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Hulk Reading Order (Peter David, Immortal Hulk, and more…)

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In 1962, Marvel put an end to the title Teen-Age Romance after 86 issues. Its replacement was not romantic, it was The Incredible Hulk #1. It was obviously a comment on the arms race coming from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Scientist Bruce Banner created a g-bomb—“g” is for gamma!—and was not the one who wanted to test it as fast as possible (it was General “Thunderbolt” Ross), but it happened.

During the experimental detonation of a gamma bomb, the life of teenager Rick Jones was put in danger. Bruce Banner saved him but, by doing so, was hit by the blast resulting in the absorption of gamma radiation.

Banner didn’t die, but something changed in him. He became the Jekyll/Hyde of the Marvel Universe, two “men” in one body, transforming from the mild-mannered bespectacled physicist into the gray-skinned monster named “the Hulk” when he loses control.

Feeling guilty, Rick Jones stayed by his side, helping him to become a superhero. You can read a lot more about all that in our article about the story of the Hulk, his creation, and a lot more. And if you want to learn a bit more about The Hulk entourage, check out The Hulk Family Tree.

Hulk Comics Reading Order

Before starting, if you only want to know what happened during the first 300 issues of The Hulk, take a look at Jim Rugg’s Hulk: Grand Design.

The Hulk Omnibuses

There are a lot of omnibuses dedicated to The Hulk. Here is a listing for those hulking books.

  • The Incredible Hulk Omnibus, Vol. 1
    Collects Hulk #1-6, Tales to Astonish #59-101, and Incredible Hulk #102.
  • The Incredible Hulk Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects The Incredible Hulk #103-134, The Incredible Hulk Annual #1.
  • Incredible Hulk by Peter David vol. 1
    Collects The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #328, 331–368, Web of Spider-Man #44, Fantastic Four #320, material from Marvel Comics Presents #26, 45
  • Incredible Hulk by Peter David vol. 2
    Collects The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #369–400, Annual #16–18, X-Factor #76, material from Marvel Holiday Special #2
  • Incredible Hulk by Peter David vol. 3
    Collects Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #401-435, Incredible Hulk Annual #19-20, Incredible Hulk vs. Venom #1, Hulk: Future Imperfect #1-2, Tales to Astonish (1994) #1, Incredible Hulk Ashcan Edition #1, material from Marvel Holiday Special #3
  • Incredible Hulk by Peter David vol. 4
    Collects Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #436-467, -1; Incredible Hulk Annual ’97; Savage Hulk #1; Cutting Edge #1; Cable #34; Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1; Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed #1; Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-4.
  • The Incredible Hulk by Peter David Omnibus Vol. 5
    Collects Incredible Hulk: The End (2002) #1, What If General Ross Had Become The Hulk? (2004) #1, Incredible Hulk (2000) 77-87, Hulk: Destruction (2005) #1-4, Hulk Vs. Fin Fang Foom (2007) #1, Marvel Adventures Hulk (2007) #13-16, Incredible Hulk: Last Call (2019) #1, Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads (2021) #1-5, New Fantastic Four (2022) #1-5; Material From Giant-Size Hulk (2006) #1, World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker (2007) #1, Hulk Monster-Size Special (2008) #1 & Breaking Into Comics The Marvel Way (2010) #2. Not in omni, see also Hulk: Joe Fixit.
  • Hulk: Maestro By Peter David Omnibus
    Collects Hulk: Future Imperfect #1-2, Incredible Hulk (1968) #460-461, Captain Marvel (1999) #27-30, Spider-Man 2099 (2014) #9-10, Future Imperfect #1-5, Maestro #1-5, Maestro: War And Pax #1-5, Maestro: World War M #1-5, Exiles (2001) #79-80, Abominations #1-3, and material from Hulk: Broken Worlds #1 and Secret Wars: Battleworld #4.
  • Incredible Hulk By Byrne & Casey Omnibus
    Collects Incredible Hulk (1968) #468-474, Hulk (1999) #1-11, Hulk & Sub-Mariner Annual ’98, X-Man & Hulk Annual ’98, Hulk Annual ’99 And Rampaging Hulk (1998) #1-6.
  • Planet Hulk Omnibus.
  • Hulk: World War Hulk Omnibus
    Collects World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker, World War Hulk #1-5, Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #106-111, Iron Man (2005) #19-20, Avengers: The Initiative #4-5, Irredeemable Ant-Man #10, World War Hulk: X-Men #1-3, Ghost Rider (2006) #12-13, Heroes For Hire (2006) #11-15, Punisher War Journal (2007) #12, World War Hulk: Gamma Corps #1-4, World War Hulk: Front Line #1-6, World War Hulk: Aftersmash one-shot, World War Hulk: Aftersmash Damage Control #1-3, WWH: Aftersmash  Warboung 1-5, Planet Hulk Saga.
  • Hulk by Loeb & McGuinness Omnibus
    Collects Hulk (2008) #1-24, King-Size Hulk #1, Fall of the Hulks: Gamma, Hulk-Sized Mini-Hulks #1; material from Incredible Hulk #600, Wolverine (2003) #50.
  • Immortal Hulk Omnibus NEW
    Collects Immortal Hulk (2018) #1-50, Immortal Hulk: The Best Defense (2018) #1, Defenders: The Best Defense (2018) #1, Absolute Carnage: Immortal Hulk (2019) #1, Immortal Hulk (2020) #0, Immortal She-Hulk (2020) #1, King in Black: Immortal Hulk (2020) #1, Gamma Flight (2021) #1-5, material from Immortal Hulk: Time of Monsters (2021) #1, Avengers (2018) #684. 

The ’60s & ’70s Hulk Reading Order

The Hulk’s original series was canceled after issue #6, but it was not the end. The character immediately guest-starred in multiple titles and became a founding member of the Avengers. The adventures continue as the Hulk became one of two features in the anthology Tales To Astonish, before resuming in Incredible Hulk.

There are three ways to read and collect the first years: The hardcover “Marvel Masterworks” edition, the omnibus editions (see the previous section), or the softcover “Marvel Epic Collection”. There also was the Essential Collection, but it’s too difficult to find nowadays.

 

The Hulk: Marvel Masterworks

Incredible Hulk Epic Collection

Created by Roy Thomas in Marvel Feature #1 (December 1971), The Defenders was introduced as a “non-team” of individualistic “outsiders. Led by Doctor Strange, the team included Namor, Silver Surfer, and the Hulk. These original members stayed in the series until issue #125. In the Hulk continuity, the series started after The Incredible Hulk #156. You can find more about the team in our Defenders Reading Order.

The Incredible Hulk by Bill Mantlo (1980-1987)

In 1980, a new Hulk era began when Bill Mantlo became the series’ writer for five years—beginning with issue #245. Marvel didn’t do a great job at collecting this run. There are gaps in the collected editions, sadly.

The Introduction of She-Hulk! Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, She-Hulk first appeared in The Savage She-Hulk #1 in 1980. You can learn more about her origins and creation here and read more about her in our She-Hulk Reading Order.

This is when the first major Marvel event crossover happened. Fascinated by the presence of superheroes on Earth, The Beyonder chooses a group of both heroes and supervillains and teleports characters against their will to “Battleworld,” a planet in a distant galaxy. It’s the original Secret Wars.

After Bill Mantlo left the title, and before Peter David started to write his famous run, for a time John Byrne and Al Milgrom were at the helm. Again, all the issues are not collected for now.

The Incredible Hulk by Peter David (1987-1999)

Nobody wanted to take over The Incredible Hulk solo series until Bob Harras asked Peter David. He could do whatever he wanted because the title was mostly dead. He rapidly gained popularity and worked on the title for a good decade, from issue #331 to #467. Unlike Bill Mantlo’s run and John Byrne’s, the work of Peter David on Hulk has been pretty well collected through the years.

The list of the omnibus editions can be found in the first part of this article.

The Infinity Gauntlet event took place here and included The Incredible Hulk #383-385. So, if you want the complete story, you’ll need the omnibus. Also, take a look at our Infinity Saga Reading Order for more information about the event.

The Future Imperfect miniseries introduced the character Maestro. All of his stories by Peter David are now collected in one book:

  • Hulk: Maestro By Peter David Omnibus
    Collects Hulk: Future Imperfect #1-2, Incredible Hulk (1968) #460-461, Captain Marvel (1999) #27-30, Spider-Man 2099 (2014) #9-10, Future Imperfect #1-5, Maestro #1-5, Maestro: War And Pax #1-5, Maestro: World War M #1-5, Exiles (2001) #79-80, Abominations #1-3, and material from Hulk: Broken Worlds #1 and Secret Wars: Battleworld #4.

Hulk Reborn & The Incredible Hulk Vol. 3

The Peter David era was so massive that Marvel had to relaunch the Hulk series once it ended. It was technically The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, but vol. 3 quickly came. First, there was Hulk Reborn for a year (11 issues), then it was renamed The Incredible Hulk vol. 3.

This is when the (really optional) event Maximum Security took place. When the civilized alien influenced by the Supreme Intelligence and his newly evolved Kree-tire of Earth’s involvement in their affairs, they decide to make it their new prison planet! The Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 #21 tie into the event.

Event Alert! It’s time for House of M (the full reading order is here). The Avengers and the X-Men are faced with a common foe that becomes their greatest threat: Wanda Maximoff! The Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #83 to #86 take place during this event.

Smashing Event! After Planet Hulk came World War Hulk. It’s Hulk versus the world, in an epic story of anger unbound! Exiled by his so-called friends, the Hulk has raged, bled, and conquered on the alien planet Sakaar. Now, he returns to Earth to wreak terrible vengeance on Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Doctor Strange, and Black Bolt -and anyone else who gets in the way! Go to the reading order for more information.

  • Hulk: World War Hulk Omnibus
    Collects World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker, World War Hulk #1-5, Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #106-111, Iron Man (2005) #19-20, Avengers: The Initiative #4-5, Irredeemable Ant-Man #10, World War Hulk: X-Men #1-3, Ghost Rider (2006) #12-13, Heroes For Hire (2006) #11-15, Punisher War Journal (2007) #12, World War Hulk: Gamma Corps #1-4, World War Hulk: Front Line #1-6, World War Hulk: Aftersmash one-shot, World War Hulk: Aftersmash Damage Control #1-3, WWH: Aftersmash  Warboung 1-5, Planet Hulk Saga.
  • The Incredible Hercules, Vol. 1: Against the World
    Collects Incredible Hulk #112, Incredible Hercules #113-115 & Hulk vs Hercules: When Titans Clash. In the aftermath of World War Hulk, The Incredible Hulk series received a new title: The Incredible Hercules. The focus changes to Hercules – but the numeration stays the same. The series focused on Hercules, his sidekick Amadeus Cho, and half-sister Athena.

Red Hulk & The Incredible Hulk(s)

That’s when things get complicated. Now, there are two series about the Hulk. We’ve got Incredible Hulk v.2 with Bruce Banner and Hulk (2008) about Red Hulk. What makes it a bit hard to follow is the way Marvel collected the two books.

Smashing Alert! At that point, we have two crossover events—Fall of the Hulks & World War Hulks—that ran throughout the ongoing Hulk and Incredible Hulk series, as well as a self-titled limited series; featuring the Hulk and various members of his supporting cast. 

The best option for Fall of the Hulks is this collected edition if you can find it.

  • World War Hulks
    Collects World War Hulks #1, Fall Of The Hulks: Savage She-Hulks #1-3, Hulked-Out Heroes #1-2, World War Hulks: Spider-Man Vs. Thor #1-2, World War Hulks: Captain America Vs. Wolverine #1-2, and Incredible Hulk (1968) #312 and #609-611.

Written by Jeph Loeb with art by Ed McGuinness, the Hulk (2008) series was also collected in other bigger editions:

  • Hulk by Loeb & McGuinness Omnibus
    Collects Hulk (2008) #1-24, King-Size Hulk #1, Fall of the Hulks: Gamma, Hulk-Sized Mini-Hulks #1; material from Incredible Hulk #600, Wolverine (2003) #50.

But also in the “Compete Collection”:

Smashing Alert! The Chaos War Event is a follow-up to Grep Pak and Fred Van Lente’s Incredible Hercules series. When the King of Chaos unleashes Hell on Earth, Dr. Strange calls on the strongest team there is to save life itself.

At that point, with Avengers Vol. 4 #7 (collected in Avengers, Vol. 2), Red Hulk has joined The Avengers.

Smashing Alert! Another event in which The Hulk played a small part: Fear Itself. You can find here the full reading order of this event.

Marvel Now: Indestructible Hulk & Savage Hulk

At that point, Mark Waid became the main writer on Indestructible Hulk. His 20-issue run is collected in one big volume.

This is where Thunderbolts Vol. 2 starts. Red-Hulk joined the team with Elektra, Deadpool, Punisher, and Venom.

What comes next is a collection of mini-séries. To find the story dealing with the events at the end of Indestructible Hulk, you need to jump to Hulk: Banner DOA.

The Totally Awesome Hulk

For a time, Bruce Banner is not front and center in the Hulk story. Amadeus is taking on the biggest monsters in the Marvel Universe.

It’s time for Bruce Banner to come back full-time! The adventures of Amadeus Cho continue in Champions then in Agents of Atlas, check out our Amadeus Cho reading order to know more about it.

The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing

Banner is back, but he never really left because The Hulk is immortal! It’s the acclaimed run by Al Ewing. You can find everything in The Immortal Hulk Omnibus (see at the start of this article for more details about this edition).

The Immortal Hulk series is also collected in paperback omnibus and hardcover editions:

Hulk by Donny Cates

Writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Ottley take over the Hulk. Bruce Banner thinks he finally has total control of his emerald alter ego — and in fact, he might. But variables can happen at any time, and this one is something even his brilliant mind couldn’t have imagined. Now, as Bruce hurtles deep into outer space on a dangerous quest, he’s about to find out that the Hulk isn’t alone! 


The Incredible Hulk by Phillip Kennedy Johnson

A new age of monsters! As an enraged Hulk tries to take permanent control of the body he shares with Bruce Banner, a mysterious immortal turns every monster on Earth against him in an attempt to free their creator, the primordial Mother of Horrors! With the help of an unlikely new friend, Banner must stop the world from being plunged into darkness…

The adventure continues, with more coming soon.

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