Publishers / Marvel / The Incredible Hulk (1962) / #1
1May 1962
$0.12

The Incredible Hulk #1

Marvel · May 1962 · on sale 1962-03-01

First appearance: Bruce BannerFirst appearance: HulkFirst appearance: Rick JonesOrigin: HulkDeath of Gargoyle1 variant
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
The Incredible Hulk (Marvel, 1962 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
May 1962
Key date
1962-05-00
On-sale date
1962-03-01
Indicia publisher
Zenith Publishing Corp.
Price
$0.12
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Bruce Banner - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Hulk - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Rick Jones - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character. An independent public reference records the same first appearance.

First appearance of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character. An independent public reference records the same first appearance.

First appearance of Betty Ross - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Igor Drenkov - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character. An independent public reference records the same first appearance.

First appearance of Yuri Topolov - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Gargoyle - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: Hulk.

Death on record for: Gargoyle, Yuri Topolov.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0Is He Man or Monster or... Is He Both?cover1pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Jack Kirby; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekBruce Banner First, Hulk First, Betty Ross First, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross First
2The Coming of the Hulk, Part 1comic story6script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Paul Reinman; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Ray Holloway, Artie SimekBruce Banner First, Igor Drenkov First, Hulk First, Rick Jones First, Betty Ross First, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross First
4[The Coming of the Hulk] Part 2: The Hulk Strikes!comic story5script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Paul Reinman; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Ray Holloway, Artie SimekBruce Banner First, Igor Drenkov First, Hulk First, Rick Jones First
7[The Coming of the Hulk] Part 3: The Search for the Hulkcomic story3script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Paul Reinman; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekBruce Banner First, Igor Drenkov First, Hulk First, Rick Jones First, Betty Ross First, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross First
9[The Coming of the Hulk] Part 4: Enter...the Gargoyle!comic story5script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Paul Reinman; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekBruce Banner First, Igor Drenkov First, Gargoyle First, Hulk First, Rick Jones First, Betty Ross First, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross First, Yuri Topolov First
12The Two Greatest New Fantasy Magazines In The World!promo (ad from the publisher)1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby; inks: Steve Ditko, Sol Brodsky; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie Simek
14[The Coming of the Hulk] Part 5: The Hulk Triumphant!comic story5script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Paul Reinman; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekBruce Banner First, Igor Drenkov First, Gargoyle First, Hulk First, Rick Jones First, Betty Ross First, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross First, Yuri Topolov First

Plus 10 pages of advertisements and other matter across 13 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Britishprice 9d [0-0-9 GBP]

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Marvel Tales Annual #11964On eBay ›
Marvel Collectors' Item Classics #141968On eBay ›
Marvel Collectors' Item Classics #151968On eBay ›
Marvel Collectors' Item Classics #161968On eBay ›
Origins of Marvel Comics #[nn]
ISBN 0-671-21863-8		1974On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks #8
ISBN 0-87135-594-9		1989On eBay ›
The Incredible Hulk #4171994On eBay ›
Essential Hulk #1
ISBN 0-7851-0712-6		1999On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

1 of 6#2 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q24050117 (Bruce Banner), first-appearance property (CC0)
  • Wikidata, Q2535955 (Rick Jones), first-appearance property (CC0)
  • Wikidata, Q1841525 (Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross), first-appearance property (CC0)
  • Wikidata, Q115453803 (Igor Drenkov), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com