One Hulk Clapping - from Fantastic Four #12 to Infernal Hulk #1

Originally on sale 1962-12-11

This week, while on a slightly more than a day trip to Richmond with my youngest daughter, I had the opportunity to finally re-read The Fantastic Four #12 (this time in the foil facsimile edition*).  An outstanding issue by all accounts, but I want to focus on what may be the first instance of the Hulk-Clap...and what it has become today.

*Marvel published the first 12 issues of the FF in this format over the last 12 months in honor of the new movie from last summer.

Let's jump right to a blow-up of the three-panel clap:

Forget the fact that the Hulk has three toes; he's the real deal, not some Space Phantom in disguise.  He disables three of the Fantastic Four with one blow.  Although, shouldn't he have snuffed out Johnny's flame?  It was a love-tap at best, but still highly effective.

Now, let's look at the latest incarnation from Infernal Hulk #1. 

Published 2025 Nov 26

WARNING: Graphic Content! (let's see if I can pull a double-jump break) [Sorry, it didn't work - avert your eyes, avert your eyes!!]

Disgusting, isn't it?  I don't care if this is some evil being taking over the Hulk's form; this isn't the Hulk I want to be reading about.  And I will admit that I fell victim to the positive buzz about the series, but it should've been a hard pass. Worse, I didn't read this one until I had already bought through issue #4. Do I finish the series and try to resell, or "cut bait" and run?

That's 63 years of "progress" for you.  Sheesh!!

For further comparison, here are the page spreads of the two issues:

Uggh, my internet wi-fi is making these page loads sooooo slow...

Speaking of progress, I'm glad they eventually made Sue the most powerful member of the FF, giving her force field powers.  But this gem is a pretty funny and archaic by today's standards:

It's not enough that Ross made such a comment, which I would expect of someone from his generation, but the fact that Reed so readily confirms it probably explains why it took so long for those two to finally get hitched!

Come back soon for more Comics And... (as soon as I have the time).

I almost forgot - today's title is brought to you by the Simpsons!