Marvel

By Marc Strom The Son of Hulk better watch out for that silver lining in the storm clouds ahead. The Silver Surfer made his return to the planet Sakaar today with the release of SKAAR: SON OF HULK #6, setting the stage for a no holds barred battle royale between the Surfer and Skaar in issue #7, on sale January 28! But be warned, True Believers, if you haven't read the latest issue of SKAAR—on sale today, 'natch—some spoilers follow! So quick, head out, buy your copy and get ready to learn what the Son of Hulk's future has in store for him! Series writer Greg Pak tells us that the opportunity to match up Skaar and the Silver Surfer—who previously visited Sakaar during the epic "Planet Hulk" where he earned the title Silver Savage—proved logical, given the amount of power the Son of Hulk now wields. "At the end of issue #6, Skaar finally seizes the Old Power," Pak reveals. "So now this savage manchild possesses the massive strength of the Hulk as well as the tectonic power of his mother, Caiera the Oldstrong. A guy this strong needs some heavyweight opponents—and who better than the Silver Surfer? In issue #7, we'll see the Old Power versus the Power Cosmic, and Sakaar will never be the same! "On an emotional level, the Surfer's an important figure for Skaar because he's the first genuine friend of his father's that he's met. For better or for worse, Skaar's encounter with the Surfer will absolutely play a role in preparing Skaar for his eventual showdown with the Hulk. SKAAR #9 will be a critical issue in this regard." As for what brings the Surfer back to Sakaar in the first place, Pak explains that it comes down to his master's ravenous appetite. "Galactus the Worldeater is hungry, and the Surfer's heard rumors through the cosmic byways of the massive destruction that preceded the Hulk's departure from Sakaar," the writer elaborates. "But when he arrives, he discovers that many survivors still live on the savage planet—including a particularly argumentative character by the name of Skaar, Son of Hulk!" When the Hulk first arrived on the alien planet, its then-ruler, the Red King, forced him into gladiatorial combat against the Surfer, a parallel which Pak says will tell us more about Skaar and his true character. "There's definitely a storytelling method to all of this," Pak agrees. "Contrasting the way the Hulk confronts the Surfer with how his son handles the encounter will reveal a lot about some critical differences between the green goliaths." Now that Skaar has concluded the first step of his journey and attained the Old Power, very little can stand in his way as he continues down what Pak describes as "a dangerous road." "Everybody talks about the Hulk treading the line between hero and monster, but deep down, we all know that he's fundamentally a hero," Pak continues. "But Skaar has grown up under entirely different circumstances—indeed, under some of the most horrific circumstances imaginable. The moral framework he's developing is fundamentally different from anything that a middle class puny human from Dayton, Ohio, like his pop's alter ego [Bruce Banner] can readily grasp. "On the savage world of Sakaar, Skaar has had to kill to survive every day of his life, literally from birth. And now that he's seizing almost unlimited power, he has some very clear and terrifying ideas about how to use it. Old Sam, Skaar's optimistic mentor, continually points to those moments when Skaar does the right thing. But no one knows just what Skaar's capable of with the Old Power coursing through his sinews." SKAAR: SON OF HULK #7 also marks an artistic passing of the torch, as Butch Guice, who has previously illustrated the series' back-up stories, takes over the main story from departing artist Ron Garney. "Butch brings a dark, eerie realism to his pages that make this kind of barbarian science fiction really come to life," Pak exudes of his collaborator. "I loved the work he did with the mysterious Shadow boy, Hiro-Kala, in the backup stories in our first arc—he made me care so much about this slave boy. Now he's making this cosmic battle between the Surfer and Skaar crunch with visceral force and texture that make it live and breathe and bleed in an incredibly high-stakes way." For any fans out there curious to see what all the hubbub surrounding Skaar is about, or for anyone looking for a great, cosmic slugfest, Pak promises that the upcoming issue #7 makes for the perfect jumping-on point for new readers. "It's a great starting point—everything you need to know is right there in the issue," the writer guarantees. "And you'll be coming on board at an absolutely critical turning point for our hero. You'll learn the true extent of Skaar's power. You'll see one of the Silver Surfer's biggest boss fights in recent memory. You'll get a startling revelation about what's going on in the heart and soul of the Son of Hulk. And you'll see a crazy twist that sets up a dramatic new dynamic that will propel our characters into brand new territory in the next few issues." Finally, Pak left us with not one, but two teases that will surely have Hulk and Surfer fans buzzing: "When will Skaar finally meet the Hulk? It may be sooner than you think! Keep on reading, True Believers! "Also, we'll have a very special present for Silver Surfer fans to reveal in the New Year." Check out the official Marvel Shop for the best mighty Marvel merchandise!