{"id":35338,"date":"2026-04-23T17:12:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T17:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=35338"},"modified":"2026-04-23T17:12:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T17:12:06","slug":"the-incredible-hulk-marvel-masterworks-volume-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/04\/23\/the-incredible-hulk-marvel-masterworks-volume-15\/","title":{"rendered":"The Incredible Hulk Marvel Masterworks volume 15"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Roger Stern, John Byrne, Steven Grant<\/strong>, Doug Moench<\/strong>, Sal Buscema<\/strong>, Carmine Infantino, Steve Ditko, Jack Abel, Mike Esposito, Alfredo Alcala, Joe Sinnott, Al Milgrom<\/strong> & various (MARVEL)
\nISBN: 978-1-3029-3805-5 (HB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

Bruce Banner<\/em> was a military scientist accidentally caught in a gamma bomb blast of his own devising. As a result, stress and other factors cause him to transform into a giant green monster of unstoppable strength and fury. He was one of Marvel\u2019s earliest innovations and first failure, but after an initially troubled few years finally found his size-700 feet and a format that worked, becoming one of the company\u2019s premiere antiheroes and most popular features.<\/p>\n

The Gamma Goliath was always graced with artists who understood the allure of shattering action, the sheer cathartic reader-release rush of mighty \u201cHulk Smash!\u201d moments, and here – following in the debris-strewn wake of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Marie Severin and Herb Trimpe – Sal Buscema had been showing the world what he could do when inspired and unleashed\u2026<\/p>\n

This chronologically complete monster monolithic monster mash-up re-presents Incredible<\/strong> Hulk <\/strong>#234-244 plus Annual<\/strong>s #8 & 9, collectively spanning April 1979 through February 1980, featuring tales and ancillary material generated while the Growling Green Giant utterly dominated global TV screens. Prior to that torrent of tumult, however, we open with another behind-the-scenes reminiscence from writer\/editor Roger Stern in his engaging Introduction<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Previously, having failed to end the curse of the Hulk through psychoanalysis, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Clay Quartermain<\/em> and gamma-charged psychologist Doc Samson<\/em> had witnessed the man-monster defeat insidious villains Moonstone<\/em> and the Leader<\/em> before Banner and the Hulk were ensnared in the schemes of criminal cabal The Corporation<\/em> – specifically an internecine power struggle between West Coast Chief Curtiss Jackson and (ultimately ousted) East Coast head\/corrupt <\/em>US Senator Eugene Stivak<\/em>, operating under the nom-du-crime Kligger<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Now, with Jackson in hiding and <\/em>Kligger dethroned thanks to the Hulk, <\/em>S.H.I.E.L.D.<\/strong>, Captain America<\/strong>, <\/em>The Falcon<\/strong>, Marvel Man\/Quasar<\/strong>, and – in related operations<\/em> –<\/em> Torpedo<\/strong> and <\/em>Machine Man<\/strong>,<\/em> the aftermath saw the Emerald Titan flee. Linking up with drop-out pal Fred Sloan, their quixotic road trip ended on the campus of the University of California at Los Angeles where the man-monster was reunited with another old friend…<\/em><\/p>\n

Trish Starr championed an alternative, magic-adjacent lifestyle when <\/em>The Defenders<\/strong> battled her mad scientist uncle Egghead\u00a0 and had since moved her peace-&-love message into a student house in Berkel<\/em>e<\/em>y where laid-back student dudes get a taste of another world when the Hulk moves in with them. However, fear and suspicion are impossible to suppress and when one \u201cdrops a dime and calls the fuzz\u201d (or notifies the authorities if you prefer) it results in chaos.<\/em><\/p>\n

Of course, the authorities informed are not cops but The Corporation, where frantically<\/em>–<\/em>rebuilding Jackson sees opportunity to re-ingratiate himself with the fearsome Board of Directors and remove two thorns in his side. Crafted by <\/em>Stern, Sal Buscema & Jack Abel, Incredible Hulk<\/strong> #234 sees the Gamma Goliath angry and unleashed in \u2018Battleground: Berkeley!\u2019 <\/em>after Jackson frames Machine Man for kidnapping Trish. This lures the Jade Juggernaut (and Fred) to Jackson\u2019s Central City base – The Mid-State Tower – where his forces are ready to end the blockbusting brute…
\n\"\"
\nMeanwhile the real robot hero has been cleared of crimes covertly orchestrated by Kligger and is a free \u201cman\u201d when #235\u2019s \u2018The Monster and the Machine\u2019<\/em> (inked by Mike Esposito) finds the furious Hulk attacking Machine Man\u2019s human friend and advisor Dr Peter Spaulding<\/em>. The clash rapidly escalates in \u2018Kill or Be Killed!\u2019<\/em> with the Hulk now nigh-mindless with rage. His mechanical foe is far more controlled and detects Jackson\u2019s radio communications. Sadly so does the viridian berserker who heads for the Corporation\u2019s secret skyscraper HQ to save Trish and punish Jackson…<\/p>\n

The Hulk is beyond all reason and turns his wrath on Jackson with everyone else in sight caught in the carnage. As Machine Man (who went on from this clash into his own revived solo title) valiantly strives but fails to stop the man-brute, the earthshaking battle culminates in the fall of the tower in #237\u2019s \u2018When a City Dies!\u2019 <\/em>(Abel inks). With Jackson done and dusted, emerging from the rubble of the 80-storey shambles, Hulk\u2019s appetite for destruction is still not sated. Thankfully, before collapsing in the robot version of utter exhaustion, Machine Man mesmerises the monster into a coma and employs an anti-gravity push to send the sleeping beast, far, far away…
\n\"\"
\nIncredible<\/strong> Hulk Annual<\/strong> #8 follows as \u2018Sasquatch!\u2019<\/em> – written by Roger Stern & John Byrne, with art from Sal B & Alfredo Alcala – sees still-surly Hulk waking up in the mostly unoccupied region of British Columbia. Befriended by understandably nervous, self-imposed hermit Maureen Mores Friesen<\/em>, he gradually calms enough to revert to Banner, but only until the Canadians deploy their own gamma monster – Dr Walter Langowski<\/em> of government super-squad Alpha Flight<\/strong> – to end the incursion whatever the cost…<\/p>\n

The Canadian catastrophe that results sees the Hulk still at large as US President Jimmy<\/em> Carter<\/em>, Quartermain and S.H.I.E.L.D. researchers survey what remains of Central City in Incredible<\/strong> Hulk <\/strong>#238\u2019s \u2018Post Hulk …Post Holocaust!\u2019 <\/em>(Stern, Buscema & Abel). Meanwhile, the monster\u2019s peregrinations bring him to the attention of a clandestine cabal who bedevilled heroes for years. Cautiously, \u201cThey-Who-Wield-Power<\/em>\u201d plan their next atrocity…<\/p>\n

As seen primarily in Marvel Team-Up<\/strong>, a shadowy trio of observers with an undisclosed agenda had monitored superbeing episodes and provided advanced technologies for monsters and villains like Lava Men<\/em>, Stegron<\/em> and The Orb<\/em> to battle Spider-Man<\/strong>, Hercules<\/strong>, Nova<\/strong>, Ghost Rider<\/strong>, Black Panther<\/strong>, Thor<\/strong> and more. Now they subtly pull strings drawing the Gamma Juggernaut southwards, using bullion bandit Goldbug<\/em> as their latest instrument…<\/p>\n

It comes together in #239\u2019s Esposito-inked \u2018All That Glitters…\u2019<\/em> as a brief pause on Hulk\u2019s travels sparks a military incident. Taking a nap atop national monument Mount Rushmore, the monster is confronted by a joint military and S.H.I.E.L.D. response. However, instead of more shattering violence, the stand-off ends peacefully when Goldbug slips in, offering escape in his new ship. Sadly, it\u2019s designed to siphon Hulk\u2019s energies to power the vessel all the way to South America where the thief can plunder a literal city of gold in the Andes. Hulk is not happy and escapes, but not before they reach their destination where The Brotherhood of They<\/em> are waiting.<\/p>\n

In #240\u2019s \u2018…And Now El Dorado\u2019<\/em> (inked by Joe Sinnott) years of scheming come to fruition as a hidden civilisation (last seen as the Forbidden Land<\/em> in Avengers<\/strong> #31, August 1966) welcomes the outcast and the criminal mastermind to an idyllic paradise covertly controlled by a back-stabbing triumvirate seeking dominion of Earth. Autocrat Prince Rey<\/em> and cleric Lann, Keeper of the Sacred Flame<\/em> have warred for decades, but the balance is maintained by aged enigmatic Des<\/em> who perpetrated They\u2019s campaign to create global tectonic anomalies that fed the Flame. Des also exerts a shocking hold on the Hulk, dangling the prospect of resurrecting his lost love Jarella<\/em> if the monster behaves and follows orders…<\/p>\n

A bitter truth is revealed in the Buscema-inked \u2018Partners in Deception!\u2019 <\/em>when Banner too becomes fuel for the Sacred Flame, with Des stealing that power to eradicate his allies and regenerate himself. Revealed as one of the Hulk\u2019s earliest enemies and with Goldbug forced into playing hero to save his own skin, \u2018Sic Temper Tyrannus!\u2019<\/em> sees the unlikely outworlder allies saving Earth as their enemy ascends to godhood before inevitably overextending himself… and again underestimating the sheer bloody-mindedness of the Jade Juggernaut…<\/p>\n

The end comes courtesy of plotter Stern, scripter Steven Grant & Sal B, in #243\u2019s \u2018Death… and Destiny!\u2019<\/em> With the world restored, the Hulk resuming his wandering and Goldbug getting just what he deserves, in the wings, the mental collapse of General Thaddeus Ross<\/em> has left a vacuum the US government fills with his prot\u00e9g\u00e9 Glenn Talbot<\/em>, newly promoted to lead America\u2019s anti-Hulk task force…<\/p>\n

Written by Doug Moench and illustrated by Steve Ditko & Al Milgrom, Incredible<\/strong> Hulk Annual<\/strong> #9 offers a short diversion as the monster is targeted by chess-obsessed millionaire Charles Reigel<\/em>, leading fellow members of the Gotham Game Club<\/em> in a high-tech campaign against the epitome of unreasoning brute force. Sadly, \u2018A Game of Monsters and Kings\u2019<\/em> is not what the Green Goliath wants and the Hulk does not play well with others…
\n\"\"
\nThis titanic tome wraps up its storytelling component with a brief continuity palate cleanser as #244 reintroduces Hollywood special effects wizard Bob O\u2019Bryan<\/em> who, thanks to alien invaders, can possess and animate a gigantic stone statue. His efforts to keep the mighty It, the Living Colossus<\/strong> from evil Dr. Vault<\/em> was once the stuff of L A legend, but means nothing to Bruce Banner when he awakes from another Hulk-out in Tinseltown.<\/p>\n

Incredible<\/strong> Hulk <\/strong>#244\u2019s \u2018It Lives!\u2019<\/em> (by Grant, Carmine Infantino \u00a0& Esposito) sees coincidence and concatenation conspire to bring all player together for Vault\u2019s last pursuit of the prize, only to learn that gamma beats granite every time…<\/p>\n

To Be Hulk-inued…<\/p>\n

With covers by Milgrom, Bob Layton, and Ditko the bonus portion of this blockbusting bonanza includes the covers (front & back) of Hulk-starring reprint tabloids\u00a0 Marvel Treasury Edition <\/strong>#20 and 24 – by Bob Budiansky & Abel and Budiansky & Bob Wiacek respectively. There are also house ads and a gallery of Hulk pinups by Ron Wilson, Frank Giacoia, Dave Hunt & Pablo Marcos created for Marvel UK titles plus a large section of designs by Mark Gruenwald revamping Goldbug, his ship and Tyrannus.<\/p>\n

The Incredible Hulk<\/strong> is one of the most well-known comic characters on Earth, and these stories, as much as the movies, cartoons, TV shows, games, toys and action figures are the reason why. For an uncomplicated, earnestly vicarious experience of Might actually being Right, you can\u2019t do better than these exciting episodes, so why not Go Green – even if it\u2019s only in your own delirious head?
\n\u00a9 2021 MARVEL.<\/p>\n

Today in 1964 Brazilian artist Sergio<\/strong> (Lone Ranger<\/strong>) Cariello<\/strong> was born, with Stephanie<\/strong> (Harley Quinn<\/strong>, Wonder Woman<\/strong>, Spider-Gwen<\/strong>, Grim<\/strong>) Phillips<\/strong> arriving in 1991. On the debit side this date in 1957 saw the end of Italian comics legend Guido Fantoni<\/strong> (Capitan<\/strong> Walter<\/strong>, Nutor<\/strong>, Flash Gordon<\/strong>, Brick Bradford<\/strong>, The Phantom<\/strong>, Mandrake the Magician<\/strong>); mature content Spanish wizard Alfredo Pons<\/strong> in 2002; Disney mainstay Romano Scarpa<\/strong> in 2005 and our own national treasure Leo Baxendale<\/strong> (Minnie the Minx<\/strong>, The Bash Street Kids<\/strong>, Wham!<\/strong>, Pow!<\/strong>) in 2017.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Roger Stern, John Byrne, Steven Grant, Doug Moench, Sal Buscema, Carmine Infantino, Steve Ditko, Jack Abel, Mike Esposito, Alfredo Alcala, Joe Sinnott, Al Milgrom & various (MARVEL) ISBN: 978-1-3029-3805-5 (HB\/Digital edition) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. Bruce Banner was a military scientist accidentally caught in a gamma bomb blast … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “The Incredible Hulk Marvel Masterworks volume 15”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[244,383,54,98,422,72,79,396,213,423,219,144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alpha-flight","category-carmine-infantino","category-fantastic-four","category-hulk","category-machine-man","category-marvel-masters-masterworks","category-marvel-superheroes","category-monsters","category-iron-fist","category-quasar","category-s-h-i-e-l-d","category-steve-ditko"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-9bY","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35338"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35346,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35338\/revisions\/35346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}