Another in the series of re-issues of Marvel Masterworks （now called Mighty Marvel Masterworks and geared to a younger audience）， this first volume featuring the Incredible Hulk reprints the first six issues of the character’s series， introduced in 1962。 The Hulk didn’t quite gel in those early years， and these stories show why: Lee and Kirby just couldn’t get a handle on the character， which was born when scientist Bruce Banner was exposed to the rays of the Gamma Bomb while trying to save obno Another in the series of re-issues of Marvel Masterworks （now called Mighty Marvel Masterworks and geared to a younger audience）， this first volume featuring the Incredible Hulk reprints the first six issues of the character’s series， introduced in 1962。 The Hulk didn’t quite gel in those early years， and these stories show why: Lee and Kirby just couldn’t get a handle on the character， which was born when scientist Bruce Banner was exposed to the rays of the Gamma Bomb while trying to save obnoxious teenager Rick Jones from being killed during a test of the bomb。 （Stan， stop trying to make Rick Jones happen， he’s not going to happen！） First Banner transforms to Hulk each night， then a mysterious machine is built that controls when he changes … eventually， it becomes a rage thing。 Sometimes he’s just a dumb brute， other times he has Banner’s intelligence。 But beyond all that， the Hulk is an incredibly cocky and unlikable character; Stan and Jack made it very difficult to relate to and like Hulk （"Nobody like Hulk。 Hulk sad。"）， unlike the Fantastic Four。 Call it a sophomore slump （the Hulk was the second Marvel character to appear after the ground-breaking FF）， but just like the movies， this Hulk didn’t originally fly （or leap） … he just kind of floundered。 （If you’re buying this new version of Marvel Masterworks， opt for the gorgeous Michael Cho covers … the original covers are included within！） 。。。more