INCREDIBLE HULK, THE 311
noticed a rebellious teen, Rick Jones,
driving through the test area. Ban-
ner ran to save the boy, ordering
the countdown suspended. His
assistant, in reality a Russian spy,
ignored Banner, hoping to kill Ban-
ner and end the research. Banner
thrust Jones into a safety trench,
just as he himself was engulfed in
the blast. Jones, realizing he was
responsible, stayed with the coma-
tose Banner who that night fi rst
transformed into the Hulk, a rag-
ing mass of unreason and fury. Th e
Hulk was an early and signifi cant
failure for the golden team of Lee
and Kirby, who oversaw Marvel’s
early 1960s Silver Age renaissance.
Th e Hulk, part-monster, part-Cold
War allegory, part-fairy tale, part-
superhero , was too complex and
only lasted six issues.
In the initial stories, the Hulk
would inexplicably transform, and
gamma radiation was cited as a
catalyst for these metamorphoses.
However, the combination of the
Hulk’s rage and Banner’s intellect
was problematic. For a brief time,
the Hulk would appear with Banner’s head attached, and the Hulk would have to wear
a Hulk mask to attain full “Hulkness.” Mostly, the Hulk epitomized feral aggressiveness.
Over time, fear of this rage drove away various would-be supporters, including Jones,
paramour Betty Ross, Th e Avengers , Th e Fantastic Four , and Th e Defenders. Th is
same anger inexplicably enhanced his powers; as the Hulk’s fury increased, his abili-
ties grew exponentially. When the television Hulk of the 1980s, played by Bill Bixby,
explained, “don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,” viewers knew
where he was coming from.
Th e initial run of Th e Hulk was from May, 1962, through March, 1963. Th ough
unsuccessful in his own comic, the Hulk was wildly successful as an anti-hero and guest
antagonist in other Marvel titles. He battled the Fantastic Four ( Fantastic Four #12)
and would become an almost routine foil to Th e Th ing. Th e main debate was who was
stronger, and though the Hulk seemed more powerful, it was Th e Th ing, another tragic
The Incredible Hulk, issue #124, was published in February
1970, just 22 issues after the title was officially changed back
from Tales to Astonish. Photofest
