Jeph Loeb Interview 

By Josh Green 

You said in a past interview that Ultimate X is very reminiscent of Superman: For All Seasons.  Can you get into why both series are so similar?                
                                                                

After doing Ultimatum, which was intended to be a big huge summer popcorn Michael Bay movie, I wanted to do something that was smaller and more character based.  I went back and re-read the first five issues of Ultimate Spider-Man and was very taken by how Bendis took his time introducing you to characters you thought you knew.   I always have a different approach to every project and this one was specifically tailored to be more in that vein.  The choice of Arthur Adams affected that as well.

What’s the premise behind Ultimate X?
 

It’s about hope.  In the aftermath of Ultimatum so much has changed. The Fantastic Four have disbanded.  The X-Men are no more.  Captain America is a fugitive.  It is a different world.  Different is what made the Ultimate Universe stand out to begin with and Bendis, Millar and I are reaching for that same goal again.

Will Ultimate X have a single protagonist or will it be a team book?

Um…Maybe none of the above.  You will meet the heroes.  What they do next is what makes the book…unique.   

Do you prefer writing in the Ultimate Universe or the regular Marvel Universe?

I have no real preference.  It’s all about the story.   And often the artist.   When I get to work with Arthur Adams -- any universe is fine with me!

What’s it like working with Art Adams on a regular basis?

It’s like the best thing ever.  Arthur is such a gifted storyteller that anything I put in front of him he can twist to make it better.  Ultimate X has such a specific look and feel -- one that is grounded very much in the “real” world --  that having an illustrator of his caliber makes my work even harder since I want to give him the images that will inspire him.

With your book, The New Ultimates, are you going to pick up on some of your past storylines that you began with The Ultimates 3 and Ultimatum?

Yes, but not in such a way that you have to have read those things.  What’s great about the Ultimate Universe is there are still only four core books.  Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Avengers, Ultimate X, and now New Ultimates.  The idea is to make it very reader friendly -- an entry point in every issue.  As an added bonus Marvel put the first five pages of NEW ULTIMATES in the back of Ultimate X #1.  Frank Cho’s artwork is mind-boggling great.  The cover alone you could look at for days! 

What will the relationship be between New Ultimates and Ultimate Avengers?  Will there ever be a crossover with Ultimate Avengers?

New Ultimates is a formal out in front, headline grabbing SHIELD affiliated team.  Ultimate Avengers  is a dirty messy black Ops outfit that’s run by Nick Fury and done only as Mark Millar can. 

Can you give any hints about your first New Ultimates storyline? 

The title tells it all:  Thor Reborn!  With Thor gone -- Loki sees this as an opportunity to invade Earth with all of Asgard behind him.   When you get a look at Frank Cho’s Hela and Amora (the Enchantress) you won’t really need to ask any more questions!

Tell me about Fall of the Hulks. 

It’s a great big huge Hulk adventure that will reveal ALL The secrets (writer) Greg Pak and I have been building toward since Planet Hulk (Two years ago!).  Who is the Red Hulk?  Will Skaar fulfill his destiny and kill The Green Hulk?  Will the Green Hulk return?  Will it be Banner?  What is She-Hulk’s fate?  Everything we’ve carefully dropped as clues and left as mysteries will be solved.  I’m super happy with all of it -- and Ed McGuinness doing the work of his life.

Do you know when your J. Scott Campbell Spider-Man book and Captain America: White will hit stores? 2010 maybe?

Both books are being worked on.  We want them to come out without any interruption and because of the length of the stories it’s taking time.  But the finished work -- wow! Please be a little more patient!

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