First Hulk: The Incredible Hulk #1 and What Drives Its Grade
Published Oct 10, 2026 · Updated Oct 11, 2026 · 3 min read
Short answerThe first Hulk is The Incredible Hulk #1, cover-dated May 1962, published by Marvel Comics and created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In that issue the Hulk is grey, not green, and the book's value depends heavily on its graded condition.
What the first Hulk issue is
The Hulk's first appearance is The Incredible Hulk #1, cover-dated May 1962, from Marvel Comics. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the character. For the full background on the debut, see What is the first appearance of the Hulk?.
The issue has several features that set it apart from later Hulk books:
- The Hulk is grey. The colour was changed to green from issue #2 because the grey printed inconsistently.
- It introduces the supporting cast. Bruce Banner, Rick Jones, General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross and Betty Ross all debut here.
- The series was short-lived. The original run was cancelled after six issues.
That last point matters for collectors. The grey Hulk is the version most people picture when they think of the first issue, and it is the reason the book is recognisable at a glance on a shelf or in a slab.
Why grade matters so much on this book
Incredible Hulk #1 is a Silver Age book, now well over sixty years old. Most copies have been handled, stored badly or read repeatedly, so condition varies widely. That spread is what makes the grade the central question for any buyer.
Both CGC and CBCS grade on a 0.5 to 10.0 scale and seal the book in a tamper-evident holder. The holder and the number on the label are what a buyer is really paying for: an independent opinion on condition that can be compared with other copies of the same issue.
Price does not move in a straight line with the number. A few points of grade can separate copies that sell for very different amounts, and the gap tends to widen towards the top of the scale. No figure is given here because prices change; the reliable method is to look up recent sold prices for the same issue at the same grade from auction houses and marketplaces.
What graders look at on a 1962 book
A grader examines the whole book, not just the cover. On a Silver Age issue like this one, the points that tend to decide the grade are:
- Spine condition. Stress lines, creases and spine splits are common on older books and are weighed heavily.
- Corners and edges. Blunting, chipping and wear to the cover edges.
- Cover gloss and colour. Fading, scuffs and loss of ink, which are especially visible on a cover with large areas of flat colour.
- Page quality. Paper that has stayed off-white to cream is valued over paper that has browned or become brittle.
- Restoration. Colour touch-ups, tape repairs or added pieces change how a book is labelled and generally how it sells.
For how the numbers on the scale map to condition, and what the different label colours mean, the site's grading guides cover it in full. The short version for this book: a high number with good page quality and a clean spine is the profile collectors pay the most for.
Reading the label and the listing
When comparing copies, look at three things together: the numerical grade, the page-quality line on the label, and whether the book has a standard or restored label. Two copies with the same number can differ in page quality, and that difference is part of why their prices differ.
A listing page is the place to check the label details before buying.
Other Hulk-related books collectors watch
The first issue is not the only Hulk book with a following:
- The Incredible Hulk #181 (November 1974) is the first full appearance of Wolverine and the most valuable comic of the Bronze Age. See Why is Incredible Hulk #181 so valuable? and What is the first appearance of Wolverine?.
- The Savage She-Hulk #1 (February 1980) is the debut of Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner's cousin. See What is the first appearance of She-Hulk?.
For a wider view of the character's key issues and copies currently available, the Hulk character page collects them in one place.
What to do before buying or selling
Decide the grade you are comparing against, then check recent sold prices for that exact grade and label type. Confirm page quality and whether the label is standard or restored. If a book is raw and you are unsure of its condition, a professional opinion before submission is usually cheaper than guessing.
Nothing here is a prediction of future value; it is a way to compare copies of a book whose condition varies a great deal from one copy to the next.
Frequently asked
- When was the Hulk created?
- The Hulk was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1, cover-dated May 1962, published by Marvel Comics.
- Why is the Hulk grey in the first issue?
- The colour was changed to green from issue #2 because the grey printed inconsistently.
- Does a CGC grade change what Incredible Hulk #1 is worth?
- Yes. Grade is one of the main drivers of price on this book, alongside page quality and label type. Check recent sold prices for the exact grade rather than relying on a general figure.
- Who else debuts in Incredible Hulk #1?
- Bruce Banner, Rick Jones, General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross and Betty Ross all first appear in the issue.
Drafted with AI assistance from the facts and keywords the Rare Comics Collectors team maintains, then put through an automated fact check and our editorial rules. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.
