Hulk

"Bruce Banner", "The Hulk", and "The Incredible Hulk" redirect here. For the Marvel Cinematic Universe character, see Bruce Banner (Marvel Cinematic Universe). For other uses, see Hulk (disambiguation) and The Incredible Hulk (disambiguation).

Bruce Banner
Hulk
Cover art for the comic book issue The Immortal Hulk #20 (July 2019)
Art by Dale Keown and Peter Steigerwald
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Incredible Hulk #1 (May 1962)
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Full name
  • Robert Bruce Banner[1]
SpeciesHuman mutate[a]
Team affiliationsAvengers
Defenders
Horsemen of Apocalypse
Fantastic Four[2]
Pantheon
Warbound
S.M.A.S.H.
Secret Avengers
PartnershipsShe-Hulk
Notable aliasesJoe Fixit, World-Breaker, Devil Hulk, Jade Giant, Jade Jaws,[3] Doc Green, Guilt Hulk/Guilt, War
AbilitiesAs Bruce Banner/Doc Green:
  • Genius level intellect
  • Proficient scientist and engineer

As Hulk/Joe Fixit:

  • Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability
  • Anger empowerment
  • Regeneration
  • Shockwave generation
  • Gamma ray emission and manipulation

The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of The Incredible Hulk (May 1962). In his comic book appearances, the character, who has dissociative identity disorder (DID), is primarily represented by the alter ego Hulk, a green-skinned, hulking, and muscular humanoid possessing a limitless degree of physical strength, and the alter ego Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, a physically weak, socially withdrawn, and emotionally reserved physicist, both of whom typically resent each other.

Following his accidental exposure to gamma rays while saving the life of Rick Jones during the detonation of an experimental bomb, Banner is physically transformed into the Hulk when subjected to emotional stress, at or against his will. This transformation often leads to destructive rampages and conflicts that complicate Banner's civilian life. The Hulk's level of strength is usually conveyed proportionate to his anger level. Commonly portrayed as a raging savage, the Hulk has been represented with other alter egos, from a mindless, destructive force (War) to a brilliant warrior (World-Breaker), a self-hating protector (the Devil Hulk), a genius scientist in his own right (Doc Green), and a gangster (Joe Fixit).

Despite Hulk and Banner's desire for solitude, the character has a large supporting cast. This includes Banner's love interest Betty Ross, his best friend, Rick Jones, his cousin She-Hulk, and therapist and ally Doc Samson. In addition, the Hulk alter ego has many key supporting characters, like his co-founders of the superhero team the Avengers, his queen Caiera, fellow warriors Korg and Miek, and sons Skaar and Hiro-Kala. However, his uncontrollable power has brought him into conflict with his fellow heroes and others. Despite this, he tries his best to do what's right while battling villains such as the Leader, the Abomination, the Absorbing Man, and more.

Lee stated that the Hulk's creation was inspired by a combination of Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.[4] Although the Hulk's coloration has varied throughout the character's publication history, the usual color is green.

One of the most iconic characters in popular culture,[5][6] the character has appeared on a variety of merchandise, such as clothing and collectable items, inspired real-world structures (such as theme park attractions), and been referenced in several media. Banner and the Hulk have been adapted into live-action, animated, and video game incarnations. The character was first played in live-action by Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno in the 1978 television series The Incredible Hulk and its subsequent television films The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988), The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989), and The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990). In the film, the character was played by Eric Bana in Hulk (2003). In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the character was first portrayed by Edward Norton in the film The Incredible Hulk (2008) and then by Mark Ruffalo in later appearances in the franchise.

  1. ^ Cronin, Brian (November 3, 2005). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #23". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. [Stan] Lee began referring (for more than a couple of months) to the Incredible Hulk's alter ego as 'Bob Banner' rather than the 'Bruce Banner' that he was originally named. Responding to criticism of the goof, Stan Lee, in issue #28 of the Fantastic Four, laid out how he was going to handle the situation, 'There's only one thing to do-we're not going to take the cowardly way out. From now on his name is Robert Bruce Banner-so we can't go wrong no matter WHAT we call him!'
  2. ^ Simonson, Walt (w), Adams, Arthur (p), Thibert, Art (i). "Big Trouble on Little Earth!" Fantastic Four, no. 347 (December 1990).
  3. ^ World War Hulk: Gamma Files #1
  4. ^ DeFalco, Tom (2003). The Hulk: The Incredible Guide. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-7894-9260-9.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference HulkIconic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference HulkIconic2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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