Hulk evolves in animation in Planet Hulk DVD

“Planet Hulk” roared to DVD this month, as Marvel Comics’ green giant is sent to another world, where he becomes a gladiator. It’s based on the hit comic book by Greg Pak. At Comic-Con in 2009, “Planet Hulk” supervising director Frank Paur, “Planet Hulk” film writer Greg Johnson, and Craig Kyle, former senior vice president of animation at Marvel Studios, discussed why “Planet Hulk” was the right fit for a direct-to-DVD film.

“Hulk is a much-loved character,” Kyle said. “He’s just one of the greats. He just is with Spidey and X-Men and Thor and all those, but he’s just someone that fans cannot get enough of. And he’s someone that rules don’t apply to. I think that’s part of his huge appeal.”

While Hulk faced off with Thor and Wolverine in “Hulk Vs.,” another direct-to-DVD film, Kyle said the different films will allow Marvel “to show us the full range of Hulk.”

“‘Planet Hulk’ specifically is probably going to show you the complete Hulk experience that you can have,” Kyle said.

Pak, who wrote the comics that inspired the DVD, looked at a script in the early stages, and Kyle said the creators of the film heavily referenced the comics in developing the film.