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Incredible Hulk Epic Collection
Incredible Hulk Epic Collection, Vol. 7: And Now... The Wolverine
Hulk is the strongest! Why? Because it’s hard not to be when you go from strength to strength with artists Herb Trimpe and Sal Buscema. Trimpe defined The Incredible Hulk in an artistic tenure stretching from 1968 to 1975. When Sal Buscema took over the reins, not only did the series gain a great talent, but one that, unbelievably, would have a tenure longer than even Trimpe’s. Add to that Len Wein writing some of his greatest Hulk stories—including the first appearance of Wolverine—and you better believe it’s good to be green! The adventures collected here include Hulk smashing his way through the Mole Man, the Gremlin, the Shaper of Worlds, Doc Samson, the Abomination and, of course, the never-ending military machinations of Gen. Thunderbolt Ross.
COLLECTING: Incredible Hulk (1968) 179-203; material from Giant-Size Hulk (1975) 1, Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) 5
COLLECTING: Incredible Hulk (1968) 179-203; material from Giant-Size Hulk (1975) 1, Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) 5
472 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2022
7 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Len Wein
1,595 books155 followersLen Wein was an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men (including the co-creation of Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus). Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 10, 2023
And Now... The Wolverine collects Hulk #179-200 plus an annual.
I've only read a handful of Hulk comics aside from the recent Immortal Hulk run. Erik Larsen was hyping the Herb Trimpe run of Incredible Hulk so I eventually picked this up.
In the context of 1970s comics, this was excellent. Len Wein is a better writer than I usually give him credit for but I guess I shouldn't be surprised since he's the co-creator of Swamp Thing and had a great Phantom Stranger run. There are certainly a lot of balls in the air throughout this. While Hulk wanders from one misadventure to the next, Glen Talbot is busted out of a Russian prison and winds up a vegetable, Doc Samson leads a task force to catch the Hulk, and Thunderbolt Ross continues his trend of being a huge asshole.
Herb Trimpe, and later Sal Buscema, handle the pencils and Joe Staton does the inks. This is a great looking book. Trimpe and Buscema both draw an iconic hulk. I can see some stuff in Trimpe's art that has echoes in Erik Larsen's style. Big monster fights and disasters are a common feature of Hulk tales and Trimpe and Buscema depict them rather well. I could easily see both of them drawing for EC if EC had survived the Frederick Wertham witchhunt.
It took me about a week to get through this. It was like eating a bag of Halloween candy: great at first but eventually you're done with candy until next Halloween. Four out of five Bronze Age stars.
I've only read a handful of Hulk comics aside from the recent Immortal Hulk run. Erik Larsen was hyping the Herb Trimpe run of Incredible Hulk so I eventually picked this up.
In the context of 1970s comics, this was excellent. Len Wein is a better writer than I usually give him credit for but I guess I shouldn't be surprised since he's the co-creator of Swamp Thing and had a great Phantom Stranger run. There are certainly a lot of balls in the air throughout this. While Hulk wanders from one misadventure to the next, Glen Talbot is busted out of a Russian prison and winds up a vegetable, Doc Samson leads a task force to catch the Hulk, and Thunderbolt Ross continues his trend of being a huge asshole.
Herb Trimpe, and later Sal Buscema, handle the pencils and Joe Staton does the inks. This is a great looking book. Trimpe and Buscema both draw an iconic hulk. I can see some stuff in Trimpe's art that has echoes in Erik Larsen's style. Big monster fights and disasters are a common feature of Hulk tales and Trimpe and Buscema depict them rather well. I could easily see both of them drawing for EC if EC had survived the Frederick Wertham witchhunt.
It took me about a week to get through this. It was like eating a bag of Halloween candy: great at first but eventually you're done with candy until next Halloween. Four out of five Bronze Age stars.
September 11, 2024
Trimpe and Wein for the Win!
This seventh Epic Collection was a full green and gritted teeth's head above the sixth due in great part to the consistent creative team of writer Len Wein and penciller Herb Trimpe. Never a fan of Sal Buscema, who assumed the mantle with Hulk #194, I felt the book slipped in quality for its last quarter.
But after the execrable Englehart run that blighted the last Epic (remember the Harpy and Aquon?), even Sal's phoned-in art couldn't detract from the strong scripts Wein was writing month after month. And Buscema's run was buoyed by Doc Samson playing a pivotal role. I always liked that "emerald-tressed" titan, looking to me like the answer to "What if the Mad Thinker belonged to the Shazam family?"
HIGH POINTS
Right outta the gate, I loved #179 with the Missing Link joining the Waltons. C'mon, there was even a son named "Clay-Boy" ("Goodnight, Clay-Boy"). It was just a charming issue that effectively tugged at the heartstrings and showed the goodness of people and their willingness to overlook outward appearances. That's a virtue in people that the Hulk himself will benefit from over the course of the book.
I liked #182 for very much the same reasons, and I thought Crackajack Jackson was one of the best supporting character creations since Gerber's Richard Rory. I think Crackajack can also be credited with turning our Jolly Green Giant onto the goodness of beans, though it appears Hulk's preference is for Van Camp's or Bush's pork n' beans judging by the steaming can Crackajack passes over in his second appearance in #190. Crackajack's story dovetailed seamlessly with Hammer and Anvil's Defiant Ones homage and made for a winning one-and-done story tinged with heartbreak and regret.
What about Wolverine?? The introduction of Wolverine was... underwhelming and anticlimactic. I've been reading comics since 1975 but didn't read Hulk and never read this celebrated story until now. I was disappointed. Well, how could it live up to the legend that Wolverine became in the '80s and is today, currently starring in a blockbuster movie with Deadpool? Taken on its own, it was a turgid tale of a love triangle with Wolvie, Wendigo, and the Hulk having a standard-issue tussle. Okay, I did like Marie in her bargain-basement Brunhilda outfit.
Dan Quayle was right: "A mind is a terrible thing to lose, so I especially enjoyed the saga spanning #185-200 with the search for Glenn Talbot's MIA mind, which was a recurring plot thread throughout most of this collection. I love the Silver Age, and Trimpe inking his own work was always a treat, evoking Kirby in every panel, and when Artie Simek was on letters the comics looked straight outta '68.
Issue #185 was a strong issue even if I winced seeing Thunderbolt Ross playing J. Jonah Jameson in his own variation of a Spider-Slayer. Unlike Spencer Smythe's contraptions, it turned out to be impressively formidable, its gamma blaster taking down the Hulk. Does it ever turn up again or did it join the Spidey Mobile at the bottom of a river? Armbruster was an intriguing character, reminding me of the all-military Ross of the '60s, but I suspected Wein ran out of things for him to do. At least he went out a hero. Having President Ford visit Hulkbuster Base and being in peril was an interesting twist. The Devastator was lame but was always intended as a throwaway villain and he ably served his purpose.
Having SHIELD assign Clay Quartermain to Hulkbuster Base in #187 was a welcome move, as was Trimpe retaining Clay's steadfast smile and squinted eyes (Buscema didn't even try after he took over). Good to see the Gaffer, but when did he go all Borscht Belt with the boychiks? Ugh! I liked the Spy Vibe of those issues with Nick Fury chomping the scenery like a Cuban cigar and the stealth mission into the Soviet Union, infiltrating and neutralizing Bitterfrost, battling the grotesquerie that was the Gremlin, and rescuing the real Glenn Talbot. Exciting stuff, and so fun to read!
Another highlight was the Shaper of Worlds and Glorian two-issue saga spanning #190-91. I appreciated how the gritty earthbound espionage adventure was followed by this cosmic-scale story. And man, it was awesome to see Crackajack and Jarella back, even if only illusions. Marie Severin's inks over Trimpe's pencils took me through the time tunnel to the Silver Age, as did seeing the Toad Men (loved the crazy cartoony depiction of the Toad Queen). Sobering and profound insights from the Hulk close out this classic two-parter: "Hulk does not want dream of Paradise! If Paradise is not real... then it is not Paradise! ... Hulk does not want Heaven that is not real!" (pp. 245-46). Okay, Hulk, then take it up with Todd Burpo, author of Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back!
A high point of the burgeoning Buscema era comes in Hulk #197-98, a strong two-parter guest starring the Man-Thing, the Glob, and the Collector. That Berni Wrightson cover on #197 blew me away and was maybe as close as we got to a Wein-Wrightson reunion at Marvel (not counting the penciled pages in the extras). I liked this story but it did drag on and recycled plot points from Hulk #164-65 where the Hulk was recruited to lead the rebellion against Captain Omen as he is here against the Collector. And it even ended the exact same way as the earlier story, which again brought to my mind the "Way to Eden" episode of Star Trek. But I love the Man-Thing and thought Wein did right by Gerber in paying loving tribute to that late-lamented title, which incidentally was a couple years later revived for eleven issues by...
Chris Claremont, who wrote the fun but insignificant trifle, Annual #5, "Six Shall Crush the Hulk!" Looking back, #184 was a dry run with the Hulk literally shadow boxing an old Atlas alien. I loved those Lee, Kirby, and Ditko fantasy tales reprinted in Weird Wonder Tales, and Where Monsters Dwell, so I was the prime demographic for this Annual. Too bad I never got the chance to read it until now! I enjoyed it at 57, but certainly not as much as I would have at age nine!
LOW POINTS
Hey, they can't all be winners, right? The Mole Man story in #189 felt like a tired retread and the heartbreak Wein set up failed to break my heart. It was pretty corny, and I never bought into this star-crossed whirlwind romance. I wouldn't say it to his face, but I told Hulk to man up in that weepy closing panel.
"The Lurker Beneath Loch Fear" in #192 was another dud issue. For readers not around in the '70s, who never watched In Search Of or read the headlines of the National Enquirerin the grocery store checkout aisle, the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon will be a mystery akin to the Bermuda Triangle. But "Nessie" was a big deal then and this story leapt on the bandwagon. Why it flopped for me was that I disliked the kill-crazed Angus MacTavish and was Team Jaime Macawber, even if his motivation for keeping the monster alive was mercenary. In addition to an insignificant story I couldn't engage, those accents wore me out after about two pages (not Wein's fault; I also can't bear it when Sean and Moira burr their brogues in Claremont's X-Men either!).
But the rock-bottom nadir of the collection was the Locust and Abomination stories spanning #194-96. Bad writing, worse art, lame villains. I mean, the Locust? He was a creatively bankrupt character in his old X-Men appearance so why bring him back? And I couldn't buy the ridiculous premise of Banner being picked up by the Locust's daughter and the town futilely barricading itself against flying insects?
The Abomination has been ill-served over the years and has now been reduced to a jayvee villain in his pathetic appearance here. I did love the idea of Ross and Quartermain planting a bomb in his head to encourage compliance! When I saw the little kid on the splash of #195 coupled with his exclamation, "Holy jumpin' criminy!" (which no kid has exclaimed ever), I knew it was gonna be bad--and it was worse! Just endless fight scenes and another attempted heart-tugging climax that failed to tug any strings except resentment of the blatant Spielbergian emotional manipulation.
I'm putting #200 and its inventive riff on Fantastic Voyage as a lowlight, but without malice. I'm sure Stan Lee from the C-suite dictated this milestone issue include a ton of top-tier guest stars and Wein did the best he could to create a plausible scenario, but it was just doomed to fail. I wish they had instead offered the comic book equivalent of a "clip show" with Hulk's history recapped in a framing sequence with, for example, Ross and Betty reminiscing (or looking back in anger, as the case may be). Poster-worthy Buckler and Romita cover!
WORTH MENTIONING
I'm writing this review on September 11, 2024, the 23rd anniversary of 9/11. The Twin Towers of the then-recently opened World Trade Center appear in Hulk #193, serving as the site of a brief battle between Jade Jaws and Doc Samson (p. 282-83). It's noteworthy that these turned out to be the final few pages of Trimpe's final regular issue as they prophetically pointed ahead to Trimpe's 2001-02 tenure serving as an Episcopalian chaplain at Ground Zero in the months following the tragedy. (The Power of Angels is the book Trimpe wrote reflecting on his experiences.)
A solid collection draws to a close and I'm already a couple issues into volume 8, The Curing of Dr. Banner. All good things must come to an end, however, and as Trimpe left the book I see Wein will as well, passing the reins to Roger Stern. The late, great Len Wein deserves the lion's share of credit for this Epic proving so enjoyable and for the issues just flowing one into another with subplots woven through seamlessly. I looked forward to reading an issue or two, grateful to finally enjoy these long-elusive comics that were a bridge too far on my meager allowance back in '75 and '76.
This seventh Epic Collection was a full green and gritted teeth's head above the sixth due in great part to the consistent creative team of writer Len Wein and penciller Herb Trimpe. Never a fan of Sal Buscema, who assumed the mantle with Hulk #194, I felt the book slipped in quality for its last quarter.
But after the execrable Englehart run that blighted the last Epic (remember the Harpy and Aquon?), even Sal's phoned-in art couldn't detract from the strong scripts Wein was writing month after month. And Buscema's run was buoyed by Doc Samson playing a pivotal role. I always liked that "emerald-tressed" titan, looking to me like the answer to "What if the Mad Thinker belonged to the Shazam family?"
HIGH POINTS
Right outta the gate, I loved #179 with the Missing Link joining the Waltons. C'mon, there was even a son named "Clay-Boy" ("Goodnight, Clay-Boy"). It was just a charming issue that effectively tugged at the heartstrings and showed the goodness of people and their willingness to overlook outward appearances. That's a virtue in people that the Hulk himself will benefit from over the course of the book.
I liked #182 for very much the same reasons, and I thought Crackajack Jackson was one of the best supporting character creations since Gerber's Richard Rory. I think Crackajack can also be credited with turning our Jolly Green Giant onto the goodness of beans, though it appears Hulk's preference is for Van Camp's or Bush's pork n' beans judging by the steaming can Crackajack passes over in his second appearance in #190. Crackajack's story dovetailed seamlessly with Hammer and Anvil's Defiant Ones homage and made for a winning one-and-done story tinged with heartbreak and regret.
What about Wolverine?? The introduction of Wolverine was... underwhelming and anticlimactic. I've been reading comics since 1975 but didn't read Hulk and never read this celebrated story until now. I was disappointed. Well, how could it live up to the legend that Wolverine became in the '80s and is today, currently starring in a blockbuster movie with Deadpool? Taken on its own, it was a turgid tale of a love triangle with Wolvie, Wendigo, and the Hulk having a standard-issue tussle. Okay, I did like Marie in her bargain-basement Brunhilda outfit.
Dan Quayle was right: "A mind is a terrible thing to lose, so I especially enjoyed the saga spanning #185-200 with the search for Glenn Talbot's MIA mind, which was a recurring plot thread throughout most of this collection. I love the Silver Age, and Trimpe inking his own work was always a treat, evoking Kirby in every panel, and when Artie Simek was on letters the comics looked straight outta '68.
Issue #185 was a strong issue even if I winced seeing Thunderbolt Ross playing J. Jonah Jameson in his own variation of a Spider-Slayer. Unlike Spencer Smythe's contraptions, it turned out to be impressively formidable, its gamma blaster taking down the Hulk. Does it ever turn up again or did it join the Spidey Mobile at the bottom of a river? Armbruster was an intriguing character, reminding me of the all-military Ross of the '60s, but I suspected Wein ran out of things for him to do. At least he went out a hero. Having President Ford visit Hulkbuster Base and being in peril was an interesting twist. The Devastator was lame but was always intended as a throwaway villain and he ably served his purpose.
Having SHIELD assign Clay Quartermain to Hulkbuster Base in #187 was a welcome move, as was Trimpe retaining Clay's steadfast smile and squinted eyes (Buscema didn't even try after he took over). Good to see the Gaffer, but when did he go all Borscht Belt with the boychiks? Ugh! I liked the Spy Vibe of those issues with Nick Fury chomping the scenery like a Cuban cigar and the stealth mission into the Soviet Union, infiltrating and neutralizing Bitterfrost, battling the grotesquerie that was the Gremlin, and rescuing the real Glenn Talbot. Exciting stuff, and so fun to read!
Another highlight was the Shaper of Worlds and Glorian two-issue saga spanning #190-91. I appreciated how the gritty earthbound espionage adventure was followed by this cosmic-scale story. And man, it was awesome to see Crackajack and Jarella back, even if only illusions. Marie Severin's inks over Trimpe's pencils took me through the time tunnel to the Silver Age, as did seeing the Toad Men (loved the crazy cartoony depiction of the Toad Queen). Sobering and profound insights from the Hulk close out this classic two-parter: "Hulk does not want dream of Paradise! If Paradise is not real... then it is not Paradise! ... Hulk does not want Heaven that is not real!" (pp. 245-46). Okay, Hulk, then take it up with Todd Burpo, author of Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back!
A high point of the burgeoning Buscema era comes in Hulk #197-98, a strong two-parter guest starring the Man-Thing, the Glob, and the Collector. That Berni Wrightson cover on #197 blew me away and was maybe as close as we got to a Wein-Wrightson reunion at Marvel (not counting the penciled pages in the extras). I liked this story but it did drag on and recycled plot points from Hulk #164-65 where the Hulk was recruited to lead the rebellion against Captain Omen as he is here against the Collector. And it even ended the exact same way as the earlier story, which again brought to my mind the "Way to Eden" episode of Star Trek. But I love the Man-Thing and thought Wein did right by Gerber in paying loving tribute to that late-lamented title, which incidentally was a couple years later revived for eleven issues by...
Chris Claremont, who wrote the fun but insignificant trifle, Annual #5, "Six Shall Crush the Hulk!" Looking back, #184 was a dry run with the Hulk literally shadow boxing an old Atlas alien. I loved those Lee, Kirby, and Ditko fantasy tales reprinted in Weird Wonder Tales, and Where Monsters Dwell, so I was the prime demographic for this Annual. Too bad I never got the chance to read it until now! I enjoyed it at 57, but certainly not as much as I would have at age nine!
LOW POINTS
Hey, they can't all be winners, right? The Mole Man story in #189 felt like a tired retread and the heartbreak Wein set up failed to break my heart. It was pretty corny, and I never bought into this star-crossed whirlwind romance. I wouldn't say it to his face, but I told Hulk to man up in that weepy closing panel.
"The Lurker Beneath Loch Fear" in #192 was another dud issue. For readers not around in the '70s, who never watched In Search Of or read the headlines of the National Enquirerin the grocery store checkout aisle, the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon will be a mystery akin to the Bermuda Triangle. But "Nessie" was a big deal then and this story leapt on the bandwagon. Why it flopped for me was that I disliked the kill-crazed Angus MacTavish and was Team Jaime Macawber, even if his motivation for keeping the monster alive was mercenary. In addition to an insignificant story I couldn't engage, those accents wore me out after about two pages (not Wein's fault; I also can't bear it when Sean and Moira burr their brogues in Claremont's X-Men either!).
But the rock-bottom nadir of the collection was the Locust and Abomination stories spanning #194-96. Bad writing, worse art, lame villains. I mean, the Locust? He was a creatively bankrupt character in his old X-Men appearance so why bring him back? And I couldn't buy the ridiculous premise of Banner being picked up by the Locust's daughter and the town futilely barricading itself against flying insects?
The Abomination has been ill-served over the years and has now been reduced to a jayvee villain in his pathetic appearance here. I did love the idea of Ross and Quartermain planting a bomb in his head to encourage compliance! When I saw the little kid on the splash of #195 coupled with his exclamation, "Holy jumpin' criminy!" (which no kid has exclaimed ever), I knew it was gonna be bad--and it was worse! Just endless fight scenes and another attempted heart-tugging climax that failed to tug any strings except resentment of the blatant Spielbergian emotional manipulation.
I'm putting #200 and its inventive riff on Fantastic Voyage as a lowlight, but without malice. I'm sure Stan Lee from the C-suite dictated this milestone issue include a ton of top-tier guest stars and Wein did the best he could to create a plausible scenario, but it was just doomed to fail. I wish they had instead offered the comic book equivalent of a "clip show" with Hulk's history recapped in a framing sequence with, for example, Ross and Betty reminiscing (or looking back in anger, as the case may be). Poster-worthy Buckler and Romita cover!
WORTH MENTIONING
I'm writing this review on September 11, 2024, the 23rd anniversary of 9/11. The Twin Towers of the then-recently opened World Trade Center appear in Hulk #193, serving as the site of a brief battle between Jade Jaws and Doc Samson (p. 282-83). It's noteworthy that these turned out to be the final few pages of Trimpe's final regular issue as they prophetically pointed ahead to Trimpe's 2001-02 tenure serving as an Episcopalian chaplain at Ground Zero in the months following the tragedy. (The Power of Angels is the book Trimpe wrote reflecting on his experiences.)
A solid collection draws to a close and I'm already a couple issues into volume 8, The Curing of Dr. Banner. All good things must come to an end, however, and as Trimpe left the book I see Wein will as well, passing the reins to Roger Stern. The late, great Len Wein deserves the lion's share of credit for this Epic proving so enjoyable and for the issues just flowing one into another with subplots woven through seamlessly. I looked forward to reading an issue or two, grateful to finally enjoy these long-elusive comics that were a bridge too far on my meager allowance back in '75 and '76.
June 23, 2025
I made my way through these issues primarily to see Wolverine's first appearance in context. A bit like what I know of the television series, however, there really isn't all that much context to tie together these mini-arcs that mostly feature Hulk (and only moderate doses of Banner) traipsing about North America and getting in jams, helping occasionally and often getting chased by U.S. military personnel or off-brand supervillains. The stories are pretty flimsy and Hulk's incessant monologuing about wanting to be left alone and puny humans is tiresome. The art by Trimpe is pretty indicative of its times, neither great nor poor. I doubt I will revisit this era.
September 16, 2024
Kind of the tail end to Herb Trimpe’s legendary run on ol’ green skin. The beginning of Sal Buscema’s run in late 70’s, too.
March 15, 2023
Another installment of the Hulk ‘Epic collections’ this time around volume 7 shows us Len Wein joining the book, as well as Sal Buscema joining on artwork after Herb Trimpe ends his epic 7 year run on the book as main penciler. In this volume it starts off hot with the debut of Wolverine as the Hulk battles the Wendigo again. Hulk also makes a really close friend in a very touching issue where Hulk learns to spell his name and the importance of it. Another great addition is the overarching story of bringing Glenn Talbot back to the states, and getting his mind back, as when he was first saved he was put in a vegetative state after crazy events. Hulk battles more god-like beings, Wolverine & The Wendigo, Man-Thing & The Glob with the Collector, The Gremlin, The Abomination again (after being tricked first into partnering with him), Doc Samson, and even his own shadow! Hulk even gets to see Jarella again, possibly the greatest love of the Hulk’s life. It’s all action packed only this time around, better paced and better plotted.
A huge shout out to Len Wein for saving the Hulk title in ‘74 -’76. Before he took over the title hadn’t really been anything special since the early beginnings of the character. After a great start the beginning of the 70s for the Hulk felt repetitive and meh. But Wein comes in and completely restores the title to the action packed storytelling with the perfect mix of substance storytelling. The most notable thing Wein adds in my opinion is the way he writes the cast of the title, and making supporting characters more interesting and important to the story. It lets the book breathe and not just feel like “people chase Hulk, Hulk fights people, Hulk fights monsters cause monsters happen to be there.” Wein is just simply a brilliant storyteller, and even his own one off issues in the volume feel like great attention was put into them and for the first in a long time, some depth is added to the character of Hulk. One of my favorite issues/examples of adding to Hulk’s character is issue 182 where Wein introduces the reader and Hulk to Cracka Jack Jackson. A traveling man who shared his beans with the Hulk and didn’t run off screaming like other people have in the past. He gets to know the Hulk and even teaches him how to spell his name. Hulk gets very excited about this and Jackson delivers a powerful line; “Man ain’t got nothing if he ain’t got his name.” It’s a very touching moment and really leaves an impact with the Hulk through future issues in this volume. It’s a better and cohesive story with Wein as main writer, and Marvel made the right move giving him this title back in the day, cause the way it was going Hulk was due for a new path.
Herb Trimpe has his final issues as main artist in the beginning of this volume and it’s very bittersweet. I think Trimpe is a huge reason for those early Hulk issues being so great, and personally for me, he’s a top all-time Hulk artist if not the greatest one. However the person to take over is Sal Buscema and he too is a brilliant artist. He still has that classic Hulk look, however one thing he brings to the table is new and great facial expressions with the Hulk. He makes it a main focus to make Hulks face a focal piece to his emotion and character. Sounds pretty “well duh” but it’s done really well that it obviously stands out, otherwise I wouldn’t mention it. Buscema continues the tradition of epic battles and his character designs of new and older characters are super fun.
Overall; The Hulk title is saved for the mid 70s, and I really hope this level of storytelling can continue, because the Hulk is great when attention is given to him, and this volume showed that there’s still more to this character than just being the big green brute.
A huge shout out to Len Wein for saving the Hulk title in ‘74 -’76. Before he took over the title hadn’t really been anything special since the early beginnings of the character. After a great start the beginning of the 70s for the Hulk felt repetitive and meh. But Wein comes in and completely restores the title to the action packed storytelling with the perfect mix of substance storytelling. The most notable thing Wein adds in my opinion is the way he writes the cast of the title, and making supporting characters more interesting and important to the story. It lets the book breathe and not just feel like “people chase Hulk, Hulk fights people, Hulk fights monsters cause monsters happen to be there.” Wein is just simply a brilliant storyteller, and even his own one off issues in the volume feel like great attention was put into them and for the first in a long time, some depth is added to the character of Hulk. One of my favorite issues/examples of adding to Hulk’s character is issue 182 where Wein introduces the reader and Hulk to Cracka Jack Jackson. A traveling man who shared his beans with the Hulk and didn’t run off screaming like other people have in the past. He gets to know the Hulk and even teaches him how to spell his name. Hulk gets very excited about this and Jackson delivers a powerful line; “Man ain’t got nothing if he ain’t got his name.” It’s a very touching moment and really leaves an impact with the Hulk through future issues in this volume. It’s a better and cohesive story with Wein as main writer, and Marvel made the right move giving him this title back in the day, cause the way it was going Hulk was due for a new path.
Herb Trimpe has his final issues as main artist in the beginning of this volume and it’s very bittersweet. I think Trimpe is a huge reason for those early Hulk issues being so great, and personally for me, he’s a top all-time Hulk artist if not the greatest one. However the person to take over is Sal Buscema and he too is a brilliant artist. He still has that classic Hulk look, however one thing he brings to the table is new and great facial expressions with the Hulk. He makes it a main focus to make Hulks face a focal piece to his emotion and character. Sounds pretty “well duh” but it’s done really well that it obviously stands out, otherwise I wouldn’t mention it. Buscema continues the tradition of epic battles and his character designs of new and older characters are super fun.
Overall; The Hulk title is saved for the mid 70s, and I really hope this level of storytelling can continue, because the Hulk is great when attention is given to him, and this volume showed that there’s still more to this character than just being the big green brute.
November 15, 2024
3.5 stars
This is probably the best volume of Hulk so far. As time goes on, it seems each volume gets better.
Len Wein writes these stories and he infuses a lot of emotion into the book, although he tends to use the same tropes. There are multiple times that the Hulk finally makes friends, but each time they always leave or die. Wein writes some good emotional scenes, but it does start to get repetitive. During the Hulks adventures, there's a sub-plot in the background where Glenn Talbot loses his mind and the army needs to get help from Bruce Banner to restore him. Unfortunately, Bruce isn't so easy to get hold of when he's Hulking around.
The most historically significant moment in this book is the introduction of Wolverine and it's interesting to see his first appearance. He looked quite different, but it's easy to see how he became such a popular character. Another significant feature is that this volume contains the work of two popular Hulk artists, as Herb Trimpe finishes his run while Sal Buscema starts his. Both these artists are great, and when you hear fans referencing this time period of Hulk comics, these two artists seem to be much more known then the writers.
The art, as well as the introduction of Wolverine, are the main appeal of this Epic.
This is probably the best volume of Hulk so far. As time goes on, it seems each volume gets better.
Len Wein writes these stories and he infuses a lot of emotion into the book, although he tends to use the same tropes. There are multiple times that the Hulk finally makes friends, but each time they always leave or die. Wein writes some good emotional scenes, but it does start to get repetitive. During the Hulks adventures, there's a sub-plot in the background where Glenn Talbot loses his mind and the army needs to get help from Bruce Banner to restore him. Unfortunately, Bruce isn't so easy to get hold of when he's Hulking around.
The most historically significant moment in this book is the introduction of Wolverine and it's interesting to see his first appearance. He looked quite different, but it's easy to see how he became such a popular character. Another significant feature is that this volume contains the work of two popular Hulk artists, as Herb Trimpe finishes his run while Sal Buscema starts his. Both these artists are great, and when you hear fans referencing this time period of Hulk comics, these two artists seem to be much more known then the writers.
The art, as well as the introduction of Wolverine, are the main appeal of this Epic.
December 6, 2024
Len Wein is a rather daring writer. He introduced foreign characters a la Wolverine and Brother Voodoo at a time when such a move would still be largely frowned upon. Obscure characters were reintroduced with a fresh coat of paint and development.
What I admire the most about Wein is the horror elements he incorporated into his work. This aspect of him was what made Wein perfect for the Incredible Hulk.
It was with Wein's tenure that I truly appreciated Herb Trimpe's art style. Trimpe may have made the Hulk humanoid, but he also gave him a beastly countenance, what with the simian face and chiseled muscles.
Issue 182 is a clear highlight. In this issue, Hulk encounters a lonely homeless man, who teaches him some civility. He even teaches Hulk how to write. I dare not spoil how this aspect pays off. The fact that Wolverine was introduced in the prior issue, shows the consistency of Wein's writing.
In conclusion, Wein's run serves as a reminder to take risks in your art, and expand in areas others left behind.
What I admire the most about Wein is the horror elements he incorporated into his work. This aspect of him was what made Wein perfect for the Incredible Hulk.
It was with Wein's tenure that I truly appreciated Herb Trimpe's art style. Trimpe may have made the Hulk humanoid, but he also gave him a beastly countenance, what with the simian face and chiseled muscles.
Issue 182 is a clear highlight. In this issue, Hulk encounters a lonely homeless man, who teaches him some civility. He even teaches Hulk how to write. I dare not spoil how this aspect pays off. The fact that Wolverine was introduced in the prior issue, shows the consistency of Wein's writing.
In conclusion, Wein's run serves as a reminder to take risks in your art, and expand in areas others left behind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2025
Cover to cover fun with hits and misses of course but there is plenty of good stuff there. It really gets better for me when Sal Buscema joins aidée by Joe Staton which gives and very solid vibe.
Len Wein writes uneven stories but it eventually almost always works. Great fun, on with the following volume.
Len Wein writes uneven stories but it eventually almost always works. Great fun, on with the following volume.
April 6, 2023
I definitely preferred the later stuff.. this period of Hulk gets VERY repetitive. The supporting cast is definitely more interesting than Hulk, which I hadn't really previously thought much of.
January 19, 2026
Fun and energetic slice of Bronze Age Marvel that delivers more hits than misses.
This volume showcases Hulk's clashes with Wolverine, Abomination, and others while weaving through military pursuit, personal tragedy, and classic wandering Hulk storytelling.
It's a consistently entertaining run that highlights why this era remains fondly remembered.
This volume showcases Hulk's clashes with Wolverine, Abomination, and others while weaving through military pursuit, personal tragedy, and classic wandering Hulk storytelling.
It's a consistently entertaining run that highlights why this era remains fondly remembered.
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