What do you think?
Rate this book
Incredible Hulk Epic Collection
Incredible Hulk Epic Collection, Vol. 3: The Leader Lives
Collects Incredible Hulk (1968) #102-117 and Annual #1, and material from Tales To Astonish (1959) #97-101 And Not Brand Echh #9.
I smash, you smash, but nobody, nobody, smashes like Hulk smash! Leaping out of the pages of TALES TO ASTONISH and into his own ongoing title again, the Incredible Hulk has twice the space to shake the Earth with his mighty rage. And he'll need it! The Hulk travels far and wide — but doesn't make too many friends along the way! The jade giant's travelogue of destruction leaves the Mandarin, the Inhumans, the Sandman and the entire Savage Land rubbing sore jaws. And when Hulk's archnemesis the Leader returns, all bets are off — as writer Stan Lee joins with iconic Hulk artist Herb Trimpe (who makes his debut in this very volume!) to pull out all the stops!
I smash, you smash, but nobody, nobody, smashes like Hulk smash! Leaping out of the pages of TALES TO ASTONISH and into his own ongoing title again, the Incredible Hulk has twice the space to shake the Earth with his mighty rage. And he'll need it! The Hulk travels far and wide — but doesn't make too many friends along the way! The jade giant's travelogue of destruction leaves the Mandarin, the Inhumans, the Sandman and the entire Savage Land rubbing sore jaws. And when Hulk's archnemesis the Leader returns, all bets are off — as writer Stan Lee joins with iconic Hulk artist Herb Trimpe (who makes his debut in this very volume!) to pull out all the stops!
490 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2018
7 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,566 books2,334 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 18, 2022
The HULKATHON continues and so far its still some really great material. The stuff you get in here is the tail end of the 'Tales to Astonish' era of Hulk as he then takes over the title, giving us a new run with 'Incredible Hulk' issue 102. I had already read the beginning of this 'Epic Collection' since it was collected at the tale end of the 1st Hulk omnibus, so as I mentioned in that review, those 'Tales to Astonish' issues with Marie Severin on artwork and Stan Lee on writing (with a few stand-ins here and there) were top tier stuff. Great story telling with awesome artwork, it's a book that felt ahead of its time.
Finally we get into the new run, and we do see a change in pace and story. The all around story feels more action packed as we see the Hulk get everything thrown at him, powerful opponents out the wazoo, testing the Hulk's strength. Where the earlier issues of the Hulk did similar storytelling, by this point it was less "Hulk vs Man" and more of "Hulk on the run, but homie can't catch a break." The Hulk was getting his strength tested to the MAX. Facing powerful beings, creatures, and familiar foes-Hulk is pushed to the limit. We also in general get more Hulk, as Bruce Banner barley makes appearances. I like that for the reason that we get to know the differences more besides the obvious. We see the Hulk wanting to distance himself because he's learned there's no use in trying to get people to understand him or even vice versa. So as he goes on the run we see him travel all over the world (and even space) and that is where he is tested.
Plain and simple you get some straight up fighting and action in this new sort of arc. Can it be campy at times? Sure, but it's still fun and helps the issues blow by. There are very few silver-age titles that I can knock back to back to back and I gotta say, the Hulk stuff so far is some of the best pacing and most fun I've had reading any silver-age comics.
Now the most important part that makes these stories so enjoyable is the artwork. I mentioned Marie Severin already so, for the last time, IT'S AMAZING! Now the new player that joins the Hulk team and leaves a great impact, is Herb Trimpe. I've seen his artwork before and initially I remember not being the biggest fan, but this time around I LOVED it! His style is so dynamic and WOW. A perfect penciler for this WOW title. There are some panels that were stunning and you could feel the impact on page. Trimpe knew action and he knew it well.
All in all the HULKATHON trucks on and it still feels good. I love the detail and care that went into this character in order to make it the legend it is today.
Finally we get into the new run, and we do see a change in pace and story. The all around story feels more action packed as we see the Hulk get everything thrown at him, powerful opponents out the wazoo, testing the Hulk's strength. Where the earlier issues of the Hulk did similar storytelling, by this point it was less "Hulk vs Man" and more of "Hulk on the run, but homie can't catch a break." The Hulk was getting his strength tested to the MAX. Facing powerful beings, creatures, and familiar foes-Hulk is pushed to the limit. We also in general get more Hulk, as Bruce Banner barley makes appearances. I like that for the reason that we get to know the differences more besides the obvious. We see the Hulk wanting to distance himself because he's learned there's no use in trying to get people to understand him or even vice versa. So as he goes on the run we see him travel all over the world (and even space) and that is where he is tested.
Plain and simple you get some straight up fighting and action in this new sort of arc. Can it be campy at times? Sure, but it's still fun and helps the issues blow by. There are very few silver-age titles that I can knock back to back to back and I gotta say, the Hulk stuff so far is some of the best pacing and most fun I've had reading any silver-age comics.
Now the most important part that makes these stories so enjoyable is the artwork. I mentioned Marie Severin already so, for the last time, IT'S AMAZING! Now the new player that joins the Hulk team and leaves a great impact, is Herb Trimpe. I've seen his artwork before and initially I remember not being the biggest fan, but this time around I LOVED it! His style is so dynamic and WOW. A perfect penciler for this WOW title. There are some panels that were stunning and you could feel the impact on page. Trimpe knew action and he knew it well.
All in all the HULKATHON trucks on and it still feels good. I love the detail and care that went into this character in order to make it the legend it is today.
November 23, 2023
Tales to Astonish #97-99 - This is a nice 3-part story that’s actually very topical right now, as Donny tRump (man-baby extraordinaire) is as much a treasonous criminal as the Lord of the Living Lightning. Different means to the same end. But they’re both just as two-faced, lying conmen as the other. So a fun, typical story about the dangers of “strong men” who are nothing but weakling hypocrites.
Tales to Astonish #100-101 - The first of these stories pick up from both the Namor and Hulk stories from the previous issue and pits the pair against one another at the behest of the Puppet Master. And it a big slugfest between the shirtless and bare-chested titans. Then the second tale feature the Hulk, as a pawn of Loki’s, verses the Warriors Three. And this story continues into Incredible Hulk #102 - And the Hulk returns to his own solo title again. But with this new title, Lee departs and Gary Friedrich comes aboard as the comic’s script writer.
Incredible Hulk #102 - Picking up right where the Tales to Astonish run ended, with the Hulk in Asgard, we get the Executioner and the Enchantress doing not much else beside pissing the Hulk off.
Incredible Hulk #103-106 - Odin has transported the Hulk back to the heart of NYC and a series of odd one-off adventures ensures featuring battles with the ridiculous Space Parasite, a newly power elevated Rhino and then a two-part story window a slugfest about as absurd with another creation: the Missing Link.
Incredible Hulk #107-108 - And now the Mandarin and another ill-conceived story to pit the Hulk vs an Iron Man villain.
Incredible Hulk Annual #1 - Takes the Hulk to the Hidden Refuge of Attilan, inexplicably relocated to the European Alps in this story instead of the Himalayan mountains of Central Asia.
Incredible Hulk #109-112 - Takes our green skinned protagonist from the Savage Land in Antarctic, where he meets Ka-Zar and Zabu, to outer space with an alien race of conquerors. The Hulk definitely gets around.
Incredible Hulk #113-114 - Sandman and the Mandarin team-up and still can’t defeat the Hulk.
Incredible Hulk #115-117 - The Leader returns and almost succeeds in starting a nuclear world war 3.
Overall, the stories themselves are nothing special. The art isn’t very inspired either. Nothing terrible, but also nothing to cheer about either. The included annual with the Inhumans has a lot of problems and inconsistencies. In general, most of these stories are not very well thought out and it shows. But these are some classic Hulk stories and they did set the standards for years and years to come.
Tales to Astonish #100-101 - The first of these stories pick up from both the Namor and Hulk stories from the previous issue and pits the pair against one another at the behest of the Puppet Master. And it a big slugfest between the shirtless and bare-chested titans. Then the second tale feature the Hulk, as a pawn of Loki’s, verses the Warriors Three. And this story continues into Incredible Hulk #102 - And the Hulk returns to his own solo title again. But with this new title, Lee departs and Gary Friedrich comes aboard as the comic’s script writer.
Incredible Hulk #102 - Picking up right where the Tales to Astonish run ended, with the Hulk in Asgard, we get the Executioner and the Enchantress doing not much else beside pissing the Hulk off.
Incredible Hulk #103-106 - Odin has transported the Hulk back to the heart of NYC and a series of odd one-off adventures ensures featuring battles with the ridiculous Space Parasite, a newly power elevated Rhino and then a two-part story window a slugfest about as absurd with another creation: the Missing Link.
Incredible Hulk #107-108 - And now the Mandarin and another ill-conceived story to pit the Hulk vs an Iron Man villain.
Incredible Hulk Annual #1 - Takes the Hulk to the Hidden Refuge of Attilan, inexplicably relocated to the European Alps in this story instead of the Himalayan mountains of Central Asia.
Incredible Hulk #109-112 - Takes our green skinned protagonist from the Savage Land in Antarctic, where he meets Ka-Zar and Zabu, to outer space with an alien race of conquerors. The Hulk definitely gets around.
Incredible Hulk #113-114 - Sandman and the Mandarin team-up and still can’t defeat the Hulk.
Incredible Hulk #115-117 - The Leader returns and almost succeeds in starting a nuclear world war 3.
Overall, the stories themselves are nothing special. The art isn’t very inspired either. Nothing terrible, but also nothing to cheer about either. The included annual with the Inhumans has a lot of problems and inconsistencies. In general, most of these stories are not very well thought out and it shows. But these are some classic Hulk stories and they did set the standards for years and years to come.
November 30, 2018
This was a bulky volume that took ages to get through, but it sped up towards the end and each issue took less and less time to read, almost as if the writer changed even though it was apparently still Stan Lee. A little dated, but fun to read.
May 21, 2020
There's over 20 issues of THE INCREDIBLE HULK included in this collection and, honestly, like maybe 6 or 7 of them are worth reading and they are towards the end. The majority of them are just multi-issue storylines featuring villains and characters you'll never seen again. The ones that you will recognize (The Mandarin, The Sandman, The Rhino, and The Leader) are really in their most primitive forms here and don't really have any depth at all.
You can really tell Lee loved the idea of The Hulk, but had no clue how to really flesh out the character at all beyond Hulk is misunderstood and angry so he destroys things, Banner is meek and confused, but very smart. When the series transfers from TALES TO ASTONISH to THE INCREDIBLE HULK, they did these interconnected storylines that take the 2-3 issue villain fights and make them into one big storyline over 10 or so issues. The problem is that Hulk isn't really the main focus of these issues, they are really more attempts to bring in new characters to Marvel's lineup. The Hulk stumbles through these storylines barely doing anything except trying to run away from everyone and destroying everything. Those new characters? Boring, cookie-cutter sci-fi aliens and monsters and robots. There's one 3 issue story that is about a race of aliens fighting a galactic overlord that is just so bad.
The real standout here for me was the excellent INCREDIBLE HULK ANNUAL 1 which features the Hulk having a giant story with the Inhumans. He's mistaken for a villain and is thrown into a negative-zone style prison with them and has to escape to get back to his homeworld. It's an great comic and the cover is legendary.
I guess if you're dying to read every Hulk comic, read it, but otherwise it's almost entirely skippable.
You can really tell Lee loved the idea of The Hulk, but had no clue how to really flesh out the character at all beyond Hulk is misunderstood and angry so he destroys things, Banner is meek and confused, but very smart. When the series transfers from TALES TO ASTONISH to THE INCREDIBLE HULK, they did these interconnected storylines that take the 2-3 issue villain fights and make them into one big storyline over 10 or so issues. The problem is that Hulk isn't really the main focus of these issues, they are really more attempts to bring in new characters to Marvel's lineup. The Hulk stumbles through these storylines barely doing anything except trying to run away from everyone and destroying everything. Those new characters? Boring, cookie-cutter sci-fi aliens and monsters and robots. There's one 3 issue story that is about a race of aliens fighting a galactic overlord that is just so bad.
The real standout here for me was the excellent INCREDIBLE HULK ANNUAL 1 which features the Hulk having a giant story with the Inhumans. He's mistaken for a villain and is thrown into a negative-zone style prison with them and has to escape to get back to his homeworld. It's an great comic and the cover is legendary.
I guess if you're dying to read every Hulk comic, read it, but otherwise it's almost entirely skippable.
February 19, 2021
Hulk's getting awfully repetitive. Wanders the southwest, encounters the military, declares his distrust of mankind, gets manipulated by a villain before fighting, gets launched into an exotic locale (Savage Land, a spaceship, China), somehow ends up in the American southwest again. Repeat.
The pathos of the misunderstood, hunted man-monster isn't carrying it anymore.
I appreciate the Herb Trimpe art more than I would have predicted - it has an old-school appeal, which is odd since I believe he was rather young when he got his start at Marvel. Almost a Classics Illustrated vibe. Still, not compelling enough to make up for the bog-standard storytelling.
The pathos of the misunderstood, hunted man-monster isn't carrying it anymore.
I appreciate the Herb Trimpe art more than I would have predicted - it has an old-school appeal, which is odd since I believe he was rather young when he got his start at Marvel. Almost a Classics Illustrated vibe. Still, not compelling enough to make up for the bog-standard storytelling.
October 3, 2021
Tales #97-101 (encontra a legião do raio vivo que o nocauteia com sua máquina e pede o seu apoio , mais lutas com os militares de ross , luta final contra a legião , o mestre dos bonecos controla o Hulk contra o namor , loki controla o Hulk para invadir asgard e subjugar os deuses )
Hulk #102-117 (resumo da origem e confronto com encantor e executor na batalha contra o trono de asgard, vs o parasita especial , vs rhino,vs criatura evolucionária, vs o mandarim , vai parar à terra selvagem onde encontra ka-zar, vs umbu , enfrenta os criadores de umbu e o mestre das galáxias , vs o homem areia que depois une forças com o mandarim para tentar vencer o Hulk , o plano do líder para aprisionar para sempre o Hulk , vs o super humanoide do líder)
Annual #1 ( Hulk e os inumanos numa luta final contra raio negro)
————— não falei das constantes lutas contra militares , americanos , russos , asiáticos
————— a constante utilização do gás , é a kriptonita do Hulk aqui
Hulk #102-117 (resumo da origem e confronto com encantor e executor na batalha contra o trono de asgard, vs o parasita especial , vs rhino,vs criatura evolucionária, vs o mandarim , vai parar à terra selvagem onde encontra ka-zar, vs umbu , enfrenta os criadores de umbu e o mestre das galáxias , vs o homem areia que depois une forças com o mandarim para tentar vencer o Hulk , o plano do líder para aprisionar para sempre o Hulk , vs o super humanoide do líder)
Annual #1 ( Hulk e os inumanos numa luta final contra raio negro)
————— não falei das constantes lutas contra militares , americanos , russos , asiáticos
————— a constante utilização do gás , é a kriptonita do Hulk aqui
February 12, 2024
Volume 3 of the Hulk Epic Collections is more of the same with the Hulk wondering into one situation after another. The stories aren't really bad, in fact I would say the writing has gotten better after the last 2 volumes and the Hulk has settled more into the character that we know today, however the stories are completely forgettable.
If you just want to read some simple Hulk stories then this is fine, but it's nothing spectacular.
If you just want to read some simple Hulk stories then this is fine, but it's nothing spectacular.
March 3, 2019
Marie Severin and Herb Trimpe were fair artists, but the best drawn stories are the upcoming Sal Buscema's ones. Most stories were by Stan Lee, and they are the usual fare for the times.
February 10, 2021
Slow first 1/4 but really came together later. Fun early Hulk stuff.
November 28, 2024
Solid hulk book, nothing crazy but also wasnt a bad read either.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews