For all the latest news, announcements and interviews, plus live panel blogging, video features and much more, visit Marvel.com's San Diego Comic-Con 2009 Hub Page!
By Marc Strom
The Red Hulk may have just met his match.
Debuting in October's HULK #16, Red She-Hulk will begin her rampage through the Marvel Universe in a not-to-be-missed story.
"She was always in the mix," writer Jeph Loeb reveals of the character's conception. "The success of the Jen Walter's She-Hulk-one of my favorite characters-opened the door to do a counterpart. But we didn't do it to just do it. [INCREDIBLE HULK writer] Greg [Pak] and I worked it out so she will play an integral role in what's to come. She might even be the most important character in the upcoming [World War Hulks] epic."
Loeb wouldn't say whether or not fans would have to wait long for the revelation of Red She-Hulk's true identity, but when they do, it will have major repercussions for the larger story in the writer's HULK run so far.
"That would be telling," Loeb teases. "But, what I can say is her origin is critical to everything we've been doing."
Just as the Red Hulk has made a lasting mark on the larger Marvel Universe, Loeb hopes that the character's female counterpart will stick around for a long time to come.
"We've been very careful with the creation of this character," the writer explains. "We wanted to make sure she didn't come off as silly-my memory of the introduction to [the original] She-Hulk-before anyone had read a page. But the character was a completely different take on the Hulk, a Hulk we'd never seen before. Jen is a wonderful character. Our intention is [that] Red She-Hulk will make an equally important impression on the Marvel Universe.
"Red Hulk could've been a character who appeared for a few issues, like Harpy or Rick Jones' 'Teen Hulk,' [but] Red has stuck. Our hope is that Red She-Hulk will be around for some time too."
As to just how the Red Hulk will respond to the latest addition to the gamma-irradiated family, fans will just have to wait and see.
"That's part of what's to come," hints Loeb. "The way Greg and I have laid it out, our hope is that just when you figured out what we've been up to-and, more specifically, what Red She-Hulk has been up to-you'll be very surprised."
Once again, Loeb promises fans that the new Red She-Hulk will be "at the core" of the larger ongoing storyline, and that she will surprise more than a few readers.
"She's quite feral in a way. Super into what she's getting to do. I think of her as Kathleen Turner's character in 'Body Heat,' Maddy Walker. Just when you think you know her-it's too late. You're dead."
For all the latest news, announcements and interviews, plus live panel blogging, video features and much more, visit Marvel.com's San Diego Comic-Con 2009 Hub Page!
Not a subscriber to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited yet? Join now!
Check out the official Marvel Shop for everything Hulk!
Download episodes of "X-Men: Evolution", "Wolverine and the X-Men" and "Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes" now on iTunes!
