By Kiel Phegley
Jeph Loeb could call all the shots in the multiple Marvel sandboxes he plays in, but luckily for readers, the writer behind HULK, ULTIMATUM and the upcoming CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE knows how to pull off an artistic team-up like few others.
From the mainstream Marvel Universe slugfest he and Ed McGuiness deliver monthly in HULK—which fans can catch up on with this week's HULK: RED HULK MUST-HAVE representing the first three issues—to the Ultimate Universe redefining crossover ULTIMATUM which he'll spearhead along with artist David Finch, Loeb's output pulls out the best from his artists and fellow writers. But with so many high profile projects, keeping secrets can become a full time gig for the writer.
That's why Marvel.com got Loeb on the horn to let slip some of the secrets of his series from what will get HULK back on a regular shipping schedule to what newly announced Ultimate specials will carry readers into the heart of ULTIMATUM.
Marvel.com: Recently in HULK, we had a straight up Hulk vs. Hulk battle. Should we be taking this feud as simple "there can be only one" posturing or is there a little background between Hulks we'll be seeing more of?
Jeph Loeb: We'll be seeing more and more, in particular in HULK #6, [about] the connection between these two. As Red Hulk—or as the 'Net has come to call him "Rulk" which makes me smile—has pointed out, do you think it's all a coincidence that the Watcher appeared when he did?"
Marvel.com: Anyone who's met Ed McGuinness knows that the only thing he loves drawing more than a rampaging Hulk is a rampaging Thor. Was it his suggestion for the fight between the two is the upcoming HULK #5?
Jeph Loeb: Everything in this title I share with Ed. When we first pitched where it was all going we weren't even sure there
was going to be a "Thor" to have in the book. But, thanks to some nifty editorial cooperation—thanks Warren!—we managed to time it correctly. I think folks will be kind of astonished how that story ends…for the time being.
Marvel.com: The KING-SIZE HULK special really opened up the world of your and Ed's HULK mini-verse. Will anything be spinning out of that special and into the main title?
Jeph Loeb: All I can say is it's far from over. We're very lucky that Issues #7-9 are splits, [with] 11 pagers for Green with art by Arthur Adams and 11 pagers for Red with art by Frank Cho. Stunning work. Those stories started in KING SIZE HULK and now rip through #7-9. Great stuff.
Marvel.com: What can you tell us about the next arc? Will the guest artists hopefully give Ed a chance to get into a good groove for his future installments?
Jeph Loeb: Yeah, that's to give Ed a little time for the next arc which is called "The Best Defense is a Good Offense"—and that should give you a hint as to who might be guest-starring in the book! One of the things that Ed and I did with our book at the Distinguished Competition was allow that title to invite everyone from that Universe to come and play. We want the HULK to feel like that. By the end of #5 Iron Man puts together a team that's, at best, odd. Powerful, but really unexpected. But it's got nothing on HULK #10!
Marvel.com: You've got the fifth and final issue of your ULTIMATES 3 coming up. What can you say about how you plan to wrap things up?
Jeph Loeb: We're going to wrap up
just about everything. There a few strands I want to leave unexplained. And some of that will be taken care of in the yet unannounced—but here's the super spoiler
kids—ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL, which includes the origin of the Ultimate Black Panther, and ULTIMATE HULK ANNUAL, [which] guest stars Zarda from ULTIMATE POWER and the SUPREME POWER Universe!
Ha! Betcha thought we forgot about her! And that story will feature, of all things,
no pants!
Marvel.com: And just because I'm nosey…are we going to see who's under that Black Panther mask in ULTIMATES 3 #5, or are you holding that one in the pocket for the Annual?
Jeph Loeb: We might see
who that is…but
why that is…see that Cap Annual, bucko!
Marvel.com: Your pal Aron Coleite from the NBC hit show "Heroes," where you're an Executive Producer, has been kicking it with an arc on ULTIMATE X-MEN. Have you two been talking a lot about how his story will fit in with your ULTIMATUM limited series? If so, how will the schism between the Banshee-abusing members of the X-Men and the rest of the gang lead to ULTIMATUM?
Jeph Loeb: Aron and I—and Joe Pokaski who will be taking over ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR—work together every day at "Heroes," so for us to coordinate—along with Brian "Bendy" Bendis—the future of the Ultimate Universe has been sweet. We're really trying to make the UU the place to expect the unexpected again!'
Also, be sure and check out the ULTIMATE X-MEN and ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR Annuals too, co-written by Aron and Joe, which will show you a
lot more of what's to come in the UU!
Marvel.com: Speaking of which, what exactly is the plot of ULTIMATUM?
Jeph Loeb: C'mon! Buy the first issue in November, dude! Suffice to say if a book had "March On Ultimatum" on it in the last year it'll all tie together. As Bendy will tell you "It's all connected!"
Marvel.com: Who would you say at this point is the focus character or characters for ULTIMATUM?
Jeph Loeb: We've got the whole gang. The Ultimate Fantastic Four, the Ultimates, Ultimate Spidey and the Ultimate X-Men…and the Ultimate Hulk to boot! Nobody won't feel the aftermath of this bad boy!
For more work from Jeph Loeb, check out Marvel Digitial Comics Unlimited!
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 "ULTIMATES 3 #5 cover by Joe Madureira")
 "ULTIMATUM #2 cover by David Finch")
