The Silver Age of comics (1956-1970) coincided with the real world’s Atomic Age when groundbreaking military bombs were built. A new character would also explode into the world of comic books in May 1962.

Writer and creator Stan Lee based this character on both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein. Like a classic horror tale mixed with science fiction, Lee’s creation has often been described as a “misunderstood monster born out of the Atomic Age”.

It’s a story about a scientist who invented a new weapon for the US military called a Gamma bomb. In a twist of fate, the destructive device that he had made would in turn make him into a living engine of destruction.

At a desert military base, Dr. Bruce Banner was accidentally exposed to Gamma radiation after he heroically saved a young (and foolish) teenager named Rick Jones from harm during the detonation test of the Gamma bomb.

By nightfall, the radiation exposure resulted in Dr. Banner’s first change. His body grew bigger into a more brute-like appearance with grey skin. He had a completely different persona in this form. Rick Jones was the only witness to the transformation and kept it a secret.

The big grey brute was angry and incredibly strong. He broke out of the base and stunned the soldiers outside. One of the soldiers called the mysterious creature a “Hulk”, and that was just the beginning.

Bruce Banner, his alter ego The Hulk, and sidekick Rick Jones would be linked together throughout several more misadventures. I’ve recreated this trio as they first appeared.


Bruce Banner:
- Ghostbusters Ray Stantz painted white, orange and blue
- head from World War Z Gerry Lane
- glasses from Marvel Legends Beast painted black

Hulk:
- 2003 Hulk movie figure painted with black, grey, and blue
- torn shirt from Street Fighter T. Hawk painted orange
- open left hand from a different Hulk figure to resemble Hulk art of Jack Kirby

Rick Jones:
- Dark Knight Rises John Blake painted yellow and blue
- head from Star Trek James Kirk painted hair brown

The first villain introduced in Hulk issue #1 was the small and grotesque Gargoyle. So I found the right figure to also represent his first appearance.

Thank you everyone for taking a look and for all the votes during the Silver Age custom contest.