HULK & THING: HARD KNOCKS #3 p1 Title Page by Jae Lee & Bruce Jones

Writer Bruce Jones is a living legend. One of the great architects of the Bronze Age, and a frequent collaborator of Bernie Wrightson, Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, and Richard Corben, Bruce also happens to have written some of the most memorable Hulk stories. Jae Lee is one of the most gifted illustrators to ever work in the comics medium, and his choice of styles presents a case study in how to create different kinds of equally iconic work.

The many battles over the years between Hulk and The Thing have established such a fanbase that every issue that features a Hulk vs. Thing battles qualifies as a Key Issue.

This first page of the last issue of the series bears the original title, hand-written by Lee, “Hulk vs. Thing,” which tells you most of what you need to know. The oblique imagery depicts Ben Grimm (top hand) and Hulk (bottom hand) holding photos of an epic battle –one whose winner is unclear. In many ways this is a better image than the one used on the cover of the issue.

This published splash page is priced less than a commission, and Lee has a spotty track record for delivering commissions.