Publishers / Marvel / The Incredible Hulk (1968) / #257
257March 1981
$0.50

The Incredible Hulk #257

Marvel · March 1981

First appearance: Ruth Messinger1 variant
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
The Incredible Hulk (Marvel, 1968 series)
Issue
#257
Publication date
March 1981
Key date
1981-03-00
Indicia publisher
Marvel Comics Group
Price
$0.50
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Ruth Messinger - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0Chaos from the Crypt!cover1pencils: John Romita Jr.; inks: Al Milgrom; letters: Gaspar SaladinoArabian Knight, Bruce Banner, Hulk, Abdul Qamar
1Crypt of Chaos!comic story22script: Bill Mantlo; pencils: Sal Buscema; inks: Sal Buscema; colors: Bob Sharen; letters: Jim NovakArabian Knight, Bruce Banner, Captain Bowman, Hulk, Edwin Jarvis, Rick Jones, Edwin Maxwell, Ruth Messinger First, Moses, Diane Perrywinkle, Abdul Qamar, Ramses II, Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, Doc Samson
3Mighty Marvel's Big Money-Saving Holiday Offer!promo (ad from the publisher)1script: ? (promo copy); letters: ?; typeset
4With Friends Like These… She's Bound to Have Enemies!promo (ad from the publisher)1script: ? (promo copy); letters: typeset
6-letters page1script: Bill Mantlo

Plus 3 pages of advertisements and other matter across 2 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Newsstandbarcode 0714860245603

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk #17
ISBN 978-1-302-94937-2		2023On eBay ›
To Hunt the Hulk
ISBN 978-1-302-96058-2		2025On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

‹ #256156 of 374#258 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com