THE COMICS FAN: Author returns to Hulk, planet Sakaar

It would be a special Father's Day for the Hulk this year - if only he knew he was a father.

The first issue of Marvel Comics' "Skaar: Son of Hulk" is scheduled to arrive in comic book shops June 11, two days before the Hulk returns to the big screen in "The Incredible Hulk."

Skaar is the son of the Hulk and Caiera the Oldstrong, of the planet Sakaar. The Hulk took Caiera as his bride during the epic "Planet Hulk" story line in 2006. That story ended in tragedy as the warp core of the shuttle that brought the exiled Hulk to Sakaar exploded. The nuclear blast killed millions, including Caiera and, presumably, her unborn child.

The Hulk returned to Earth to seek vengeance on those he thought responsible for the blast, not knowing he was leaving his son behind.

"All will be revealed in the first issue, but basically it seems that it takes more than a nuclear bomb to take out even an embryonic son of Hulk," says Greg Pak, who wrote "Planet Hulk" and the subsequent "World War Hulk." Writing "Son of Hulk" gives Pak the chance to return to the planet of Sakaar - and he couldn't be happier.

"We all had so much fun creating this planet and the characters and the mythos."

Joining the fun this time is Ron Garney, a veteran Hulk artist who'll now be drawing the adventures of Hulk's son.

"He gets the Hulk," Pak says of Garney. "He really understands the kind of savage, out-of-control nature of the Hulk. And he's bringing that kind of feel to this book."

Pak describes Skaar, who apparently grows remarkably quickly into a teenager, as a savage manchild. "Born in fire, raised by monsters and destined to destroy" is the tagline for the series.

Though Skaar has never met his father as the series opens, there are survivors on Sakaar who can tell Skaar about the Hulk. But whether they have good things or bad to say, Pak isn't telling.

"The previous story ended up with the Hulk as basically the savior of the planet," Pak notes. The question is whether those left behind will have fond memories of the Hulk or blame him for the devastating blast that turned much of the planet into a wasteland. That, in turn, may determine whether they regard Skaar as a blessing or a menace.

Though the story begins on the distant planet of Sakaar, Pak promises the series will have "a Hulk-sized impact on the Marvel universe" as time goes on. He also indicates that a father-and-son reunion is in the works.

"I would say that in time, it is a pretty good bet that the father and son will eventually meet."

He doesn't want to rush things, though.

"We do have time to really establish this character and let him play out his first story or two before we plunge into that kind of story," he says.

In the meantime, for those with fond memories of "Planet Hulk" and Sakaar, "‘Skaar' will scratch that itch - with a big battle ax."

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