CBR: Van Lente & Pak Lead Hercules' "Assault"

[CBR News]

This week's "Incredible Hercules" #138 is part one of the Assault on New Olympus" storyline. CBR News spoke with writers Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak about the arc, which brings Act II of the "Incredible Hercules" saga to a close.


Full article here.

[AllisterH]

I'm interested to see how Zeus and Hera interact in the finale.

Hera really despises Zeus given his treatment of her so I wonder if kid Zeus is going to feel any guilt

[protege]

Well, I was wondering what happened to the Pantheon guest shot- I think it would be kind of interesting if Herc lead the Pantheon- unless he'd clash too much with Ajax. Still, I'm a little unsure about how much longer this book might be around...

[Comet Man]

Well, I was wondering what happened to the Pantheon guest shot- I think it would be kind of interesting if Herc lead the Pantheon- unless he'd clash too much with Ajax. Still, I'm a little unsure about how much longer this book might be around...

I'm 'bout ready to dump it. I'm just too old school to handle "Kid Zeus", and the whole crappy treatment of the other Gods and Olympus.

Same with Thor. While Asgard hovering above Okie has put an interesting spin on things, I'm looking forward to the day it's moved back to another dimension; Rainbow Bridge and all.

[CaptainCanada]

Still, I'm a little unsure about how much longer this book might be around...

They certainly don't sound like they've got plans to go anywhere anytime soon (though, of course, books like this always eventually end; in a way, that's a strength).

Given how much editorial support this book clearly has, one suspects they'd just do the relaunch thing if need-be.

and the whole crappy treatment of the other Gods and Olympus.

What do you mean? I can't recall them ever having it this good.

[Soundrave]

Is it me, or does it sound like "Assault on New Olympus" and "Siege" are going to dovetail into each other at some point?

I'm 'bout ready to dump it. I'm just too old school to handle "Kid Zeus", and the whole crappy treatment of the other Gods and Olympus.

Dude, this is the best treatment that the Olympian gods have received since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby invented them.

[Soundrave]

Still, I'm a little unsure about how much longer this book might be around...

Actually, their language in this interview makes it sound like there's no end in sight. Sure, this is the Second Act, but there doesn't seem to be any intention of ending in Act III if sales are still decent.

[XPac]

Is it me, or does it sound like "Assault on New Olympus" and "Siege" are going to dovetail into each other at some point?



Dude, this is the best treatment that the Olympian gods have received since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby invented them.

I'm willing to bet that Siege and Assault on New Olympus will dovetail to some degree at least in the Herc book.

I do wonder how Ares is going to fit into all of this.

[Vic's Aegis]

I am excited for this storyline and freaked out at the same time as to the outcome of this story. Knowing that "The Marvel Universe won't be the same", I see this connecting to the Siege story as well and as already has been said, Siege is going to change the Marvel U, so Hera and her plans will obviously be assisting in those plans...how that affects Siege since Assault will be over before Siege, we'll have to see.

And with the comment that there can't be two Princes of Power at the same time, couldn't one be the Prince of Power and the other the Regency of Intellect? Just a thought...

It does sound like Herc will be a part of Siege in some way and I do remember reading an interview a while back that Amadeus would be in Fall of the Hulks, so we'll have see how that plays out.

I do find it funny that in early interviews, Pak and Van Lente would hint as to the next storylines so we could see where things were going, but with everything they have been talking about in regards to Assault, they never say anything about the next storylines; which is why I'm excited and freaked out by this current story.

iHerc has been a great series and I think Pak and Van Lente have done a great job at re-establishing the Greek Gods in the Marvel U. They have been going through their downfall that occured at the end of the Ares mini and have been setting up their future through iHerc. Depending upon how things end in this story, I can see the Greek Gods back on par rivaling the Norse Gods and setting up their base of power again whether it's through the Olympus Corp. or Mount Olympus itself.

Can't wait for Wednesday!

[seekquaze]

Some nice stuff in the interview. Nothing really deep, but a bit more than a mere fluff piece. So far neither Hera or Typhon have come across as that impressive. Hera, despite possessing the "power of Zeus" failed to ko Osborn. Typhon has never come across as much more powerful than Hecules. At the same time I don't think we have ever seen his true form. He has been half way transforming to his true form before being defeated before. It will be interesting how they show him in this and if Hera does come across as more powerful.

[Comet Man]

Is it me, or does it sound like "Assault on New Olympus" and "Siege" are going to dovetail into each other at some point?



Dude, this is the best treatment that the Olympian gods have received since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby invented them.

Really? I disagree. They just come across pretty weak to me nowadays. Not at all like the ultra powerful gods they're supposed to be.

[CaptainCanada]

Some nice stuff in the interview. Nothing really deep, but a bit more than a mere fluff piece. So far neither Hera or Typhon have come across as that impressive. Hera, despite possessing the "power of Zeus" failed to ko Osborn. Typhon has never come across as much more powerful than Hecules. At the same time I don't think we have ever seen his true form. He has been half way transforming to his true form before being defeated before. It will be interesting how they show him in this and if Hera does come across as more powerful.

Sort of agree with Typhon, though in his case it's perhaps the lack of fight scenes more than anything else. He's only really had one, the big group fight; he certainly wasn't weak there, he easily dispatched Ares, but there wasn't a huge amount of focus. With him being billed as the "greatest monster in history", I'm guessing we're going to see the shit really hit the fan in this arc.

[Soundrave]

Really? I disagree. They just come across pretty weak to me nowadays. Not at all like the ultra powerful gods they're supposed to be.

Are you talking about a "lack of physical feats" for battle board purposes? If so, then I hardly care about that. The only treatment that matters to me is strong characterization and depth, which iHerc has in spades.

[steveg887]

Really? I disagree. They just come across pretty weak to me nowadays. Not at all like the ultra powerful gods they're supposed to be.

There's an in-story reason for that: the Diaspora (dispersion of the gods) and destruction of Olypmus in MAO's "Ares" mini-series caused all their powers to greatly weaken.

[BlackLesbianJewishWoman]

Actually, their language in this interview makes it sound like there's no end in sight. Sure, this is the Second Act, but there doesn't seem to be any intention of ending in Act III if sales are still decent.

Fred Van Lente answered this question is some robot6 comments thread about how even though they have a satisfying finale in mind for the end of their uber arc or Act III or whatever, that doesn't mean they'll end the series, but rather just the end of that long running story arc. There are plenty more ideas that Fred and Greg can get to when they get the chance, and so he made it seem like they'd write the series indefinitely as long as they can.

I'm so excited for this storyline, and I have no doubt that when these two writers say that things are going to get crazy and have huge ramifications, that that isn't just some sales bluff. This is seriously the best "mainstream" book on the stands month in and month out.