NYCC '08 VIDEO: GREG PAK

[MichaelDoran]

Oh, so you thought you've seen all Newsarama's video coverage of last month's New York Comic Con??? Oh… no, no, no….

As guests visited us in our Newsarama digital newsroom, we went to the guests all weekend on the convention floor.

First up, our friend Pete from The Stack corners writer Greg Pak for a quick conversation about what's coming up in Incredible Hercules and the upcoming Skaar: Son of Hulk, the uncertain future of Amadeus Cho, Pak's thoughts on the Red Hulk, and the writer's favorite comic book work on the shelves not his own…

Click here to view the interview...

[Botch]

You know, I had been terribly confused about why, after building up so much good will, respect and prominence for the Hulk under Greg Pak's guidance, Marvel handed this "Red Hulk" thing over to Jeph Loeb to crap all over all that accumulated goodwill.

Now, at least, I know that Pak had nothing to do with it, that it was an editorial suggestion, and I could not help but notice that Pak pretty much deflected the whole Loeb Red Hulk question, as if he didn't want to speak to it.

Can't blame him. I would, too, if I were him, seeing as how far below the bar the Red Hulk title is compared with Pak's impressive Hulk run.

Unless, of course, you like the sort of out-of-character, bad dialog, regression to a simpler, less interesting era in comics that Loeb is writing.

I might be "coloring" this a bit too much to with my own opinion and preferences. So sue me.

(first post?)

[johnstumbo]

I think newsarama has enough stories about New York Comic Con until next year. Cool interview though. Like being able to put a face to the name. Love Hercules right now.

[HartyPotter]

Awesome. Pak's the man.

[Somebody]

Still no transcripts?

[jrp001]

I read DC. always have (by the time I "knew" the DCU, there wasn't room in brain to "know" another universe.

But halfway through PH, I had a slow week. Right next the current issue of Incredible Hulk was 7 issues of PH. Since it was another world, specifically removed from A/HofM/MU crossover of the week, I picked it up.

HOOKED.

It rocked. Suddenly my wallet was breaking into a nervous sweat. I can barely keep up with my weekly spending spree as it is... but I stayed. I stayed for WWH (sans tie-ins). then suddenly its all for not? My investment... gone.

Sure I stayed for Incredible Hercules. Sure I stayed for Warbound. Sure I stayed for Damage Control. Sure I am looking forward to Skaar.

But HULK? Hulk #3 who was that? what character was that? it wasn't the character that I had read for the previous 2 years. it was the cast that I liked... it was... (no seriously some one tell me who it was... cause it wasn't a post PH/WWH Banner and it wasn't a post PH/WWH Nulk!)

Can't wait for the HULK crazy storyline to end. I want the Banner/Hulk at peace with their duality... I want Pak

Not: "ME HULK!!!!!!!!!!, ME HURT!?!?!?" wow that's a story for the ages.


Anyway... now, I don't want to lose the Herc to get Hulk back, but... thanks MU, thanks for taking a DC guy's money, then spitting in my face... I know its because Loeb sells more books, regardless of coherent story telling... but still... all I left with now is a bitter taste...

[Cray_ws]

^^^^^^ Hulk is not an easy character write, I just don't think he belongs in his own title because his schitck gets old real fast. He's best used as plot device and the only reason Planet Hulk succeeded was because the storyline itself was more intriguing that the character. You could've casted any tough guy in that storyline.

[SMARTASS8]

He seems like a real nice guy. My favorite work of his is still the Warlock mini.

[LuisMa316]

Originally Posted by Cray_ws

^^^^^^ Hulk is not an easy character write, I just don't think he belongs in his own title because his schitck gets old real fast. He's best used as plot device and the only reason Planet Hulk succeeded was because the storyline itself was more intriguing that the character. You could've casted any tough guy in that storyline.

If that's true then why do his books last for hundred plus issues? I've read alot of great Hulk stories over the years especially Davids long run.

[Cray_ws]

Originally Posted by LuisMa316

If that's true then why do his books last for hundred plus issues? I've read alot of great Hulk stories over the years especially Davids long run.

Have you read those hundred plus issues? Most them are full of recycled cliche stories , yet amazingly it satisfied just enough readers to last as long as it did. If you look at David's run, you'll see Hulk practically revamped more than 5 times over. He had to write it out of character for it to be worth a salt. He's not the only writer guilty of doing that, in fact just about every writer has given Hulk a new personality.

Hulk's longevity has less to do with his own title and more to do with his status in Marvel universe. He's the resident strong guy/savage monster plot device, which is what he should be, nothing more.

[The Phazer]

Oh, so you thought you've seen all Newsarama's video coverage of last month's New York Comic Con???

"Hoped" and "prayed" might be more accurate verbs than "thought".

Please just stick to text interviews. They're much easier to get info from. I haven't bothered sitting through a single one of these videos, whereas I suspect I'd have read through all of them in text form.

Phazer

[Stormbreaker]

Originally Posted by The Phazer

"Hoped" and "prayed" might be more accurate verbs than "thought".

Please just stick to text interviews. They're much easier to get info from. I haven't bothered sitting through a single one of these videos, whereas I suspect I'd have read through all of them in text form.

Phazer

I agree 100%. I like reading interviews more than I like watching them. Yeah, I know it's more work to transcribe an interview than it is to simply tape one and slap it on the net. But that extra work makes it worth it, to me.

About Hulk, I adored Pak's run. It literally turned me into a hardcore Hulk fan. I'd always liked the character before PH but, as a result of PH/WWH, I have gone back to buy a cornucopia of Hulk material (I am starting with the Hulk Visionaries: Peter David trades and going from there).

That said, I kinda wish Marvel had handled Hulk differently following WWH. Yes, I am honestly enjoying Loeb's simplistic take and even understand why Banner would regress following PH/WWH, but I would have enjoyed Pak's possible take on it far more.

I am, however, chomping at the bit for anything Skaar-related. It looks and sounds simply fantastic, and I can't wait for it. I just hope Marvel doesn't cut it from an ongoing to a mini like they did with my beloved Omega Flight (though I have a feeling it'll happen).