Check any list of the top comic books of the Silver Age and you will find this important first issue firmly entrenched among the elite and most valuable comics of the period. Huggins and Scott Auctions takes great pleasure in presenting a high grade example of The Incredible Hulk #1. Published by Marvel Comics in May of 1962, this major key inaugural issue was part of the big resurgence of super-hero comics in the early 1960s, that saw the Marvel Group climb to the top of the comic industry. Of the many great key issues recognized from this period, the Hulk #1 has proven to be one of the most elusive Silver Age issues to find in high grade. The spectacular example offered here has earned a Universal Grade of 8.5 from CGC, which is regarded as the leading certification service for the comic book hobby. CGC's Census report lists this example as "1/9" at the 8.5 VF+ level, with just 18 higher from a population of 1,065 copies that have been certified in Universal Grade holders. More on our website.
Our consignor reports that he read this first Hulk comic one time as a youth and then kept it in storage since the original period of purchase in 1962. This new to the market, fifty-six year old book was examined by members of the H&S staff prior to submission for grading to CGC and so exceptional was the overall quality and the spine integrity in particular, that our resident comic "Geek" offered that "maybe the guy just thinks he read it but never actually got around to it, because it sure looks like it's unread". Well known to be a super tough comic to find in upper grades, this high demand key issue continues to show astonishing sale price increases, reaching a Fair Market Value of $175,000 in recent years for the few known examples that have been graded at the 8.5 level. Label notations include "Off-White to White Pages, Stan Lee story, Jack Kirby and Paul Reinman art, Jack Kirby and George Roussos cover, Origin and 1st appearance of the Incredible Hulk, 1st appearance of Rick Jones, Betty Ross and General Ross".
In case you are wondering if there's more, the answer is yes. Our fortunate consignor maintained a sizeable collection of Silver Age comic books in careful storage since the 1960s. This amazing new to the market collection is being offered by H&S in our November, 2018 and February, 2019 auctions. All major key issues will be graded by CGC and offered on an individual basis, while the balance will be offered in groups of various size, from a few issues to a large "balance of collection" lot. Please review our Americana/Comics category for both auction dates noted above to view this truly impressive collection.