Titans collide in hulk vs. Thanos

[Sansomon]

Jim Starlin prepares to pit two of Marvel’s mightiest against one another and an array of guests later this year!

http://marvel.com/news/comics/23257/...hulk_vs_thanos



Jim Starlin’s got his hands and plate full with his new four-issue limited series, THANOS VS. HULK, out later this year.

The story, if you’ve already guessed, pits our favorite green giant against the cosmos’ greatest villain in a winner-takes-all contest—who wins? Who loses? Who survives? We sidled up to Starlin for a few clues.

Marvel.com: Jim, does THANOS VS. HULK lead off from any previous tales of yours? Can an interested reader come in cold?

Jim Starlin: A reader only has to know who the Hulk and Thanos are—which is just about anyone who knows the name Marvel these days. The story is self contained, even though it is part of the tale begun in THANOS ANNUAL and the INFINITY REVELATION original graphic novel. Strangely enough, though, this story takes place before INFINITY REVELATION, as did THANOS ANNUAL.

Marvel.com: Inquiring minds want to know: which version of the Hulk are you using in the series?





Jim Starlin: I based this story’s Hulk on the version Mark Waid was writing in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK. That's what editorial sent me to read, in order to catch up on what Mean & Green has been up to. The only thing I changed was giving him longer hair than that series had.

Marvel.com: We heard that things kick off with Pip the Troll abducting Hulk—why would he do that?

Jim Starlin: Annihilus has something Pip terribly wants and so he kidnaps Bruce Banner to trade for that something. Buyer’s regret sets in and the story continues onward.

Marvel.com: Wait—Annihilus? How big of a part does he play in the story? Why is he a great villain to use?

Jim Starlin: Annihilus is throughout the series. He wants the Hulk/Banner for his own nefarious reasons. Telling you any more than that would prove a spoiler. I'm using him in the story because he’s already a great villain that could be even scarier than he already is.
Marvel.com: What are some of the places we'll travel to in THANOS VS. HULK?

Jim Starlin: Starts on Earth, goes to Starlin’s Bar, then onto the Negative Zone and ends back on Earth. There’s also a little spell where we hang in what may or not be Bruce Banner’s psyche. So the scope is rather large and diverse.

Marvel.com: How will you bring Thanos into it? What kind of past history does he have with the Hulk?



Jim Starlin: It's not his history with the Hulk that brings Thanos into the tale. Long-time readers will recall that the Titan and a certain troll have a past affiliation. The fact of the matter is that Pip plays as big a role in this tale as any of the other characters, including the Hulk. So some unusual twists and turns should be expected.

Marvel.com: What other characters will guest-star?

Jim Starlin: Iron Man makes an appearance along with certain members of S.H.I.E.L.D. You’ll also find many of the usual suspects hanging around Starlin’s Bar. Yes, it’s pure ego that drives me to add that location to the story.
Marvel.com: Hey, who could blame you? So, for a project like this, what's the biggest advantage for you to both write and draw? What if any are the challenges?


Jim Starlin: The advantages of this arrangement keep fights between the writer and artist down to a minimum. The challenges? When a fight does break out between the writer and artist it gets very bloody very fast. Still healing from the final issue.

[Marvel_Is]

Marvel.com: Inquiring minds want to know: which version of the Hulk are you using in the series?

Jim Starlin: I based this story’s Hulk on the version Mark Waid was writing in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK. That's what editorial sent me to read, in order to catch up on what Mean & Green has been up to. The only thing I changed was giving him longer hair than that series had.

Welp, I guess I'm passing on this one.

Mr. Jim Starlin if you're reading this, your work is great and I hope you keep up the good work and keep us entertained for years!

[Sansomon]

Would not it have been better to use the current version of the Hulk after all we are talking about a clash of titans between him and Thanos and do not think just showing the Hulk otherwise ...

[Superkreep]

Sweet, the fact that MARVEL turned this into a separate mini-series rather than just an arc on Savage Hulk shows that they know they can make more $$$ from this then they originally thought. That's cool, the extra focus is a good thing.
Thanos: Infinity Revelation did well for them, I imagine once they trade collect this mini it will preform much stronger when they solicit it as a stand alone, rather than just Savage Hulk Trade vol.3. It will be much better off as another addition to the ever growing collection of New Starlin/Cosmic Marvel trades.

Anyway, I'm all in for better or worse.

[Bob Probert]

I hope the Hulk finally smashes Thanos.

Might not happen since Starlin is writing it...

[Sansomon]

Do not just think about the money that Marvel Comics could do with a titanic battle between the two big guys gross masses but also in terms of the story will be an interesting story with a memorable plot instead of a story, forgettable and unnecessary

[Raymone]

How did his pants turn purple? Bad art?