Rumor control: Me on the Hulk

I did an interview a while back that has just appeared in The Pulse, and at the time that I did it, the decision had just been made that the limited series was going to be folded into the ongoing title. So that’s fairly old news, but since the interview is just hitting now, I think people are misinterpreting and thinking there’s been some new development and that I’m now writing the book indefinitely.

Uh, no. Nothing’s changed. “Tempest Fugit” will be Hulk #77-81, and #82 will be a stand alone story, and for the time being that’s all that I’ve committed to and that Marvel’s committed to. Anything beyond that depends on a variety of factors, not the least of which is sales.

PAD

26 comments on “Rumor control: Me on the Hulk

  1. The confusion is a result of this:

    “The story, Tempest Fugit was originally supposed to be a six-part David/Weeks miniseries, but it’s been changed to five and David’s been confirmed as the new writer of the monthly Incredible Hulk comic book.”

    Note that last part

  2. I have been somewhat curious about this. Has there ever been a situation whereas a writer has been placed on a continuing ongoing series tentatively with the possibility of being perminant depending on sales?

    I ask this because I am curious about the balance between putting out enough issues to determine the interim writer’s success and giving enough time to choose another writer and give that writer enough time to prepare and write without there being a significant break in the series.

    If this was a miniseries that was going on along with the regular title, then it would be simply a case of extending the miniseries or not extending it. Under the current circumstances, I am led to believe that either PAD has already been determined to be the perminant writer and Marvel is just not admitting it yes, or negotiations and preparations are already underway for a new writer to take over after PAD.

  3. It seems to me it’s a case of them hedging their bets. If it succeeds, they can make a big announcement and say “Peter David is now the ongoing Hulk writer” and if it fails they can say “Well, we never said he was going to be on beyond those 6 issues anyway.”

    It is annoying to us PAD fans, but that’s the way Marvel does business these days.

  4. It’ll be great ot buy Hulk again, and if at all possible if and when you are on the on-going please pick Weeks for the art. Hulk happened to be a spring board for many artists (Keown, Farmer, McFarlane) and he deserves the spotlight, and he knows great card tricks!

  5. Well, I’ll be sure to pick up those PAD/Weeks issues of The Incredible Hulk, as well as the PAD/Oliffe/Buscema issue of What If?

    Haven’t looked forward to a title like this in a long time

    Steve Chung

  6. Since they were originally not going to even have an ongoing Hulk monthly, I could see them (presuming that PAD goes full time) either waiting a few months before releasing #83 (or evan a new #1). Still, I’m sure that they’ll be able to decide right after issue 77 hits the stands. They’ll have the preorders for 78 & 79 and have the fan feedback.

  7. I think its inevitable that PAD will write for Hulk ongoing. First of all, I’m semi-confident that people will pick it up (assuming Marvel does a good job of pimping the fact that he’s comming back). But I think the biggie is – HULK 2 movie will come down the pipeline eventually. It may just be in not-even-a-script-form right now (the first flick did alright), but its a viable franchise and whatever studio owns it (I forget now) and they’re DEFINITELY going to take a second crack at it. And Marvel is always making sure that whenever a movie of thier heros hits there’s at least a single monthly title going on (see UFF comming up just as the movie was commin out).

    They can’t cancel the Hulk. There’s sequels to be thought of. So, my gut feeling is, PAD will be back on Hulk for awhile longer at least.

    Of course, I thought Kerry was going to win too. . .

  8. That Pulse interview was pretty funny too:

    “My immediate goal? Not to suck.”

    I’ve never been to that site before, I Gotta check it out more often.

  9. If not PAD Marvel has to bring a decent writer /art team to the Hulk.If they want to make a Hulk 2 and still market the character at all outside of miniseries and guest appearances.After that awful assclown writer Jones ruined any hope for the character after the initial Return of the Monster story arc. Last I checked in the store ,still no real fighting in his Hulk vs Thing arc.

  10. I would like to know if you’re going to bring your political beliefs into this book. You stated that the Hulk is like 2 Americas. I honestly don’t know if I can enjoy something written by you anymore. And that’s really sad to me because I used to admire your writing.

  11. I can’t enjoy anything PAD writes anymore either, but it’s because PAD doesn’t keep his promises, not because of his wacky political views. Can’t trust comic book types…..

  12. I would like to know if you’re going to bring your political beliefs into this book. You stated that the Hulk is like 2 Americas.

    Well I don’t agree with PAD’s political views, but that doesn’t stop me from buying and enjoying his work. You can’t expect a writer to completly leave out his political views…they are part of who the writer is.

    Captain Marvel, a book that I really enjoyed, had PAD’s views sprinkled in from time to time. Some subtle real-world references or perhaps some alagorical stories, but nothing too over the top.

    Fallen Angel had the infamous abortion line by Lee. While it wasn’t so much the fact that Lee was pro-choice, but rather how and when she said her line that I din’t care for.

    I’m probably one of the most conservative posters you’ll find here, and PAD has yet to insert a political tid-bit into one of his stories that I found so offensive I had to quit reading.

    There is a balance between the writer understanding that he is writing to a diverse fan base and the fan understanding who the writer is.

  13. Peter, are you making any story plans, just in case Marvel decides to offer you Hulk full time? Things like dropping little hints into your “mini”, or are you treating the mini as a total stand alone story?

  14. http://www.thefourthrail.com

    One of the reviewers gave FA #17 the “Best of the Week” lable. While the other guy gave it a 10/10 and claimed it to be the best story yet. He then questions why more people are not buying and digging this book…my question exactly!

  15. If PAD does stay on the book monthly I hope that Marvel does not force him to continually beg for the series’ life. Frankly I there needs to be a monthly Hulk series, without reboots and retcons, and I think that while I enjoyed Bruce Jones’s work, too much time is spent setting out to reconsider what had been done before.

    PAD deserves the opportunity to move forward because every other author has sought reinterpret PAD’s Hulk, and that is just boring.

  16. This news was like a dream come true for me. I bought PAD’s Hulk run from age 8 to 20 and haven’t bought an issue of the title since he got kicked. Between this and Madrox it’s like Junior High all over. Awesome.

  17. Anything written will be cool. Its’ Peter David!
    Anybody who wants him to stay and doesn’t buy it wants their áršëš slapped!

    Ian

  18. I personally would like to see the return of Gary Frank as artist. I think both him and Peter have improved much since they were together last time.

  19. New to the board. I am just glad to here your going back on Hulk, have barely read it since you left as it went downhill fast after your departure. Never new things were so bad that Marvel was going to cancel it. Hopefully your return stops that although only time will tell. Until then count me in for the next 5-issues.

  20. However it turns out this is great news. I hope the sales warrant an extended stay.

    I have a sense of trepidation that it may turn out like your return to Cap a few years ago, which didn’t capture the energy of your first run, but at the same time I’m hoping that your relationship with the Hulk charcacter is deeper than it seemed to be with Cap.

  21. Hey PAD. I wish you the best of luck on your Hulk run and sincerely hope it lasts beyond the currently proposed 6 issues. However, I won’t be able to support you in this endeaver as Marvel’s recent actions involving NCsoft have convinced me to actively boycott Marvel products for the time being. I’ll stick with you on Fallen Angel, but I just can’t get behind any Marvel project you are on.

  22. I was wondering when someone was gonna bring up the Marvel Nazi’s lawsuit…

    Best of luck on the Hulk, PAD, I think your previous run was when I started reading it, then dropped it shortly after your run ended…

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