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Optimus · Prime Minister Of Checklist Entertainment Beiträge: 1790

JRJR über World War Hulk:

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=84040

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The massive "Planet Hulk" storyline hit the mid-way mark with Incredible Hulk #98 this week.

However, the next epic was announced in Baltimore.

Yesterday, writer Greg Pak took some time off to discuss about next year's "big summer blockbuster story", "World War Hulk".

Today, it's John Romita Jr's turn.

Yes, the superstar artist's an extremely busy dude as well. He's currently finishing up Eternals with celebrated writer, Neil Gaiman. The double-sized finale is scheduled to be in stores in November.

And he still has "a few pages left" before he completes the Stan Lee-written Fantastic Four: The End.

He'd also worked with Jae Lee on the first issue of The Dark Tower, the limited series based on Stephen King's series of novels debuting early next year.

Despite all these projects lined up for the foreseeable future (and Marvel EiC had repeatedly assured fans that JRJR'll be returning to Spider-Man one of these days), what made him decide to come back to the Hulk with "World War Hulk"? For the record, JRJR'd most recently drawn the Green Goliath in 2001 and 2002 during Paul Jenkins and later on, Bruce Jones' respective runs on the monthly series.

"I didn't ask Joe, or [Publisher] Dan Buckley, for this particular assignment," JRJR told Newsarama. "We all sat down to discuss "post Eternals work" and they, I seem to remember, thought this idea [was] up on the spot. (not the creative idea, but the idea of me doing it) I remember their faces. They just grinned and said, "Hey, how about this?" At that point, I grinned myself and, loving the last time I worked on the Hulk, agreed. However I do recall asking, no, begging, for a return to a Spider-Man title... I exaggerate to clarify!

"A short time ago, Joe Q. began the process of placing me on projects as he saw fit." Hence, the short stints on various limited series and story arcs. Wolverine with writer Mark Millar. Black Panther with Reginald Hudlin. The Sentry with Paul Jenkins. The current Eternals mini with Gaiman. FF: The End. And so on.

"It was an attempt to keep me, and my work, fresh, considering I had been on [Amazing Spider-Man] for such a long time. Not that the work was getting stale, mind you [laughs] but I made a comment, while I was still on Amazing, about how I wanted to do less Amazing issues (12) and another title, at the same time. Joe took that as I was bored. [It was] not the case but that was when Wolvy, Black Panther, Sentry, Eternals, FF: The End, The Punisher and now, Incredible Hulk, come in. I agreed to let Joe, and Dan pick my next jobs. It's fun because I don't always know what I want to do next! It's also kind of interesting because I get to stretch myself artistically... Sounds like some pretentious actor claiming he wants more interesting roles. But in this case, it ends up being the truth! It is fun!

Wait a minute... The Punisher too? "Yeah, the Punisher," JRJR said. "Before I get back to Spidey and after I finish Hulk (or at the same time, maybe), I get to draw the Punisher! I also get to work with Garth Ennis and Axel Alonso.

"I'm going to do some serious grassroots ass-kicking comic art (not to mention [b]Kick-Ass[/b ] with Mark Millar) and I get to work with Klaus Janson, again... which is just a pleasure! I think Klaus is the best inker in the biz. It's because he's a great artist before he's an inker! He's also a good friend, to boot!"

Back to the Green Gladiator, how different is it to tackle the character again this time around? After "Planet Hulk", Civil War and all? What sets the Hulk apart from the others in the Marvel U in this time and age? According to JRJR, he hasn't had a chance to do any preliminary sketches but he's definitely itching to get back to drawing the character. "As far as what sets the Hulk apart, this time around, I think it's as simple as my take on the character. I'm more experienced than I was the last time around. Everyday, I get more experienced. That's just the nature of the business. At least to me it is... working at something everyday, six days a week, one gets the hang of it! Again, I exaggerate to clarify. Woking with a different set of circumstances and a new and different writer, is also a different take. I look forward to working with Greg and what that will result in!

"For that matter, I look forward to working every day! Yeah! This is a blast. I get to work at home and watch my son grow. I also get to see my wife, every day(although you'd have to ask her if that's good for her)

"What else can I do, anyway?"