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The Incredible Hulk (1962-1963)
The Incredible Hulk (1962-1963) #5
More Powerful! More Dangerous! More Unstoppable! It's the Hulk - and Tyrannus the Mighty is looking to end his rampage.
- GenresComicsMarvelComic Book
25 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1963
About the author
Stan Lee
7,610 books2,393 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 18, 2021
I like the tyranous story so much, the villain himself has potential to fight a myriad of marvel heroes since he has magical powers as well.
Too bad for hulk betty forgot everything after the story.
They are still keeping that rick jones guy around god knows why.
General fang story wasn't so bad either.
Overall the best hulk issue in the five i read so far.
Too bad for hulk betty forgot everything after the story.
They are still keeping that rick jones guy around god knows why.
General fang story wasn't so bad either.
Overall the best hulk issue in the five i read so far.
August 10, 2017
Again, there were two stories in this comic and the first one was not too bad (except the part where Betty expresses her love for a man that she seems to not actually talk to). The second story was a bit bland to be honest, not much happened apart from the fact that the Hulk seems to be getting more brutal with each comic.
December 18, 2025
The issue contains two stories, and the first is by far the stronger of the two.
In the opening story, Hulk faces an underground-dwelling enemy, Mr. Tyrannus, who, together with his followers, aims to conquer the Earth. He kidnaps Betty Ross to blackmail her father into preventing the activation of American defense systems once his attack begins, but he also has to deal with Hulk. The plot is well constructed and, at last, introduces a villain who feels more appropriate for Hulk. Tyrannus is not physically stronger than him, but he is at least capable of posing a credible threat. Even without brute force on his side, he can manipulate Hulk through Betty Ross, forcing the green giant to restrain himself for the first time. The gladiator-style battle between Hulk and the machine works well, adding much-needed action that would otherwise be missing. The narrative shortcut of having Betty knocked unconscious so she cannot remember that Hulk saved her feels lazy, as it freezes the overall progression of the Hulk/Dr. Banner/Betty dynamic. She is a character who could very plausibly uncover Banner’s identity, yet she is once again reduced to a damsel in distress.
The second story sees Hulk confronting General Fang, a character clearly inspired by Genghis Khan, who wants to conquer a country in Asia. It feels more like a side adventure than a meaningful chapter in Hulk’s ongoing narrative. Not only does it fail to advance the main plot, it is also fairly dull, with a villain who never truly threatens Hulk. At one point, Hulk even tries to scare the enemy army by disguising himself as a Yeti. Rick Jones plays a very marginal role here, feeling more like a mandatory inclusion than an active participant.
What remains interesting is the recurring idea that every time Dr. Banner transforms, he becomes increasingly aware that the monster’s rage is starting to dominate, a development that could pose serious risks in future stories. Kirby’s artwork, as always, is spectacular, particularly in the way it portrays Hulk’s physicality, movement, acrobatics, and the inventive use of his strength in each new confrontation.
In the opening story, Hulk faces an underground-dwelling enemy, Mr. Tyrannus, who, together with his followers, aims to conquer the Earth. He kidnaps Betty Ross to blackmail her father into preventing the activation of American defense systems once his attack begins, but he also has to deal with Hulk. The plot is well constructed and, at last, introduces a villain who feels more appropriate for Hulk. Tyrannus is not physically stronger than him, but he is at least capable of posing a credible threat. Even without brute force on his side, he can manipulate Hulk through Betty Ross, forcing the green giant to restrain himself for the first time. The gladiator-style battle between Hulk and the machine works well, adding much-needed action that would otherwise be missing. The narrative shortcut of having Betty knocked unconscious so she cannot remember that Hulk saved her feels lazy, as it freezes the overall progression of the Hulk/Dr. Banner/Betty dynamic. She is a character who could very plausibly uncover Banner’s identity, yet she is once again reduced to a damsel in distress.
The second story sees Hulk confronting General Fang, a character clearly inspired by Genghis Khan, who wants to conquer a country in Asia. It feels more like a side adventure than a meaningful chapter in Hulk’s ongoing narrative. Not only does it fail to advance the main plot, it is also fairly dull, with a villain who never truly threatens Hulk. At one point, Hulk even tries to scare the enemy army by disguising himself as a Yeti. Rick Jones plays a very marginal role here, feeling more like a mandatory inclusion than an active participant.
What remains interesting is the recurring idea that every time Dr. Banner transforms, he becomes increasingly aware that the monster’s rage is starting to dominate, a development that could pose serious risks in future stories. Kirby’s artwork, as always, is spectacular, particularly in the way it portrays Hulk’s physicality, movement, acrobatics, and the inventive use of his strength in each new confrontation.
June 18, 2020
Two stories of the Hulk this issue - Tyrannus, age-less mystic from the past, kidnaps Betty Ross and only the Hulk can descend into the Earth to rescue her; and the “Red Chinese” menace, General Fang meets the Hulk during a bid to conquer a peaceful province!
This issue is really kind of a mixed bag of amusing moments and some real groaners. The first story features the classic moment of Hulk’s first gladiatorial combat and outfit! There are some homages to this in the movie Thor: Ragnarok as well as the fact that this will happen several more times throughout the Hulk’s history. The second story finally sees “Thunderbolt” Ross use his Iceberg Missile (seen a few issues ago) against the Hulk. Sure it doesn’t work out, but it was fun to see that come to fruition. We also get a couple of really silly moments such as the Hulk dressed up in a fuzzy white costume posing as the Abominable Snowman and flying on a commercial jet to Asia! Yeah, the flight attendant didn’t handle that too well! At least he didn’t have to deal with TSA in 1963!
On a more serious note, this issue sees Rick Jones come into his own a lot more. In both stories he takes on a much more action-oriented role in the stories instead of being someone the Hulk needs to rescue. He actually rescues Betty Ross from Tyrannus, and frees the Hulk from an “electronic cage” in the second story. Happy to see his development as a heroic character here.
From an art standpoint, the first story is far superior to the second. In many ways, it looked like Kirby rushed the second one as it lacks a lot of detail and the figures (particularly Hulk) aren’t nearly as defined as they are otherwise. The cover is also a sub-standard piece of Kirby work - his Hulk just looks undefined and posed poorly.
There are some good aspects to the issue, but it still contains many tropes of the cold war and feels a bit lack-luster.
This issue is really kind of a mixed bag of amusing moments and some real groaners. The first story features the classic moment of Hulk’s first gladiatorial combat and outfit! There are some homages to this in the movie Thor: Ragnarok as well as the fact that this will happen several more times throughout the Hulk’s history. The second story finally sees “Thunderbolt” Ross use his Iceberg Missile (seen a few issues ago) against the Hulk. Sure it doesn’t work out, but it was fun to see that come to fruition. We also get a couple of really silly moments such as the Hulk dressed up in a fuzzy white costume posing as the Abominable Snowman and flying on a commercial jet to Asia! Yeah, the flight attendant didn’t handle that too well! At least he didn’t have to deal with TSA in 1963!
On a more serious note, this issue sees Rick Jones come into his own a lot more. In both stories he takes on a much more action-oriented role in the stories instead of being someone the Hulk needs to rescue. He actually rescues Betty Ross from Tyrannus, and frees the Hulk from an “electronic cage” in the second story. Happy to see his development as a heroic character here.
From an art standpoint, the first story is far superior to the second. In many ways, it looked like Kirby rushed the second one as it lacks a lot of detail and the figures (particularly Hulk) aren’t nearly as defined as they are otherwise. The cover is also a sub-standard piece of Kirby work - his Hulk just looks undefined and posed poorly.
There are some good aspects to the issue, but it still contains many tropes of the cold war and feels a bit lack-luster.
January 10, 2026
The Hulk is still way too coherent and he acts beyond rude to Rick. I get he's supposed to be a brute but at a certain point he sounds like an ass. Also the abominable snowman bit was stupid. Just have him smash the army!
January 10, 2022
Writer - Stan Lee : 5/10
- Banner est conscient que Hulk est de plus en plus réticent à vouloir redevenir Banner
- Hulk est de plus en plus irascible
- Villains : Tyrannus, general Fang
- Banner est conscient que Hulk est de plus en plus réticent à vouloir redevenir Banner
- Hulk est de plus en plus irascible
- Villains : Tyrannus, general Fang
August 5, 2024
The second story feels like it could be a plot from Mulan. The first story is basically about a handsome moleman.
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 - 8 of 8 reviews