crm/ow pages; coverless
origin & 1st app of the Incredible Hulk; Kirby cover & art; 1st app of Betty Ross, Rick Jones, and General "Thunderbolt" Ross; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 10 (CBI)
Inspired by Jekyll & Hyde and the myth of the Golem, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby kept their Marvel Age hot streak running with the big and brutal Hulk. This issue preys on Cold War fears of nuclear annihilation to create one of the most haunting and affecting of hero origins. Initially colored gray in his premiere appearance, the Hulk was quickly reworked into a big green beast when the primitive four-color printing process mangled the character’s color scheme throughout the book, altering the Goliath's hue from page to page. The iconic cover image still resonates with fans to this day.


While the initial run didn't sell in numbers big enough to be considered viable in the long term, the Hulk kept popping up in anthologies and guest spots alongside favorites such as the Fantastic Four until he returned to his own title after developing a following through his involvement with the Avengers.