Hulk

Biodata

Background

Bruce Banner became the Hulk after exposure to gamma radiation while saving Rick Jones at a gamma-bomb testing site 233 552 746. Once feared and hunted, Hulk later became an Avenger and a publicly trusted hero 11 233.

Banner and Hulk have distinct consciousnesses. Banner long feared Hulk’s capacity for destruction, while Hulk believed people liked Banner but saw him as a monster. When an altered reality reflected Hulk’s wish that he had never existed, Banner spoke with him in a dreamscape. They acknowledged that they needed each other and agreed to help save the world 552 556.

Appearance

Hulk is Banner’s giant, green form 552.

• Size and strength — His transformation gives him a massive build and strength far beyond Banner’s human form 552.
• Symbiote-corrupted form — Knull’s touch once covered him in a pitch-black symbiote 213.

Personality

Hulk is direct, quick to anger, and eager to fight, but he is not indifferent to others. He tries to comfort Captain America with a touch on the shoulder, thanks Thor after being freed from a symbiote, and brings Tony Stark a burger when concerned about him 51 226 820.

His fear of being disliked runs beneath his aggression. Banner’s assurance that children see Hulk as a hero helps persuade him to return to the fight against Kang 556.

Abilities & Skills

Gamma-enhanced strength

Hulk’s strength makes him one of the Avengers’ foremost combatants 15 226.

• Smashes through Hydra soldiers and giant robots in battle 439 440.
• Tears apart a mechanical Captain America and hurls a section of airport ground at Ultron 832.
• Grows stronger as his anger rises; when he is no longer angry, his combat power falls 226 326.

Durability

• Endures Thor’s lightning while under symbiote control and continues fighting 226.
• Fights through Ghost Rider’s hellfire and breaks free of his chain’s hold 552.

Transformation

• Banner can return when Hulk calms himself and falls asleep 65.
• Banner later says he can call Hulk out without first becoming angry 850.
• Gamma-energy absorption can force Hulk back into Banner: Ultron uses it against him in Wakanda 831.

Relationships

• Bruce Banner — His human counterpart. After confronting their mutual fears, they agree that each needs the other 556.
• Thor — Fellow Avenger and rival in strength. Thor helps free him from Knull’s symbiote, and they later fight Ultron together 226 832.
• Tony Stark — Teammate who directs Hulk during the battle against Grendel; Hulk later shows concern for Tony 229 820.
• General Thaddeus Ross — Former leader of the Hulk containment team, whose pursuit of Hulk became an obsession 233 720.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Symbiote Tide — Knull converts Hulk into a symbiote-covered soldier. Spider-Man and Cindy Moon restrain him while Kitty Pryde, carried by Mjolnir, phases him out of the symbiote. Hulk then joins the fight against Grendel 213 226 229.
• Kang’s altered reality — Ghost Rider’s judgment restores memories of Banner’s life as Hulk. Banner later reaches an understanding with Hulk’s consciousness and asks him to help save the world 552 556.
• Ultron’s Avengers Protocol — Hulk attacks Ultron in Wakanda, but Ultron absorbs his gamma energy and reverts him to Banner. Hulk subsequently rejoins the battle against Ultron’s mechanical Avengers 831 832.

Wasteland counterpart

An alternate Bruce Banner rules the Hulk Gang’s territory in the Wasteland. Decades of radiation, age, and isolation have left this version of Hulk mentally damaged and weakened; Venom kills him during a fight with Spider-Man’s group. He is distinct from the Avengers’ Hulk 149 150 151.

Notable Quotes

“Nobody likes Hulk! They like Banner!” 556

“Hulk needs Banner.” 556