At Bags and Boards, Tom McLean gets an update on Marvel’s MIA miniseries Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk from writer (and Lost executive producer) Damon Lindelof. The short answer? It’s coming. Sometime.
The six-issue miniseries, by Lindelof and Leinil Fancis Yu, launched in December 2005. However, the third issue — originally solicited for April 2006, resolicited several times and then, finally, canceled — still hasn’t come out.
“They have scripts all the way through issue four and I’m about to turn in issue five in about a week,” Lindelof tells McLean. “Leinil has been drawing New Avengers for [Brian Michael] Bendis, so as soon as he is done with that, and I think he has one more issue and then he’s done with that, he’s going to finish up Hulk vs. Wolverine.”
More at the link, of course.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:16 am
If I was in charge at Marvel (or any comics company for that matter):
Step 1: Get big name Hollywood writer to write a comic book.
Step 2: Get high profile artist to draw big name Hollywood writer’s comic book.
Step 3: Have all the scripts turned in to the editor.
Step 4: Have the artist complete the art for all the scripts.
Step 5: Solicit the comic book after steps 1-4 have been completed.
Step 6: Repeat process for all other “high profile” books I publish.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Did he just announce for Yu that he wasn’t staying on New Avengers? I thought he was the ongoing artist.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Yu is leaving NA…?
July 12th, 2007 at 9:34 am
It could be that Yu is taking a break from New Avengers.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Why not leave NA. The most recent issue was all about a plane crash. Better uses of Yu’s talents than that.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:38 am
There comes a point when a book is delayed so many times that I lose all interest in it. When it’s something like Ultimates that ties into a larger story, then I’ll still pick it up, but when it’s a mini-series, forget it. I’m done.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:43 am
LMFAO!!! This book is ridiculous, and I would never buy it again after the unprofessional behavior by its author. Hope nobody orders a single copy.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:50 am
I have to agree with the above poster.
Instituting this kind of policy would keep readers happy and sell more pamphlets, so the question is, why don’t marvel and dc adopt this policy?
I think the cynical/realistic answer is that they’d rather leave fans holding the bag on series that go South.
Lets take UltWvH for example. If they did have such a policy in place, they would have already paid for a number of scripts and two issues of art with nothing to show for it, maybe ever. So they’d rather get the first two books out, recoup their costs, and leave readers with an unfinished story, than take the risk of a potential loss themselves.
And wow, the script for issue 4 is already in, only eighteen months after issue 2 hit the shelves….congratulations.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Beyond unprofessional. Up to readers whether to send a message by voting with their wallets.
July 12th, 2007 at 10:09 am
I wouldn’t put all the blame on Lindelof. After all, Marvel’s the one who put him - guy who works on major TV show - there in the first place, without apparently caring about his working schedule and the book’s schedule.
I did laugh when I saw Damon’s name attached to the Meltzer JLA hardcover (he writes the foreward) - at least something comic-related came out recently with his name on it!
July 12th, 2007 at 10:24 am
NO ONE CARES ANYMORE!
July 12th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Wait, there was an Ultimate Hulk vs. Wolverine book?
July 12th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Woohoo! I liked issues 1 & 2 and can’t wait to (reread them and then) read the rest of the story.
July 12th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I love how he says, “all the way up to four” as though four is alot! All the way… like its some sort of great accomplishment! Way to go Damon! Four whole scripts! You’re a champ!
This project was probably a lot more appealing to readers before A) the giant delay, and B) Lost started horribly sucking.
July 12th, 2007 at 10:57 am
I believe in this project and I’ll be the first in line to buy issue #6…in 2012.
Or later. It’s just worth the time it takes to put out a quality product.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:04 am
When Lindelof accepted the job, he also agreed to the scheduling requirements and deadlines attached to it. If he thought he wouldn’t be able to get the job done according to that schedule, it was up to him to say so.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:18 am
“They have scripts all the way through issue four.” Wow, you wrote two whole comic scripts in two years? Good boy! Who wants a cookie?
Will not pick this up when it eventually finishes. It obviously has no bearing whatsoever on either of these characters in the long run and I refuse — REFUSE — to encourage this type of unprofessionalism by supporting it financially. There’s simply no excuse for this.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:23 am
If Marvel takes Yu off NA to put him on Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk, then they are just stupid, plain and simple.
“Hey, let’s take Yu off our premier book, who has kept the series on schedule and hasn’t had a fill-in, and put him on a book that is so late people don’t care anymore.”
Unless he’s replaced by Bagley, it’s just moronic.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:46 am
I’m really surprised Marvel hasn’t quietly dropped this book by now. Do they really think that they’ll have decent numbers after stringing readers along for a year and a half? I’d be amazed if the book makes enough to justify printing a fourth issue, much less all six.
They should have learned their lesson from SPIDER-MAN/BLACK CAT. Don’t give some high profile Hollywood guy a book unless he proves he can deliver– writing comics is a fun sideline for them, not a job.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I thought they erased the need to actually finish the series in Wolverine #50? In a story drawn by Ed McGuinness it’s explained that the whole thing was just part of a dream Wolverine was having.
Then again Ultimate Hulk acknowledged some of what was in the mini-series, so maybe they realized they needed to finish it because of that. Of course they should have finished it over a year ago, but I guess I’m just nit-picking…
July 12th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I thought they erased the need to actually finish the series in Wolverine #50? In a story drawn by Ed McGuinness it’s explained that the whole thing was just part of a dream Wolverine was having.”
Would that be normal Wolverine and Hulk? Why would regular Wolverine be dreaming about Ultimate Wolverine?
July 12th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
i’m surprised marvel published the first two issues w/out the scripts for at least through 5.
this is a miniseries.
how hard is it to finish the basic scripts before the first two issues could be completely completed?
i hope he at least marvel knew how it was gonna end before they greenlit this one.
i will admit, i freaking loved what i saw.
i hope Yu gets to finish it and stay on avengers.
that guy is super talented and just knocks everything out of the park.
i got a batman sketch from him a few years ago and everyone that sees it is just blown away.
July 12th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
will believe it when i see it sitting on the shelf at my LCS
July 12th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
So…how many books does Marvel have sitting on the back burner like this?
I know that a lot of them wrapped up (Secret Wars, DD: Father, Ultimates) but other then this book being late for 1+ years what else is there?
July 12th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I’ll read it when it comes out…whenever that is.It’s not like there isn’t anything else to read in the meantime.
July 12th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
“So…how many books does Marvel have sitting on the back burner like this?”
Well there is always Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target.
July 12th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Everyone is moaning about this book. “It’s soo late!” “I don’t care about it anymore!” “How unprofessional!” “Deadlines mean nothing to these people!”
Y’know what?
You are going to buy it.
Either when it’s released in individual issues or when the Harcover/paperback comes out, everyone will forget about the delays, and just eat up a visual feast of Hulk and Wolverine kicking and killing the cr@p out of each other, and everything will be fine.
Marvel will make money on this this, the artist will move on to another project and we’ll complain about Millar and Hitch’s next book coming out in 2012 and we’ll be right back to the same stupid situation.
Everyone complained about Civil War. USse another artist, how dare they disrespect us so, Holy Crap a whole month of filler books, and what did we, as the buying market do? We made bestseller out of all of them, including THE RETURN.
July 12th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
How is it most fans have feverishly been waiting for the completion of “Daredevil: The Target”, but yet Marvel has never commented on the ridiculous delay that book has had?
July 12th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I think that Rolando has a great idea that should be adapted to comics in general, not just those with Hollywood writers.
Step 1: Have the scripts of any discrete arc of any title turned into the editor eight months in advance.
Step 2: Have the artist complete the art for ALL of the scripts of the given arc.
Step 2a: If need be, make it a contractual obligation that the given comic book artist turn in all of their video games and console(s) and make it a contractual obligation that they cannot play video games until they’ve met all of their deadlines for three uninterrupted years.
Step 3: Solicit the first issue of the given arc of the comic book after steps 1-2 have been completed. No “almost done, I need another week or two!”
Step 4: Repeat process for all other books published by the company.
— Rob
July 12th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
“You are going to buy it.”
I still haven’t bought that Daredevil Target Bullseye comic.
July 12th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
All I can do (and plan to do) is never buy a Kevin Smith comic until it is collected and the same goes for Allen H. on Young Avengers and all the other tv/movie guys who come to Marvel and DC.
I have never minded waiting, I read enough comics other then those titles and enough books for school and for personal enjoyment that a few late (and really late) titles don’t bother me.
But beyond being a reader and a fan, as a professional at what I do (not comics related) the general attitude of a lot of these writers and Marvel’s unwillingness to change annoys me a little.
Although Joe Q looks to have learned his lesson for “One more day” after what went down on “DD:father”
July 12th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
At this rate, by the end of the series, my son, who is about to turn 10 next month, will be out of high school
Quick word to Damon, if he is reading: Huge LOST fan here, but last season could have been so much better…concentrate on one thing at a time!
July 12th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
All the way to issue four, huh? Well, that’s good, since at Wizard World Philadelphia last month they said they only had the script for issue #3 in.
Granted, season 3 of LOST felt like Lindelof was highly blocked (when in doubt, have Jack or Kate cry).
July 12th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
loved the two issues that were published still waiting ofr the rest.
P.S rolando had the right idea get the complete script of the issues before solicitating them.
July 12th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
i refuse to support something this late
July 12th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I honeslty don’t know why getting ‘Hollywood’ people is supposed to be important, it’s not. It’s getting a good writer that understands the material. Not some writers who either can’t get stuff done on time or have trouble writing the characters they are given to write.
I don’t know why anyone would care about Ultimate Hulk versus Ultimate Wolverine. If it means its Ultimate and comes out at the ending of time, I think I’ll go reread Incredible Hulk #340.
July 12th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Best news I’ve read all week– not about Hulk / Wolverine as I don’t give a rip about either character and haven’t bought any of this series yet. I’m glad Yu is off of NEW AVENGERS!
July 12th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
I was starting to wonder if Kevin Smith took over this series
http://www.makeminemarvel.com/
July 12th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I am just commenting on the above picture but Wolverine’s claws are at most one foot long and there’s no way six inches of them are sticking out of the back after going through Hulk’s chest.
July 12th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I believe DD: Target is never gonna be finished. Kevin Smith said somewhere on the net last year or the year before that this mini is never gonna be completed. He’s just too out of that series now, that he won’t bother with it anymore.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
So what you’re saying is that Issue 3 will be out in 2010 then?
You lost my interest when Issue 3 was delayed to Hell and back. I actually destroyed my first two issues so I wouldn’t be tempted to buy anymore of that series.
I laugh at those who spent the big bucks on those rare variants of Issues 1 and 2!
July 13th, 2007 at 1:35 am
Yu is supposedly taking a break from NA to get ahead.
July 13th, 2007 at 2:00 am
A series like Ultimates or even All-Star Batman and Robin can survive a hiatus of several months because of the star power of the creators, but I don’t think either Lindelof or Yu carries that kind of clout with the fans. Plus (SPOILER ALERT) this miniseries is peripheral at best and rendered moot and academic by Ultimate Hulk’s appearance in the last few chapters of Ultimates 2 (END SPOILER ALERT).
Expect massive sales drop-offs, just like with Spider-Man/Black Cat.
I’ll probably buy it, but Marvel deserves any and all flack they get for this.
At least they seem to have learned a bit from this and put a lightning-fast writer and artist on their current ‘event,’ World War Hulk.
July 13th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Have to agree, when Ult Hulk vs. Wolvie was first mentioned, I was really excited that Marvel were finally retelling an originally awesome story. I think I’ll pick this up when it’s FINALLY completed, and on the shelves in TPB format, screw waiting for individual issues. Unless I can see that it’s going to be on time, with each solicitation then there’s a snowballs chance that I’ll even consider picking this up.
July 13th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Well, I’m excited it’ll be coming out again.
But I’m surprised that it sounds as if Leinil Yu may have had something to do with the delays too.
Apparently we could have had 2 issues more of this, a few months ago, if he hadn’t been on NA? Is that correct?
July 13th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
i hope it does come our…ermm ..sooon….well anyways YU is one of those fats artist able to do 2 books a month..so he can do NA and ult wolverine and hulk. so both those books can come out at the same time….YU did falllen son and NA at the same time.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Leinil’s leaving New Avengers?
July 15th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I agree with a majority of these posts. NO ONE CARES. At this point, they could have rectified this problem along time ago, as opposed to teasing us with a “Director’s Cut”. I hope Marvel learned there lesson. I hope someone from Marvel sees this, and does something about this LARGE problem.
July 16th, 2007 at 3:04 am
I have wiped my anus with issue one, two and the directors cut and will not be buying this expensive toilet paper anymore.
July 26th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
leinil yu is extremely good and needs to stay on NA. damon lindelof needs to stay out of comics and stick to tv.
good writing for tv isnt good for every other medium atuomatically. pro baseball players can’t just hop over and make millions playing basketball, it’s a different sport. comics and tv = apples and oranges.
in fifty years tv fans wont be able to tell you who wrote x-files or lost or csi, but comic fans will remember stan lee and claremont and brubaker. if lindelof is mentioned it will be as a warning to young comic writers. bravo, 2 more issues! bendis does four a month, give HIM a tv show.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:55 pm
What they’re not telling you is that UWvH will tie in to the Ultimate Civil War event in Summer of 2010…