Fantastic Four 12

In this issue:

The Incredible Hulk
23 pages :: Jack Kirby/Dick Ayers
reprinted in Marvel's Greatest Comics 29, Marvel Masterworks

This was the first FF I evered owned and it's still one of my favorites. If I'm not mistaken this is actually the first Marvel cross-over. Jack Kirby was probably so busy in those days he forgot that the Hulk had a full set of fingers and toes. Another thing that gets lost in this story is the fact that the Thing is just as powerful as The Hulk. I wonder why they decided to change that in later years?

I have always loved this single image of two adversaries—one unwitting—separated by the cave wall. So much dread, so much promise. There's a similar shot in Bride of Frankenstein, packed just as full of drama and possibility; I always wondered if that directly inspired Kirby, and deep down I believe it had to.

With CGI technology today this would be the ideal story to adapt for the Fantastic Four movie. It could provide Reed Richards 1960's view of the future from his Baxter Building. The primative 60's version of the Hulk with the Frankenstien eye brows could be fully realized.

Reading this story again as an adult brought back many memories of this book for me. I remember reading this in a reprint twenty five cent book. At the time I was too young to buy the orginal.

The art may be primative by today's standards; but to me it never went out of style. Those first hundred issues of the FF will always have a special place in my heart. They were the first time I learned to read and enjoy and intellegently written story about my first favorite comic heros.

I hope Hana Barbera's version of the 1967 cartoon is released on DVD someday. That truly captured the spirit of the 60's comic in many ways. I remember those early mornings when I was that's all I wanted to see each saturday morning.

Kirby was a big movie buff and Karloff's Frankenstein monster was a direct inspiration. Bride of Frankenstein is one of my all time favorite horror movies, and now that you mention that cover scene, I'm sure, whether conciously or not, that Kirby stored that image in his memory banks.

This issue underlines how those early Hulk tales by Lee & Kirby reflected the FF. Bruce Banner = Reed Richards, Betty Ross = Sue Storm, Rick Jones = Johnny Storm and The Hulk himself, very much like the Thing at this time.

I agree with Anthony in the feel of power and rivalry captured in that Kirby cover #12; Marvel should have held to the rules planted there between the Thing and the Hulk; the only advantage the Hulk really holds is that he gets stronger as he keeps fighting. By issue #112 drawn by John Buscema this close rivalry was restored. The Thing's strength followed an odd sine curve prior to the Galactus issues.

One of the most memorable comics of the period and one of the greatest covers. The comics of the day, especially at DC, were trying to flood the sensations with bright, bright colours. Here we have a cover that is mostly grey! Where else have we seen that? The green Hulk and the orange Thing stand out in perfect contrast to the dull background.

A great issue over all, but one problem:
Bruce Banner, for whatever reason, is refered to as “Bob Banner” for the entire issue. Did Stan forget Bruce's name or something?

this the hulk at his true 'jekyll and hyde 'best!manipulative and not easily swayed(speaking like an old fashioned gangster) as the latter day green behemeth is better known.diffently one of the best battles with the F.F..marvel theatre at its greatest oh trubelivas!its cobblerrin time!

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