Top Tens: The "incredible" art of Herb Trimpe.

Sometimes an artist does a character so well that they make that version of the character their own; Jack Kirby and the Fantastic Four, Curt Swan and Superman, Neal Adam’s and Batman, Gene Colan and Daredevil, and the wonderful Herb Trimpe and the Incredible Hulk. “Happy Herb” as he was known to fans, began working for Marvel in the mid-'60s in the production department before finding comic book fame as the penciller of “The Incredible Hulk” in an almost unbroken string of issues from #106-193 between 1968 and 1975. My own personal favourite Herb Trimpe Hulk comics featured the inking of John Severin , however with or without John Severin there was no doubting Herbs talent as an amazing cover artist who regularly produced action packed covers. Some of my favourite Hulk covers to accompany "Incredible Hulk" issue 163 above, are shown below:

Incredible Hulk # 141 (July 1971) - I have always coveted this issue and finally received this as an unexpected Christmas present this year.

Incredible Hulk # 171 (January 1974).

Incredible Hulk # 151 (May 1972) - by Trimpe & John Severin. This is an excellent issue and has remained one of my all-time favourite comics since I first read it when it was reprinted in the UK "Mighty World of Marvel" comic

Incredible Hulk # 132 (October 1970) - by Trimpe & John Severin.

Incredible Hulk # 148 (February 1972) - by Trimpe & John Severin. Yet another classic Hulk tale by Archie Goodwin and Trimpe/Severin.

Marvel Super-Heroes #63 (1977) - Originally published in "Incredible Hulk #109 (November 1968) cover by Trimpe & John Severin. "Marvel Super-Heroes" featured classic Hulk reprints from #25 to #105.

Incredible Hulk #110 (December 1968) cover by Trimpe & John Severin. This is one of my earliest Marvel comics which I purchased only a few years ago. Another Hulk classic that I first read in the UK "Mighty World of Marvel" weekly.

Incredible Hulk # 142 (August 1971) - by Trimpe & John Severin.

Incredible Hulk # 137 (March 1971) - by Trimpe - I have prattled on before about my affection for this issue (and # 136) which were the first 2 issues of the US Hulk comic that I purchased.

"Mighty World of Marvel" #94 (July 1974) by Trimpe. This story was originally published in Incredible Hulk # 131 (September 1970) and is one of the few Hulk back issues I would still like to pick up.

Despite his amazing run on the Hulk, Herb is probably best known by todays comic book fans as the first artist to draw the Wolverine, a character who debuted in “Incredible Hulk” #180 as a villain and has since gone on to become one of the best-known and most annoyingly successful of Marvel’s character ( only beaten to that title for me by “Deadpool”) . Although Trimpe co-created almost all the Hulks supporting cast, including Jim Wilson (#131), Doc Sampson (#141) and the Hulk Busters military unit, he did not as is so often noted, co-create the Wolverine. That accolade goes to John Romita who designed his costume, and writers Len Wein (and Roy Thomas?). I never owned a copy of #180 (and I am unlikely to ever buy this at the prices being asked) but the excellent "True Believers" issue is a good alternative.

Trimpe’s work at Marvel was not just confined to the Hulk, he also created the World War I flying ace the Phantom Eagle (above) which allowed him to indulge his passion for classic planes. He also worked on numerous other Marvel titles including runs on Ant-Man in Marvel Feature , Ka-Zar, Iron-Man, Fantastic Four, Godzilla, Shogun Warrior, War of the Worlds, the Defenders, G.I Joe and many other books. Sadly, Herb passed away in 2015 while out jogging from a heart attack at the age of age 75. .

Favourite Comics: Kull the Conquerer issue 9

I picked up the above copy of "Kull the Conqueror" along with "Conan the Barbarian" issue 26 (both my first issues of these respective titles) on a long weekend holiday with my mum, dad and brother in Blackpool. I can still vividly recall passing a small market type stall full of comics while on a late evening family stroll on a hot August night in1973. The stall was literally creaking with comics but the cover to Kull issue 9 by Marie and John Severin stood out and as I picked it up I also noticed Conan issue 26 - my fascination with sword and sorcery comics and books started on that day. Although I lost my original copy of Conan issue 26 about 20 years ago (buying a replacement soon after) Kull issue 9 has remained in my collection for nearly 50 years and in that time it has remained a firm favourite of mine not only for the great art and story but also for the memory it instantly provides of a great holiday break with ny late family every time I see that cover.

The story by Gerry Conway, “The Scorpion God” is based on the Robert E Howard short story “Swords of the Purple Kingdom” an adventure tale where a maiden (Nalissa) asks Kull for permission to marry a young warrior (Dalgar of Farsun). Both are from different nation tribes but despite this Kull and the local tribal leaders agree to the marriage.... but some are unhappy. As a result Kull is then kidnapped in a coup attempt but is later released by Dalgar and a battle rages between the masked leader of the coup known a the “Scorpion” (who in reality is Donal who prepared the marriage agreement). As the battle ensues Kull chases the Scorpion to the old abandoned temple of the Scorpion God where he confronts the Scorpion (now unmasked as Donal) . Just as Donal is about to crush an unconscious Kull with a large piece of temple rock a large scorpion appears and kills Donal who with his dying words proclaims “By the Gods no scorpion has walked Valusia …in a thousand…yeaaaarssss” . 100% teenage action drama that no 13 year old boy (as I was in 1973) could fail to be impressed by!

The above is one of my all time favourite comic book pages which I used to spend hours (days!) trying to copy. Stunning action art by the Severins.

The entire first volume of Kull the Conqueror (issues 1- 10) is excellent and some of these back issues can still be picked up for relatively little money. Incidentally, I revisited that Blackpool stall several times and picked up a whole batch of other comics including Amazing Adventures (Ka-Zar) #18 , Sub-Mariner #63, and Avengers #112.