The Hulk has gone by several names since his debut, but his newest change is making Marvel history. Bruce Banner has been cured, having his green monster claimed by a new, horrifying host. And fans still don’t realize just how much Infernal Hulk will transform the hero into a singular villain.
The Hulk’s New Identity Is The Biggest Change To The Character, Ever
The Infernal Hulk Will Change Marvel’s Universe More Than Fans Realize
Although the Hulk has been taken over or transformed into different personas within Bruce Banner’s mind, the rules have always allowed fans to grasp the basics. Sometimes Hulk is Savage, other times he’s Joe Fixit, or a hybrid Smart Hulk; the list goes on. But he was still Banner’s monster.
That has all changed with The Incredible Hulk #30, which saw Bruce Banner and the Hulk literally torn apart, separating the man and his monstrous avatar for good. The feat was only possible by a nightmare like “Eldest,” the eldritch horror looking to find and unleash its ancient “Mother of Horrors.” But needing to inhabit the body of the Hulk as a living weapon to do it.
The Eldest has taken on a new, stronger, more monstrous form set to make its debut in Infernal Hulk #1. Speaking to Traversing the Stars, writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson counters any idea that this is a temporary, contained, or typical transformation. In fact, the Hulk identity being taken from Banner by Eldest may be the biggest moment in Hulk’s entire comic career:
“The second act that we’re starting now with Infernal Hulk, this is the development. Up until now Hulk has been Banner’s monster, and now he becomes the monster of Earth. He’s all of our monster now. He is now, to us, what he’s been to Banner all this time… For the moment we are seeing a Hulk that is not the good guy… He has said in the book, this new version is going to be setting out to bring back the Age of Monsters on Earth. So it’s going to become a very different book for a while.
“I’ve been very vocal in saying that this is the biggest change to Hulk’s status quo, ever… and I stand by that. Even thinking about things like Planet Hulk, the Joe Fix-It thing back in the day, World War Hulk, where it was literally him against everything. What’s coming is more significant than any of that stuff. I’m really excited about it and it’s going to be a big deal. I shouldn’t say anything more.
The Deadliest & Most Evil Hulk of All Time is About To Unleash Hell
The Infernal Hulk #1 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein, Matthew Wilson
This doesn’t seem like a case of hype or simple promotion, since the hijacking of Hulk by Eldest is a true ‘worst case scenario.’ And as the Hulk begins to encounter more and more of his friends, like the X-Men, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and more, they will all realize the horrifying new nature of the Infernal Hulk for themselves.
Nothing will be able to stop Eldest’s mission to free untold nightmares from captivity, giving rise to a new Age of Monsters. And for fans hoping that Bruce Banner would somehow find a way to reclaim his other half, Johnson doesn’t sound optimistic. If Banner were even able to stand against an eldritch beast like this new ‘Father of Horrors,’ why would he?
Infernal Hulk #1 arrives on November 26, from Marvel Comics.
- First Appearance
-
The Incredible Hulk (1962)
- Alias
-
Robert Bruce Banner
- Alliance
-
Avengers, Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Pantheon, Warbound, S.M.A.S.H., Secret Avengers
- Franchise
-
Marvel