Lot # 1831: 1962 Marvel The Incredible Hulk #3 First Appearance of Ringmaster and the Circus of Crime - CGC 4.0

The thrills of the big top took an evil turn, with this 9/62 Marvel The Incredible Hulk #3 issue. One of the original first six Hulk issues published before the big green guy wandered off into other titles, this Silver Age classic marks the debut of the Ringmaster and the Circus of Crime. It was far from fun and games with this twisted troupe, as the price of the show left you with nothing but lint in your pockets. Donning a hypnosis-wave generator hat, the Ringmaster sent victims into a trance, leaving them vulnerable to his minions, the Human Cannonball, the Clown, Bruto the Strongman, the Great Gambonnos, and Princess Python. Our hero the Hulk broke free of Ringmaster's power, putting his crime career on ice. This nicely preserved comic has earned a respectable (4.0, Cream to Off-White Pages) rating from best in the grading business, CGC. Label notes are "Stan Lee story, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers cover and art. 1st appearance of the Ringmaster and the Circus of Crime. Origin of the Hulk retold.".

This comic book comes from a determined collector, who took many years to round up the original first six Incredible Hulk issues, every issue of Tales To Astonish featuring Hulk as a star character from #60-101, every issue of the 1968-1999 Incredible Hulk Volume 1 run from #102-474, a group of The Defenders including the first eleven issues, and a wide variety of Modern Age Hulk titles. This entire collection can be found in this current auction, including eight CGC graded issues of the Incredible Hulk Volume 1, offered on an individual basis, with #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #180, and #181. The other Hulk comics are offered in runs of Incredible Hulk Volume 1, Tales To Astonish, The Defenders, and a bundle of Modern Age titles featuring an Incredible Hulk Volume 2 run.