Bruce Banner is revealed as the real monster in Hulk #1 preview

Hulk #1 excerpt (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Donny Cates is trading in one Marvel monster (Venom) for another in the upcoming Hulk series with artist Ryan Ottley. Spinning out of the recent Free Comic Book Day: Avengers/Hulk giveaway special, their Hulk run follows him as he leaves Earth (and hopefully his troubles and persecution) behind to be, and we quote, a "Smashtronaut."

Here is an unlettered preview of Hulk #1:

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Hulk #1 preview

"Marvel just gave me the keys to the strongest one there is," Cates said when his Hulk run was announced. "Haha... oh boy. You guys are just not ready for this. You're about to find out what happens when Ryan Ottley and I get angry... and guess what? Well... pretty sure you're gonna like us a lot when we're angry."

The Hulk plays into Cates' penchant for his self-described "emo shit" combined with rampant destruction, as well as Ottley's cartooning ability and his passion for brutal but intricate detail as exemplified by his run on Invincible. They will be joined by colorist Frank Martin, letterer Cory Petit, and editors Wil Moss and Kat Gregorowicz.

Here is a trailer Marvel produced for this Hulk relaunch:

Cates' passion for the Hulk is well-documented, and he's often talked online and at conventions for the last few years about having a unique pitch for the character, waiting for the right time to pitch it to Marvel. With Al Ewing and Joe Bennett's hit Immortal Hulk run ending in just a few months, now seems to be that time.

In addition to the Hulk #1 primary cover by Ottley and Martin, there will be variants from Simone Bianchi, Ed McGuinness, Arthur Adams, Peach Momoko, Björn Barends (for Frankies Comics and Golden Apple Comics), Dan Jurgens, Herb Trimpe (a 'hidden gem' variant), Joe Bennett (an 'Infinity Saga Phase 1' variant), a purple variant, a blank variant, Gabrielle Dell'Otto (two versions), Jeehyung Lee (two versions), Junggeon Yoon (two versions, both 'Double Exposure' 3D variants), Ryan Stegman (two different covers, with a third version without a logo), a design variant by Ottley, Mike McKone (a Southside Comics exclusive), Alan Quah (two versions), Marco Mastrozzo (two versions), Mike Mayhew (two versions), David Nakayama, and Marco Turini. Check out the Hulk #1 covers released so far here:

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Hulk #1 covers

Hulk #1 goes on sale on November 24.

While you wait, make sure you've read all the best Hulk stories of all time.

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)