As theIncredible Hulk, Bruce Banner is famously the Strongest One There is, but even the Green Goliath can always get stronger. That was the case in these 12 transformations, where an outside force added to Hulk’s power, making him even stronger than he’s ever been.
For this list,we’re looking at times Hulk got an explicit power-up by adding something additional to his usual gamma powers. From ancient curses to advanced science, Hulk has undergone some truly shocking transformations, making the rage-filled antihero even more destructive and - at his strongest - capable of destroying entire planets as if they were nothing.
12The Lizard-Hulk - Hulk Drinks Doctor Curt Connors' Serum
As Seen in Spider-Island #4 by Christos N. Gage and Paco Diaz
In a world where everyone in Manhattan has been transformed into spider-creatures by the monstrous Spider-Queen, the only escape is to block her influence with an even more extreme mutation. In response,the Avengers voluntarily underwent monstrous transformations, with Captain Marvel using Morbius' vampire serum,Captain America becoming a werewolf, and the Hulk downing the concoction that created Spider-Man’s old enemy the Lizard. The result was the towering Lizard-Hulk.
As the Lizard-Hulk, Hulk was marginally stronger and gained armored scales all over his body, as well as vicious claws and teeth. However,his most impressive upgrade was a gigantic tail, giving the Hulk yet another superstrength limb to use in combat.
11Kluh - Hulk’s Morality Is Inverted, Unleashing the Hulk’s Hulk
Introduced in Avengers and X-Men: Axis #4 by Rick Remender and Leinil Francis Yu
During theAXISevent, various heroes and villains had their moral alignments magically flipped. While Hulk was always dangerous, this spell unleashed his darker aspect, which called itself Kluh, or"the Hulk’s Hulk.“While the Hulk is powered by rage, Kluh harnesses his hatred to unleash his full power, while also retaining a smart, tactical mind. Despite his intellect,Kluh was a sadistic cannibal who attempted to eat the heroes who stood in his way. As Kluh,Hulk’s strength was truly unbound, punching Nova to France when they fought in Arizona. Thankfully, Kluh was vanquished when theAXISspell was reversed.
10The Hammer of Nul - Hulk Is Possessed by an Asgardian Demon
As Seen in Fear Itself #2 by Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen
When the dark god known as the Serpent invaded Earth inFear Itself, he brought with him eight hammers containing the bound souls of ancient Asgardian demons. These hammers were attracted to heroes and villains ‘worthy’ of their power, withHulk being possessed by Nul, the Breaker of Worlds. This resulted in a major strength upgrade for Hulk, resulting inThor admitting for the first timethat he wasn’t on the same power level as the Jade Giant. Hulk cut a swathe of destruction across the Earth until the Serpent was finally defeated by Thor.
As a separate entity, Nul is known as the ‘black Hulk’ and embodies entropy, causing anything it touches to crumble and break. Currently, the entity’s hammer is held by Galehaut, a member of the Avengers' rival team the Twilight Court.
9War Hulk - Hulk Is Transformed by Apocalypse
As Seen in The Incredible Hulk #456 by Peter David, Adam Kubert and Joe Kubert
A fanatical believer in the edict ‘survival of the fittest,’ the ancient mutant Apocalypse often gathers four powerful individuals to serve as his horsemen, using Celestial technology to enhance their powers. Such was the case in 1997, whenApocalypse transformed the Hulk into his latest Horseman of War. Hulk was the first ever mutant to be chosen to serve Apocalypse, but even the mutant supremacist villain couldn’t deny Bruce Banner’s limitless strength.
As War, the Hulk is given weapons including a gigantic sword and mechanical tentacles, as well as armor that influences his mind, turning him into a colder and deadlier warrior. As War,Hulk’s strength was so extremethat he was able to stop the Juggernaut in his tracks. This is notable because the Juggernaut’s magic momentum is meant to make him unstoppable no matter what is in his way, suggesting War Hulk is so strong, it overcame the power of Cyttorak - the demonic god from who Juggernaut derives his power.
8Wendihulk - Hulk Falls Under the Curse of the Wendigo
As Seen In The Incredible Hulk #8 by Jeff Loeb and Arthur Adams
In Marvel lore, anyone who eats human flesh within the boundaries of Canada is transformed into the Wendigo - a towering monster who Hulk has battled many times in the past. However, in the pages ofIncredible Hulk #8, Marvel’s heroes faced a version of the Wendigo which could pass on its curse by biting others. This resulted in an army of Wendigos who eventually got their teeth into Hulk, transforming him into the"Wendihulk.”
Hulk was covered in green fur and grew gigantic fangs and claws, but the real difference was to his strength. At his strongest, Hulk has been able to fight Sentry to a stalemate, as fans saw in the epicWorld War Hulkfrom Greg Pak and John Romita. Jr, with the two fighting each other up to the point of exhaustion, then collapsing. However,as the Wendihulk, the Hulk was capable of restraining the Sentry in a single hand.
7Hulk² - Hulk Doubles His Strength
As Seen in Indestructible Hulk #14 by Mark Waid, Mahmud Asrar and Kim Jacinto
After joining SHIELD, Bruce Banner ended up on a mission through time, emerging back atthe moment of the Hulk’s creationand attempting to save his younger self from the gamma bomb. Unfortunately, the future Bruce was hit by the bomb instead,giving him adouble doseof gamma radiation. This transformed the Hulk into a towering monster covered in spikes, referred to as"Hulk squared."
Hulk Squared was so strong that even by gesturing, he sent military jeeps tumbling through the air without making contact. Bruce even speculated that Hulk Squard could tear things apart on the atomic level. Thankfully, further tinkering with the time stream set events right, erasing the Hulk Squared from existence.
6Silver Hulk - Hulk Becomes Galactus' Herald
As Seen in What If…? Galactus Transformed Hulk #1 by Mat Groom and Lan Medina
In this recentWhat If…?story,Galactus chose Hulk as his new herald, taking the role traditionally held by the Silver Surfer. This resulted in the Hulk receiving a portion of the Power Cosmic, able to unleash unbelievably potent blasts of energy comparable to Marvel’s gods. He was also covered in silvery armor which made him even more durable, and was capable of flight and (if his power equals the Silver Surfer’s) teleportation.
Ultimately, the Silver Hulk turned against his master, with his further adventures as Galactus' enemy yet to be seen.
5Titan - Hulk Is Transformed by the Demonic D’Spayre
As Seen in Hulk #6 by Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley
In a frantic attempt to take control of his life, Bruce Banner went to Doctor Strange with a bold plan: mystically alter the Hulk’s mind so that he is always imprisoned, with Bruce able to siphon his power by deliberately enraging his bestial self. The plan worked, and Bruce began his ‘Smashtronaut’ era, harnessing Hulk’s power to turn himself into a one-person multiversal spacecraft. However, after a few adventures, Hulk began manifesting anew form known as Titan- an apocalyptic monster bursting with eldritch energy.
Titan was strong on a level usually reserved for gods, and could absorb energy from others, unleashing it in huge blasts capable of all-but-destroying entire planets. Ultimately, Bruce discovered that the Titan was a creation of the demon D’Spayre, which had disguised itself as Doctor Strange to influence the Hulk. With the help of the real Doctor Strange, Bruce undid D’Spayre’s meddling and banished the Titan persona… for now.
4Blue Hulk - Hulk Gains the Powers of Captain Universe
As Seen in Captain Universe: Incredible Hulk by Jay Faerber and Carlos Magno
In Marvel lore, the Enigma Force is a cosmic being which protects the fabric of reality, bonding itself to individuals to gain the perspective needed to combat specific threats. The Engima Force grants enhanced strength, cosmic energy blasts, force fields, flight, a major healing factor and the ability to transmute matter on the molecular level.Turned blue as a raging Captain Universe, Hulk wielded the Enigma Forceagainst AIM before it quickly moved on.
3Zombie Hulk - Hulk Gains the Power Cosmic by Eating Galactus
As Seen in Marvel Zombies #5 by Robert Kirkman and Sean Philips
InMarvel Zombies, an alternate reality version of the Sentry breaks through to Earth, spreading an undead plague across the superhuman population. The former Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four and more devour humanity and - when Galactus arrives to consume the planet - gang up to kill the cosmic deity. Most of the zombies fall in the fight, but Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Luke Cage, Iron Man and Giant-Man ‘survive,‘eating Galactus’ flesh and gaining a portion of the Power Cosmic.
Even one sixth of the Power Cosmic is more power than most gods possess, and Hulk was able to travel from world to world, eating all living beings to the edge of the universe in just forty years (with the other zombies noting Hulk ate the majority of their victims.) The Marvel Zombies went on to have many other adventures, but this upgrade turned Hulk into a natural disaster on a galactic scale.
