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The Incredible Hulk (1962-1963)
The Incredible Hulk (1962-1963) #2
The Toad Men are about to invade and America's only hope is the monstrous Hulk.
- GenresComicsMarvelComic Book
25 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1962
5 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,563 books2,348 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.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 14, 2021
So, the story was about alien toads....okay....
Anyway, the story seemed more like the Hulk was just another antagonist until it was daylight and Bruce Banner could save the day, or the world. Betty was there too, getting kidnapped. Real classic "the woman needs rescuing" type stuff. Oh, and the Hulk was actually green in almost every panel!
Overall, not a great story line but it was interesting to see how different the Hulk and Bruce Banner were back then.
Anyway, the story seemed more like the Hulk was just another antagonist until it was daylight and Bruce Banner could save the day, or the world. Betty was there too, getting kidnapped. Real classic "the woman needs rescuing" type stuff. Oh, and the Hulk was actually green in almost every panel!
Overall, not a great story line but it was interesting to see how different the Hulk and Bruce Banner were back then.
March 25, 2024
Issue two continues with General Ross hunting down the Hulk, not knowing Bruce Banner is the green creature. Dr. Bruce Banner continues the "only Hulking out during night" and Rick from issue one is seemingly the Hulk's sidekick of sorts, though the Hulk hates everyone and everything, so refuses to acknowledge him in a kind way.
Also, there are indeed alien toad men that invade earth during all of this, in Kirby fashion, though these guys seem more of an afterthought. This series is not starting out as one of Lee and Kirby's best, but Kirby's art has somewhat improved from the last issue somehow.
Recommended for completionists only. Otherwise, skip. It's not very memorable. I'm a big Hulk fan, so that's why I'm reading the original 6 issues for the first time. Onto book 3!
Also, there are indeed alien toad men that invade earth during all of this, in Kirby fashion, though these guys seem more of an afterthought. This series is not starting out as one of Lee and Kirby's best, but Kirby's art has somewhat improved from the last issue somehow.
Recommended for completionists only. Otherwise, skip. It's not very memorable. I'm a big Hulk fan, so that's why I'm reading the original 6 issues for the first time. Onto book 3!
March 4, 2021
The hulk faces the menace of the toad men, hide your women and kids the hulk is coming.
Its funny how such silly stories made the empire of marvel, what's funnier is that i actually enjoyed it.
Its funny how such silly stories made the empire of marvel, what's funnier is that i actually enjoyed it.
February 12, 2020
Finally, the Hulk all green in all panels! I just don’t love the idea of toad men as ‘villains’ but I also quite enjoyed this issue.
You know, I get that they had to put pages of texts to get CCA approval but wow that was a lot of publicity.
You know, I get that they had to put pages of texts to get CCA approval but wow that was a lot of publicity.
November 23, 2025
In this second issue we meet what could be considered Hulk’s first true adversaries: the Toad Men, an alien species resembling giant frogs whose goal is to conquer Earth. I appreciated how the two narrative threads—Hulk versus General Ross on one side, and Bruce Banner alongside Earth facing an alien invasion on the other—are carried forward in parallel and made to collide at specific, well-timed moments. There’s clear attention to structure.
That said, several elements deserved deeper exploration or at least a more believable execution. Earth’s defense against the invasion feels far too superficial, and it makes little sense for General Ross to focus all military firepower on Hulk while the planet is on the brink of destruction. We also see a Hulk who seems oddly aware of his situation and intentions, not fully blinded by rage. But the whole “transformation only at night” rule still feels inconsistent, especially since he changes on the alien ship just by looking at Earth’s nighttime hemisphere. The trigger for his transformation isn’t entirely convincing yet and clearly needs a more coherent narrative logic.
The ending gives proper credit to Dr. Banner, temporarily sidelining the giant green creature and allowing Banner to play a meaningful role in resolving the conflict without defining Hulk’s behavior too strictly this early. The action sequences are sometimes a bit basic, and I still hope to eventually see Hulk perform some truly overwhelming feat of brute strength, something beyond smashing a few walls or tanks.
That said, several elements deserved deeper exploration or at least a more believable execution. Earth’s defense against the invasion feels far too superficial, and it makes little sense for General Ross to focus all military firepower on Hulk while the planet is on the brink of destruction. We also see a Hulk who seems oddly aware of his situation and intentions, not fully blinded by rage. But the whole “transformation only at night” rule still feels inconsistent, especially since he changes on the alien ship just by looking at Earth’s nighttime hemisphere. The trigger for his transformation isn’t entirely convincing yet and clearly needs a more coherent narrative logic.
The ending gives proper credit to Dr. Banner, temporarily sidelining the giant green creature and allowing Banner to play a meaningful role in resolving the conflict without defining Hulk’s behavior too strictly this early. The action sequences are sometimes a bit basic, and I still hope to eventually see Hulk perform some truly overwhelming feat of brute strength, something beyond smashing a few walls or tanks.
January 5, 2026
This issue gives a very good premise, introducing space travelling and alien spicies really soon, considering that this is only the 2nd issue of The Incredible Hulk. It devolps really well in the first four acts with the eminent invasion of the Toad Men, who have developed a weapon capable of shifting the gravitational forces of any object, including Earth's moon. Stuck between his two personalities, Bruce Banner and the Hulk escape several times, first from the Toad Men and later from the US Army and General Ross. Personally, I felt that the end of this issue was really rushed, with the appearence of a gigantic gamma ray gun, from which we didn't get any backgroung from its origin, capable of annihilate the entire Toad Men's fleet. Nevertheless, shows development in the relationship between Bruce and Betty Ross, as well the friendship between Bruce and Rick Jones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2022
Not terrible, but not great. Neat little slice of Silver Age goodness. The Hulk is still developing as a character, and Bruce seems to be the hero of the strip so far. Hulk infamously changes to Green, a color that would ultimately stick with him for the history of the character. Thunderbolt Ross continues to hate both Bruce and the Hulk (the secret is not out yet). Recommended for Hulk completist and Silver Age fans. Not essential reading by any means.
May 28, 2024
Way below average.
I had high expectations after reading the first issue but this one just fails to deliver and seems to lack direction. Hulk is nowhere near the center of this issue and the story just flails in all directions with no solid footing to grasp onto.
The alien invasions are too easy a cop out for every other issue and even then, the aliens themselves are boring as hell.
Read only if you want continuity, otherwise a hard pass.
I had high expectations after reading the first issue but this one just fails to deliver and seems to lack direction. Hulk is nowhere near the center of this issue and the story just flails in all directions with no solid footing to grasp onto.
The alien invasions are too easy a cop out for every other issue and even then, the aliens themselves are boring as hell.
Read only if you want continuity, otherwise a hard pass.
August 21, 2020
One of the more annoying things that take place for a bit in the beginning of the universe that still has a lot of involvement in Marvel today, endless invations from outer space. And what great invaders do we have this time? Space Toads....yeah.
March 21, 2024
Toadmen?...really?
I mean I understand this is the hills early days but glad men from out of space?? The storylines ridiculous but parts of the hulk we I ow and love are scattered throughout the comic and he's more green than grey.
I need a modern hulk read so I'm not put off.
I mean I understand this is the hills early days but glad men from out of space?? The storylines ridiculous but parts of the hulk we I ow and love are scattered throughout the comic and he's more green than grey.
I need a modern hulk read so I'm not put off.
January 28, 2021
Toad men...really?? *facepalm*
August 23, 2021
Old comics are so weird
January 10, 2022
Writer - Stan Lee : 6/10
- Hulk est vert maintenant
- Villains : The toad men
- Hulk est vert maintenant
- Villains : The toad men
August 18, 2022
Toad Men from space? Wow, this got less grounded really quickly.
December 22, 2023
Steve Ditko's inks look great on Jack Kirby's pencils!
August 3, 2024
This is the "fucking magnets, how do they work?" of comic books.
September 27, 2024
7/10. They were more concerned about Hulk than the Toads people lol.
January 10, 2026
The toads were really boring antagonists who were just an excuse to show off the U.S. military being cool again. In addition, I really didn't like how the Hulk took betty "hostage."
January 13, 2026
Hulk really reminded me of the Creature from Frankenstein (which I loved), but the rest was mediocre.
August 26, 2020
The military need The Hulks help with.. THE TOAD MEN!
Yeah not much to say about this one random toad aliens invade, Hulk is somehow blamed they leave when they see how strong he is...the end.
Yeah not much to say about this one random toad aliens invade, Hulk is somehow blamed they leave when they see how strong he is...the end.
May 21, 2019
THE INCREDIBLE HULK 1-6 (First Arc)
Wow...
This comic really has gone down in legend, and no interpretation that has come since can do the character as much justice as the original comic that started it all did.
I especially love how Jack Kirby visually interpreted the transformations of the Hulk, by drawing the same panel 3 times but with a visually different Bruce Banner/Hulk as he became more an more Hulk-like in appearance. The transformation sequences serve as a nice transition of the protagonist from being Bruce to being the Hulk, and vice versa when the story calls for it.
In fact, treating these two as separate characters sharing the same body was really what made this comic book so special. It was a really potent conflict, as they have a very parasitic relationship with each other that is TOXIC despite never meeting each other; that's not easy to do. Stan Lee heightens this with giving each character contrasting dialogue; Bruce Banner is highly articulate and calm in his demeanor, as opposed to Hulk's stilted third-person retorts that lack pronouns and possessive cold frankness that makes him quite confrontational and aggressive.
That's really the theme of this comic book that makes it so potent; the Hulk serves as the embodiment of the darker aspects of Bruce Banner as a character. It works to say everything that appears good on the surface has greater darkness hidden within. Considering it was the height of the cold war, this could easily be a metaphorical commentary on America; pretending to be the clear capitalist good guy to the Soviet bad guy, despite being more or less the same in its international methods.
The only real issue with these stories is that the narrative dynamic was changed SO OFTEN. Stan Lee did a massive change-up of how the powers work and the narrative logic of the world that readers sometimes became slightly confused. Sometimes THIS was how he becomes Hulk, suddenly it changed to being THAT was how he becomes Hulk. Changing this narrative context so often was likely what doomed this comic book to cancellation WAY before its time, which is really a shame given the good aspects far outweighed this issue.
Wow...
This comic really has gone down in legend, and no interpretation that has come since can do the character as much justice as the original comic that started it all did.
I especially love how Jack Kirby visually interpreted the transformations of the Hulk, by drawing the same panel 3 times but with a visually different Bruce Banner/Hulk as he became more an more Hulk-like in appearance. The transformation sequences serve as a nice transition of the protagonist from being Bruce to being the Hulk, and vice versa when the story calls for it.
In fact, treating these two as separate characters sharing the same body was really what made this comic book so special. It was a really potent conflict, as they have a very parasitic relationship with each other that is TOXIC despite never meeting each other; that's not easy to do. Stan Lee heightens this with giving each character contrasting dialogue; Bruce Banner is highly articulate and calm in his demeanor, as opposed to Hulk's stilted third-person retorts that lack pronouns and possessive cold frankness that makes him quite confrontational and aggressive.
That's really the theme of this comic book that makes it so potent; the Hulk serves as the embodiment of the darker aspects of Bruce Banner as a character. It works to say everything that appears good on the surface has greater darkness hidden within. Considering it was the height of the cold war, this could easily be a metaphorical commentary on America; pretending to be the clear capitalist good guy to the Soviet bad guy, despite being more or less the same in its international methods.
The only real issue with these stories is that the narrative dynamic was changed SO OFTEN. Stan Lee did a massive change-up of how the powers work and the narrative logic of the world that readers sometimes became slightly confused. Sometimes THIS was how he becomes Hulk, suddenly it changed to being THAT was how he becomes Hulk. Changing this narrative context so often was likely what doomed this comic book to cancellation WAY before its time, which is really a shame given the good aspects far outweighed this issue.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews