Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: To Hunt The Hulk

Revered author Bill Mantlo beings his five-year-long seminal run on the Incredible Hulk!

The Incredible Hulk rampages into the Bill Mantlo era! Mantlo’s five-year run redefined comics greenest meanest goliath. It kicks off when the Hulk from unleashes his rage on Gamma Base. By the time the dust settles, Hulk is exiled to Jarella’s world where he crosses paths with the cosmic Gardener. Then, it’s back to Earth for a double-sized 250th issue team-up/tussle with the Silver Surfer. The indelible art of Sal Buscema is on task for every event, especially when the Hulk begins a world tour. From Egypt to mother Russia and then to Japan, every country gets its rightful dose of “Hulk smash!” Glenn Talbot also faces a dramatic reckoning, after which Hulk gets his passport stamped on Easter Island by Absorbing Man.

COLLLECTING: INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #245-262 and MARVEL TREASURY EDITION (1974) #25

Bill Mantlo began his Marvel career on Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, in which he introduced White Tiger, one of the industry’s earliest Hispanic super heroes. Eventually writing stories for almost every Marvel title, he did some of his most fondly remembered work on Incredible Hulk and Spectacular Spider-Man. He also created Rocket Raccoon, launched Cloak & Dagger in a pair of miniseries and guided Alpha Flight through some of its most harrowing ordeals. Mantlo excelled at integrating licensed properties into the Marvel Universe, as demonstrated by Micronauts and Rom, both of which he wrote from start to finish. At DC, he wrote the Invasion miniseries for one of the company’s biggest crossover events.

After a start as inker to his older brother John, Sal Buscema penciled Captain America, Defenders, Incredible Hulk and more. Famed for his ability to meet tight deadlines, he spread his talents across multiple genres. His 1970s work ranged from Ms. Marvel and Nova to Sub-Mariner and Spider-Woman’s first appearance in Marvel Spotlight. He was the uninterrupted artist on Spectacular Spider-Man for more than a hundred issues and penciled the web-slinger’s adventures in Marvel Team-Up, in which he and writer Bill Mantlo introduced Captain Jean DeWolff. After handling more team-ups in the Thing’s Marvel Two-in-One, he reunited with brother John on Steve Englehart’s Fantastic Four. He later provided inks for Tom DeFalco’s Spider-Girl titles and Thunderstrike miniseries.