A fixture in Wizard’s Top 10 list of comic book writers, as well as an executive producer and screenwriter for the hit NBC series Heroes, Jeph Loeb is currently headlining some of the biggest titles at Marvel, including the third series of the fan-favorite book The Ultimates and the recent relaunch of The Hulk. Loeb talked with PWCW about the challenges of his current books, the upcoming Ultimate Universe crossover and what the recent writers strike means for his work in comics.
PWCW: You recently kicked off the new Hulk series with a first issue that didn't feature Hulk himself. Why did you choose to go that route?
Jeph Loeb: Who says it doesn’t feature the Hulk himself? He’s right there on page one, panel two! You must’ve gotten a dose of gamma radiation before doing this interview! (laughs) [Editor’s note: The Hulk appears in the hypothesized scenarios of other characters as they investigate a mystery.]
PWCW: Hulk #1 was a murder mystery and a more thoughtful story, although you've mentioned you're a bigger fan of "Hulk smash" than "Hulk think." Will you be taking the story in a more action-oriented direction in the future? What kind of themes are you interested in exploring in the book?
JL: I love the question “Who is the Hulk?” It’s been decades since the world found out that Bruce Banner is the Hulk. Ed McGuinness and I are having the time of our lives. If it is a “thoughtful” book, it’s sure as heck disguised as an action movie.
PWCW: Do you find it difficult to balance the work on your two very high-profile ongoing titles, The Ultimates and Hulk?
JL: I can’t think like that. I try and tell the best stories I can—and I’m lucky that they are so high profile. Further to fall, but great to take off from.
PWCW: What was it like following the creative team of Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch on The Ultimates 3 after their popular run on the first two volumes? How does your approach with artist Joe Madureira differ?
JL: I’m honored. They did some of the best comics in the last century. And using them as our foundation is the joy of doing the third arc and not the first. I’ve said elsewhere that Mark does political stuff—sometimes bordering on satire—that I don’t do. So my story is going to lean harder on the superhero action—[but] not ever at the expense of character.
PWCW: How is the upcoming Ultimate Universe crossover, Ultimatum, going to respond to concerns that the Ultimate titles are becoming too burdened by their own continuity?
JL: I’d not heard that. And I don’t think the Ultimate Universe is burdened by anything. We wanted to come up with a story that would shake things up and still really tie the books closer together. I’m very happy with the end result and cannot wait to see where David Finch, illustrator extraordinaire takes it all.
PWCW: How long are you expecting to stay on Ultimates and Hulk respectively?
JL: I don’t have any real plans. I’ve found that as soon as you say, “I’ll stay this long,” your audience leaves. The reader doesn’t have any plans to leave, so why should I talk about that now? I’ve had one issue of each title come out.
PWCW: Do you have any other projects in the works that you can talk about?
JL: Yes there are new projects, like Ultimatum, but most of it, I can’t talk about—[but] that’s all anybody wants to talk about.
PWCW: What has the writer's strike meant for your work in comics? Has it affected your current comics projects?
JL: It’s been very beneficial for comics, not so much for the rent. While I still had to walk the picket line, my day was infinitely more open to work on books. I think Marvel liked it very much.
PWCW: Are you considering taking on more comics work in lieu of your work in television?
JL: Actually, [the strike] enabled me catch up some of the comic work that has been very hard to get to with my television schedule as executive producer/writer on Heroes. As a screenwriter I couldn’t be more sad, and as a comic book writer I couldn’t be happier. So I guess I’m even.
