Ain't It Cool News interview with Dan Slott

[Not Jake]

Destroying everything except for people, Darthphere. Don't forget that.

 

[Not Jake]

But seriously, everyone destroys vuildings in comics. What's so scary about Hulk doing it?

 

[Darthphere]

Destroying everything except for people, Darthphere. Don't forget that.

Yeah, I dont know Jake, a big green guy drooling and roaring punching through your house might be scary, wouldnt it?

 

[Not Jake]

I don't know, no more scary than a 7-foot tall guy with a hammer smashing cars bringing lightning down to the streets of New York.

 

[The Question]

Iron Man/Thor have slammed people like Absorbing Man into buildings dozens of times. The collateral damage to the city is usually quite insane, and it's impossible for those buildings to be empty on the exact moment that fight breaks out. They are just as much massmurders as the Hulk.

That's the main arguement for the Hulk not having killed anybody, and I tend to agree. Still, Thor and Iron Man only occasionaly cause major colateral damage in the course of their stories. Hulk does it alot. And generally when he's being atacked by the military or some big monster. And, unlike Thor or Iron Man, The Hulk isn't going to go out of his way to keep from killing the military or some big monster. Those are the parts where I'd expect The Hulk to kill something or someone.

My main problem with SLott's arguements for the Hulk not having killed anyone is that if he had, Banner would have killed himself. That's assuming that he has it in him to kill himself, whereas there have been stories in the past that explicitly state that he doesn't have it in him to kill himself.

 

[Harlekin]

Alternative to killing himself is some actual deep exile. I'm off the mind that Banner really didn't need to be tricked to be sent away by spaceship.

 

[The Question]

Oh yeah. Exile I could see. Hell, he's tried it several times. It's just that he tends to get dragged back to civilization whenever he does.

 

[Dread]

Long but brilliant interview. I've always liked Slott's work and found him to be one of the few writer/creators at Marvel these days who seems to take the universe above his own ego, and this confirms it. He's very optimistic even in the face of cancelled books and he's an obvious fanboy who not only "gets" the fact that these characters have existed long before him and will still exist after he retires, but he EMBRACES that. Frankly, considering Marvel's current editorial department, they should be lucky he hasn't fled to DC where that kind of thinking is usually more appreciated. He would have gotten an A-List DC book by now if he'd went there. Instead he chugs for Marvel because he loves 'em and that's great (and I'm sure he has an exclusive contract now anyway).

His statements on Hulk and Killing Off Characters were dead on. If only writers who axed off someone were forced to create someone, we'd have fewer deaths. Too many writers rely heavilly on that stuff, especially during events. He's also not afraid of, gasp, admitting that characterization can TRUMP "realism" in a medium where people can fly and shoot lasers and wear perfect costumes that never wrinkle while fighting crime, aliens, and demons.

In MYSTERY MEN, Capt. Amazing has a line that goes, "It's that kind of cynicism that I truly feel is starting to poison society." If left unchecked, it's already poisoning superhero books. Some books need to be appropriately dark and gritty, but not all of them. Including making Hulk an irredeamable killing machine. Its not ULTIMATE. That won't fly. It can't. Otherwise he's a scumbag that you can't root for, which appears to be Marvel's favorite sort of hero these days. Who says the "grim and gritty" age of the 90's are dead? Isn't it great that Marvel continues to act a decade out of the loop about many things?

 

[Kool-Aid]

Those of you who argue that the Hulk never killed anyone, do you think it takes away from the character, is that why you're so against it? Has it ever been said he never killed anyone? I could see him killing some people being one of the reasons why he hates being the Hulk so much. Or maybe its because he kills bunny rabbits.

 

[MyPokerShirt]

No, people who seem to need to have this dark murdering rampage Hulk are ridiculous, really read what he wrote, it makes perfect sense.

but...then why is there the classic image in my mind of hulk being chased by the military? why would they care about this monster running around so much if he hadnt killed people? if you can answer that then thankyou because i just dont know of another answer. if it was property damage then it's a simple economics problem and there's a simple economics answer to disprove it:
hulk destroys stuff. that costs money. the military hunts him down. that costs a lot more money. the opportunity cost of the military hunting him down would be large. new schools, better punlic services etc. if it was known the hulk hadnt killed people then the public wouldnt stand for that much failure surely. if anything he'd have lots of support groups and hippies on protests trying to save his ass if he was such a misunderstood guy.
now if it isnt known to the general public in the marvel universe that hulk doesnt kill people -- if they think he DOES kill people then i could buy the military and heroes trying so hard for so many years to track him down. Then surely using the whole "what's in the comic stands" argument means we should stand by the military, the public and the superheroes of the marvel U who clearly see the hulk as a threat and who must have very good reasons above "property damage". but i guess that's mostly opinion.

i'm guessing by the interview and by what i've heard of avengers:illuminati that bendis said hulk killed a lot of people and that's why hulk was sent to another planet and so that's slotts gripe.

i havnt finished reading the interview yet but i'd like to point something out:

Bug: SPIDEY/TORCH took us through five very distinct eras for the pair, from the 70s up through modern times, and each era featured the costumes, hairstyles, and continuity nods to fit it. Were there any additions to the mythos you didn't like having to incorporate? How do you feel about Spidey's marriage, Avengers membership, and other life-changing events?

Slott: We totally blew past the 90’s. And I would’ve loved to play with that era. But there were only so many pages to play with. I’d’ve loved to do some stuff with Venom, Bag-Head Spidey, the Invisible Woman in that horrible peek-a-boo costume, Lyja (Johnny’s Skrull-Wife), and the Scarlet Spider. Okay, you’ve sold me. Let’s do another one!

He totally didn't answer the question about spider-man now. can we take that as him not agreeing with the current events then?

 

[MyPokerShirt]

And JMS is doing one hell of a job on that book.

guess not.... think i should keep reading before making future comments

 

[Darthphere]

but...then why is there the classic image in my mind of hulk being chased by the military? why would they care about this monster running around so much if he hadnt killed people? if you can answer that then thankyou because i just dont know of another answer.

Thats like asking why do cops go after robbers if they only stole some jewelery. People have been shown to be getting hurt in Hulk's rampages, thats actually been shown, but I wont understand why people have to have a Hulk that kills people. If you want that read Ultimate Hulk. 616 Hulk isnt out to go around destroying stuff and killing people. He wants to be left alone, and most of the time hes provoked, which includes those images of the military going after him.

 

[The Question]

I don't want a Hulk that's some mindless killing machine. Not at all. I simply prefer a Hulk who has and is willing to kill. Not necessairily innocent people, but definately the military forces and other people who atack him. That I don't mind, either storywise or morally, since it's their own damn fault for pissing of someone like The Hulk in the first place.

 

[gildea]

I just think as a protagonist for a superhero comic (which lets not forget it is) you can't have the hulk accidently causing death on a regular basis.

It's willing suspension of disbelief to protect the characters integrity and so that you can keep writing about him in a POSITIVE fashion.

I'm not arguing it's logical merely sensible.

 

[MyPokerShirt]

Thats like asking why do cops go after robbers if they only stole some jewelery. People have been shown to be getting hurt in Hulk's rampages, thats actually been shown, but I wont understand why people have to have a Hulk that kills people. If you want that read Ultimate Hulk. 616 Hulk isnt out to go around destroying stuff and killing people. He wants to be left alone, and most of the time hes provoked, which includes those images of the military going after him.

but that's my exact point! it seems the hulk damages stuff when he's being chased! they must have something bad on him. BAD. or he just becomes another freak in a costume (i count those pants as a costume...)
i mean he's stopped bad guys. so he destroyed property. so has every other hero. there has to be something else about him and that for many is that he's a killer. anyway what's the term? it's all academic now(?? lol.) cos bendis stated IN A COMIC that hulk's a killer right?


hulk has always been violent. i just find it hard to suspend my belief enough to accept hulk hasnt killed an innocent. soldiers protecting their country count as innocents, The Question.

 

[Darthphere]

but that's my exact point! it seems the hulk damages stuff when he's being chased! they must have something bad on him. BAD. or he just becomes another freak in a costume (i count those pants as a costume...)
i mean he's stopped bad guys. so he destroyed property. so has every other hero. there has to be something else about him and that for many is that he's a killer. anyway what's the term? it's all academic now(?? lol.) cos bendis stated IN A COMIC that hulk's a killer right?

I dont believe he actually stated it in the comic, though it was implied and it was comments made in an interview.

 

[Darthphere]

there has to be something else about him and that for many is that he's a killer.

Furthermore, isnt it enough that hes a big green monster enough reason for the military to go after him?

 

[Darthphere]

hulk has always been violent. i just find it hard to suspend my belief enough to accept hulk hasnt killed an innocent. soldiers protecting their country count as innocents, The Question.

In most cases, these soldiers are antagonists and not just "protecting their country".

 

[MyPokerShirt]

^ my point was that they didnt have a choice, they were following an officer's orders

 

[gildea]

I dont believe he actually stated it in the comic, though it was implied and it was comments made in an interview.

You are correct.

As slott said in the interview "wiggle room" has been left. The comic did not say there had been any fatalities.

In an interview bendis said it was stupid that no one died in a hulk rampage but he didn't specifically make it happen. So either he was being cautious or an editor sensible.

 

[Darthphere]

^ my point was that they didnt have a choice, they were following an officer's orders

Either way, most of the time those soldiers are actually shown to be safe. I think Bendis pointed out the Hulk movie when he threw the tank and the two soldiers crawled out as one of his main points as why Hulk not killing is ridiculous. But this is comics, and I agree with Dan, until we actually see Hulk killing someone accidentally or on purpose we cant assume he has.

 

[Darthphere]

You are correct.

As slott said in the interview "wiggle room" has been left. The comic did not say there had been any fatalities.

In an interview bendis said it was stupid that no one died in a hulk rampage but he didn't specifically make it happen. So either he was being cautious or an editor sensible.

Possibly, I dont think Marvel wants the idea out there that one of their heroes is a killer, especially with a new movie coming out.

 

[Kool-Aid]

Wasn't the reason why the Hulk was sent off becuase he killed people in the Las Vegas incident where he was mindless? In the FF issue didn't they also say Hulk had never killed prior to that?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Possibly, I dont think Marvel wants the idea out there that one of their heroes is a killer, especially with a new movie coming out.

Why not? Wolverine's a killer and the X-Men movies sell quite well. Plus, I'm inclined to believe that the majority of moviegoers, who aren't privvy to the specifics of the Hulk's comic issues like we are, are a hell of a lot more likely to side with Bendis' camp and assume that, by his very nature, the Hulk must've killed in the past. I'd bet that most people already consider the Hulk a killer, no matter how little evidence there is to back them up.

 

[gildea]

Why not? Wolverine's a killer and the X-Men movies sell quite well. Plus, I'm inclined to believe that the majority of moviegoers, who aren't privvy to the specifics of the Hulk's comic issues like we are, are a hell of a lot more likely to side with Bendis' camp and assume that, by his very nature, the Hulk must've killed in the past. I'd bet that most people already consider the Hulk a killer, no matter how little evidence there is to back them up.

Part of wolverines character is to be a killer but thats never been a part of the hulks.

Though i think you're probably right about those not privvy to the comics, many many people have seen the old tv show which made a distinct point of hammering home that the hulk is not a killer.