The Hulk is another example of culture addressing the nuclear age. The Incredible Hulk is very different in the first few issues from the behemoth readers and audiences grew used to. This is a simple recap of the first six issues of the Incredible Hulk with some commentary on how it relates to the period and changes across the six magazines.
Issue #1: Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk when an accidental overdose of Gamma Radiation alters his genes. Banner is exposed when a Gamma bomb explodes. He had run onto the test range to rescue Rick Jones, a teenager that wandered onto the range on a dare. Why they could not stop the test was not explained, but one would think that there would be safeguards against something like this. Anyway, the issue also introduces Thunderbolt Ross, an army general that chases the Hulk, and plays the J. Jonah Jameson role. Ross’ daughter, Betty plays a potential love interest in her Jackie Kennedy attire. In the beginning, she is a non-entity.
At first, the Hulk is gray to reflect a mood. However, gray did not translate well to the page and Stan Lee changed the color to green. In addition, the Hulk only changes at night. He is a bit like a werewolf as Banner returns at daybreak. This version of the Hulk is not a mindless brute. He is more like an angry Ben Grimm. He is sophisticated, thinks through problems, and can operate machinery.
At the end of #1, the Hulk matches wits with the Gargoyle. The villain is a deformed Soviet agent that eventually befriends the Hulk after kidnapping him. Banner finds a cure for Gargoyle’s deformity and returns to New Mexico. By this point, Ross is determined to capture the Hulk.
Issue #2: The Hulk takes on the Toad Men. This time, he is green. The Toad Men come from outer space and kidnap Betty to force the Hulk to comply with their demands. Eventually, he rescues Betty and Banner uses the Toad Men’s weapons against their invasion force.
Issue #3: The Hulk is lured into a space rocket by Ross and shot into space. Rick Jones sneaks into the launch facility and manages to crash the rocket on Earth. During the flight, Banner is exposed to more radiation making the Hulk susceptible to Jones’ commands. Later, the pair defeat the Ringmaster.
Issue #4: Banner and Jones create a machine that allows the pair to control when the Hulk appears. The machine changes Banner to the Hulk and back. However, the radiation severely weakens Banner and as time passes, the transformations take longer to happen. This is a nod to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde who transformed via a potion. Afterward, the Soviets pretend to be Martians and are defeated by the Hulk.
Issue #5: 1000 years or more ago, Merlin banished Tyrannus to the underworld. Little did he know, Tyrannus would find allies that built him an empire and the Fountain of Youth. In 1962, he threatens the Earth leading the Hulk into action. Hulk defeats Tyrannus, and in a second adventure, beats the Chinese Communist armies of General Fang.
Issue #6: The Metal Master travels to Earth and easily defeats the Hulk and the world’s armed forces. Where the Fantastic Four were during the crisis is anyone’s guess. This seems to be more up their alley. Anyway, the Hulk defeats the Metal Master with a cardboard gun. The issue also debuts Rick Jones’ teen brigade. Meanwhile, the damage to Banner’s use of the changing machine appears to be accumulating.
The first six issues of the Incredible Hulk deal with all the themes of the early 1960s. There is the communist threat, nuclear fears, and Kennedy fashion. Meanwhile, the Hulk himself is not yet the brainless monster we all know and love. Instead, he is more of an angry Ben Grimm that despises the “puny humans” that hunt him.
