What makes the best comic book covers? It is a great topic for debate. For us, as individuals, there is no wrong answer, of course; it is purely subjective. But, with a little thought it’s possible to explain what it is about a particular image that grabs you. The best images are the ones that make you stop and check out something you weren’t previously planning to purchase – and in some cases, you even end up picking up a title you’ve never even heard of before.

When you look closely at Herb Trimpe’s work, the Marvel Comics mainstay was quite dramatic without being spectacular. Sure, many Marvel fans may take umbrage at that statement, but I follow it up with this: In more than four decades of comics collecting, Trimpe’s work continued to rise to the top of the pile. And his Herculean effort to bring the sheer alien atmosphere of the Incredible Hulk facing off against Marvel’s Tarzan pastiche, Ka-Zar, in the blonde jungle lord’s Savage Land is just another reason why the late artist earned his ranking as a comic book icon.

On this stunning cover, Trimpe is joined by the late, great John Severin, whose detailed and distinctive style graced war comics for EC Comics and Marvel Comics, and Western tales for Marvel. He was also one of the founding cartoonists on Mad and enjoyed a 45-year stint on Cracked. Together, Trimpe and Severin made mighty Marvel magic on the frontispiece of Incredible Hulk #109. But with such great talent, why would we be surprised?

On this collectible cover from 1968, Marvel’s resident man-monster faces danger in the “Lost Land” of Marvel’s jungle king. With Ka-Zar’s feline companion, sabertoothed tiger Zabu, in the foreground, this is one cover that will be a wonderful addition to any collection.

‘Nuff said, eh?

-Scott Braden