What is the first appearance of the Hulk?
Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Oct 10, 2026 · 1 min read
Short answerThe Hulk first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1, cover-dated May 1962, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In this first issue the Hulk is grey, not green — the colour was changed from issue #2 because the grey printed inconsistently. The issue also introduces Bruce Banner, Rick Jones, General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Betty Ross. The original series was cancelled after six issues.
The issue
Banner is caught in the gamma bomb test while saving teenager Rick Jones, and at nightfall becomes the grey Hulk. Kirby's cover shows the Hulk looming over Banner with the caption "Is he man or monster or… is he both?". The grey colouring was the plan; the printer could not keep it consistent, so Lee switched to green with issue #2 (July 1962).
Cancellation and return
The Incredible Hulk ended with #6 (March 1963). The character guested in Fantastic Four #12 (March 1963, the first Hulk–Thing fight) and Avengers #1–3, then got a regular feature in Tales to Astonish from #60 (October 1964), which took over the Hulk's numbering as The Incredible Hulk #102 in April 1968. That is why the 1962 issues are #1–6 and the run then jumps to #102.
Collecting Incredible Hulk #1
A top-tier Silver Age key: scarce in high grade, expensive in any grade, and frequently restored. Incredible Hulk #2 (first green Hulk) and #6 (last issue) are the next most collected of the original run.
Other Hulk keys in the store
- Incredible Hulk #181 (November 1974) — first full appearance of Wolverine, the Bronze Age's most valuable book. See Why is Incredible Hulk #181 so valuable?.
- Savage She-Hulk #1 (February 1980) — first She-Hulk. See First appearance of She-Hulk.
The Hulk character page lists current stock.
Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.
