'Lost' TV series co-creator authors a comic book

[Sydney]

Damon Lindelof, co-creator and executive producer of the award-winning, ratings-blockbuster "Lost" TV series, has also lost himself in another medium, focusing his creative energy on an "Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk" comic-book series for Marvel. The first issue is in stores now.

"Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk" marks Lindelof's first comic-book-writing effort, and it's obvious he doesn't believe in taking things slowly.

As soon as you get past the first page of the first issue, there is a two-page splash shot of the Hulk ripping Wolverine in half.



"That's something you've never seen before!" exclaimed Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada.

The high-octane series echoes the classic first meeting of these two titans in "Incredible Hulk #181," Wolverine's first appearance. They have clashed many times since. But none of those battles had a scene like that.

"Since we don't start the [heavy] fighting until the third issue, I felt [it was important] to give the audience sort of the outcome of their first fight and to tell them, 'All bets are off!' " Lindelof said.

"I always felt, personally, that that's the first thing that would happen and it surprised me no one had thought of it over the years. Just because his bones are unbreakable doesn't mean they can't be pulled apart.

"When we first started talking about the book, I very early on presented that image to Joe and said, 'This is kind of what I want to do and I think it'll be really cool' and they were just totally on board."

So why is the co-creator of "Lost" writing a comic book?

"I've been a comic fan since I was very young and they have stayed a big part of my life," Lindelof said, adding that despite 80-hour workweeks, he still manages to get to his comic shop for the new releases every Wednesday.

"I actually owned 'Incredible Hulk #181' [now worth $1,250] when I was a kid. Then my mom threw it away," he lamented.

"I can't believe how lucky I am to have the opportunity to reintroduce these two iconic characters to each other in the no-holds-barred world of the Ultimate Universe. I am truly honored to fulfill my lifelong dream of writing for Marvel."

Having the series be part of Marvel's Ultimate line - which launched in 2000 and reintroduced Marvel's characters in 21st-century settings - makes it that much more exciting for Lindelof.

"For me, it's like being asked to remake a classic film," he said. "It's scary and exciting at the same time."

In the series, the impetus for the fight is that Wolverine has been sent to kill the Hulk by S.H.I.E.L.D., an American agency more mysterious and powerful than the CIA. The Hulk had been executed publicly by S.H.I.E.L.D. following a murderous rampage in Manhattan that killed 800 people.

So, reports of his continued existence present a problem for S.H.I.E.L.D., which wants Wolverine to "fix" the problem.

"I'm trying to focus specifically on the Hulk and Wolverine," Lindelof said.

"Obviously, they are going to be fighting, but the whole reality of how they solve their fight and, internally, what their similarities are - in terms of, you can't change your basic nature - is the sort of overriding thematic of the story.

"It's the inner challenge of ending the story - because ultimately the audience knows one of them is going to quote-unquote 'win,' " he said.

"They're going to kill the Hulk? No way! So, you know, [the challenge is] how do you make the outcome emotionally satisfying.

"I know the fans will get upset if they have to wait two or three months between issues," he said. "But at the end of the day, we want to have a story that we're all proud of, and that's what I guarantee you I can deliver."

source: Philly News