Twenty-seven years ago, Marvel Comics ended the publication of The Incredible Hulk after a remarkable 31-year run and 474 issues. The final issue, released on January 20, 1999, included a dedication by writer Joe Casey to the creators who shaped the Hulk – Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Bobbie Chase, and Peter David – calling them “Architects Never Forgotten.” This dedication highlighted a key issue with the comic at the time: Peter David, who had penned one of the most successful runs in the Hulk’s history, had recently left the series, and subsequent issues failed to live up to his work.
After 31 years, readership of The Incredible Hulk was declining and the stories felt stale. Despite the efforts of talented writer Joe Casey, the comic needed a fresh start. The final issue, released in 1993, cleverly mirrored the cover of the very first issue from 1962. Casey was given the opportunity to wrap up Hulk’s story, but in a surprising move, he actually wrote himself into the comic and confessed he didn’t know how to end the tale of Marvel’s iconic monster.
The Incredible Hulk Ended After 31 Years In 1999
It was funny when writer Joe Casey admitted he didn’t know how to finish the long-running Hulk series – and actually wrote that into the story! The first page showed Joe getting a call from his editor, demanding he finish the final issue. Joe jokingly criticized his editor’s work on other comics, like Deadpool and Captain America, and complained that he didn’t want to be the one to end a series that began before he was born. But then, he revealed he actually did have an idea for how to do it.
The result was one of the strangest Hulk stories ever told. It took him to the home world of the Watcher, where he tried to reach the Ultimate Machine – a vast repository of knowledge collected by all Watchers throughout history, linked to the Cyclopedia Universum. This adventure felt far grander than typical Hulk tales, more like something suited for the Fantastic Four or Doctor Strange, as the Hulk searched for the “House of Truth” to finally understand his purpose.
Stepping through the door, Bruce Banner was transported back to his childhood, seeking to understand his identity, the origins of the Hulk, and the meaning of it all. He realized he’d been blaming everyone but himself for his problems. Returning to Earth, he finally did something he’d needed to do throughout the entire 31-year run of The Incredible Hulk: Hulk transformed back into Bruce Banner and confronted General Ross. Banner confessed he blamed himself for Betty Ross’s death, believing he shouldn’t have allowed himself to love her. General Ross surprisingly let him go, granting Banner a sense of peace. Writer Joe Casey admitted he wasn’t sure how to conclude such a long-running story, but he ultimately brought Hulk’s journey to a satisfying close.
Marvel ended The Incredible Hulk comic after 474 issues, but quickly relaunched it a month later with a fresh start – a new #1 issue – and a new creative team consisting of John Byrne and Ron Garney.
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2026-01-20 19:12