The Incredible Hulk #1

The Incredible Hulk #1, released in May 1962, was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as Marvel Comics sought to expand its roster of superheroes during the burgeoning Silver Age of comics. Inspired by a blend of classic literary archetypes like Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the narrative introduced physicist Bruce Banner, who is transformed into a rampaging grey-skinned monster following exposure to a gamma bomb explosion. The character was intended to subvert the traditional heroic archetype by focusing on the tragic, uncontrollable nature of his alter ego.

Jack Kirby’s initial design for the Hulk featured a grey skin tone, which proved technically difficult for the printers to maintain consistently across the pages, leading Marvel to switch the character to his iconic green complexion in later issues. The title was originally intended to be a bimonthly series but faced early struggles with character direction and audience resonance, leading to its initial cancellation after only six issues. Despite this rocky start, the foundation laid by Lee and Kirby established the Hulk as a cornerstone of the Marvel Universe and one of the most recognizable figures in comic book history.