquer the world's most dangerous villains. He's also the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., which puts tremendous military power at his command. And he's been infected with the Extremis virus, which gives him the ability to control all kinds of electronic equipment and machinery through his thoughts alone. Finally, Stark is a futurist who tends to think through any given situation a thousand different ways. No doubt he's prepared for the eventuality of the Hulk's return and will have a variety of new technologies and strategies for confronting the Green Goliath. Tony Stark may have plenty of strategies to tackle the Hulk he sent into space, but the Hulk who's coming back to Earth is a changed man-monster, and when confronting a gamma-powered emerald engine of anger, the old axiom, What you don't know can kill you certainly applies. Tony has no idea what the Hulk has been through on Sakaar, Pak said. He doesn't know that the radiation from the exploding shuttle made the Hulk stronger than ever. He doesn't know that the Hulk has a posse of superpowered Warbound gladiator allies backing him up. And he has no conception of the depth of the Hulk's loss and boundlessness of his anger. If Iron Man has been preparing to fight the Hulk he used to know, he might just discover that even with all his machines and technology and strategy, against the might of the Green King of Sakaar, he's not much more than a neatly canned afternoon snack. CBR News would like to thank Greg Pak, Mark Paniccia, Nate Cosby, and Jim McCann for all their help with this feature. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/world_war_hulk_tale_of_the_tap_2.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/world_war_hulk_tale_of_the_tap_2.html Comics: News Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:18:57 -0800 Newsarama.com: The threat of a Rampaging Incredible Hulk will reach the Canadian National Comic Book Expo and the Baltimore Comic-Con this August and September, respectively, as the shows offer their convention-goers an exclusive edition of what is expected to be one of the summer’s most sought-after issues, World War Hulk #3. As with last year’s New Avengers #23 edition shared by the two conventions, this year’s World War Hulk #3 Sketch Variant is the work of a high profile creator scheduled to attend both the August 24-26, 2007 Canadian National Comic Book Expo and the September 8-9, 2007 Baltimore Comic-Con. That creator is David Finch, hot off his stunning work on New Avengers and Moon Knight, the cover artist for World War Hulk. This variant cover will be produced from Finch’s highly detailed, evocative pencil art. “We’re happy to be working with the Canadian National Comic Book Expo and Marvel Comics to give our fans the opportunity to get this great David Finch-illustrated variant cover. David’s one of the most popular artists in the field and when people get a close-up look at his pencils, they’ll know why,” said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. “Without getting into a bunch of hype, it’s really cool to be able to offer two enthusiastic groups of dedicated comic book fans the chance to get a special edition of a comic with David’s work on the cover. It’s also great to be working with the Baltimore Comic-Con and Marvel again on something fans will truly want,” said Aman Gupta of the Canadian National Comic Book Expo. Canadian fans will have an extra bonus as World War Hulk writer Greg Pak and artist John Romita, Jr. will also be in attendance at the Toronto show. Additional guests are pending for the Baltimore event. The Canadian National Comic Book Expo will be held August 24-26, 2007 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in conjunction with the Canadian National Science Fiction Expo, the Canadian National Horror Festival, the Canadian National Anime Expo, and the Canadian National Gaming Expo. The Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 8-9, 2007 at the Baltimore Convention Center and will again play host to the Harvey Awards, the only comic book industry awards both nominated by and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. The awards will be presented at a dinner and ceremony on the night of Saturday, September 8. For more information including a complete of guests for the Canadian National Comic Book Expo, visit http://www.hobbystar.com/ComicConTor...Comic_Home.asp For more information a complete list of guests for the Baltimore Comic-Con, visit http://www.comicon.com/baltimore/ For more information about the Harvey Awards visit http://www.harveyawards.org Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/canadian_national_baltimore_sh.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/canadian_national_baltimore_sh.html Comics: News Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:05:48 -0800 ComicBookResources.com: 'Superstardom'? You flatter me. But I like it." I always try to avoid interviews where I help a writer mercilessly hype their upcoming major crossover event for several reasons. The first is that they are the often the most boring interviews to read ever because the publisher rarely lets the writer say anything memorable and therefore the interview, whatever the length, is utterly repetitive and mysterious and therefore mind-numbing for the interviewer and the reader. Secondly, the crossover is, more often than not, going to sell 100,000 issues or more anyway, so why help hype it? But I'm making an exception for Greg Pak. Why, you ask? Well, dear reader, anyone smart enough to spend three bucks per month on "Hulk" should know that it is one of the most consistently entertaining and best-written comics on the stands right now. Pak has been setting up Marvel's summer crossover "World War Hulk," drawn by John Romita Jr., for more than a year in those pages. And by setting up I mean giving lucky readers one of the most adventurous, exciting rides with a mainstream comic icon in years. I better stop before I begin to gush. Too late, I know. Anyway, Pak has all the dominoes set up for "World War Hulk" and is about to start the chain reaction, and the results are going to be smashing. I can't wait. And if I ever make a pun that bad again, smash me, damn it. Robert Taylor: Hiya Greg, how's life going? Greg Pak: Pretty darn well, thank you very much! How 'bout your own bad self? RT: Couldn't be better. I had a sucky year last year and karma has helpfully responded by making this one great. By the way, Mr. "Battlestar: Galactica" comic-writer-man, what did you think of the show's season finale? GP: Loved it. That show can do no wrong. Actually, it's done one wrong - making us wait until 2008 for the next episode! RT: Yeah, I kind of hate SciFi Channel right now, but not really since they renewed the show. GP: Fortunately, you can get your BSG fix in the meantime from the Dynamite "Battlestar: Galactica" comic book, thrice dubbed one of Wizard's top five indies, written by yours truly, and hitting your comic book store monthly. How's that for a shameless plug? RT: And it's actually a good comic tie-in, don't forget to mention that! So now that you've rocketed to comic superstardom� GP: "Superstardom?" You flatter me. But I like it. RT: I try, I really do. Anyhow, how do you think your writing style has evolved since your first break in the business? GP: One of the big things I learned from writing "Warlock," my first mainstream comics project back in 2004, was the importance of continuity. "Warlock" was totally tied into the classic Warlock stories, but that reveal didn't come until issue four, by which point most fans of the classic Warlock had already given up on the new series. So I've learned to weave continuity through my books from the beginning to let the long-time fans know I'm with them. The beautiful thing is that when you use continuity well, it can seamlessly add a whole new dimension to the story, bringing out subtle emotional nuances that make the whole book resonate more deeply. At the same time, I'm always trying to write stories that anyone can pick up and enjoy - even if they've never read a Marvel comic book before. That's not always possible, given the intricacies of some stories, but I think we've pulled it off with comics like "Planet Hulk" - and now "World War Hulk." RT: Are you surprised your star grew this quickly? Feel free to sound as full of yourself as you like! GP: Aw, shucks. RT: I said "full of yourself," darn it! GP: I'm just happy to be working regularly on stories and characters I love. I've gotten lucky a few times with big circulation numbers - with "X-Men: Phoenix - Endsong" in 2005 and now with "World War Hulk" - and of course I'm hoping I can keep hitting those levels. But it all comes down to doing my darnedest every day to turn out the best stories and books I can. RT: Tell us about fan reaction to your work and how it's changed over time. GP: I think I went from being the indie film guy who did that crazy "Warlock" thing to the "Phoenix" guy to the Hulk guy. As I keep working on more projects, I'm hoping more folks will just see me as that dude who writes crazy, fun, and sometimes surprisingly moving stories. RT: Let's talk about "Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk" since everyone else is, and we want to be like the cool kids. Way back when the green guy was first launched into space, did you know there would be a major crossover to bring him back? And were you set to write it? GP: From the first day we started talking about "Planet Hulk," we knew our hero would eventually return to Earth. So the germ of "World War Hulk" was there from the beginning. It was always my nefarious plan to lay claim to the title of writer of "World War Hulk," but the decision was up to my bosses at Marvel. RT: Hold on, you said "nefarious," and I love that word. How nefarious was this "nefarious plan?" Were there hired guns and world-ending buttons involved? GP: Heh. No, sadly, my "nefarious" is considerably more mild-mannered, involving far more head-scratching than cabal-forming or master-plan-developing or world-over-taking. RT: OK, back to the crossover. GP: Yeah. So I think the fact that fans and critics were so supportive of "Planet Hulk" - and that the circulation numbers of "Incredible Hulk" actually increased during the "Planet Hulk" run - helped me nab the gig. RT: How does it feel to be following up the biggest critical and commercial crossover success in Marvel's recent history (that would be "Civil War") with the next major company crossover? GP: I just found out that the second printings of "Incredible Hulk" #106 and the "World War Hulk Prologue" just sold out, so right now I'm feeling pretty good about it, thank you very much! RT: Alright, give us the Cliffnotes version of what is going on in Hulk-land for those living on another planet talking to big grasshoppers. And for those of you reading, now would be the time to put on those spoiler blinders. GP: Last year, a group of so-called Marvel "heroes," including Mr. Fantastic, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, and Black Bolt, decided the Hulk was too dangerous to live on Earth, tricked him into a shuttle and shot him off into space. RT: That's really sad. GP: Tell me about it. So the Hulk ended up on the savage alien planet of Sakaar, where he went from slave to gladiator to rebel to conquering emperor - the story of the "Planet Hulk" epic. He never forgot his rage towards the puny humans who exiled him, but on Sakaar, the Hulk finally found a place he belonged. With a group of his Warbound gladiator allies, he made a new world where monsters could be heroes and people of all different species might live in peace. He even married the woman warrior Caiera the Oldstrong and took the title of the Green King. But then - disaster. The shuttle in which the humans sent him to Sakaar exploded - destroying a million souls in Crown City, including the Hulk's queen and unborn child. RT: Really, really sad. Even sadder when you read the comics. GP: Now the Hulk is returning to Earth, accompanied by his superpowered Warbound companions, angrier and stronger than he's ever been and determined to exact his vengeance upon the puny humans he blames for the destruction of his world. Hence, "World War Hulk," the first issue of which hits comic book stores everywhere on June 13 - the same, day, coincidentally, that the "Planet Hulk" hardcover comes out - dontcha dare miss it! RT: As you said, for the past year Hulk has been off on his own world(s), literally. How has crafting those types of stories differed from calling the shots for such an event? GP: One of the joys of "Planet Hulk" was the fact that it happened away from the rest of the Marvel Universe, which meant that if editor Mark Paniccia and I had a crazy idea, we could pretty much go for it. With "World War Hulk," we're smack dab in the middle of the Marvel Universe, which means that we're coordinating with dozens of other stories, characters, and writers. It's a new challenge, but the creative energy is through the roof - it's a ton of fun working with so many big brains. RT: Go into more detail about how exactly you approach writing a crossover. GP: Many months ago, with the input of editor Mark Paniccia and advice from Senior Editor Tom Brevoort, I outlined the whole story. Then we plunged into meetings and summits with other editors and writers. Based on feedback, I reworked the outline multiple times. And one magic day, the whole thing got approved and I plunged into writing. RT: Do you feel obligated, or are you obligated, to write in moments that tie-in to the other tie-ins? GP: Everything happened in a great, organic way - first we nailed down the storyline for "World War Hulk." Then the final outline was distributed to other editors and writers, who figured out how their tie in books could work within the storyline. Now and then I'll tweak something small in the main book to help set up or clarify something for one of the tie-ins, but everything's designed to support and build on the integrity of the main storyline, which is awesome. RT: How stressed are you helping to coordinate things for the crossover, on a scale of one to ten? GP: A couple of weeks ago I was probably a seven; now I'm more around four. It's going well. RT: With "World War Hulk, you are handling most of Marvel's big guns. Who were you most excited about playing with? GP: Doctor Strange. Love the character and I love what we're doing with him. RT: Least excited? GP: No such animal. All of the classic Marvel characters are awesome. RT: And now that you've written the story, who was the biggest surprise? GP: Iron Fist. He kind of came out of the woodwork for a few key scenes that I'm really excited about. RT: Pardon the pun, but give us an idea of just how much exactly the Hulk is going to smash? GP: I'll just say no one's seen smashing like this smashing. RT: Sounds smasharific. GP: Smashtastic. Smashalicious. RT: Greg? GP: Smashabulous. I got more. RT: I'm sure you do. Tell us about creating the right balance between action and talking in the miniseries. GP: Sometimes a physical action can speak louder than any word and sometimes a single word can be more shattering than the hardest punch. So I'm using both words and action for maximum impact throughout the book. The trick is always to remember the enormous emotional story powering this epic and use every word and every image to further that monumental conflict - then the tension and the pace never let up and the story barrels through cranked to eleven every step of the way. RT: How many of the tie-ins have you read the scripts for? And are you enjoying them? GP: I've read most of them and they're pretty much awesome. I loved Chris Gage's "Iron Man" issues and Zeb Wells' "Heroes for Hire" tie-ins are insane. RT: Okay, how did John Romita Jr. climb onboard? GP: As I understand it, Joey Q picked up the phone and asked him. And he said yes. And a beautiful, beautiful day that was. RT: If only all of life could be that simple. Tell us about writing for him. GP: John Romita, Jr. is simply one of the greatest visual storytellers in the business. So I'm probably throwing way too many words at him, over-describing panels and pages because I'm a filmmaker-turned-comics-writer who often has a very clear visual idea for a given scene. And then he'll look at what I've suggested and improve it enormously and come out with layouts more spectacular and moving and clearly told than anything I could ever have come up with on my own. Getting his pencils every day is a revelation and absolute pleasure. RT: Are you sticking with "Hulk" after the miniseries is over? GP: Can't spill the beans just yet, but I'm working on the super secret third part to my Hulk-related trilogy that began with "Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk." RT: Trilogy!? GP: Yessir. RT: So is the dark "Empire Strikes Back" installment or the less-dark-but-still-better "Spider-Man 2" installment? GP: All that and more. RT: Alrighty, ready for the lightning round? GP: Bring it on, mon frer. RT: What was your first comic book? GP: "Marvel Treasury Edition Spider Man." RT: What comics can you never miss? GP: Too many to list. But right now I'm particularly loving O'Malley's "Scott Pilgrim" and Trondheim's and Sfar's "Dungeon." RT: Biggest strength as a writer? GP: Combining genuine emotional storytelling with insane genre action. RT: Biggest weakness? GP: I'm semi-infamous for semi-regularly throwing six new dialogue tweaks at letterers at the very last minute. RT: And saying "semi" a lot! What moment are you most proud of writing thus far in your career? GP: Creating Amadeus Cho for the "Mastermind Excello" story for "Amazing Fantasy" #15. And that story's being reprinted in the "Planet Hulk" hardcover, which hits comic book stores June 13 (did I mention that?). RT: Let's say you are writing a yearlong weekly comic book series with three other writers. Who would you most want them to be? GP: Brian K. Vaughan, Bryan Lee O'Malley and Joann Sfar. RT: What is your favorite comic book of all time? GP: "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind." RT: What advice would you have for aspiring comic writers? GP: Read everything. Not just comics. But everything that interests you - natural history, political biography, myths and religious studies, current events. And write all the time. And develop a community of fellow writers who will give you honest, rigorous feedback about your work. Most importantly, listen to the little voice inside who tells you when something's not quite working - that little voice never lies. And yes, the dialogue always needs tweaking. RT: If you could only write one book for the rest of your career, what would it be? GP: A creator owned project that I can't yet tell you about, alas. RT: Not even a hint? Are there bunnies? GP: And rainbows and unicorns (he said, agilely deflecting). But among existing, company owned properties? "The Hulk," natch. RT: Who would be your drawing partner? GP: For the Hulk, I'd be thrilled to work with any of the Hulk artists I've worked with thus far - Carlo Pagulayan, Aaron Lopresti, Gary Frank, John Romita, Jr., Leonard Kirk, and Jose Ladronn are all insanely great pencillers and storytellers. RT: What's the best comic book movie ever made? GP: The first Christopher Reeves "Superman" movie, with the second "Spider-Man" as a close runner-up. RT: What is your weirdest convention experience? GP: The weird's not really coming to mind right now - but one of my pinnacles of supersweet geekosity was seeing Dekker's gun from "Blade Runner" under glass at Wizard World Los Angeles last year. RT: If you were remembered for only one thing in your career, what would you want it to be? GP: Whoa. That's a big question. RT: That's why I saved it for last. GP: I'd just be thrilled if a few people out there read or saw my stuff at the right time for it to give them the kind of a window or mirror they need at that point in their lives. That's what folks like Lloyd Alexander (may he rest in peace), Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain, Bill Mantlo, Billy Wilder, the Marx Brothers, Howard Hawks, Akira Kurosawa, Jane Austen, and so many others did for me, and I'll forever be grateful to them for it. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/reflections_world_war_hulks_gr.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/reflections_world_war_hulks_gr.html Comics: News Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:05:51 -0800 Newsarama.com: The wait is almost over-World War Hulk #1 (of 5) ships this June and nothing in the Marvel Universe will be the same when it's done! This double-sized issue features fan favorite Planet Hulk scribe Greg Pak teaming with industry legend John Romita Jr to bring you the Hulk Smash you never thought you'd see! Looking for revenge on Dr. Strange, Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and Black Bolt, the Hulk is finally unleashing his true anger.and there just may be no force in the universe that can stop him! Drawn into this conflict will be the Hulk's closest friends and enemies from his past, all of whom will be forced to take sides-but will anyone stand by the Hulk when he means to tear apart the world to quench his thirst for vengeance? And don't miss out on the upcoming Hulk: Planet Hulk HC, which collects the sold-out storyline that told a pivotal chapter in the Hulk's life, setting the stage for Hulk's terrifying return to Earth. This year, the biggest event of the summer is coming straight from the House of Ideas-and it's called World War Hulk! And did we mention that World War Hulk #1 is now 64 pages...and still only $3.99! WORLD WAR HULK #1 (of 5) (APR072302) Written by GREG PAK Penciled by JOHN ROMITA JR. Cover by DAVID FINCH Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. Rated T+ .$3.99 FOC-5/24/07, On Sale-6/13/07 For the complete 5 page preview, click here. For an updated 8 page preview, including a 4 page preview of The Incredible Hulk #107, click here. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/world_war_hulk_1_preview.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/world_war_hulk_1_preview.html Comics: Previews Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:19:58 -0800 Marketwire.com: CryptoLogic's Latest Casino Game Offering a Smash! The Hulk, Wolverine, Sudoku and Multi-Hand Video Blackjack included in e-gaming leader's spectacular new nine-game line up TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 7, 2007) - CryptoLogic Inc., a leading software developer to the global Internet gaming industry, today unveiled nine innovative new casino games, including real money adaptations of well-known games such as Sudoku and new titles featuring Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk and other world-renowned Marvel Super Heroes. Fans of the Marvel Super Heroes series will enjoy seeing the legendary Wolverine make his Internet casino solo debut in an action-packed slot game. Also returning for a bigger adventure, with a bonus round that seems straight out of a Hollywood movie, is the Hulk - in a game called The Incredible Hulk - Ultimate Revenge. Captain America is also included in the Bonus Pack in a game that boasts one of the most graphically advanced interactive bonus rounds ever seen in an online slot game. All three Marvel Games have the Marvel Jackpot feature: three separate jackpots, beginning at Pounds Sterling 50 (Hero Jackpot), moving to the Pounds Sterling 500 (Super Hero Jackpot) and finally to the impressive Pounds Sterling 5,000 (Marvel Hero Jackpot). For the complete article, click here. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/hulk_smash_casino.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/hulk_smash_casino.html Toys and Collectibles Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:33:53 -0800 ComicbookResources.com: CBR News is back with the penultimate installment of the Tale of the Tape series. In Round 2 of our series, "World War Hulk” writer Greg Pak played fight doctor and gave us the odds on the possible match up between the Hulk and Mr. Fantastic. Now, in round three, we're pitting the Green King against the man with the magic hands, the master of the Mystic Arts, Doctor Strange. Let's Get Ready to Rumble!(™) William Blake said, “It's easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.” If that's true, than Dr. Strange is the Illuminati member who should be most afraid of the furious Hulk. “The Hulk has spent more quality time with Dr. Strange than with any other member of the Illuminati,” Greg Pak told CBR News. “The Hulk and Strange have teamed up dozens of times as members of the Defenders. Admittedly, of all the superhero teams, the Defenders probably win the title of ‘Most Likely to Beat Each Other Down'... but still, the members of the Defenders rank among the Hulk's oldest and closest friends.” Longtime Hulk fans may recall the first time Dr. Strange banished the Hulk. “Back during Bill Mantlo's brilliant, classic run, Strange sent the mindless, raging Hulk to the Crossroads in the effort to find a world the Hulk could call home,” Pak explained. “But Strange was genuinely trying to help his friend find a home, and the Hulk during that time was mindless and didn't understand what Strange had done to him anyway. But this time, Strange joined the Illuminati in sending a rational Hulk off-planet. This Hulk remembers everything. And he's suffered a tragedy on Sakaar far more horrible than even the worst tortures he endured during his Crossroads journeys. Strange has never encountered this kind of anger before.” Anger is indeed the driving force behind the Hulk's plans for the Illuminati, but remorse is likely to be the dominant emotion in Doctor Strange's interactions with the Hulk. “He probably feels more remorse than any other member of the Illuminati,” Pak said. “Strange is a mystic, not a king or a futurist or a politician. He's the Sorcerer Supreme and fights evil on the mystic realm all the time, but I'd hazard the guess that he deals with the moral ambiguities of the everyday world far less often than the other members of the Illuminati, and is far less accustomed to separating his heart from his actions. But even more importantly, Strange is closer to the Hulk than any other Illuminati member and almost certainly feels the Green Goliath's pain more than any of the others.” When Doctor Strange finally comes face to face with the Hulk, it's certain that emotional pain will be felt but it's not yet clear who will feel the most physical pain. Even with Strange's vast mystic might, a number of the internal variables could still decide the outcome of their confrontation. “Strange presumably could destroy the Hulk with the faintest twitch of his littlest finger, but his own conscience and code as the Sorcerer Supreme might actually work against him. We saw Strange recuse himself from the Marvel Civil War. Will he be similarly unable to participate in World War Hulk? And then there's the wild card of the Hulk's own powers and those of his Warbound companions. “The Hulk's strength is generally thought of as entirely physical. But in the past he's demonstrated the ability to see astral forms and ghosts. Now that he's angrier -- and stronger -- than ever before, will his powers regarding the mystic realm be increased? And we still don't know the full extent of the powers of Hulk's Warbound ally Hiroim the Oldstrong, who took on the possibly mystic powers of the Shadow Elders when they were incinerated in Sakaar's Crown City. Strange has no idea of just exactly what dangers he might face.” Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/world_war_hulk_tale_of_the_tap_1.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/world_war_hulk_tale_of_the_tap_1.html Comics: News Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:42:52 -0800 Newsarama.com: Q: Finally, why the big relaunch with volume 4 if no one really acknowledges Tony's Extremis powers any more? JQ: LazyHero, I think we've been acknowledging Iron Man's new Extremis abilities all over the place, actually, both in Iron Man proper, and in books like Mighty Avengers and World War Hulk. Q: JayCanuck 05-26-2007 09:10 AM This is a simple question that I'm sure a LOT of readers (including myself) are wondering about: where's the World War Hulk Young Avengers one-shot? It was initially on the WWH checklist but now it's not there and it's not appearing in Marvel's August Solicits, so what's the deal? JQ: Sorry to say, JayCanuck that this title won’t be happening due to just incredible craziness in our publishing schedule but stay tuned because the team-up of Loeb and Finch will be coming atcha with some incredible stuff in the near future and we’ll hit you between the eyes with an announcement of what it is that they’ll be working on next! And check out the following preview images from Iron Man 19 and an unnamed Hulk cover: For the complete article, including additional images, click here. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/hulk_news_from_new_joe_fridays_8.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/hulk_news_from_new_joe_fridays_8.html Comics: News Sat, 02 Jun 2007 10:09:28 -0800 Newsarama.com: The Hulk has returned to Earth and he’s making sure the school of hard knocks is in session for the X-Men! In World War Hulk: X-Men #1 (of 3), the Hulk continues his assault against the clandestine cabal known as The Illuminati, the same group who exiled him into space. One member of that group—Professor Charles Xavier—was not part of that decision and now the Hulk wants to know what Xavier would have done…and he’ll destroy the New X-Men to get the answer! But can the X-Men-in-training survive till their mentors arrive to confront the Jade Giant? Marvel’s summer blockbuster World War Hulk has drawn rave reviews from fans and critics, with sell-outs of the initial tie-in issues & subsequent printings (though copies may be available at the retail level). Now it’s time to witness an epic battle between the Hulk and not one, but TWO, teams of powerful mutants. Who will survive? What will Professor Xavier’s answer be? And when the dust clears, whose side will the X-Men take? Fans can be sure of this—Hulk will smash puny mutants and you won’t want to miss this epic confrontation! WORLD WAR HULK: X-MEN #1 (of 3) (APR072305) Written by CHRISTOS GAGE Penciled by ANDREA DI VITO Cover by ED MCGUINNESS Rated A …$2.99 FOC—6/07/07, On-Sale—6/27/07 For the complete 6 page preview, click here. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/world_war_hulk_xmen_1_preview.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/06/world_war_hulk_xmen_1_preview.html Comics: Previews Fri, 01 Jun 2007 14:05:57 -0800 Newsarama.com: During Civil War, reporters Ben Urich and Sally Floyd brought readers a unique look at the street level view of the conflict and they’ve returned just in time to witness a threat larger than the Marvel Universe has ever faced! In World War Hulk: Front Line #1 (of 6), the journalistic duo bring you a unique perspective on the opening shots of this summer’s “incredible” event and the initial conflict between Hulk & Iron Man that might just level Manhattan! This limited series reunites the Civil War: Front Line creative team of writer Paul Jenkins and artist Ramon Bachs to deliver a nuanced look at how the regular world is affected by Hulk’s war, all wrapped up in eye-catching covers by John Watson. Just who wants to help our intrepid reporters take down J. Jonah Jameson and how will the Front Line newspaper figure into it? And when one of Hulk’s allies is murdered by an unknown assailant, the NYPD is put on notice—if this mystery isn’t solved, New York City won’t be standing for much longer! World War Hulk may have just begun, but it’s already quite the “smash” hit with fans and critics alike. “World War Hulk looks like it’s going to be a blast,” said Squashua of Aint-It-Cool-News.Com. Troy Brownfield of Newsarama.Com praised the World War Hulk tie-ins released thus far, predicting that the story may just be “one of the all-time definitive Hulk stories.” Over at IGN.Com, Richard George concurred, calling World War Hulk a “must-read,” deeming early issues “a revelation.” Grab your press pass and hang out on tight as World War Hulk: Front Line #1 shows you a side of World War Hulk that you won’t find anywhere else. Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on this issue, as all World War Hulk tie-ins and subsequent new printings have sold out at Diamond (though issues may be available at the retail level) and interest continues to grow in this summer’s greenest and meanest comic book blockbuster! WORLD WAR HULK: FRONT LINE #1 (of 6) (APR072304) Written by PAUL JENKINS Penciled by RAMON BACHS Cover by JOHN WATSON 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99 FOC—6/07/07, On Sale—6/27/07 For the complete 5 page preview, click here. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/world_war_hulk_front_line_1_pr.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/world_war_hulk_front_line_1_pr.html Comics: Previews Thu, 31 May 2007 15:44:18 -0800 Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/wwh_prologue_hulk_106_sell_out.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/wwh_prologue_hulk_106_sell_out.html Comics: News Thu, 31 May 2007 15:41:54 -0800 Newsarama.com: Aspen MLT has provided Newsarama with your first look at their exclusive cover to World War Hulk #1 by Michael Turner. Click here for a preview of the first issue, due in stores on June 13th. Aspen's release for the cover reads: Aspen Comics is proud to announce the arrival of their latest Exclusive Variant cover for Marvel Comics epic summer event, World War Hulk #1. To celebrate the release of this red-hot limited edition cover by Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald, Aspen will be offering the title for sale throughout the convention season, starting with the world-premiere release at Wizard World Philadelphia on June 15th-17th. The book will be on sale at the Aspen Comics booth # 801, and will also be made available at Aspen’s other convention stops throughout the summer. As well, the Aspen Comics Exclusive Variant World War Hulk #1 cover will also be available for sale at Aspen’s online store www.AspenStore.com. “Ever since we turned in the Incredible Hulk #100 cover, I’ve been wanting to tackle drawing another Hulk cover,” explained Michael Turner. “Once our variant to World War Hulk #1 was a go, I knew I had to try and outdo myself. This one sure took a while, but I think the final cover turned out great. I hope all of the Hulk fans like it as much as we do.” Marvel Comic’s World War Hulk #1 is written by Greg Pak and features stunning artwork by industry legend John Romita Jr., as well as one enormously angry green behemoth looking to exact some revenge—Hulk-smash style! This is THE convention exclusive you do not want to miss, as past Aspen Variant Covers (Civil War #1, Civil War: X-Men #1) have sold out at record pace. Make sure you’re armed, and prepare yourself for war with this incredible variant cover! For more information on the Aspen Comics Exclusive World War Hulk #1 Variant cover, check www.AspenStore.com or www.AspenComics.com for more details. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/world_war_hulk_1_aspen_coveras.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/world_war_hulk_1_aspen_coveras.html Comics: Previews Wed, 30 May 2007 14:31:02 -0800 Newsarama.com: Q: mithrandir23 05-08-2007 03:50 PM In Incredible Hulk #106 it is said that Amadeus Cho is the 7th smartest person in the world. I would like to know if there is a list somewhere that I can read to see how all the Marvel characters stack up. I am assuming that Tony Stark, Reed Richards, Hank Pym, Bruce Banner, and possibly Peter Parker are among the top 10, but am curious as to rankings and a list of like the top 10 or so. Do you have a list or know them off the top of your head? JQ: mithrandir23, there’s no one definitive list—and those rankings may even change over time, either as situations change or new characters like Amadeus pop up. But I would think that most of the folks you listed might qualify (with the exception of Peter Parker) along with maybe the Beast, Doctor Doom, and a few others. Someone once asked Greg Pak this and his response was that he thought part of the fun for fans was speculating who else is on that list. Q: Spidey616 05-09-2007 01:29 PM I was just curious if you were ever asked by the higher-ups to delay World War Hulk till next year to better coincide with the new "Hulk" movie? If not, was it ever suggested by anyone to delay WWH for 2008, just to give readers some time off from big crossover events after the magnitude of Civil War, and as previously mentioned to have a tie-in with the new "Hulk" movie? JQ: While absolutely no word came down from any of the higher ups, Spidey616, we could have managed to force WWH into next year, but we chose not to for many reasons. First and foremost, the timing for that story is now. We’ve been building to this in the pages of Hulk and so many of our other titles that to delay it would be forced and artificial. It would also mean that we would have to produce many, many months of titles that are just filler and “after the fact” stories to keep you guys occupied while we wait for the time to be just right. While it’s not horrific or a burden to do that for perhaps a month, maybe even two, to delay a story like WWH for a year would be a huge mistake. Also, we’ve been building to this moment with Hulk and the time to pull the trigger on the story is now from a shear momentum standpoint. When you have momentum like this rolling on a particular story, fans are waiting for the other shoe to drop, the conclusion, the third act. If you continue giving fans the second act of your story and prolong it beyond where it’s scheduled to end, then you’ll lose everyone’s interest by the time you decide to get to your third act. With respect to the movie tie-ins, the WWH trade paperback will out for the movie along with all the Planet Hulk stuff as well so moviegoers will have all the wonderful Hulk stuff they need. Now as far as giving readers time off, while we are very conscious of how mush stuff we do put out there, my job is to keep you cats engaged, interested and entertained and, oh yeah, wanting more. Look, if the stuff we were putting out was dreck, no one would care how much of it we were putting out except our retail partners who would be feeling it in their wallets. Also, it’s not like we don’t have stories that happen after this, whether in Hulk (and we have a doozy) or within the Marvel Universe, we’re not looking to stop publishing our books any time soon and we’re not looking to make them any less engaging. Now, I’m sure the competition would love for us to take a few months off; it’s not something that we do. But then again, maybe we should cancel Hulk after this is all said and done, what d’ya think? Q: Spideymark 05-15-2007 11:59 AM Before and during Civil War you repeatedly promised us a clear winning and losing side at the end, which (I think no one can dispute) you and Mark Millar and everyone else involved delivered on. My question is - can you promise the same for World War Hulk? JQ: Yes, I can Spideymark, I don’t think you’re going to see a draw at the end of this one. Did I mention that since Spidey 616 asked his WWH question I’ve been thinking about canceling the Hulk? Hey, don’t get mad at me, go talk to Spidey616! For the complete article, click here. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/hulk_news_from_joe_fridays_wee.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/hulk_news_from_joe_fridays_wee.html Comics: News Fri, 25 May 2007 20:26:46 -0800 BowenDesigns.com: Looking to add to your collection of Hulk collectibles? Look no further than Randy Bowen's latest effort, The Incredible Hulk mini-bust. Release date to be announced soon. Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/new_bowen_hulk_bust.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/new_bowen_hulk_bust.html Toys and Collectibles Fri, 25 May 2007 12:07:05 -0800 ComicBookResources.com: Marvel Comics fans are eagerly awaiting the Hulk's return to Earth in the pages of "World War Hulk," and when the Green King lands this June, you can bet that massive amounts of damage will be the result. One man has been tasked with depicting all the drama and destruction of "World War: Hulk," artist John Romita Jr. CBR News spoke with him about the series. Romita was offered "World War Hulk" while he was working on his last project, the "Eternals" mini-series with Neil Gaiman. "[Marvel] approached me and said, 'We need to discuss what you're doing next.' And it pretty much came out of nowhere," Romita told CBR News. "They said, 'We think we'd like to see you on the Hulk.' They explained it to me and it was simple as that." Bringing to life the story of the Hulk's retribution on the heroes who exiled him appealed to Romita. "The way they explained it to me was very attractive," Romita said. "It was something as all out and clean as Hulk's revenge. I hate to say I was looking for something as simplistic but I think that was a big attraction after the 'Sentry' series, which was all psychological, and the 'Eternals,' which was so 'heavenly' so to speak, with the origin of man and such. Yet, Greg Pak's writing is not so simplistic. It's a brilliant storyline. It's all out mayhem and it's a large event both literally and figuratively Romita is aware that the mayhem of which he speaks will be seen from a number of different perspectives. "I think the Hulk's having a normal reaction," Romita said. "He's pretty pissed off and I don't know if there's anybody who can't understand what the character is going through. I don't think anybody denies him what he's going to do. However, in fairness you have to look upon it as he was a danger to society. So there's an attempt in the story to show both sides of the coin. However, if you stand in the Hulk's shoes you can understand his point of view. I don't know if that's the point for me though. I don't know if I need to agree with the Hulk in this but if I had to pick a side I would say the Hulk deserves to get his shots in and hopefully nobody dies." Scripting that tale of the Hulk getting those shots in on those who wronged him is Greg Pak, and its Romita's first time collaborating with the writer. "I don't know what his scripts we're like before this, but to me his scripts are enormous," Romita explained. "They're large in sheet numbers and scope. I think he's a man of the film medium and there's a feeling of that in the scripts. Some of the things he asks for aren't always possible (laughs). It's hard to describe. Sometimes multiple action panels are nearly impossible to do. So that's where I come in to play. I contract -- or expand, should they be too simple. But his ideas are brilliant. This is just an amazing story and when combined with 'Planet Hulk' and the other 'World War Hulk" stories it's an amazing coordination of things." For Romita, some of the most intriguing elements of Pak's scripts are the conflicts between the characters. "One of the first elements was the clash between the Hulk and Iron Man," he said. "That's an interesting situation and the reaction of the other heroes is much to the effect of 'Oops!'" The titanic struggles between the various super powered characters of "World War Hulk" create a good deal of fallout, which provided Romita with one of his greatest storytelling challenges. "The most challenging aspect is showing the evacuation of Manhattan in a way that makes the reader believe that it's happening." Romita explained. "It's not an easy thing for the writer, the artist, the inker and the colorist to do." "World War Hulk" is an event storyline and one of the most difficult things of event stories for artists is the enormous number of characters they have to draw. "I knew going into the assignment that it was going to be something to that effect," Romita said. "It was supposed to be that way when I did the 'Eternals' and it didn't happen quite as severely as I expected, as far as drawing a million different supporting characters. I painted myself into a corner this time. There's a cast of millions in this one." Of course, Romita is very happy to depict certain members of that huge cast. "Drawing the Hulk again is a lot of fun," he confessed. "It took a couple of panels to get used to it. I also had to get used to him having a little bit of a costume. Drawing Black Bolt was a lot of fun too, albeit brief." There were also a few characters in "World War Hulk" that Romita wasn't very fond of; one in particular. "I actually dislike drawing Iron Man," Romita laughed. "Only because it's physically difficult to justify him doing any kind of stretching or anatomical movement because the costume makes no sense! So I have a problem suspending disbelief on that. I'm saying this all tongue and cheek but Iron Man is a difficult character to draw because of the costume and we've created a 'Hulkbuster' costume which makes even less sense! So it's my own fault!" "World War Hulk" may involve depictions of mass evacuations and difficult characters to draw, but the story involves loads of one thing that Romita loves to draw. "I think this story is going back to basics and allowing me to draw all out action ," Romita said. "There's a lot of back story but Greg writes so well that the back story almost seems innocuous but yet it's there -- which is his playing to my strengths, I guess. So the most enjoyable part of this is the action and the Hulk is that action and it's really a lot of fun to draw him. "I do think there is a danger to get too carried away with the Hulk to the point where he becomes repetitive," Romita continued. "So, the trick is to make sure you do some things differently and Greg has got some great ideas along those lines. Ultimately I was given the option of altering the choreography but that's the whole point. A writer has to give you ideas that you can bounce off of both in terms of storytelling and visually. So it's the all out ferocity and the actual depiction of the Hulk that is the attraction here." Romita is aware that "World War Hulk" is a hugely anticipated event and he hopes that fans feel he's done the story justice. "To short sheet this would be to really do it an injustice," he stated. "I think one of the reasons I was asked to do this was that I tend to be a large scale artist storytelling-wise. It's tough to get something on this kind of scale. The 'Planet Hulk' story was the same kind of thing and that was handled very well. This is tough because we have Manhattan and need accurate depictions of the city and shots from all different angles and then there are all these different characters coming in. To cheat on any backgrounds or any scene would be noticeable. So, hopefully at the end of the day people will say something like, 'I give it a B+ for ambition.' If that's the case, where they didn't notice that there's been a lack of anything maybe that's my accomplishment." Wanna talk about this bit of news? Start a discussion over at the boards.]]> http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/joining_the_green_party_romita.html http://www.hulksmash.net/blog/2007/05/joining_the_green_party_romita.html Comics: News Wed, 23 May 2007 21:36:34 -0800