When looking for good comics to read, one need only look to the Incredible Hulk, published by Marvel Comics. The character has gone through many iterations over the years, from basic brute to raging monster, from a thoughtful introspective to a broken beast, and no matter how many times he might transform into something else, he always remains one of the more interesting residents of the Marvel Universe. Written by many and drawn by more, the Hulk has had many ups and downs over his publication history, and given how long he has been around, why not look at a few books that show the creature in all his varied glory?

Having been around for over sixty years and counting, this issue takes readers back to 1985 in a story called The Triad. Chronicled by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, two men who brought some of the very best Hulk tales to life, this piece takes place during the overall Crossroads storyline, in which the Hulk is exiled from Earth. The monster was being exactly that, and it was decided that humanity needed a little break from the Hulk, and thus he was sent to a dimension where he supposedly could do no harm. It is in this place between places where he meets Guardian, Goblin and Glow, three characters that for a short time, join him on his adventures. Here, the Hulk is slowly starting to remember his lost memories, and the three companions aim to help him do just that. While it is somewhat welcome, they also realize that the Hulk needs food and water, so they enter one of the dimensional gates, hoping to find a planet that provides what the Hulk requires to survive. As such, the planet they land on is a desert world, and it does not look very promising, to say the least. They beg Hulk to trigger the spell that will take them back to the Crossroads, but Hulk refuses, for he knows there must be something here, and he will prove it even if he dies trying. Mantlo and Buscema craft a fantastic story that offers readers many facets of the Hulk’s persona, with the script laying the groundwork and the artwork really driving it home. While the book may not provide all the thrills and spills one might love, it is packed with what makes the Hulk great.

For a time, Bruce Jones would make his mark on the Hulk, beginning with much fanfare, though losing a little towards the end of his run. Forty-three issues of The Incredible Hulk’s second title would find the character on the run in a melting pot of genres, heavy on Fugitive-like action, mixing mystery, suspense, drama, and more into a compelling read. It was a book that almost everybody was talking about when it premiered, but it sadly fell by the wayside when it finally ended. This book had everything going for it, with a great premise featuring the murder of a young boy on television, killed during one of the Hulk’s famous rampages, to mystery men like Mr. Blue and a run-in with the Abomination. The covers by Kaare Andrews would draw people into the world that Jones was creating, and they would stay for the artwork by a bevy of talented artists like Mike Deodato Jr., John Romita Jr., Lee Weeks and more. There are some who may not be fans of the artwork, most especially when it comes to Romita Jr., but the man does a solid job, and for this particular tale, it works. Like anything, there were highs and lows throughout this run, and there were characters that came and went like Leonard Samson and Betty, Nadia and Sandra and more, yet through it all, there was always that ongoing current that made the reader wonder just where it was going to go next. If looking for some good dollar-bin comics, these would certainly fill the bill.

As far as keys go, one cannot overlook Future Imperfect by long-time Hulk scribe Peter David and artist supreme, George Perez, as it features the first appearance of the Maestro. In a broken future where most of the heroes and villains of the world have been killed, the Maestro rules all, but just who is the Maestro? It is one of the best reveals in all of comicdom, as it turned out to be a twisted and jaded version of none other than the Hulk. In two perfect issues, David and Perez present a Hulk different from any other, one who had simply had enough and decided to take matters into his own hands, yet one who also became corrupt and a tyrant along the way. The books are packed with incredible visuals, including a room filled with the remnants of those former heroes and villains. Old man Rick Jones is featured, and while he is not in the book very much, he packs an emotional wallop with his cameo. In the end, it is Hulk versus Hulk, young versus old, the strong battling the strongest, and it is a sight to behold. Dystopia never looked or read so good, and if there is one Hulk story that anybody should read, even if they do not care very much for the property and even though the ending is a forgone conclusion, it is this one.

There are times when Marvel surprises, and after the masterpiece that was the Immortal Hulk, they are trying to outdo themselves with the Infernal Hulk by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein. Where Immortal Hulk was all about body horror, this is about space monster/Lovecraftian horror, and to say that it is good is not praising it enough. In just a handful of issues, readers see the Hulk’s body having been taken over by an old god while Bruce and Betty sit it out in hiding, trying to live normal lives even though they know that it is nothing more than a pipe dream and that sooner or later, they are going to find themselves in the thick of it, whatever that might be. Johnson knows how to pack a wallop when it comes to telling good stories, whether it’s Superman or The Last God, and his run on The Hulk has been just as strong, if not stronger. As engaging as his stories might be, he needs a solid partner to bring them to life, and Klein is that man, making this book as spooky as can be. It is amazing that this book is not marketed as for mature readers, given all that happens between its pages. Of the multitude of books that Marvel puts out these days, this book stands head and shoulders above the rest.

As previously stated, the Hulk has undergone many transformations over the years, and these are just a few. There are far more to be had and many of them just as good, no matter the genre, the colour or the creative team. Some might think the Hulk is one-dimensional or simply a book about a man who turns into a monster, but he is so much more. If you need a little something to read, any of these books are well worth the time and money to satisfy your curiosity.







The SuperHero Satellite
Classic Pick – Transformers (Marvel 1-4)
Dollar Bin Classic – Strikeforce Morituri
Collectors Key – Thundercats #1 (STAR)
Personal Fave New Title – Youngblood

Dave’s Comic Heroes
Classic Pick – Justice League Of America #144
Dollar Bin Classic – Super Team Family #8
Collectors Key – DC Comics Presents #26
Personal Fave New Title – DC Finest

Between The Pages – Amazing Spider-Man Comics On Marvel Unlimited
Classic Pick – Spectacular Spider-Man (1968) #1
Dollar Bin Classic – Marvel Team-Up (1972 – 1985)
Collectors Key – The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #121
Personal Fave New Title – Infinity Comics

Asterisk*51
Classic Pick – Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
Dollar Bin Classic – Ravage 2099 #1
Collectors Key – Brave and the Bold #85
Personal Fave New Title – Batman-Superman: World’s Finest

Comics Comics Comics
Classic Pick – Pre-Crisis Superman
Dollar Bin Classic – The Defenders
Collectors Key – New Teen Titans, Vol 1 #1
Personal Fave New Title – Conan the Barbarian (Titan)

Miscatonical Musings
Classic – Elfquest 1 (WaRP Graphics April 1979)
Dollar Bin Classic – Painkiller Jane 1 (Event June 1997)
Key – X-Men 94 (Marvel August 1975)
Personal Fave New – Wandering Island (Kodansha July 2016)

Magazines and Monsters
Classic Pick – The Brave and the Bold # 109