In the back of the newly re-launched Avengers titles, Brian Bendis is writing an Oral History of the Avengers. Sort of a documentary approach to the Avengers history--what if every person connected with the team was interviewed? It's very interesting, and somewhat controversial. Best of all, this backup allows Marvel to showcase some great covers and illustrations from the past, including Art Adams covers to the Avengers Classics reprint series.
These illustrations are from Avengers Classics #1-3, showcasing the Hulk on cover, when he was briefly part of the team. Here the Space Phantom impersonates the Hulk and attacks Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp. Which ticked off everyone to no end and made for the Hulk's early exit. Iron Man is still in his "bucket-head" early armor, while Hank Pym upgraded himself from Ant-Man to Giant-Man.
The Hulk didn't go quietly--in the third issue he teamed up with Namor the Sub-Mariner to fight the Avengers. Iron Man gets a new suit of armor--my favorite--with the pointed tips of the mask rising above his head. I bought Randy Bowen's statue of this armor and I love it.
I really thought the Hulk was a lot fun in the Avengers. He's a walking gamma bomb of chaos and unpredictability. As Tony Stark says in the Oral History, "He was like a big, big, big dog on a leash. Just take the muzzle off and let him loose." It wasn't until The Defenders that we got the thrill of seeing the Hulk in a regular team book.
With all these new Avengers teams, Marvel tries to think out of the box and put in characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine that were previously off limits. It looks like Wolverine and Hawkeye are pulling double duty on two teams. Why not recruit the Hulk? Nuff Said.
Update: Comments from my old MT blog...
dusty abell
Art Adams covers as well. Just like I did when he did the covers for Dark Horse Comics Godzilla reprint series way back.