NYCC '07: CHRIS GAGE ON WORLD WAR HULK: X-MEN

**MattBrady** · 02-23-2007, 10:53 AM

As Marvel discussed today at its World War Hulk panel, the upcoming storyline that features the Jade Giant’s return to earth won’t be as far-reaching and expansive as Civil War, but at the same time, there will be some specific story elements that will spill out into their own projects. Case in point, the three issue World War Hulk: X-Men mini-series debuting in June, written by Christos Gage, with art by Andrea DiVito and covers by Ed McGuiness.

The premise? Simple – Professor Xavier is on the Hulk’s payback list since being exiled into space for over a year. The Hulk’s just being systematic with his revenge here – nothing personal. Thing is, as usual when mutants are involved, it’s a slightly more complicated story. We spoke briefly with Gage about the upcoming mini.

Newsarama: What got you on to this tie-in in the first place?

Christos Gage: Andy Schmidt, the editor. We had worked together on the Union Jack mini-series, and based on my work there he was kind enough to give me a shot at a big event book with the Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War one-shot. Everyone seemed happy with that, it was well received and it sold well, so after Andy moved over to the X-office I guess he figured I'd proved myself enough to send me my draft notice for World War Hulk. When he called, all he had to say was World War Hulk: X-Men and I was in!

NRAMA: That said, had you been keeping up with what was going on in Planet Hulk? What was your overall take on that storyline, as well as the news of him coming back for WWH?

CG: I got in on Planet Hulk late, but when I heard the great buzz on the story I got caught up and I am loving it. Greg Pak has crafted an epic story with a fully realized, complex world, casting the Hulk as a reluctant, underdog gladiator turned rebel freedom fighter all while staying true to the character and using bits and pieces of Marvel history combined with his own original creations to excellent effect. It's a fantastic read. As for the Hulk coming back, that was inevitable from the start. Just as it was inevitable that much smashing would ensue.

NRAMA: More specifically to the story here - an X-Men tie-in. It seems rather a disparate group coming in to the storyline. Why does this make sense, and why would the X-Men be involved in the Hulk's activities in the first place? After all, the X-Men were Switzerland in Civil War - why would they be getting involved here?

CG: Well, the Hulk isn't the type to give you a choice over high tea the way Tony Stark did. If he says you're involved, guess what, you're involved! Basically, without spoiling too much, the Hulk finds out that the guys who sent him into space -- Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Black Bolt and Dr. Strange -- had planned for Professor Xavier to be a part of the meeting where it was decided. Sure, Professor X didn't show up, but the Hulk has some pointed questions for him anyway. See, the Hulk is kind of like Santa Claus. Santa has his "naughty" and "nice" lists. Hulk has his "smash" and "really smash" lists, and he's trying to figure out which one to put the Professor on. So he shows up at the door of the Xavier Institute, and...well, let me put it this way. If you were writing a book called World War Hulk: X-Men, would you make it about the Hulk and X-Men having a tea party? Me neither.

NRAMA: That said, what was the overall goal of the story here – or is it just to show an old-fashioned X-Men vs. Hulk fight?

CG: There actually is more to it than the fun of seeing the Hulk fight the X-Men as drawn by Andrea DiVito, though that's pretty sweet by itself, in my opinion. One goal was to bring the various X-teams together. It's not going to be everyone -- Excalibur is in England, for instance, so they're probably out of the picture -- but you'll see the extended X-family operating as one to defend the dream that unites them. Another goal was to look at the fact that Professor X has had some of his past actions turn out pretty badly as of late. He used to have a tendency to play god a bit, making decisions that affected peoples' lives without asking them, and others have paid the price - as has the Professor. The situation with the Hulk brings this issue to the forefront, and we're going to see how both the Professor and the team members feel about all of it.

NRAMA: What X-Men are you bringing into the story, then?

CG: As many as I can get away with! And yes, I was able to bring in nearly all my favorites. Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine...Lockheed...it's really a dream come true for me, because I got hooked on the X-Men as a kid and now, my first time writing them, I'm getting to put all my old faves into one story! Of course, some new favorites will be around too, like New X-Men such as Rockslide and X-23, who is really quite a scary young lady.

NRAMA: Lastly, just a minor tease - what gets the ball rolling in the story?

CG: THOOOOM. Knock Knock. And then it all goes to hell...

For More on World War Hulk, check out these stories:

Paul Jenkins on World War Hulk: Frontline

Marvel’s World War Hulk Panel

New York Comic Con 2007 coverage brought to you by Comicraft's ELEPHANTMEN #7, on sale right now from Image Comics!

nickmaynard · 02-23-2007, 04:43 PM

i can get behind anything chris gage does.

hadez · 02-23-2007, 04:44 PM

Great Cover!

jaredgood1 · 02-23-2007, 04:44 PM

Guess it's safe to say that Xavier makes it home in Uncanny...

Dragavon · 02-23-2007, 04:45 PM

I can't tell you how much I love that picture of the Hulk about to pop Prof X's head like a grape

Can't wait for this one.

Eli Katz · 02-23-2007, 04:47 PM

Chris Gage inpressed me with Union Jack. Now I'll buy anything he writes!

TCJohnson · 02-23-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaredgood1

Guess it's safe to say that Xavier makes it home in Uncanny...

Maybe...there is a lot of time between now and then.

I really like Christos Gage. I think he needs more polishing, but in a couple of years he is going to be one of the best in the business.

DeVito....he is one of the best in the business already. I love his stuff! What he did for Annhiliation was amazing!

Of the World War Hulk stuff, this one has me the most excited.

Dr Stranger · 02-23-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaredgood1

Guess it's safe to say that Xavier makes it home in Uncanny...

My first thought too.

chap22 · 02-23-2007, 04:50 PM

i am currently trying my dead-level best to avoid anything X-Men related. i'm tired of the concept, i'm tired of most of the characters, i'm pretty tired of marvel in general.

but WWH has me excited.

and Gage, my favorite "new" writer? and Divito, my favorite "new" artist?

sold. SOLD. sold like a mofo. this will rock.

Duke Stratosphere · 02-23-2007, 04:57 PM

I was really impressed with the writing on Causalities of War as I felt it was the first time I really understood Tony's motivation.

Sign me up!

The Guvnor · 02-23-2007, 04:58 PM

Makes sense I guess, Hulk going after Chuck for sending him away. So can we WWH: Iron Man, WWH: Reed Richards/FF or so on...

Pretty good team on this book, good choices.

Stalzer2002 · 02-23-2007, 05:01 PM

Combine one of my favorite artists with one of my favorite up and coming writers on a project involving one of my least favorite characters in the Marvel Universe and you have me feeling a little torn.

stasisbal · 02-23-2007, 05:03 PM

I don't really care for the concept, but this is a nice creative team.

amlah6 · 02-23-2007, 05:06 PM

Great creative team, but it's an X-Men mini. I'm torn.

Scavenger · 02-23-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

I was able to bring in nearly all my favorites. Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine...Lockheed...i

Cool, Lockheed survives Whedon.

motteditor · 02-23-2007, 05:14 PM

Dang. Kind of spoiled Astonishing a bit. Oh well.

I'd normally avoid this as an unncessary tie-in, but I've seen some high praise of Gage's work and I love DeVito's art enough that it makes me inclined to buy this in a way artists usually don't. Having Rockslide and Lockheed in it definitely add to the appeal.

It's a shame I don't wait for trades normally, as this would probably be the type of thing I'd like best in trades, but what a few more bucks a month? And it's only three issues...

Kid Justice · 02-23-2007, 05:18 PM

Man I am all over this series:

Love the Hulk kickin ass!!

Love anything Gage writes!!

Love Divitos artwork plus McGuinness covers!!

Hot Damn can't get here fast enough!!

WORLD WAR HULK WILL RULE!!

BanMan · 02-23-2007, 05:19 PM

As long as it's better than the CW: X-men mini, I'm in. This is a great creative team and in the future hopefully they'll get to do even bigger projects for Marvel.

BLaQHeArT · 02-23-2007, 05:26 PM

Xavier wasn't even part of the group who decided to send Hulk into space, why the hell should he go after him?

This better be more than just ANOTHER Marvel plot to get 2 well-selling titles together to siphon even more money from the public.

novak · 02-23-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scavenger

Cool, Lockheed survives Whedon.

Unstoppable is probably set AFTER World War Hulk, so it doesn't mean that Lockheed, Colossus or any other Astonishing team member is safe if they are in World War Hulk.

It will be great to see everyone together, after everything that has happened.

But it does annoy me how a lot of the big developments are handled in miniseries. The Shi'ar arc is going to probably end with everyone still pissed off at Xavier for the mess with Vulcan (from Deadly Genesis), and it won't be resolved until everyone has to rally around him in WWH X-Men. The Uncanny's next arc is dealing with something so completely different, then there's the X-Event. No wonder fans have such a hard time following what's going on when it jumps between so many titles.

motteditor · 02-23-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLaQHeArT

Xavier wasn't even part of the group who decided to send Hulk into space, why the hell should he go after him?

This better be more than just ANOTHER Marvel plot to get 2 well-selling titles together to siphon even more money from the public.

Of course it's a Marvel plan to get money -- every book they publish is a Marvel plan to get money -- but hopefully they'll also put out a story we enjoy and that'll be worth the money.

I thought the article explained it pretty well. Xavier was *supposed* to be at the meeting. And it's the Hulk, so the fact that he didn't make it there doesn't really matter.

rpi · 02-23-2007, 05:37 PM

Wooo! Yet another story where Marvel retcons Xavier's history to turn him into a bastard so he can get his punishment. This is just about the only thing that's been done with the character since the mid-90s. He's nothing more than a punching bag at this point. At least have him turn back into Onslaught so he'd deserve it. I've enjoyed Gage's writing a lot but lordy, try and do something NEW with Xavier instead of rewriting the past to make him a turd.

RedRonin · 02-23-2007, 05:46 PM

Love love love Gage's work. I cannot wait for this!

Marvel, sign this guy to an exclusive.

irishj81 · 02-23-2007, 05:50 PM

Anybody else think EMs Professor X looks just like his Lex Luthor? I mean, I know they're both bald white guys, but when I first saw that cover, I thought it was a freaking inter-company crossover! But he is my favorite Hulk artist.

sinister626 · 02-23-2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

CG: THOOOOM. Knock Knock. And then it all goes to hell...

Do have to wait untill the end of issue 1 to get this or will it start right off like that.....

I hope for the latter but expect the first......