Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk, Vol. 2

Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk #2

by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko (Illustrator), Jack Kirby (Illustrator)

Hulk-tinued at long last! After fifteen years the time has come for Marvel’s Green Goliath to grace his second Marvel Masterworks collection! Kicking off with a Hulk/Giant-Man thrown down, and pulling no punches straight into a toe-to-toe with the mighty Hercules, Dr. Robert Bruce Banner’s mean, green alter ego battles General Thunderbolt Ross, the Leader and his Humanoids, the Executioner and more communists than you can shake a tank at in this earth-shattering series of scintillating slobberknockers! With art by no less than Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby and Gil Kane in his first-ever Marvel tale, well we needn’t say more—reserve your copy today, True Believer! Collecting Tales to Astonish #59-79.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Comic Book, Collections

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Stan 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.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The previous volume, containing The Incredible Hulk #1-6, including an afterword by longtime Hulk writer Peter David talking about fan complaints that he go "back to basics"--Banner turns into dumb Hulk when he gets mad. David said for him that back to basics is a constant state of flux. That was true in the first volume and still true here, albeit to a lesser extent. For the first three issues of the series, Banner turned into the Hulk each night and became Banner in the morning. The Hulk wasn't dumb, but he was nowhere near Banner's level of intelligence, and he had an overall tough guy attitude. In the third issue, General Ross sent the Hulk away from Earth in a rocket, but it crashed back on Earth. At this point, Hulk was nearly mindless and was completely under the control of Rick Jones, except when Rick was asleep, which caused Hulk to go on a rampage. In the fifth issue, Banner had Rick shoot him with a gamma ray gun that gave him control of his powers. From that point on, Banner donned oversized purple shorts and transformed himself into the Hulk at will with a pedal-activated gamma-ray gun, but was always concerned that the Hulk's less intelligent, more violence-prone personality would take over. This continued with the guest appearances in The Fantastic Four and perhaps with Avengers, although I don't remember him doing any transformations in the latter.

When this volume opens (I unfortunately was not able to read Giant-Man vol. 2--no library in OCLC Worldcat has it, and the reviews don't lead me to buy it given my financial situation), Giant-Man goes in search of the Hulk to again try to get him to rejoin the Avengers. The Hulk still forms essentially normal sentences and refers to himself in the first person. As the volume continues, he refers to himself in the third person, but still uses an article, though Lee's narration repeatedly refers to the Hulk's "clouded mind." In issue #66, Hulk talks like he's dumb, and as later readers are accustomed to him, only to be shot in the head in the following issue. Again with the assistance of Rick Jones, he gets Banner's mind back, but has the personality of the Hulk, and he can't change back or the bullet will cause fatal brain damage. The Leader is able to dissolve the bullet in order to have the Hulk steal from the Watcher. Hulk's intelligence gradually dissipates, although only in the very last issue in the volume is he even referring to himself in the third person, and he never sounds any stupider than any number of brawny convicts like Carl Creel, the Absorbing Man.

Although the quality of the writing continues to be strong, and I say that never having considered the Hulk a favorite character, between disinterest in brutish characters, disinterest in the southwestern desert, and podophobia, and finding the live action series dull (but the animated series from the early 1980s better) he had the least appeal to me as a kid of any of the Marvel superheroes, there is an enormous continuity glitch in the new way Banner transforms into the Hulk. Now the change is, as with later versions and adaptations, brought on by his emotions. The problem is that Rick Jones knows this when he's been off with the Avengers, and it's established that he does not have personal contact with Banner prior to flying southwest to meet him again. Having read more than eighty issues of The Defenders, I was used to Banner going into a rage and becoming the Hulk, then falling asleep and returning to Banner's form. It's a little more difficult for him now, because the chemical process is entirely in reverse once he becomes the Hulk. It's a little confusing--anger is supposed to make Hulk stronger, but if he peaks, he is transformed back into Banner at the worst possible moment.

This volume also introduces us to a very important new supporting character, Major Glen Talbot, who wants to prove Banner a traitor to win Betty Ross's love from him. We also are introduced to the Leader, a high school dropout workman whose mind is enhanced by gamma rays in a similar way as Banner's is effected, but with no transformations. Remember when Doctor Octopus unmasked Spider-Man in front of his friends? Something almost as ignominious happens to the Hulk in this volume when Rick Jones, believing Banner to be dead, reveals a secret that only he and LBJ share.

Not owning most of these volumes, I can't read them in as close to chronological order as I would like, but I serendipitously had The Mighty Thor vol. 4. As Hercules is on the way to start his Hollywood career, Hulk uses the train rail as a weapon, and so there is a big publicity fight between the Hulk and Hercules. In spite of five appearances, the publicity agent still hasn't been named, but he's a pretty flat character, anyway, who disappears once Hercules is handed over to the producer back in the other volume.

Overall, in spite of the brevity of the chapters, I continue to remain pleasantly surprised with this title, inasmuch as I have been disappointed by Doctor Strange, whom I like much more in The Defenders than the Hulk.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

To be honest, I don't like the writing style in classic comics and probably wouldn't have made it this far if Bruce wasn't my favourite marvel character.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is where the Hulk starts to become the character I'm familiar with. Stan Lee and Company are still trying to figure him out in the early issues collected here, experimenting with various triggers for the transformation, for instance. But by the end, the Hulk is fueled by rage and returns to human form when he's calmed.

In the meantime, the Leader has been introduced as a major villain in an epic-length storyline, Betty Ross has made perfectly clear her feelings for Bruce Banner, Rick Jones has returned to the series (after spending time as Captain America's sidekick in Avengers), and Major Glen Talbot has entered the picture as a rival for Betty's attention and an ally in General Ross' Hulk hunt. There's a lot to love.

I have a hard time though with the characterization of General Ross and Major Talbot. They're cartoonishly antagonistic to the point of being stupid. Both make wild assumptions about Banner's frequent disappearances, leaping to the conclusion that he's a traitor because they're both prejudiced against him. And the reason for their animosity is simply that they both feel threatened by Betty's feelings for Bruce. After a while it becomes ludicrous that they're allowed to remain in command of anything.

Other than that though: Super fun.

[Max Driffill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume two of Marvel Masterworks Incredible Hulk reproduces the Hulk’s adventures in “Tales to Astonish.”

The Hulk has a lot to deal with here. He is more Banner than ever before, but his ability to focus is tested the madder he gets and the longer he stays big and great. On top of this, he has to deal with some grade A villains. The Leader makes his first appearance (TTA 62). This will be a long running feud that will continue into the present era. Hulk meets some memorable 1 shot villains, and some fun special guest. Executioner, Hercules and Ant-Man all appear and get to test their metal against “the strongest one there is.” In addition to all these shenanigans hulk is also hounded by two of the most ethically challenged, civil rights violating military men in history, General Thunderbolt Ross and Glenn Talbot. They are both a major driver of the Hulk’s negative impacts on society.

Anyway great volume to have, and read. In addition to the delightful action packed 60s Marvel stylings we get several issues penciled by Steve Ditko whose interpretation of the Hulk is vastly underrated I think.
Enjoy.

[Ross Kitson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read as Hulk had shifted from his own short lived book into a shorter feature in Tales to Astonish, the opposite to many titles at the time (Captain America, Dr Strange, Sub-Mariner, Iron Man, Nick Fury). The short format resulted in punchier stories, and also an episodic almost soap opera vibe, as each ran into the other.
The highlight in these tales for me is The Leader and his funky plastic humanoids, although we still get plenty of Hulk vs army, including the nefarious forces of communism. As we progress we start to get done consistencies with Hulk,s dialogue and transformation although it still feels a way off the standard Hulk we now know. As well as the variable writing we also have quite variable art, again not uncommon in Silver Age Marvel.
Yet, as with most comics from this era, there’s that charm and simplicity about the stories that win you over and IMO make these old tales essential reading for modern fans.

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Kirby drew a terrible Hulk. I know he created him but sheesh, his Hulk is so rudimentary and without character in the face. Steve Ditko drew a slightly better Hulk but I'm certain his heart wasn't in it. Ditko didn't like bulky characters. He liked wiry muscular heroes. But things do improve slowly throughout this volume, Bill Powell and Mickey DeMeo are still only slightly better but then there's a story by John Romita and the last two were drawn by Bill Everett. The art in this book finishes on a high note. Can't wait to sink my teeth into the next Hulk book when he starts getting drawn by Marie Severin among other better artists than Kirby or Ditko. I know those guys help create the iconic superheroes of the Marvel Universe but I think all their characters were better drawn than others. Most especially the Hulk.

[Jeff Bleyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My slow reading journey through the early Lee/Kirby Marvel Masterworks series and the formation of the Marvel Comics Universe continues to surprise and entertain. After an attempt at publishing a full comic of The Hulk was scrapped after six issues [all collected in Volume 1 of this series], the character was moved to splitting time in the pages of Marvel's Tales To Astonish with Antman/Giantman & the Sub-Marineer with this volume covering the first twenty-one of these ten-page adventures of The Hulk. The art and character/world building are strengths while the comic plots are...well, they are comic plots that were probably better served with a presentation of monthly installments. On to Volume 2 of the X-Men.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume picks up the Hulk’s saga with stories from Tales to Astonish #59-79.

Tales to Astonish #59 - The next story in this volume is particularly noteworthy for a couple of reasons. First off: the other Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man & Thor) make a brief appearance. But we also have the return of the Human Top and special guest star by the Hulk, with supporting characters Betty Ross and General Thunderbolt Ross as well. This is also a teaser and appetizer for the next issue of Tales to Astonish and the new format, which would include a story about Giant-Man and the Wasp and one featuring the Hulk. From the perspective of the Hulk, this tale helps to illustrate the transition from the more intelligent Hulk that has been slowly slipping away and the rise of the angry, belligerent Hulk.

Tales to Astonish #60-61 - While Steve Ditko is usually associated with Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, he also had a run with the Hulk as well. He first worked on the character in Hulk #6 and then in Amazing Spider-Man #14 (the latter included, along with the aforementioned Tales to Astonish #59, in Incredible Hulk Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Man or Monster?), but his run on the Hulk officially began here with these stories. This 2-part story starts off with the Hulk confronting a robot built by his alter ego, Bruce Banner. It may not be the most auspicious beginning, but it does have a lot of Ditko touches. We’re also reintroduced to General Thunderbolt Ross and Betty Ross, as well as meeting Major Talbot for the first time.

Tales to Astonish #62 - Pits the Hulk against the Chameleon, introduces the Leader, and offers the return of Rick Jones, but the story itself is all very pedestrian.

Tales to Astonish #63-64 - The Leader is actually revealed while he and his “humanoid” creations take center stage against the Hulk. This begins a deep-dive into anti-communist propaganda.

Tales to Astonish #65-67 - More “Red baiting” as the Hulk is captured by the Soviets and taken to foreign lands. And sadly Ditko ends his run on the series after only eight installments.

Tales to Astonish #68-69 - Jack Kirby is back! And will be until #83, with at least plots and layouts. But what’s even more interesting with this transition is reading the change in emphasis and style. This is a perfect example of how little influence Stan Lee actually had on these early Marvel titles as both Ditko and Kirby had very unique ways of telling a story, but seeing this switch from one creative powerhouse to another, even with Lee still “writing” the book, there is a massive shift and change in the word choices, as well as tonal quality. Had Lee truly been “writing” these comics and not just editing them, this transition would not have been so pronounced. In any case, Kirby wraps up much of the literal cliffhanger Ditko had left the strip in and quickly moves forward with lost story threads and dangling plot lines. Ditko’s subtler magic is replaced with Kirby’s boisterous power.

Tales to Astonish #70-74 - Kirby now embarks on an attempt to recreate the Hulk (and the green guy now shares the title with Namor, as the Giant-Man and Wasp series ended with their story in #69). Experimenting with the basic concept of this reimagined Jekyll/Hyde character. He conceived a way for Banner to be injured so that he must remain the Hulk or he will die (a similar method and complication that is the basis for Iron Man’s initial premise). Thus begins a story arc that leaves the Hulk with Banner’s mind, but his personality is still more brutal than that of Banner, so we’re reading about an altogether different hybrid here (one that Peter David would explore in more detail many years from now). Rick Jones continues to be integral, and the Leader takes center stage as the antagonist to be dealt with, but the Red-baiting has subsided a bit. Instead, Kirby takes things into a more fantastical direction, introducing the Watcher from the pages of the Fantastic Four, and the Hulk begins stepping into a larger cosmic playing field.

Tales to Astonish #75-79 - With the Leader apparently dead, our superhero soap-opera spins in another new direction. You have to admit that Kirby sure doesn’t let things get stagnant, a new beginning with #78 Bill Everett lends his artistic talents to Kirby’s layouts. After using the device that appears to kill the Leader, the Hulk then finds himself the target of a weapon that propels him into a far-future Earth where he fights the Executioner. But the time shift wears off, as does Hulk’s attachment with Banner’s brain and personality, and he begins to revert to his more savage personality. Wrapping up these selections, it is the end of an era as Rick Jones, believing Banner/Hulk has been killed, reveals that Banner and the Hulk are one and the same person to first Major Talbot and then to Betty Ross, and then there’s that titanic fisticuffs between Hulk and Hercules.

[Todd Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel puts together the Incredible Hulk’s appearance in Tales to Astonish during which he meets his greatest nemesis—the Leader!

He ends up in the lair of the Leader and battles his horrible Humanoids.

The creative team includes creative titans Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Jack Kirby.

Also, the story involves hulk’s other nemesis General Thunderbolt Ross.

Banner also competes for the love of Betty Ross against Major Glenn Talbot.

This is the original storyline of the Incredible Hulk and the Ross family’s problems continued throughout its long run.

[Jdetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

The problem with these issues is that they obviously weren't one of the books that Stan Lee really cared about. You can always tell the second tier of titles in these days, ones that Stan, Ditko or Kirby spent less time on. The artwork isn't great and the stories are very repetitive.

[Aaron Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

These silver age stories are still pretty silly, but they're fun to read as one offs.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Bruce, all he deserves is good things and all he gets is trouble :/
Although I understand that this wasn't the intention at the time it was written, I tried to read this issue while keeping in mind the more recent comics and their framing of Bruce's DID. It doesn't fit perfectly, but especially after Bruce gets stuck in Hulk form and is described as "Hulk with the brain of Banner, but more violent" I thought it was possible to track three different alters throughout these stories. Bruce - when in human form, but also sometimes the Hulk form in some of his decision making and when he's Marveling at the watcher's collection; Child Hulk - when he speaks in broken sentences, and the narration describes his brain as being "clouded"; and Devil Hulk - speaking in full sentences but with the grammar and sentence structure that sounds more like The Thing than Bruce Banner, plus a penchant for violence ESPECIALLY in the defense of others (Rick, the future city, etc).

Obviously, Hulk is always gonna be a controversial kind of DID character, and I'm no expert on that, but I think it's interesting to see where modern writers found the ideas for how the Hulk System works and what triggers different alters, etc. This issue actually gave me more respect for "Devil" hulk, who I didn't like that much in the immortal hulk run to be honest, but I think I get him more now.

[Imogene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, Brucie. So, far you are not impressing me. Moping out in the desert in your ripped pants is fine, but at least let Banner go to work often enough to feed you both. AND keep you in purple pants



And there is only so many times that Dr Banner can be in the wrong place at the wrong time before someone figures out that there's something hinky going on. I mean, your girlfriends father is the ranking military officer on the base! Dude!



Though to be honest, neither Betty nor General "Thundebolt" Ross seem to be Mensa candidates.
( For example, why is he bringing his daughter out to the testing sites? )
So, Bruce decided to build a robot that even the Hulk can't take out, and goes missing. Being found hanging out at the testing sight in his purple pants gets him suspected of communism, but not hulk-ism. Geez.
Giant Man makes an appearence. He and Hulk have a very manly tussle, half naked and very macho. Unfortunately their date gets broken up by Ol' Thunderbolt sending a nuclear missile their way. Everyone survives. Including the pants. Giant Man doesn't even bother to tell the rest of the gang that he found Hulk. Jerk.


Gasp! Plot! Evil Communist Dude steals Banner's aweesomely sciency Robot ( this is the 60's) and a guy named Talbot (who ends up in Agents of SHIELD played by the flying man fron Heroes) has turned up to see what the frak is up with Brucie. Oh, no. people are going to think that he's a traitor. Thunderbolt, admiring his hetero-normative, all-American cis-gendered masculinity decides that his daughter should set her cap for soldier boy, rather than that *ugh* intellectual nancy.



Evil Communist Dude disguises himelf as Banner to cause trouble and steal stuff. ECD totally steals Betty Ross, just for the sake of it. On the upside, everyone totally saw the Hulk and (Fake) Banner in the same place at the same time. And even though they were both wearing purple pants, they were clearly two separate pairs of purple pants.
Meanwhile, Teenaged sidekick Rick Jones somehow manages to circumvent top secret military security and protocol to bring Bruce a new set of non-purple clothes, and they scurry off to prove that they were there the whole time and have nothing to do with any of it.


ECD's boss, the self named "The Leader", despite failing to get his hands on BB's stuff, has decided to keep trying to science himself into world domination. Turns out, in a gasp-worthy twist, The Leader was exposed to gamma rays, and turned into an evil super genius. Who is green.
He spends quite a it of time fan-boying over fellow gamma green Hulk, and hoping that they can start a super secret support and/or world domination club. Maybe their theme song could be 'It's not easy being green'?


The Leader decides to science some big pink stretchy bouncy android type marshmallow humanoids.
Including shrinkable ones, and 500 foot tall ones that make the army bring out their super bombs. Hulk fixes this in a particularly Marvel way.



Thoughts re. The Hulk Vol. 2.

How many times can Banner get secretly kidnapped by communists and have the army think he's defected, yet still come back to his government contracts?
If the President of the US has been told about Hulk/ BB, why couldn't he at least let some army top brass know, so that they stop arresting him?
How does the Hulk manage to pick up pieces of, like, road or roof and shake it like a blanket in order to take out how convoys?
How do they manage to mess up Betty Ross with Spiderman's super minor character Betty Brandt?
What the heck is up with Betty's hair?

[Julia Shumway · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved The Incredible Hulk, Volume 1, get ready! Because things are just going to get better. This book begins after an interlude in which the Hulk interacted with the Avengers, and so a few changes in relationships have taken place. Stan Lee does a good job of bringing the reader up to speed as the story develops, but I think it is worth tracking down the issues of The Fantastic Four (12, 25, 26), Avengers (1-3, 5), and The Amazing Spider-Man (14) in order to understand the characters' relationships.

The relationships and characters are far more deeply developed in these issues. They are also more similar to The Incredible Hulk most fans are familiar with: he transforms when he's angry. I especially liked the increased emotional depth of Betty Ross, Rick Jones, and Bruce Banner. Even General Ross is more developed in these issues. The relationship between Bruce Banner and Betty Ross has become more complex, and therefore more poignant, by this point. I find the whole thing lovely and touching, and I would, as ever, urge everyone to consider, WWBBD?

[Michael Reddy]

Read Issue 60 -2.28.22, 3 Stars

Read Issues 61-67 -3.01.22 - 4 Stars,

This is the first story arc featuring The Leader and for that alone is worth reading even though the writing is a bit hokey and describes the action rather than allowing the illustrator to show it too much for my taste, but that is typical of this era. Steve Ditko's artwork while not as good or revolutionary as his work on Dr Strange, honestly what from this era is ?, is still really good.

Read Issues 68-72 3.05.22 - 4 Stars

Read Issues 73-80 - 3.12.22 - 3 Stars

Read Issues 81-83 - 3.13.22 - 3 Stars

Read Issues 82-89 - 4.17.22 - 3 Stars

[Rich Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better Marvel Masterworks volumes I've read, this book features the beginning of what would become the Hulk's second comic book series, beginning with Tales to Astonish #59. There is some great artwork in this volume, particularly the teams of Steve Ditko and George Bell, and Jack Kirby and Bill Everett, both of which I consider the best silver age art teams to handle the character, short though their runs may have been. The Leader is the predominant villain in these stories, which feature the Hulk and Dr. Banner being hounded by Thunderbolt Ross and the creepy Major Talbot, along with an appearance by the Watcher and some cameos by the Chameleon.

While I happened to get this dirt-cheap from Amazon Marketplace, it's definitely worth the full-price for these classic silver age tales of the Green Goliath!

[Arturo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things start off pretty boring with Hulk taking on some robot and then Chameleon the following issue. But once The Leader is introduced, things start to be more interesting. First Hulk battles one of The Leader's Humanoids, it's strength and elasticity makes it an unstoppable force, then theres a barrage of constant Humanoids attacking without pause, and finally a gigantic one makes for a simple but fun story overall. Meanwhile, Ross and his army are constantly attacking thru out. Issues later, The Leader sends him to the moon to steal whatever device he can find from the Watcher. After the Leader arc is wrapped up Hulk is then transported to a post apocalyptic future. Fun stuff. Finally the book closes with a great battle against Hercules!

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was out of the country when these stories were first published, so this was the first time I'd ever read them. Stan Lee is at the top of his game, as are artists Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby. This showcases the Marvel style at a time when it was still fresh and didn't take itself so seriously. Great fun.

[Edward Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection starts the four year run of stories that featured the Hulk in Takes To Astonish, paired with Giant Man and The Submariner. These are some pretty standard stories on face value, with pre-existing villains and heroes making appearances, but they really set the groundwork for the ongoing series that began in 1968.

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Cyn McDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

By the end of Volume 2, I was pretty much bored. Very dated and repetitive.