Hulk has smashed his way to a new record. A copy of Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 9.0 sold for $490,000 through ComicConnect’s fixed priced marketplace, making it the highest price ever paid for the book.

With only seven copies certified higher on the CGC census, the Silver Age key is notoriously difficult to find in high grades. The comic features the first appearance of the gamma-irradiated goliath and his human counterpart Bruce Banner.

“With just one CGC 9.4 and six CGC 9.2s, pickings above CGC 9.0 are mighty slim,” ComicConnect COO Vincent Zurzolo said. “High grade copies of Hulk #1 are extremely rare compared to other Marvel keys. For instance, Amazing Fantasy #15 boasts four CGC 9.6s and a whopping six CGC 9.4 copies, that’s ten times as many copies as the single highest graded Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 9.4; and the owner of that copy is never going to sell.”

ComicConnect’s Director of Consignments Rob Reynolds can be reached at robr@comicconnect.com or by calling (888) 779-7377 to discuss selling a copy or for a free appraisal.

“The new owner of this is fortunate to own a special piece of American mythology that will continue to gain in value as a cornerstone of his collectible investment portfolio,” Zurzolo said.