10 Best Incredible Hulk Covers That Changed Comic History

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Since 1962, the Hulk has been a powerful force in Marvel Comics. After being exposed to gamma radiation, Dr. Bruce Banner gained a difficult curse: he transforms into the incredibly strong, often destructive, Hulk whenever he feels anger. This classic “two sides to one personality” story has made the Hulk one of the most famous and powerful superheroes ever created. The Hulk’s comic book covers, drawn by some of the greatest artists in the industry, have played a big role in his success. These covers brilliantly show both the Hulk’s inner struggles and his amazing physical power, making him a compelling hero and a sympathetic monster.

These Hulk comic covers are truly remarkable, showcasing incredible artistry and skill. They’re not just memorable for Hulk fans, but are considered iconic in the history of comic books.

10) The Immortal Hulk #1

The Immortal Hulk comic series stands out as Marvel’s most successful and innovative “Immortal” title, reimagining the Hulk with a strong focus on cosmic horror. The cover of The Immortal Hulk #1, created by Alex Ross, perfectly captures this new, terrifying tone. It echoes the iconic pose from The Incredible Hulk #105, but with a much darker, more unsettling feel. The cover depicts the Hulk rising from his own grave, like a zombie, with a tombstone behind him reading “here lies Bruce Banner.” This striking image beautifully highlights the series’ central themes of death, rebirth, and what it means to be the Hulk, which were key to its popularity.

9) Hulk: Future Imperfect #2

One of the most famous Hulk stories features a striking cover for Hulk: Future Imperfect #2 by Peter David and George Perez. It introduces the Maestro, a powerful and evil future version of the Hulk, who is essentially the Hulk’s greatest foe – himself! The cover immediately grabs your attention with the image of an aged Hulk charging toward the viewer. It also powerfully illustrates how the present day could turn into a bleak, post-apocalyptic future. The background is cleverly divided, showing a ruined future on one side and a modern city on the other, all overshadowed by a looming mushroom cloud.

8) The Incredible Hulk #377

As a huge comic book fan, I always loved the cover to The Incredible Hulk #377, illustrated by Dale Keown. It really captures the big shift happening inside Hulk at that time. The story deals with Bruce Banner and his two Hulk personas trying to get along, and this issue introduces a completely new version of the character. The cover is brilliantly mysterious – Hulk is mostly hidden in shadow, which builds so much anticipation for this transformation. That vibrant neon green background just makes it pop! It was such a striking image, it actually got reprinted twice with different colored backgrounds, which tells you how popular it was.

7) Marvel Feature #1

While the Hulk is well-known as a founding Avenger, he also played a key role in forming another superhero team called the Defenders. This group was a loose alliance of heroes who generally preferred working solo, but they’d team up when facing a shared threat. The first issue of Marvel Feature, written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Ross Andru, introduced the Defenders – initially consisting of Namor, Doctor Strange, and the Hulk. The cover powerfully showcases the Hulk leading the charge, with the other two members supporting him, effectively launching this often-overlooked Marvel team and emphasizing the Hulk’s importance within it.

6) Secret Wars #4

The Hulk is known as the strongest hero in the Marvel Universe, and a powerful cover illustration by Bob Layton for Secret Wars #4 perfectly captures his immense strength. The image shows the Hulk single-handedly holding up an unbelievable 150 billion tons of rock to save his fellow heroes from being crushed. The sheer weight he’s bearing is emphasized by the massive mountain that dominates the entire cover. Amidst a huge team-up event featuring almost every major Marvel character, this Secret Wars #4 cover makes sure the Hulk gets a moment to shine.

5) The Incredible Hulk #102

For many years, the Hulk appeared in the comic book Tales to Astonish, sharing the spotlight with other heroes like Ant-Man and Namor. Eventually, Marvel decided the Hulk was popular enough to have his own dedicated comic. Tales to Astonish became The Incredible Hulk with issue #102, switching from a shared series to one focused solely on the Hulk. The cover, drawn by Marie Severin, presented a unique take on Bruce Banner’s transformations. Instead of Banner becoming the Hulk, it showed the massive Hulk shrinking back into his weak, tired human form—a fitting image, considering the strain of headlining his own comic.

4) Incredible Hulk King-Size Special #1

One of the most imaginative and memorable comic book covers is for Incredible Hulk King-Size Special #1, titled “Hulk Battles the Inhumans.” It depicts the Hulk straining under the immense weight of his own title, which is literally crushing him. Artists Jim Steranko and Marie Severin worked together to brilliantly show the Hulk’s struggle. The weight is emphasized by cracks appearing in the large, block letters of the title itself, and even in the text at the bottom. This clever cover, which playfully breaks the fourth wall, has been so influential that it’s been referenced and paid tribute to in numerous other comics, from The Incredible Hercules to Cable.

3) The Incredible Hulk #340

The Hulk and Wolverine are famous for their explosive tempers, so it’s no surprise they’ve clashed many times in comic books. One particularly iconic cover, from The Incredible Hulk #340 by Peter David and Todd McFarlane, brilliantly captures their rivalry. It shows Wolverine’s claws reflecting the furious face of the grey Hulk, hinting at the brutal fight to come. This cover has become incredibly influential, with artists referencing it in their work for decades – even the recent Deadpool & Wolverine movie includes a subtle homage.

2) The Incredible Hulk #181

The rivalry between Wolverine and the Hulk began with The Incredible Hulk #181, which also marked Wolverine’s first appearance. This issue, created by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe, powerfully showed Wolverine’s wild nature – the cover depicts him breaking chains with his adamantium claws while attacking the Hulk. The villain Wendigo is also present, caught between the two powerful heroes. Interestingly, Wolverine’s initial design featured noticeable whiskers on his mask, a departure from later versions. However, this first appearance made it clear that Wolverine was more than just a one-time villain – it hinted at the potential that would make him a legendary superhero.

1) The Incredible Hulk #1

The first issue of The Incredible Hulk, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, remains one of the most important comic book covers ever made. Instead of presenting the Hulk as a typical superhero, it leaned into horror, highlighting the character’s internal struggle. The cover powerfully shows the contrast between the gentle Bruce Banner and the massive, terrifying Hulk looming over him, capturing the fear of those witnessing the transformation. The tagline, “Is he a man or monster or…is he both?” perfectly encapsulates the core conflict that has defined Bruce Banner and the Hulk for decades, and emphasizes the character’s unpredictable and compelling nature.

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2026-01-27 01:18