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Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk #6
Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk, Vol. 6
Oh yeah, MARVEL MASTERWORKS fans, it is time to Hulk out! Roy Thomas and the man who made ol' Purple Pants his mission for nearly 100 issues, Herb Trimpe, bring you a stack of INCREDIBLE HULK classics that'll leave you feeling green and liking it. It starts off the way it should - with a fight. The Hulk and the Thing go mano-a-mano once more to prove which one is the strongest force in the Marvel Universe! Then, with Reed Richards' help, the man inside the monster is freed - allowing Bruce Banner to at long last step up to the wedding altar with the lovely Betty Ross. But when the Leader returns with the Rhino at his side, happily ever after is the last thing he has in mind. Also featuring an earth-shaking battle between the Hulk and the Avengers, the Absorbing Man, a team-up with Dr. Strange, the return of the swamp-born Glob, the unbelievable separation of Banner and the Hulk into separate beings, the hordes of Hydra, and a green-powered drive to overthrow the cruel dictator Draxon. You wouldn't want to make Hulk angry - so reserve that copy today, True Believer! Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #122-134.
265 pages, Hardcover
First published October 26, 2011
7 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,479 books271 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 15, 2016
The Marvel Masterworks volumes are fantastic reprints of the early years of Marvel comics. A fantastic resource to allow these hard to find issues to be read by everyone. Very recommended to everyone and Highly recommended to any comic fan.
December 31, 2023
I feel like Cory Sedlmeier dropped the ball in editing this volume by not including Captain Marvel #20 and #21, which lead into The Incredible Hulk #130 (and the latter issue is clearly footnoted in this volume), but this volume already contains 13 issues, and two more may hvae been pushing it. The two stories dovetail perfectly thematically, as it parallels Rick Jones and Mar-Vell's attempt to separate themselves with each other from the temporarily successful attempt of Bruce Banner to separate himself from the Hulk. Cutting off the volume at #129 would leave the volume too short, and there is not a good narrative pause again until then end of #134, a satisfying conclusion to the volume as Hulk helps a fictitious country by becoming his own version of the legendary Golem (the cover implies thast the Hulk fights the Golem, but the Golem appears only in two panels of flashback) so it may have been the only way to keep the volume at the right price point. (It didn't help that I was not able to get Captain Marvel vol. 2 through interlibrary loan, and reading those two issues on the subway via comiconlinefree.com was a shore in itself as I struggled to get the pages to load.)
Peter David once said that unlike some fans, he recognized that the Hulk's existence was always in flux--in the first six issues the changes went from nocturnal to emotional to Banner blasting himself with a toe-operated gamma-gun. That flux is here in this volume as well, the first fully by Roy Thomas, who joined with #121, the previous volume's concluding issue. First, Reed Richards has a plan to stop Banner from turning into the Hulk, but for some reason, Banner wants to be able to control the transformations and control the Hulk like he did in the last couple of issues of volume 1 (sans the gamma gun). His motivation for doing this, or lack thereof, is probably the greatest weakness in the volume. He insists that he never wants to make the transformation again, and he lasts only two issues as smart Hulk before Sam Sterns, alias the Leader, undoes the effects of the formula interrupting Bruce and Betty's wedding, destorying her childhood home and injuring Ross in battle with Aleksei Sytsevich, alias the Rhino, Stearns having broken him out of prison with a robot that he promptly has the Rhino destroy.
Apart from the final story, in which a band of rebels led by Isaac, an implicitly Jewish man (Thomas avoided ever stating it, but it's clear, especially when another rebel says "it is only your people who ever believed the legend of the Golem, and there are few of you among us!") get the Hulk's help to defeat a local dictator called Draxon, a character who openly compares himself to Hitler, the most powerful story in the volume has Hulk befried a robot called Mogol, who works for Tyrannus in fortifying his army against the Mole Man (a thread Thomas would pick up elsewhere). When Hulk realizes that this being is a robot, he is enraged and convinced he has no real friends, so he smashes Mogol down to his protesting brain that insists he still wants to be friends and can forgive him for destroying his body. When he calms down a bit, Hulk is unsure if he has done the right thing. I, for one, do not think that he did.
Another powerful moment is when Barbara Norris (last name as yet unrevealed), who got involved in Van Nyberg's Cult of the Nameless One strictly out of curiosity, finds Doctor Strange in a magical prison from which no one can leave unless another enters. She decides to make the sacrifice even though she has never before met him. I had never read this story (as a Defenders fan, the issue has been on my want list for a while--I was able to get a copy of the previous issue, in which she appears unnamed and hardly identifiable in the last few pages, for $1--I think because the Marvel Value Stamp was cut), but worse things are in store for her in the pages of The Defenders. This also has an interesting dark effect in which whole panels are black except for light blue for everything we need to see in order to understand the story.
As mentioned previously, Hulk's existence remains in flux throughout the volume. First, Banner fully separates himself from the Hulk with help from his former classmate, Raoul Stoddard, but soon after they are merged, with Banner fully submerged and no longer switching between his two identities, and this is where he remains at the end of the volume, even more of a Frankensteinian character than before (Thomas places an overt reference to James Whale's 1931 Frankenstein film here as Hulk encounters Isaac's daughter, Rachel, at a spring, although it is more an homage than a lift because Hulk doesn't hurt her. Even General Ross picks up on Hulk's affinity for children, noting his early relationship with Rick Jones and now with an ophan living in a wrecked slum named Jim Wilson.
Overall, this is a pretty strong villain, but the lack of character motivation as to why Banner would want the ability to become the Hulk when he is so insistent that he doesn't want to use it. While it was obviously necessary for an ongoing narrative, it's just not very good writing and could easily have been handled a lot better. I guess this level of characterization just wasn't deemed that important when it could have been as simple as Banner wanting to use his powers like a genuine superhero, and maybe that's what it is, and he just can't admit it aloud, but he doesn't even clarify it in a thought balloon. He just keeps insisting, even to himself that he doesn't want to become the Hulk despite modifying Reed Richards's formula so that he could.
Peter David once said that unlike some fans, he recognized that the Hulk's existence was always in flux--in the first six issues the changes went from nocturnal to emotional to Banner blasting himself with a toe-operated gamma-gun. That flux is here in this volume as well, the first fully by Roy Thomas, who joined with #121, the previous volume's concluding issue. First, Reed Richards has a plan to stop Banner from turning into the Hulk, but for some reason, Banner wants to be able to control the transformations and control the Hulk like he did in the last couple of issues of volume 1 (sans the gamma gun). His motivation for doing this, or lack thereof, is probably the greatest weakness in the volume. He insists that he never wants to make the transformation again, and he lasts only two issues as smart Hulk before Sam Sterns, alias the Leader, undoes the effects of the formula interrupting Bruce and Betty's wedding, destorying her childhood home and injuring Ross in battle with Aleksei Sytsevich, alias the Rhino, Stearns having broken him out of prison with a robot that he promptly has the Rhino destroy.
Apart from the final story, in which a band of rebels led by Isaac, an implicitly Jewish man (Thomas avoided ever stating it, but it's clear, especially when another rebel says "it is only your people who ever believed the legend of the Golem, and there are few of you among us!") get the Hulk's help to defeat a local dictator called Draxon, a character who openly compares himself to Hitler, the most powerful story in the volume has Hulk befried a robot called Mogol, who works for Tyrannus in fortifying his army against the Mole Man (a thread Thomas would pick up elsewhere). When Hulk realizes that this being is a robot, he is enraged and convinced he has no real friends, so he smashes Mogol down to his protesting brain that insists he still wants to be friends and can forgive him for destroying his body. When he calms down a bit, Hulk is unsure if he has done the right thing. I, for one, do not think that he did.
Another powerful moment is when Barbara Norris (last name as yet unrevealed), who got involved in Van Nyberg's Cult of the Nameless One strictly out of curiosity, finds Doctor Strange in a magical prison from which no one can leave unless another enters. She decides to make the sacrifice even though she has never before met him. I had never read this story (as a Defenders fan, the issue has been on my want list for a while--I was able to get a copy of the previous issue, in which she appears unnamed and hardly identifiable in the last few pages, for $1--I think because the Marvel Value Stamp was cut), but worse things are in store for her in the pages of The Defenders. This also has an interesting dark effect in which whole panels are black except for light blue for everything we need to see in order to understand the story.
As mentioned previously, Hulk's existence remains in flux throughout the volume. First, Banner fully separates himself from the Hulk with help from his former classmate, Raoul Stoddard, but soon after they are merged, with Banner fully submerged and no longer switching between his two identities, and this is where he remains at the end of the volume, even more of a Frankensteinian character than before (Thomas places an overt reference to James Whale's 1931 Frankenstein film here as Hulk encounters Isaac's daughter, Rachel, at a spring, although it is more an homage than a lift because Hulk doesn't hurt her. Even General Ross picks up on Hulk's affinity for children, noting his early relationship with Rick Jones and now with an ophan living in a wrecked slum named Jim Wilson.
Overall, this is a pretty strong villain, but the lack of character motivation as to why Banner would want the ability to become the Hulk when he is so insistent that he doesn't want to use it. While it was obviously necessary for an ongoing narrative, it's just not very good writing and could easily have been handled a lot better. I guess this level of characterization just wasn't deemed that important when it could have been as simple as Banner wanting to use his powers like a genuine superhero, and maybe that's what it is, and he just can't admit it aloud, but he doesn't even clarify it in a thought balloon. He just keeps insisting, even to himself that he doesn't want to become the Hulk despite modifying Reed Richards's formula so that he could.
January 15, 2019
The Hulk pays a visit to the F.F. so naturally we get a Hulk vs Thing squirmish. Mr. Fantastic helps Banner get rid of Hulk, battles Leader on a tripod, and Betty and Bruce enjoy life and even get as close to the alter as you can get, but the Leader enlists the Rhino to give Banner yet another bad day. A solid 3 issue arc.
Hulk battles the Absorbing Man ontop of a rocket. Then The Nightcrawler, not the X-Man but a Kirby-esque Scorpion lookalike.
Tyrannus has Mogol go after Hulk, and we get this great battle, but we end up with Hulk making a friend in Mogol, After fighting together in battles against Mole Man's armies we get a twist ending and a sad revelation about Hulk's feelings.
Somethings out of Philip K Dick. Did I just give too big of a hint?
The Avengers (Vision, Quicksliver, Wanda, Black Panther and Golaith) battle.
The Leader sends The Glob for round 2.
A machine separates Hulk from Banner.
Then we have lackluster fights with Iron Man, Hydra then a foreign dictator is Draxon.
Hulk battles the Absorbing Man ontop of a rocket. Then The Nightcrawler, not the X-Man but a Kirby-esque Scorpion lookalike.
Tyrannus has Mogol go after Hulk, and we get this great battle, but we end up with Hulk making a friend in Mogol, After fighting together in battles against Mole Man's armies we get a twist ending and a sad revelation about Hulk's feelings.
Somethings out of Philip K Dick. Did I just give too big of a hint?
The Avengers (Vision, Quicksliver, Wanda, Black Panther and Golaith) battle.
The Leader sends The Glob for round 2.
A machine separates Hulk from Banner.
Then we have lackluster fights with Iron Man, Hydra then a foreign dictator is Draxon.
May 20, 2020
On the one hand you get this really sad story where Hulk makes a friend, only to turn around and completely destroy this friend. I could hear the sad Hulk theme music from the TV show playing as I read this part. (If you don't know what music I'm talking about then I just feel sorry for you.)
But on the other hand we get yet another young sidekick forced upon us - I mean, forced upon the Hulk. I never did warm up to Rick Jones and I don't feel myself warming up to Jim Wilson, urban outcast.
But on the other hand we get yet another young sidekick forced upon us - I mean, forced upon the Hulk. I never did warm up to Rick Jones and I don't feel myself warming up to Jim Wilson, urban outcast.
September 16, 2017
This has never been my favorite book, but now that Roy Thomas comes aboard as writer, things get worse. He's actually more overwrought and wordy than Stan Lee, which is quite a feat.
March 24, 2025
Good story progression
Good movement on the Hulk story. Bruce and Hulk separate and then remerge. The Morvania story was a nice 2 parter to wrap up this volume.
Good movement on the Hulk story. Bruce and Hulk separate and then remerge. The Morvania story was a nice 2 parter to wrap up this volume.
May 10, 2024
Incredible Hulk #122-124 - In a whirlwind sequence of events, Banner & Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four team-up and figure out a way to “cure” Banner of the nightmare that is the Hulk. So, of course, the first thing Banner does is court Betty Ross and then marry her. Sure that makes sense. But, of course (again), the Leader doesn’t like the notion of the Hulk being happy. So puts a srop to the wedding.
Incredible Hulk #125 - What a contrived mess. But at least the Absorbing Man is back on earth.
Incredible Hulk #126 - Part of a Lovecraftian type of horror tale that lays the initial groundwork for what would become a group of Marvel Heroes known as the Defenders. Even though this issue only feature team-up between Doctor Strange and the Hulk, it did help create some kind of link in the minds of the readers. This is an interesting story that is perhaps enhanced with familiarity with the works of H.P. Lovecraft, although that’s hardly necessary. See Defenders Epic Collection, Vol. 1: The Day of the Defenders for the full, complete story.
Incredible Hulk #127 - Subterranean Wars! As the feud between Tyrannus and the Mole Man pulls the Hulk into their conflict.
Incredible Hulk #128 - The Avengers (Black Panther, Goliath, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Vision) try to help out Thunderbolt Ross by ending the threat of the Hulk.
Incredible Hulk #129 - The Leader contrives a plot to use The Glob to stop the help.
Incredible Hulk #130-131 - A method is devised to separate Bruce Banner from the Hulk, and it succeeds. But the resulting fallout in the aftermath being Iron Man into play to defeat the rampage of the Banner-less Hulk and reunite the two divided personalities. The later of these two tales also introduces the new teenage sidekick for the Hulk, Jim Wilson.
Incredible Hulk #132-134 - Let’s call this the fascist trilogy shall we? It begins with the Hulk and Jim Wilson in the clutches of Hydra and then the Hulk ends up in the small European nation of Morvania and its tyrannical dictator, Draxon. The last of these issues, features a tale comparing the Hulk to the legends of the Golem of Prague.
Incredible Hulk #125 - What a contrived mess. But at least the Absorbing Man is back on earth.
Incredible Hulk #126 - Part of a Lovecraftian type of horror tale that lays the initial groundwork for what would become a group of Marvel Heroes known as the Defenders. Even though this issue only feature team-up between Doctor Strange and the Hulk, it did help create some kind of link in the minds of the readers. This is an interesting story that is perhaps enhanced with familiarity with the works of H.P. Lovecraft, although that’s hardly necessary. See Defenders Epic Collection, Vol. 1: The Day of the Defenders for the full, complete story.
Incredible Hulk #127 - Subterranean Wars! As the feud between Tyrannus and the Mole Man pulls the Hulk into their conflict.
Incredible Hulk #128 - The Avengers (Black Panther, Goliath, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Vision) try to help out Thunderbolt Ross by ending the threat of the Hulk.
Incredible Hulk #129 - The Leader contrives a plot to use The Glob to stop the help.
Incredible Hulk #130-131 - A method is devised to separate Bruce Banner from the Hulk, and it succeeds. But the resulting fallout in the aftermath being Iron Man into play to defeat the rampage of the Banner-less Hulk and reunite the two divided personalities. The later of these two tales also introduces the new teenage sidekick for the Hulk, Jim Wilson.
Incredible Hulk #132-134 - Let’s call this the fascist trilogy shall we? It begins with the Hulk and Jim Wilson in the clutches of Hydra and then the Hulk ends up in the small European nation of Morvania and its tyrannical dictator, Draxon. The last of these issues, features a tale comparing the Hulk to the legends of the Golem of Prague.
September 26, 2014
Better offering of Hulk than the last one I read. Trimpe's art got so much better when he got proper inkers.
Sadly.... Thomas writes too many words. No need to tell what is happening in a picture I'm looking at.
Sadly.... Thomas writes too many words. No need to tell what is happening in a picture I'm looking at.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews