Rampaging Hulk #1

History

The title launched under Marvel's Curtis Magazines imprint in December 1976 (cover-dated January 1977), the final significant new magazine entry in the company's 1970s black-and-white line, which had been competing with Warren Publishing throughout the decade. Editor-in-Chief Archie Goodwin oversaw the launch, with John Warner serving as the issue's direct editor; Doug Moench — already the workhorse writer for Planet of the Apes and Doc Savage magazines in the same line — scripted the lead story, with Walt Simonson providing breakdowns and Alfredo Alcala delivering the finished linework. A second feature, 'Trail of the Starstone!' continued the Ulysses Bloodstone serial from Marvel Presents, scripted by Warner with John Buscema breakdowns finished by Rudy Nebres, giving the oversized 68-page issue two distinct narrative threads.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of Bereet, the Krylorian techno-artist created by Doug Moench and Walt Simonson — a character later incorporated into mainstream Earth-616 continuity and portrayed by Melia Kreiling in the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Published by Curtis Magazines (Marvel's affiliated imprint) as a black-and-white magazine, placing it outside Comics Code Authority jurisdiction and distinguishing it from Marvel's standard color comic output.
• The lead story, 'The Krylorian Conspiracy,' was scripted by Doug Moench with art breakdowns by Walt Simonson and finishes by Alfredo Alcala; cover painted by Ken Barr.
• The issue is set in the early 1960s continuity gap between Incredible Hulk #6 and Tales to Astonish #59, presented as new retroactive adventures of the early savage Hulk alongside Rick Jones.
• A second complete story in the issue — 'Trail of the Starstone!' — continued the Ulysses Bloodstone serial from Marvel Presents #2 (1975), scripted by John Warner with John Buscema breakdowns and Rudy Nebres finishes.
• Key Collector Comics identifies the issue as containing the first team appearance of the Conspiracy and noting Killer Shrike's appearance in the Bloodstone backup.
• The Rampaging Hulk stories were retroactively designated as existing in Marvel's alternate universe Earth-7711, after Incredible Hulk #269 (1982) revealed them to be fictional films Bereet produced for her homeworld.
• The issue was reprinted in Marvel UK's Rampage Monthly #1 (1978), in Italy's L'Incredibile Hulk #11 (1981), and collected in Essential Rampaging Hulk Vol. 1 (2008) and Marvel Firsts: The 1970s Vol. 3 (2012).

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