The Rampaging Hulk started up in January 1977 but only ran for a mere 9 issues before being renamed simply The Hulk. This run then went from issue 10 through to issue 27 (1980). The magazine was issued to cash in on the popularity of the Hulk TV show - starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferringo, both of whom were featured and interviewed in the magazine over the run. Although the magazine was intended to feature stand alone stories, some characters crossed over into the regular title such as Jarella. Other Marvel main-stays also featured, with the X-Men making an appearance in issue 2 and Iron Man crossing over into the back up feature Bloodstone.However it's the contributors to the magazine that make it unique. Artists such as Walter Simonson, John Buscema, Howard Chaykin, John Romita Sr, John Romita Jr (some of his first ever work), Keith Pollard, Jim Starlin, Joe Jusko, Bill Sienkiewicz, Val Mayerik, Herb Trimpe, Roger Stern, Brent Anderson, Gene Colan and many more, along with writers such as Starlin, Doug Moench, Denny O'Neill, Archie Goodwin and others all gave up some of their best work - indeed Moench and Sienkiewicz's first Moon Knight run started in the latter issues of the magazine, with the early Sienkiewicz art looking all the world like Neal Adams - a far cry from the style he has now. Add to that the use of the often stunning fully painted covers - where are these covers now? The Starlin cover of issue 4 is nothing short of brilliant - I'd love to see the original!As the magazine was in a larger format than regular comic books the artists could stretch out a bit more than they normally would. The first issues were in glorious black and white, and most of the artists took to that medium like ducks to water. Walter Simonson's run was some of his best work to that point (along with his brilliant Manhunter) and remains some of his best black and white artwork. Simonson showed that he could easily adapt to the black and white form to devastating effect. It's a pity that he didn't do more such work. Other artists, such as Buscema and Colan, preferred to work in a black and white medium and as a result they shone and more times than not produced better work in these Marvel magazines than they did in the company's regular comic line.Marvel recently published an Essentials volume of Rampaging Hulk. It is available for pre-order at Amazon.com.
Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Money,power,respect