Post by Admin on Feb 18, 2011 10:11:22 GMT -5
The Comics Ledger has the chance to chat with current Marvel writer, Jeff Parker! He's best known for his current on-goings with 'Hulk' and 'Thunderbolts,' but he's had plenty of time in the industry, working on titles such as 'Agents of Atlas' and spending time with DC, Dark Horse, and Image. He dishes out some info on his current work, sheds some light on characters he likes, and we ask him the most important question of all...Who wins--- Captain America or Batman?
CL: So far 'Hulk' has been packed with characters from across the Marvel Universe. Do you find it difficult to write some of the biggest names like Iron Man, Cap, Namor, Thor and others well, both in terms of personality, as well as power? What kind of research goes into each character?
JP: Those main heroes, I already have clear ideas of them from decades of reading comics. But I still cherry pick what I like from past books and I don't place much importance on continuity, more about the behavior of the character.
CL: Who's your favorite character to write and why? Would you be interested in writing an on-going for the character?
JP: I like Dr. Strange. Yes.
CL: Recently we saw fans vote for the next member of the Thunderbolts. Was that roster selected by you? Do you already have a plan in mind for a specific character or will the voting have a major influence on your decision? The cover has also been revealed showing only a handful from the roster...Are those the final contestants? My fingers are crossed for Shocker.
JP: I threw most of those out there, and some other Marvel staffers added to it. Shocker got a LOT of love, I wasn't expecting that. The write-ins also influenced me. All will be revealed by issue 157.
CL: Do you plan on having characters from your previous team title (Agents of Atlas) to make an appearance in any of your on-goings?
JP: No, but if one of them works best, sure. Like Namora always fits in lots of places. As does Venus.
CL: What inspired you to create a new version of MODOK? Do you plan on having any more classic Hulk villains reappear or get a revamp? *cough*Leader*cough*
JP: One of the problems I always run into with using older Marvel villains is that they tend to look different but be much the same character and speak the same, ie; shouting the word 'destroy' a lot, and so on. Here I felt I had a chance to recreate MODOK as a character to gets out in the mix of things more, and doesn't just shout all the time. He's a lot more fun to write in this version.
CL: 'Hulk' had a lot of....controversial...scenes before you jumped onboard (Rulk punching out Uatu, killing Grandmaster, beating Thor and Silver Surfer)...And so far you've done an amazing job developing responses to those instances. Is there anything else from the earlier stories you're looking to bring back and address?
JP: I suppose there should be a gorilla uprising for him killing Red Ghost's gorilla...
CL: Are there any plans for a crossover with Greg Pak's title?
JP: Eventually, but I think we all felt readers wanted to be able to enjoy the titles on their own for a while after that extended crossover.
CL: Are there any characters you want to write that you haven't had the opportunity to?
JP: Lots of DC ones.
CL: What are your favorite comic book movies?
JP: I liked the Dark Knight, The Rocketeer, Hellboy, and The Spirit. I'm just kidding, no one liked The Spirit.
CL: All time favorite comic book issue?
JP: That's too hard. It kind of overloads my brain to try to think that way!
CL: If you could bring one of DC's characters to the Marvel Universe, who would it be and who do you think they'd interact with?
JP: Batman. Batman works everywhere.
CL: As a huge comic nerd, I spend waaaay too much time debating about who would win in a fight between characters. And with that I've gotta ask....Captain America vs Batman...Who takes it?
JP: Boy, that's a tough one. I never think about those match ups as game pieces, I think in terms of what's happening in the story. Are we out in bright daylight where Batman has no ninja-like advantage? Are we on the side of a building where Cap really isn't in his element? That kind of stuff. Are they fighting over a new kid to make a sidekick?
CL: Is there an artist you'd love to work with that you haven't already?
JP: Goran Parlov.
CL: Are we going to see more of Crossbones, and if so, will he still have his powers?
JP: Yes, he'll be turning up. But his superdeathlook burned out in the Frog's World when Steve Rogers pushed his face underwater.
CL: Deadpool....Overexposed cash cow or a badass worthy of so many titles?
JP: The former. And I can't stand that he gets yellow word balloons, there's no reason he needs colored balloons.
CL: Is there anything else you'd like to add about Hulk, Thunderbolts, or your other work?
JP: I feel like we're hitting strides with both those books, and readers should ditch a book they're not happy with and add ours. Also please go look for Mysterius the Unfathomable in trade because I'm proud of that. And if you want to read me every week without spending one thin dime, check out www.buckocomic.com!
CL: So far 'Hulk' has been packed with characters from across the Marvel Universe. Do you find it difficult to write some of the biggest names like Iron Man, Cap, Namor, Thor and others well, both in terms of personality, as well as power? What kind of research goes into each character?
JP: Those main heroes, I already have clear ideas of them from decades of reading comics. But I still cherry pick what I like from past books and I don't place much importance on continuity, more about the behavior of the character.
CL: Who's your favorite character to write and why? Would you be interested in writing an on-going for the character?
JP: I like Dr. Strange. Yes.
CL: Recently we saw fans vote for the next member of the Thunderbolts. Was that roster selected by you? Do you already have a plan in mind for a specific character or will the voting have a major influence on your decision? The cover has also been revealed showing only a handful from the roster...Are those the final contestants? My fingers are crossed for Shocker.
JP: I threw most of those out there, and some other Marvel staffers added to it. Shocker got a LOT of love, I wasn't expecting that. The write-ins also influenced me. All will be revealed by issue 157.
CL: Do you plan on having characters from your previous team title (Agents of Atlas) to make an appearance in any of your on-goings?
JP: No, but if one of them works best, sure. Like Namora always fits in lots of places. As does Venus.
CL: What inspired you to create a new version of MODOK? Do you plan on having any more classic Hulk villains reappear or get a revamp? *cough*Leader*cough*
JP: One of the problems I always run into with using older Marvel villains is that they tend to look different but be much the same character and speak the same, ie; shouting the word 'destroy' a lot, and so on. Here I felt I had a chance to recreate MODOK as a character to gets out in the mix of things more, and doesn't just shout all the time. He's a lot more fun to write in this version.
CL: 'Hulk' had a lot of....controversial...scenes before you jumped onboard (Rulk punching out Uatu, killing Grandmaster, beating Thor and Silver Surfer)...And so far you've done an amazing job developing responses to those instances. Is there anything else from the earlier stories you're looking to bring back and address?
JP: I suppose there should be a gorilla uprising for him killing Red Ghost's gorilla...
CL: Are there any plans for a crossover with Greg Pak's title?
JP: Eventually, but I think we all felt readers wanted to be able to enjoy the titles on their own for a while after that extended crossover.
CL: Are there any characters you want to write that you haven't had the opportunity to?
JP: Lots of DC ones.
CL: What are your favorite comic book movies?
JP: I liked the Dark Knight, The Rocketeer, Hellboy, and The Spirit. I'm just kidding, no one liked The Spirit.
CL: All time favorite comic book issue?
JP: That's too hard. It kind of overloads my brain to try to think that way!
CL: If you could bring one of DC's characters to the Marvel Universe, who would it be and who do you think they'd interact with?
JP: Batman. Batman works everywhere.
CL: As a huge comic nerd, I spend waaaay too much time debating about who would win in a fight between characters. And with that I've gotta ask....Captain America vs Batman...Who takes it?
JP: Boy, that's a tough one. I never think about those match ups as game pieces, I think in terms of what's happening in the story. Are we out in bright daylight where Batman has no ninja-like advantage? Are we on the side of a building where Cap really isn't in his element? That kind of stuff. Are they fighting over a new kid to make a sidekick?
CL: Is there an artist you'd love to work with that you haven't already?
JP: Goran Parlov.
CL: Are we going to see more of Crossbones, and if so, will he still have his powers?
JP: Yes, he'll be turning up. But his superdeathlook burned out in the Frog's World when Steve Rogers pushed his face underwater.
CL: Deadpool....Overexposed cash cow or a badass worthy of so many titles?
JP: The former. And I can't stand that he gets yellow word balloons, there's no reason he needs colored balloons.
CL: Is there anything else you'd like to add about Hulk, Thunderbolts, or your other work?
JP: I feel like we're hitting strides with both those books, and readers should ditch a book they're not happy with and add ours. Also please go look for Mysterius the Unfathomable in trade because I'm proud of that. And if you want to read me every week without spending one thin dime, check out www.buckocomic.com!
