Former Hulk artist Carlo Pagulayan talks about Thor Ragnarok

Jason Paz, Carlo Pagulayan, Romulo Fajardo, and Stephen Segovia.

Former Hulk artist Carlo Pagulayan talks about Thor Ragnarok

by rick olivares

During the recent San Diego Comics Convention, the trailer of the new Thor film, titled: “Thor: Ragnarok” confirmed that the Asgardian tale about the world’s end will mesh one of the most popular stories in the lore of the “Incredible Hulk” comic book, “Planet Hulk”.

We caught up with Filipino artist Carlo Pagulayan who drew that popular “Planet Hulk” storyline (with other art chores handled by Aaron Lopresti) that was written by American film director and writer Grek Pak from the pages of “Incredible Hulk” that ran for 15-issues ten years ago in 2006.

“I had mixed feelings when I saw the news about how they were weaving the 'Planet Hulk’ story with a crucial part of Thor, the hero, and Norse mythology, which is Ragnarok,” revealed Pagulayan who is currently pencilling the DC Comics character of Deathstroke that came out last week. 

“When Hulk punched Thor in the first ‘Avengers’ film, it seemed natural they they would either develop this ‘rivalry’ or come up with a ‘buddy buddy’ type of story. I would have rather that they have a solo Hulk movie rather than have him guest in another character’s movie. I think the character deserves it.”

“I might be biased since I was part of the creative team that worked on the ‘Planet Hulk’ storyline but that’s just my thinking — to develop the Hulk as a film titan, like Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man."

In the comics, the “Planet Hulk” plot revolved around the Hulk being sent to outer space as he was deemed too dangerous to be running loose on Earth. The Hulk’s shuttle crash lands on the planet Sakaar where he is taken into slavery and forced to fight like a gladiator for survival. The Hulk ends up leading a rebellion and becomes the king of Sakaar. After the shuttle that took him to outer space detonates killing many of Sakaar’s citizens, he returns to Earth to fight the heroes who exiled him.

Ragnarok in Norse mythology, and woven into the Thor comic book lore as published by Marvel is literally, “the Twilight of the Gods” where all the gods perish after a great battle and the world is submerged under water only to undergo a rebirth.

“In any or whatever comics convention I go to, no matter what title I am working on at the moment, people always ask me about the Hulk and discuss the ‘Planet Hulk’ storyline and they tell me it is their favorite,” said Pagulayan. “And there is no shortage of requests to draw the Hulk. It is flattering although I have yet to get used to the idea of people asking for autographs and selfies."

Pagulayan also shared that his first big art influence was Rick Leonardi who had celebrated runs on titles such as "Cloak and Dagger", "the Uncanny X-Men", "Spider-Man 2099", “Nightwing", and later “Superman" among others.

He then discovered the work of Joe Quesada, John Romita Jr. Marc Silvestri and the other Image founders.Today, he keenly follows the work of Italian artist Sara Pichelli, Frank Cho, and one of his all-time favorites when he gets some work done, Travis Charest. 

Pagulayan and fellow Filpino artist Jason Paz are currently illustrating “Deathstroke” that is about the DC Comics’ most dangerous assassin and mercenary. The first issue came out last week and should be available in your favorite comics specialty store.