Hulk evolves in animation in Planet Hulk DVD
“Planet Hulk” roared to DVD this month, as Marvel Comics’ green giant is sent to another world, where he becomes a gladiator. It’s based on the hit comic book by Greg Pak. At Comic-Con in 2009, “Planet Hulk” supervising director Frank Paur, “Planet Hulk” film writer Greg Johnson, and Craig Kyle, former senior vice president of animation at Marvel Studios, discussed why “Planet Hulk” was the right fit for a direct-to-DVD film.
“Hulk is a much-loved character,” Kyle said. “He’s just one of the greats. He just is with Spidey and X-Men and Thor and all those, but he’s just someone that fans cannot get enough of. And he’s someone that rules don’t apply to. I think that’s part of his huge appeal.”
While Hulk faced off with Thor and Wolverine in “Hulk Vs.,” another direct-to-DVD film, Kyle said the different films will allow Marvel “to show us the full range of Hulk.”
“‘Planet Hulk’ specifically is probably going to show you the complete Hulk experience that you can have,” Kyle said.
Pak, who wrote the comics that inspired the DVD, looked at a script in the early stages, and Kyle said the creators of the film heavily referenced the comics in developing the film.
Paur said the story line of Hulk on a savage planet, with new foes and friends, gave the filmmakers a chance to show the entire range of the Hulk.
“You see an evolution from monster into basically a man,” Paur said. “The other shows were a lot of fun, but this is the first thinking Hulk that’s ever been done (in animation).”
In the comics, “Planet Hulk” led into the blockbuster comic-book hit “World War Hulk.” Kyle said the success of “Planet Hulk” will determine if animation follows the same path.
“The fans are the ones that decide if there’s a second and a third,” said Kyle, currently a producer on the live-action “Thor” film. But, he said, each movie has to be satisfying on its own.
“It can’t be a cliffhanger,” he said. “You can’t let people feel like they’ve been given two-thirds of a movie. It’s just not fair to them.”
Johnson agreed that “Planet Hulk” is complete in itself.
“At the end of this, you feel like you’ve watched a movie that has ended, but with enough fuel there to ignite a sequel, if you wanted,” Johnson said.
- By Matthew Price
From The Oklahoman
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Incredible Hulk 602, Supergirl 46, Justice League 38
Matt Price and Kyle Roberts provide comic-book reviews for Incredible Hulk 602, Supergirl 46 and Justice League 38 in this week’s NewsOK Comics Podcast. It’s Hulk vs. Wolverine: The Next Generation in “Incredible Hulk” No. 602. The Hunt for Reactron ends in Supergirl 46. And James Robinson (“Starman”) begins his run on “Justice League of America” in issue No. 38.
Can the Hulk dance?
Lou Ferrigno may join Dancing with the Stars next season, according to Life & Style magazine. (Found via Linda Miller’s excellent Fashion Matters blog at NewsOK.)
From Fashion Matters: 
Lou tells Life & Style that while he hasn’t yet signed the contract, he can’t wait to start training for the show. “I had a good meeting with the producers for Dancing With the Stars, it was really positive, and they loved the idea of having me on the show,” Lou says.
More in the link.
Ferrigno is of course best-known for his role as the Hulk in the “Incredible Hulk” television series of the 1970s, in which he played the superstrong, gamma-infused alter ego of David Banner, played by Bill Bixby.
Is this the first superhero to possibly make the “Dancing” roster?
- Matt Price
Planet Hulk trailer now online
Marvel has released the Planet Hulk trailer that was first shown at Comic-Con International at San Diego. Stay tuned to Nerdage for much more about Planet Hulk and other animated Marvel projects.
- Matt Price
DVD review: Hulk Vs.
The Marvel animation team goes heavy on the “Hulk Smash” in “Hulk Vs.,” a new two-disc DVD featuring two programs of about 45 minutes.
The first, “Hulk Vs. Wolverine,” is the better, and bloodier, of the two, as Wolverine is called in to stop a rampaging Hulk. Wolverine’s an agent of Canada’s Department H, and the film also traces his backstory. “Hulk Vs. Wolverine” guest-stars several X-Men-related characters, including Deadpool, Omega Red, Lady Deathstrike and Sabretooth. The battle between Wolverine and his Weapon X brethren is the film’s highlight.
In “Hulk Vs. Thor,” Thor’s evil brother Loki has long since sought to rule Asgard, the realm of the Norse gods. Odin, the ruler of Asgard, must periodically hibernate to restore his energy. With Asgard left less-defended, Loki uses magic to control the Hulk, who he sends to destroy Thor.
There’s not a lot of story in either, but there’s a lot of well-animated action and violence. The dark humor keeps “Hulk Vs. Wolverine” relatively light despite a lot of PG-13 hacking and slashing. The characters’ voices are on-model and fit with the Marvel Comics depiction of them. “Thor” is the lesser of the two films, but he’ll get another try, as the special features on the disc include a first look at a “Lord of the Rings”-inspired take on the god of Thunder, “Thor: Tales of Asgard.” There are also featurettes and commentaries on the development of each film included as extras.
- Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
DVD review: The Incredible Hulk
Actor Edward Norton and studio Marvel reportedly had some disagreements on the final cut of “The Incredible Hulk,” now out on DVD. With the plethora of deleted scenes included on the 3-disc special edition, you can argue that Norton was right. Most of the deleted scenes bring more humanity to Bruce Banner, Norton’s character who, when angry or excited, turns into the green monster the incredible Hulk.
Perhaps stung by criticism of the 2003 Ang Lee-directed “Hulk,” Marvel chose to move the action up in the film. The film concludes with a CGI fight sequence that’s overlong. Still, the released “Incredible Hulk” was an exciting, well-acted film. But it seems from the scenes we’re given on the DVD that Norton’s version could have been better.
Marvel fans will also appreciate the blink-and-you’ll-miss-him appearance of a frozen Captain America in the alternate opening to the film. While the film works better without that opening, it’s a nice Easter egg.
Also included on the 3-disc edition of the DVD are multiple documentaries, a commentary by director Louis Letterier, and a digital copy of the film.
- Matthew Price
“Gamma Corps” cancelled; folded into “Avengers” cartoon
According to Marvel Animation Age, the in-development “Hulk: Gamma Corps” cartoon is being shelved. However, much of the work done there will continue as part of the upcoming “Avengers” cartoon. From the report:
Joshua Fine, Director of Animation Development for Marvel Animation, tells Marvel Animation Age that the Hulk: Gamma Corp animated series was in pre-production when the decision was made to fold the creative work being done there into the upcoming The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes animated series. Even though the creative team was well into pre-production of Hulk: Gamma Corps, with scripting underway, they saw the chance to tell bigger stories that reached far beyond Hulk’s universe.
“It became apparent to us that the creative work that was being done to bring Hulk’s world and his villains to life was too good to relegate to his universe alone, and would be much better suited as part of an full-on Avengers scenario,” says Fine.
Hulk vs. Wolverine
SAN DIEGO — Marvel and Lionsgate debuted the “Hulk vs. Wolverine” portion of the upcoming “Hulk Vs.” DVD, which will also feature a “Hulk vs. Thor” episode. The DVD will go on sale in January.
On hand to discuss the DVD were supervising producer and co-writer Craig Kyle, producer and supervising director Frank Paur, co-writer Christopher Yost and voice actor Fred Tatasciore, who portrayed the Hulk.
“This is the fight we’ve loved since 181,” said Kyle, referring to the first appearance of Wolverine in “Incredible Hulk” 181, where the Canadian mutant and the green Goliath first threw down.
“We’ve brought it together in a way I think you guys are gonna love,” Kyle said. “These are the kinds of films I think we should be making for you guys.”
Kyle focused on the fans during the presentation, saying the Marvel direct-to-DVD features were aimed at pleasing the comic-book fans first.
Co-writer Chris Yost, who also writes the comic-book “X-Force” with Kyle, talked about bringing the comic-book feel to the project.
“Everything that the fans like, the action and the edge, I’ve tried to bring to it,” Yost said.
Paur said the DVD can be more violent and action-oriented than broadcast television; there’s also some things that are more cost-effective on DVD.
“There are some things … that I wouldn’t even think about approaching (for TV) that we did on these features,” Paur said. “We did some things that would not be cost-conscious on a TV series.”
Kyle talked a bit about “Next Avengers,” a PG-rated animated DVD featuring the children of the original Avengers, and indicated it would be more kid-appropriate than the more violent “Hulk Vs.” He also mentioned some other kid-friendly properties he’d like to see.
“I think there’s room for ‘Power Pack,’ ‘New Mutants,’ and then there’s stuff where we need five amputations to make it right.”
– Matt Price
“Hulk Vs.” trailer online
Hulk takes on Thor and Wolverine in this January 2009 DVD release.
– Matt Price
DVD review: The Incredible Hulk, the Complete Third Season
The third season of “The Incredible Hulk,” starring Bill Bixby as David Banner, has fewer two-part episodes than previous seasons, but still manages some solid episodes.
While the season’s fifth episode, “My Favorite Magician,” has some flaws, it’s got several interesting ideas working for it. It co-stars Ray Walston, Bixby’s co-star on “My Favorite Martian,” and it features Banner becoming a magician’s assistant, likely referencing Bixby’s 1973 series “The Magician.”
The highlight of the third season is “Homecoming,” in which Banner returns to his hometown for the first time since the accident that transformed him, in times of stress and anger, into the Incredible Hulk (portrayed by Lou Ferrigno).
The episode “The Psychic” features Brenda Benet, Bixby’s first wife, as a psychic who discovers the connection between Banner and The Hulk.
While the third season lacked the dynamic two-parters of seasons two and four, it holds up as part of one of the best television adaptations of a comic-book hero.
— Matthew Price
