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Crosswicking
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* TheChessMaster: The Leader and Greg Pak's Hulkless Banner.
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* TheChessMaster: The Leader and Bruce Banner is this, at least under Greg Pak's Hulkless Banner.pen. As we learn in ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks'', Banner's just as dangerous as his savage green alter-ego -- if not more so.
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Bruce Banner, better known as the Hulk, forces himself not to react to the dangerous situations he finds himself in out of fear of HulkingOut, justified since as the Hulk he's [[NighInvulnerability Nigh-Invulnerable]] so the only thing he's really worried about is [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry what's gonna happen to the enemy.]] This trait is carried over to his [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 TV]] and [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse film]] counterparts.
* ConservationOfNinjutsu: The Hulk can spend an entire comic battling one superhero or villain, but when faced with the entire army of them then he takes them out like flies. Conversely if Hulk is on a team, he never seems to pull out quite the same levels of power/rage. Perhaps justified as Hulk's rage would increase if he felt bullied by a large group of people as opposed to facing a single opponent, thus producing more rage, which would increase his strength accordingly.
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* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: It happens every now and then. Some examples:
** Hulk overpowered and punched CrisisCrossover BigBad ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} (at the time on a level with a CosmicEntity) so hard that it destroyed his physical body and caused a dimensional rift.
** During ''World War Hulk'', he also managed to beat Zom, arguably the most powerful known demon in the Marvel Universe, although later issues somewhat retconned this by [[WorfHadTheFlu stating that Doctor Strange was holding it back]].
** Hulk also ripped the galactic threat the Galaxy Master into pieces from within; and on another occasion handled the infinite power from the singularity of the core of a black hole; and on yet another ripped apart a weapon designed to withstand and kill the Celestials.
** Hulk overpowered and punched CrisisCrossover BigBad ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} (at the time on a level with a CosmicEntity) so hard that it destroyed his physical body and caused a dimensional rift.
** During ''World War Hulk'', he also managed to beat Zom, arguably the most powerful known demon in the Marvel Universe, although later issues somewhat retconned this by [[WorfHadTheFlu stating that Doctor Strange was holding it back]].
** Hulk also ripped the galactic threat the Galaxy Master into pieces from within; and on another occasion handled the infinite power from the singularity of the core of a black hole; and on yet another ripped apart a weapon designed to withstand and kill the Celestials.
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* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: It happens every now and then. Some examples:
**The Hulk overpowered and punched CrisisCrossover BigBad ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} (at the time on a level with a CosmicEntity) so hard that it destroyed his physical body and caused a dimensional rift.
** During ''World War Hulk'', he also managed to beat Zom, arguably the most powerful known demon in the Marvel Universe, although later issues somewhat retconnedoften invokes this by [[WorfHadTheFlu stating that Doctor Strange was holding it back]].
** Hulk also ripped the galactictrope, whether he's smacking around [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]], or smashing some multiversal threat with the Defenders.
** In the 1970s, veteran scribes Marv Wolfman and Len Wein wrote ''The Incredible Hulk: Stalker From the Stars'', wherein the Hulk crosses paths with an EldritchAbomination attempting to escape its prison beneath the Earth so it could conquer and enslave humanity. In this case, the Hulk doesn't punch Cthulhu out so much as rip him to pieces and burn him alive. Ouch.
** One early foe of his was the GalaxyMaster into pieces Master, whose most common form was a huge gaping maw hanging in the middle of space and destroys planets to consume them as food. Hulk's answer? Jump inside it and smash it from within; and on another occasion handled the infinite power from the singularity of the core of a black hole; and on yet another ripped apart a weapon designed to withstand and kill the Celestials.within.
**
** During ''World War Hulk'', he also managed to beat Zom, arguably the most powerful known demon in the Marvel Universe, although later issues somewhat retconned
** Hulk also ripped the galactic
** In the 1970s, veteran scribes Marv Wolfman and Len Wein wrote ''The Incredible Hulk: Stalker From the Stars'', wherein the Hulk crosses paths with an EldritchAbomination attempting to escape its prison beneath the Earth so it could conquer and enslave humanity. In this case, the Hulk doesn't punch Cthulhu out so much as rip him to pieces and burn him alive. Ouch.
** One early foe of his was the Galaxy
** Other feats include the Hulk handling the infinite power from the singularity of the core of a black hole and ripping apart a weapon designed to withstand and kill the Celestials.
** ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} was a powerful [[TwoBeingsOneBody fusion]] of Professor X and Magneto's conscious into a Psychic Entity who had the power of other Omega-Level mutants such as Franklin Richards and Nate Gray and could create a sun from nothing. A InvincibleVillain for Marvel's heroes... until ComicBook/JeanGrey removed Bruce Banner's conscious from Hulk - que one very, very, very angry MegatonPunch and Onslaught's physical form is destroyed. Unfortunatly, this also had the side effect of opening a dimensional rift.
** During ''World War Hulk'', he also managed to beat Zom, arguably the most powerful known demon in the Marvel Universe, although later issues somewhat retconned this by [[WorfHadTheFlu stating that Doctor Strange was holding it back]].
** In one ''Hulk'' book, ComicBook/RedHulk punched The Watcher, then went on to punch an Elder of the Universe to death. Justified in that Red Hulk's energy-absorbing powers basically mean that the stronger his opponent is, the stronger he is.
** In the ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', the Jolly Green Giant is up against [[GodOfEvil The One Below All]] the [[TheAntiGod exact opposite]] of The Above All aka {{God}} basically an EldritchAbomination so powerful even ComicBook/{{Mephisto}} (who’s fought Galactus) is scared of it. But after a HeroicSecondWind Hulk does a ShockwaveClap that ''[[https://preview.redd.it/d66hyi7ztg931.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=cdd5811cd8d6dcb55f922a2fe7a60965196f9639 literally blows the One Below All away]]''. Hulk admits afterward he only bought them a minute breathing room to escape the Lovecraftian nightmare, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. [[spoiler: Made even more awesome retrospective with the revelation that One Below All is really the SuperpoweredEvilSide of the One Above All, but Hulk still clapped him anyway. Justified though since Hulk is apparently the child of One Above All and the counterbalance to creation by being a force of destruction itself.]]
** ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} was a powerful [[TwoBeingsOneBody fusion]] of Professor X and Magneto's conscious into a Psychic Entity who had the power of other Omega-Level mutants such as Franklin Richards and Nate Gray and could create a sun from nothing. A InvincibleVillain for Marvel's heroes... until ComicBook/JeanGrey removed Bruce Banner's conscious from Hulk - que one very, very, very angry MegatonPunch and Onslaught's physical form is destroyed. Unfortunatly, this also had the side effect of opening a dimensional rift.
** During ''World War Hulk'', he also managed to beat Zom, arguably the most powerful known demon in the Marvel Universe, although later issues somewhat retconned this by [[WorfHadTheFlu stating that Doctor Strange was holding it back]].
** In one ''Hulk'' book, ComicBook/RedHulk punched The Watcher, then went on to punch an Elder of the Universe to death. Justified in that Red Hulk's energy-absorbing powers basically mean that the stronger his opponent is, the stronger he is.
** In the ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', the Jolly Green Giant is up against [[GodOfEvil The One Below All]] the [[TheAntiGod exact opposite]] of The Above All aka {{God}} basically an EldritchAbomination so powerful even ComicBook/{{Mephisto}} (who’s fought Galactus) is scared of it. But after a HeroicSecondWind Hulk does a ShockwaveClap that ''[[https://preview.redd.it/d66hyi7ztg931.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=cdd5811cd8d6dcb55f922a2fe7a60965196f9639 literally blows the One Below All away]]''. Hulk admits afterward he only bought them a minute breathing room to escape the Lovecraftian nightmare, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. [[spoiler: Made even more awesome retrospective with the revelation that One Below All is really the SuperpoweredEvilSide of the One Above All, but Hulk still clapped him anyway. Justified though since Hulk is apparently the child of One Above All and the counterbalance to creation by being a force of destruction itself.]]
* DoesNotLikeShoes:
** The Hulk, as his feet are not only too big, but change in size with the rest of him depending on his anger level.
** Zigzagged with his cousin, She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters. During her earlier appearances Shulkie was always barefoot. Nowadays, spending more time as her super-powered alter-ego Shulkie usually wears some sort of footwear, unless she’s forced to transform back into Jennifer (for whom Shulkie’s shoes are too big), or she’s caught into action while carrying out professional duties (she’s a lawyer).
** Both The Professor and Joe Fixit, however, wear appropriate footwear (generally patent leather formal shoes and workboots, respectively. The Professor even once wore bunny slippers!).
** The Hulk, as his feet are not only too big, but change in size with the rest of him depending on his anger level.
** Zigzagged with his cousin, She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters. During her earlier appearances Shulkie was always barefoot. Nowadays, spending more time as her super-powered alter-ego Shulkie usually wears some sort of footwear, unless she’s forced to transform back into Jennifer (for whom Shulkie’s shoes are too big), or she’s caught into action while carrying out professional duties (she’s a lawyer).
** Both The Professor and Joe Fixit, however, wear appropriate footwear (generally patent leather formal shoes and workboots, respectively. The Professor even once wore bunny slippers!).
* FireForgedFriends: The Hulk and his [[ComicBook/PlanetHulk Warbound]] became friends after experiencing great challenges together as gladiators, and their first moments of cohesion are in the volcanic gladiator training camp, thus being almost literally fire forged. Newer members of the Warbound (such as Caiera and Kate) join the Warbound after similar trying circumstances. In-universe, the term "Warbound" explicitly invokes this trope, having fought side-by-side they have bonded and become bound together.
** He started out as brilliant physicist Dr. Bruce Banner, before the [[ILoveNuclearPower radiation accident]] that turned him into the Hulk. Different personalities, including that of Dr. Banner himself, took control of the Hulk's body at different points and showed varying levels of brains and brawn, depending on which one was currently running things. They would occasionally borrow each others' skills, with Banner lending Joe Fixit his memories and computer skills when Fixit needed to figure out who had poisoned the Hulk and who was about to kill them. ItMakesSenseInContext.
** At the start of the "Secret Wars" arc, the heroes are teleported to a remote corner of the universe, Reed Richards immediately announced what has happened and how it must have been done, and Hulk, who currently possesses Banner's mind, only snarls "That's obvious, Richards!" while The Thing and Johnny Storm are still trying to catch up with what Reed just said.
** Merged Hulk, A.K.A "The Professor," is a SplitPersonalityMerge of the three main personas that retains Banner's intelligence. This form is perhaps best remembered as the one used in the early ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' games.
** In ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'', [[EvilCounterpart The Abomination]] is just as strong as Hulk, but retains his genius IQ.
** Also, numerous writers have taken note that innocents are never hurt during Hulk's violent rampage, and have since implied that even when he's a neanderthal-like monster, Bruce Banner's mind is constantly doing calculations to ensure that his actions never cause anything but collateral damage to buildings. Somewhat confirmed in Greg Pak's Hulk run, in which [[spoiler: while fighting his son Skaar, the Hulk slammed the ground as if to attack, but was really aiming to pile up sand to shore up a collapsing building.]]
** Ultimate Hulk reveals that he retains his genius-level intellect in his fight with Abomination.
** Also demonstrated in ''Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine'' (which took place before that fight but due to delays wasn't finished until considerably afterward) where Ultimate Hulk is shown relaxing casually, offering Logan some hot cocoa.
** Hulk's cousin, Jennifer Walters, aka ComicBook/SheHulk, is both a super-strong super-heroine and a practicing lawyer.
** At the start of the "Secret Wars" arc, the heroes are teleported to a remote corner of the universe, Reed Richards immediately announced what has happened and how it must have been done, and Hulk, who currently possesses Banner's mind, only snarls "That's obvious, Richards!" while The Thing and Johnny Storm are still trying to catch up with what Reed just said.
** Merged Hulk, A.K.A "The Professor," is a SplitPersonalityMerge of the three main personas that retains Banner's intelligence. This form is perhaps best remembered as the one used in the early ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' games.
** In ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'', [[EvilCounterpart The Abomination]] is just as strong as Hulk, but retains his genius IQ.
** Also, numerous writers have taken note that innocents are never hurt during Hulk's violent rampage, and have since implied that even when he's a neanderthal-like monster, Bruce Banner's mind is constantly doing calculations to ensure that his actions never cause anything but collateral damage to buildings. Somewhat confirmed in Greg Pak's Hulk run, in which [[spoiler: while fighting his son Skaar, the Hulk slammed the ground as if to attack, but was really aiming to pile up sand to shore up a collapsing building.]]
** Ultimate Hulk reveals that he retains his genius-level intellect in his fight with Abomination.
** Also demonstrated in ''Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine'' (which took place before that fight but due to delays wasn't finished until considerably afterward) where Ultimate Hulk is shown relaxing casually, offering Logan some hot cocoa.
** Hulk's cousin, Jennifer Walters, aka ComicBook/SheHulk, is both a super-strong super-heroine and a practicing lawyer.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross. This is made especially clear in ''ComicBook/HulkGray'', where many parallels between Ross and the Hulk are drawn and Ross grows more and more fanatical in his pursuit of the Hulk as time goes on. Eventually, in his pursuit to defeat him, he became what he hunted: [[spoiler: a Hulk]]. He even lampshades it.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk, a destructive monster, and (usually) has no control over his own actions when he does so. Even worse, thanks to retcons, there are ''several'' Hulks inside him, all fighting with him and between themselves to take control. When he gets back to normal, he can be in the middle of nowhere, unsure of what he did while Hulked out, if he destroyed something or killed someone, with his clothes ravaged by the change... And even if he manages to avoid turning into the Hulk for some time, he would still have to live on the run, with the military on his back trying to capture him, kill him, clone him, experiment with him and kill him again. The very idea of being "normal" is just a far away vague dream.
* IconicOutfit: The Hulk's most usual clothing, purple pants ([[MagicPants that resist everything!]]).
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* TheJuggernaut: The Hulk can go into Juggernaut mode if you really piss him off. During ''World War Hulk'', the most powerful characters in the MU, including Black Bolt, [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]], ComicBook/IronMan in Hulkbuster Armor, ComicBook/SheHulk, ComicBook/{{Ares|Marvel}}, ComicBook/GhostRider, [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Thing]], ComicBook/DoctorStrange with the power of a demonic superweapon, ComicBook/TheSentry, and the ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}} himself couldn't stop him! Though Strange lost control and Ghost Rider had a [[BystanderSyndrome lack of motivation rather than ability]]. Still, Hulk defeating Sentry was thought up until then impossible, and when they thought all his energy was used up doing so, he saw who was really responsible for bombing Sakaar and Hulked Out hard enough to nearly break Earth with his ''steps'' before he was finally stopped.
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* TheJuggernaut: TheJuggernaut:
** The Hulk can go into Juggernaut mode if you really piss him off. During''World War Hulk'', ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'', the most powerful characters in the MU, including Black Bolt, [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]], ComicBook/IronMan in Hulkbuster Armor, ComicBook/SheHulk, ComicBook/{{Ares|Marvel}}, ComicBook/GhostRider, [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Thing]], ComicBook/DoctorStrange with the power of a demonic superweapon, ComicBook/TheSentry, and the ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}} himself couldn't stop him! Though Strange lost control and Ghost Rider had a [[BystanderSyndrome lack of motivation rather than ability]]. Still, Hulk defeating Sentry was thought up until then impossible, and when they thought all his energy was used up doing so, he saw who was really responsible for bombing Sakaar and Hulked Out hard enough to nearly break Earth with his ''steps'' before he was finally stopped.stopped.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' introduces [[spoiler:The Breaker-Apart, a BadFuture version of The Hulk that takes Hulk's unlimited capacity for rage and becoming bigger and stronger to its logical extreme. This Hulk is a CosmicEntity in his own right that breaks apart entire ''universes''. He's even able to kill beings with CompleteImmortality like Mr. Immortal. Nothing can stop this Hulk from destroying everything in existence. Even worse, all traces of Bruce Banner and the Hulks were consumed and replaced by Marvel's resident [[TheAntigod Antigod]] The-One-Below-All, meaning the Breaker-Apart '''wants''' to destroy everything.]]
** The Hulk can go into Juggernaut mode if you really piss him off. During
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' introduces [[spoiler:The Breaker-Apart, a BadFuture version of The Hulk that takes Hulk's unlimited capacity for rage and becoming bigger and stronger to its logical extreme. This Hulk is a CosmicEntity in his own right that breaks apart entire ''universes''. He's even able to kill beings with CompleteImmortality like Mr. Immortal. Nothing can stop this Hulk from destroying everything in existence. Even worse, all traces of Bruce Banner and the Hulks were consumed and replaced by Marvel's resident [[TheAntigod Antigod]] The-One-Below-All, meaning the Breaker-Apart '''wants''' to destroy everything.]]
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* TheLostLenore: Betty Ross becomes this to her husband Bruce Banner until she's BackFromTheDead. There's also Jarella and Caiera.
* LookBehindYou: Used during a "inside Bruce Banner's brain" sequence, as the gray Hulk distracts the green Hulk by saying, "Look! [[MythologyGag It's Lou Ferrigno!]]" before locking that aspect of Banner's mind away again.
** Subverted in another issue of Hulk saw the eponymous hero facing down his arch nemesis [[EvilGenius The Leader]], only for the villain to warn him, "Rock's heading your way." This of course is met with extreme skepticism by the Hulk, who doesn't turn, and is summarily skewered by '''The Rock''', once of the Leader's henchmen wearing a powerful shapeshifting battlesuit.
* TheLostLenore: Betty Ross becomes this to her husband Bruce Banner until she's BackFromTheDead. There's also Jarella and Caiera.
** Subverted in another issue of Hulk saw the eponymous hero facing down his arch nemesis [[EvilGenius The Leader]], only for the villain to warn him, "Rock's heading your way." This of course is met with extreme skepticism by the Hulk, who doesn't turn, and is summarily skewered by '''The Rock''', once of the Leader's henchmen wearing a powerful shapeshifting battlesuit.
* TheLostLenore: Betty Ross becomes this to her husband Bruce Banner until she's BackFromTheDead. There's also Jarella and Caiera.
* LovesMyAlterEgo: Happens to the Hulk, believe it or not. Betty preferred Bruce Banner, Jarella preferred Hulk and Caiera loves both.
** That Betty loved the integrated Hulk shows her consistency; she loved him for his mind rather than his body in all incarnations.
** That Betty loved the integrated Hulk shows her consistency; she loved him for his mind rather than his body in all incarnations.
* MisplacedRetribution: Most of the Gamma Corps hunted the Hulk because they wrongly believed he was responsible for their personal tragedies. To their credit, they stop hunting the Hulk once they realize this.
** Mess' child was killed during a battle between the Hulk and the Abomination and she was led to believe that the Hulk threw the bus that killed him. It was actually the Abomination who did it, which was even more galling to Mess because she let the government alter the left half of her body to be Abomination-like.
** Gideon blamed the Hulk for his son Jim Wilson's death just because Jim was a friend of the Hulk's when he died. Jim actually died of AIDS (which, to be clear, he did not contract [[HotSkittyOnWailordAction from the Hulk]]). The Hulk pointed this out to Gideon. The Hulk then mentioned that Jim never told him his father was still alive, and he [[ArmorPiercingQuestion asked Gideon]] [[AbusiveParents why Jim was a runaway pretending to be an orphan in the first place.]]
** Prodigy's parents claimed that he suffered birth defects because of the Hulk. Prodigy became a Leader-like Gamma mutant and joined the Corps for payback. He later discovered that his parents blamed the Hulk to hide the ''real'' reason for his birth defects- their heroin addiction.
** The only members who don't fit this are Grey and Griffin. Grey actually hated his brother Glenn Talbot and just wants to prove himself more capable than his brother by beating the Hulk. Griffin just wants someone to hate.
* MissingEpisode: Issues #296-297 were only partially reprinted, due to the issues featuring [[ComicBook/ROMSpaceKnight ROM the Space Knight]]. They would have been skipped entirely if not for the fact that they had major plot advancement that was required reading, hence them appearing in TPB form in severely redacted form.
** Mess' child was killed during a battle between the Hulk and the Abomination and she was led to believe that the Hulk threw the bus that killed him. It was actually the Abomination who did it, which was even more galling to Mess because she let the government alter the left half of her body to be Abomination-like.
** Gideon blamed the Hulk for his son Jim Wilson's death just because Jim was a friend of the Hulk's when he died. Jim actually died of AIDS (which, to be clear, he did not contract [[HotSkittyOnWailordAction from the Hulk]]). The Hulk pointed this out to Gideon. The Hulk then mentioned that Jim never told him his father was still alive, and he [[ArmorPiercingQuestion asked Gideon]] [[AbusiveParents why Jim was a runaway pretending to be an orphan in the first place.]]
** Prodigy's parents claimed that he suffered birth defects because of the Hulk. Prodigy became a Leader-like Gamma mutant and joined the Corps for payback. He later discovered that his parents blamed the Hulk to hide the ''real'' reason for his birth defects- their heroin addiction.
** The only members who don't fit this are Grey and Griffin. Grey actually hated his brother Glenn Talbot and just wants to prove himself more capable than his brother by beating the Hulk. Griffin just wants someone to hate.
* MissingEpisode: Issues #296-297 were only partially reprinted, due to the issues featuring [[ComicBook/ROMSpaceKnight ROM the Space Knight]]. They would have been skipped entirely if not for the fact that they had major plot advancement that was required reading, hence them appearing in TPB form in severely redacted form.
* MyRealDaddy: Creator/PeterDavid gets this with the Hulk, adding a lot of depth and characterization to Bruce Banner and other supporting characters.
* NoSell: Whenever Bruce Banner Hulks out, standard military procedure is to order [[TanksForNothing armored columns,]] and [[TheWorfBarrage air and artillery strikes]] against him, with [[MilitariesAreUseless predictable]] [[CurbStompBattle results.]]
* OfficialCouple: Bruce Banner and Betty Ross. They're currently on the outs, in the wake of Betty returning from being [[OnlyMostlyDead Mostly Dead.]]
* OneManArmy: The Hulk obviously fares well against hordes of mooks, or even EliteMooks, due to NighInvulnerability and SuperStrength. He has spent large part of his publication history annihilating literal armies and goes up against several beings considered {{Physical God}}s, and on more than one occasion beats the stuffing out of them.
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* ParentalSubstitute: Doctor Strange tends to provide the Hulk with occasional sanctuary and regular advice.
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* ParentalSubstitute: Doctor Strange tends to provide ParentalSubstitute:
** ComicBook/DoctorStrange has served as this for the Hulk's simple and childlike Savage Hulk incarnation, providing him with occasional sanctuary and regularadvice.advice.
** The Joe Fixit incarnation identified Michael Berengetti, the Mob boss he worked for in his Vegas thug days as a father figure.
** When Bruce Banner’s father killed his mother and was institutionalized, he was taken in by his Aunt Susan, his father’s estranged sister, who, being a child of abuse herself, did everything she could to protect him and lavished him with all the care and attention she could. Subverted in that Bruce’s trauma, repressed emotions and vastly superior intelligence meant he could never really bond with her no matter how much she tried.
** ''Immortal Hulk'' reveals that, of all the Hulk-sonas, [[spoiler:the Devil Hulk, the one Bruce is most afraid of, was born of Baby Bruce's desire for a loving dad. But since Bruce "didn't know what love was", Devil's affection comes out in the form of wanting to kill Bruce's actual dad, and Bruce's fear warps his perceptions of what the Devil Hulk was trying to say into him being creepy and sinister, something he's put out about.]]
** ComicBook/DoctorStrange has served as this for the Hulk's simple and childlike Savage Hulk incarnation, providing him with occasional sanctuary and regular
** The Joe Fixit incarnation identified Michael Berengetti, the Mob boss he worked for in his Vegas thug days as a father figure.
** When Bruce Banner’s father killed his mother and was institutionalized, he was taken in by his Aunt Susan, his father’s estranged sister, who, being a child of abuse herself, did everything she could to protect him and lavished him with all the care and attention she could. Subverted in that Bruce’s trauma, repressed emotions and vastly superior intelligence meant he could never really bond with her no matter how much she tried.
** ''Immortal Hulk'' reveals that, of all the Hulk-sonas, [[spoiler:the Devil Hulk, the one Bruce is most afraid of, was born of Baby Bruce's desire for a loving dad. But since Bruce "didn't know what love was", Devil's affection comes out in the form of wanting to kill Bruce's actual dad, and Bruce's fear warps his perceptions of what the Devil Hulk was trying to say into him being creepy and sinister, something he's put out about.]]
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* PoorCommunicationKills: A Silver Age example can be found in #165: To Become A God'': a MadScientist who has founded a mobile deep sea colony is at war with his born-below son, who wants to see the surface world that his father abandoned, but his father refuses to take him and the other youths topside. With the Hulk's help, the son leads a rebellion and leads the youths to the surface... [[PopGoesTheHuman where they all die horribly due to being adapted for the high-pressure underwater environment]]. Apparently, daddy dearest never bothered to simply tell his son that his mutations would make him burst in the low-pressure atmosphere above the waves.
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* PreAsskickingOneLiner:
** "You're making me angry. You won't like me when I'm angry."
** Hulk's "Hulk SMASH!" catchprase usually preceeds a brutal beatdown on whoever has pissed him off.
** "You're making me angry. You won't like me when I'm angry."
** Hulk's "Hulk SMASH!" catchprase usually preceeds a brutal beatdown on whoever has pissed him off.
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* RedBaron: The Hulk lives and breathes these, since his name itself is always an example. He has gained other epithets in the recent past, such as "ComicBook/{{Indestructible|Hulk}}" and "ComicBook/{{Immortal|Hulk}}". His traditional Stan Lee-given kennings are "Jade Giant" and "Green Goliath". His [[ComicBook/SheHulk cousin]], meanwhile, is the [[StatuesqueStunner Green Glamazon]] and is usually accompanied by the adjective "ComicBook/{{Sensational|SheHulk}}". Hulk's ''ComicBook/MiniMarvels'' counterpart is the [[AgeLift Jade Juvenile]].
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* RedemptionEqualsDeath:
** In the Hulk's very first appearance, he was captured by Yuri Topolov, the Gargoyle, a [[SovietSuperScience Soviet scientist]] who had been mutated into a [[MyBrainIsBig big-headed dwarf]]. However, when the Gargoyle found that the Hulk had reverted to Bruce Banner, he lamented the loss of his own normalcy. Banner decided to use his own genius to cure Topolov, who responded by ensuring Banner's safe return to America while destroying his own base, taking himself and his Soviet handlers out in the process. Unfortunately, [[LegacyCharacter his son Kondrati]] took the wrong lesson from Yuri's sacrifice, deciding to blame the Hulk ''and'' the State for his father's death.
** ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks'', Samson sacrifices himself to help drain the gamma energy from the hulked-out heroes before it kills them.
** In the Hulk's very first appearance, he was captured by Yuri Topolov, the Gargoyle, a [[SovietSuperScience Soviet scientist]] who had been mutated into a [[MyBrainIsBig big-headed dwarf]]. However, when the Gargoyle found that the Hulk had reverted to Bruce Banner, he lamented the loss of his own normalcy. Banner decided to use his own genius to cure Topolov, who responded by ensuring Banner's safe return to America while destroying his own base, taking himself and his Soviet handlers out in the process. Unfortunately, [[LegacyCharacter his son Kondrati]] took the wrong lesson from Yuri's sacrifice, deciding to blame the Hulk ''and'' the State for his father's death.
** ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks'', Samson sacrifices himself to help drain the gamma energy from the hulked-out heroes before it kills them.
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* SerialEscalation: The Hulk often uses this trope to a lesser or greater extent depending upon the author. Just how mad/strong can he become?
** The Comicbook/RedHulk. How many popular characters can he effortlessly beat? How many ways can he violate the rules of the MarvelUniverse just for something that [[RuleOfCool looks cool]]?
** The Comicbook/RedHulk. How many popular characters can he effortlessly beat? How many ways can he violate the rules of the MarvelUniverse just for something that [[RuleOfCool looks cool]]?
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* StealthPun: Death from ''Comicbook/{{The Sandman|1989}}'' made a LawyerFriendlyCameo during Creator/PeterDavid's run. She visited Marlo Chandler's wedding and gave her a brush as a wedding present. Marlo had recently died and come back to life. Get it? She had a brush with death.
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* SuperpoweredEvilSide: The Hulk is the canonical super-Hyde. The Hulk, over time, has been softened down from "evil" to "pure id". Not that that stops him from racking up the damage bill every time he shows up.
** Banner does have the Devil Hulk personality inside him, which is pure evil... possibly. ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' makes it a little ambiguous, with the Devil Hulk (an AppropriatedAppellation) hating the human world, but being genuinely protective of Bruce and the classic, Savage Hulk, and being downright horrified by the [[GreaterScopeVillain One-Below-All]].
** As well as [[{{Jerkass}} Gray Hulk]] and [[WhatHaveIDone Guilt Hulk]] -- though Grey Hulk isn't really "evil"; he's another closer to "id".
** Bruce Banner's wife Betty Ross was once transformed into the villainous Harpy. Later she became Red She-Hulk, who's more TheAtoner, and currently is the Red Harpy, whose looks and mentality are a mix of the former two.
** Banner does have the Devil Hulk personality inside him, which is pure evil... possibly. ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' makes it a little ambiguous, with the Devil Hulk (an AppropriatedAppellation) hating the human world, but being genuinely protective of Bruce and the classic, Savage Hulk, and being downright horrified by the [[GreaterScopeVillain One-Below-All]].
** As well as [[{{Jerkass}} Gray Hulk]] and [[WhatHaveIDone Guilt Hulk]] -- though Grey Hulk isn't really "evil"; he's another closer to "id".
** Bruce Banner's wife Betty Ross was once transformed into the villainous Harpy. Later she became Red She-Hulk, who's more TheAtoner, and currently is the Red Harpy, whose looks and mentality are a mix of the former two.
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*** Bruce Banner, who was walking around big and green and smart, was in a quandary. His friend was dying of AIDS and wanted a Hulk-blood transfusion in order to get Hulk-healing powers. Bruce, afraid of Hulk 2.0 smashing up crap[[note]]and Banner had good reason to be worried about this; aside from the fact that giving a transfusion of his gamma-contaminated blood is what turned his cousin into ''ComicBook/SheHulk'', there was also a guy who tried to take a Hulk-blood transfusion to cure his cancer... and turned into a mindless BlobMonster[[/note]], declined. The same plot happened in Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon, but the Dragon said yes, saying, paraphrased, only an idiot would say no to the possibility. The friend who received Dragon's blood then exploded. So...um. [[InvertedTrope Yeah]].
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* TechnicalPacifist: The Hulk is this DependingOnTheWriter. Notably shown in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk: X-Men'', where while trying to capture Professor X, he brutally disabled virtually every active X-man and woman one after another, taking full advantage of [[GoodThingYouCanHeal their healing factors]] and NighInvulnerability. While he didn't kill any of them, he didn't have a problem ''crippling them''.
* TerribleTrio: Gamma Corps: Black, a team made of three {{Distaff Counterpart}}s of Hulk villains Abomination, Zzazz and Glob; Aberration, Axon and Morras respectively.
* ThatManIsDead: The more verbal versions of the Hulk will respond to people calling him Dr. Banner with "The doctor is out."
* ThirdPersonPerson: The Hulk often refers to himself in the third person. DependingOnTheWriter, this is either simply primitive HulkSpeak, the Hulk being arrogant ("Hulk is strongest one there is!") or a mixture of the two. Although, this was lampshaded in the four-part story "Countdown" (when he was the Grey Hulk) and he was fighting the Leader's henchmen, one of whom talked like this. "How come these bozos always talk in third person?" he mused.
* TerribleTrio: Gamma Corps: Black, a team made of three {{Distaff Counterpart}}s of Hulk villains Abomination, Zzazz and Glob; Aberration, Axon and Morras respectively.
* ThatManIsDead: The more verbal versions of the Hulk will respond to people calling him Dr. Banner with "The doctor is out."
* ThirdPersonPerson: The Hulk often refers to himself in the third person. DependingOnTheWriter, this is either simply primitive HulkSpeak, the Hulk being arrogant ("Hulk is strongest one there is!") or a mixture of the two. Although, this was lampshaded in the four-part story "Countdown" (when he was the Grey Hulk) and he was fighting the Leader's henchmen, one of whom talked like this. "How come these bozos always talk in third person?" he mused.
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* TooDumbToLive: The tendency for everybody in the entire Marvel Universe to go out of the way to antagonize the Hulk. Despite it being common knowledge that he is basically invincible and has unlimited strength triggered by rage everybody from [[BullyingADragon dime a dozen rent a cops with pistols to the military to even a irate fruit truck driver armed with nothing more than pepper spray whose truck the Hulk just knocked over for food decides it's a good idea to attack him with everything they've got on a near constant basis.]] This idiocy drives Hulk into his classic rages causing easily preventable massive destruction to everything in his path over and over until he decides to just take off somewhere until the next time it happens.
** Banner ''became'' the Hulk by rescuing Rick Jones from the gamma bomb testing site. What was he doing there? He was there on a ''bet'' and ignored his warning to leave.
** The origin of the Abomination owes itself to this. See, Emil Blonsky was a Russian spy in General Ross's unit, when they'd just caught Banner messing with a strange machine, which unknown to them was a means of killing himself. Once everyone's gone, Blonksy decides to poke at the machine. Instead of dying horribly, he gets permanently turned into the Abomination. Many years later, Banner and Ross note that what Blonksy did should by all rights have killed him.
** Whenever a superhero needs to put down the Hulk, they almost always resort to trying to out-punch him rather than using the powers Hulk can't as easily counter. Examples include Thor prioritizing slug fests over lightning, Iron Man's Hulkbuster armor mostly being very melee-focused, and Dr. Strange using the nearly infinite power of Zom to wrestle the Hulk.
** Banner ''became'' the Hulk by rescuing Rick Jones from the gamma bomb testing site. What was he doing there? He was there on a ''bet'' and ignored his warning to leave.
** The origin of the Abomination owes itself to this. See, Emil Blonsky was a Russian spy in General Ross's unit, when they'd just caught Banner messing with a strange machine, which unknown to them was a means of killing himself. Once everyone's gone, Blonksy decides to poke at the machine. Instead of dying horribly, he gets permanently turned into the Abomination. Many years later, Banner and Ross note that what Blonksy did should by all rights have killed him.
** Whenever a superhero needs to put down the Hulk, they almost always resort to trying to out-punch him rather than using the powers Hulk can't as easily counter. Examples include Thor prioritizing slug fests over lightning, Iron Man's Hulkbuster armor mostly being very melee-focused, and Dr. Strange using the nearly infinite power of Zom to wrestle the Hulk.
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* UnexplainedRecovery:
** Betty Ross died of radiation poisoning from a blood transfusion by the Abomination, but her death was an illusion by Nightmare. She really washed up on a beach and was brought back to health by General Ross, but if the previous events never happened, it doesn't explain what she was recovering from.
** The Leader died in an explosion in #400, showed up as part of the Home Base organization and died, which may have been a hallucination by Nightmare, showed up at a trial in She-Hulk, and escaped from Hell with no explanation. Much like Samson, his resurrection is finally given an explanation in Immortal Hulk.
** Betty Ross died of radiation poisoning from a blood transfusion by the Abomination, but her death was an illusion by Nightmare. She really washed up on a beach and was brought back to health by General Ross, but if the previous events never happened, it doesn't explain what she was recovering from.
** The Leader died in an explosion in #400, showed up as part of the Home Base organization and died, which may have been a hallucination by Nightmare, showed up at a trial in She-Hulk, and escaped from Hell with no explanation. Much like Samson, his resurrection is finally given an explanation in Immortal Hulk.
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* UnknownRival: Issue #393 has the story of Coyote Cash, an arch-criminal who's foiled repeatedly over the years by various versions of Hulk, beginning with the Hulk accidentally crushing his get-away car while escaping from the Army. After a 3rd release from prison, he tracks down Rick Jones and destroys his house with a bazooka. While he makes a triumphant speech about "being ready for the Hulk", Hulk -- who had been house sitting for Rick while he was on vacation -- emerges from the rubble in trademark anger.
-->'''Hulk:''' I hope you're ready now, you stupid two-bit hood!\\
'''Cash:''' [[VillainousBreakdown I... I give up!]]\\
(''Cash is meekly dragged away by police as Hulk watches'')\\
'''Hulk:''' I wonder who that guy was? It's a funny world, when you can be minding your own business and along comes some stranger to complicate your life.
-->'''Hulk:''' I hope you're ready now, you stupid two-bit hood!\\
'''Cash:''' [[VillainousBreakdown I... I give up!]]\\
(''Cash is meekly dragged away by police as Hulk watches'')\\
'''Hulk:''' I wonder who that guy was? It's a funny world, when you can be minding your own business and along comes some stranger to complicate your life.
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* VillainDecay: The Marvel supervillain Abomination has probably lost more bad boy status than almost any other. He started out up-powered even by the Hulk's standards, whomping him down in their first encounter. He then had some gamma power stripped, which was added to the Hulk, thus losing in their next encounter. He then suffered a series of beatdowns at the hands of the Hulk, leading to humiliating exposition as his character developed a fear of even encountering the Hulk anymore. But that was not the end of it. Over subsequent years, he became a chew toy to show how badass the lower bricks in the Marvel universe could be, taking solo beatdowns at the hands of both ComicBook/WonderMan and ComicBook/SheHulk, and even getting bested by ''Comicbook/{{Hawkeye}}'' of all people. [[PhysicalGod Hercules]] even one-shot KO'd him with a traffic light once. Oh, true, they ''pulled out all the stops'' in their demonstration of badassery, but the Abomination just can't get any respect, in spite of still remaining perhaps the physically strongest character without some quasi-infinite trick up their sleeve. He got a slightly better treatment in the ''ComicBook/ChaosWar'' [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHercules Herc]] [[BatFamilyCrossover family crossover]], where, after having been killed off a couple years ago by the Comicbook/RedHulk, he [[BackFromTheDead comes back]] as a servant for the BigBad [[EldritchAbomination Chaos King]]. After tearing through a team of Hulks, Comicbook/DoctorStrange states that he was "the Underworld's strongest prisoner". He's still dead again by the end of the story, but he definitely got some cred back.
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* VillainTeamUp:
** A 1960's comic had the Mandarin team up with the Sandman. It ended with Mandarin sending the Sandman into a molten vat turning him to glass.
** There is the Intelligencia, a super villain team made of {{Mad Scientist}}s. So far they've managed to avoid infighting. In fact, they've been able to work perfectly as a unit. Not only that, but they apparently worked together for years, and various instances when they fought each other were retconned to be set-up so nobody would suspect a thing.
* VillainousCrush: Umar, ComicBook/DoctorStrange villainess and sister to [[GodOfEvil Dormammu]] has a huge crush on the Hulk. [[BlackComedyRape She actually kept him as her love-slave for a while,]] [[FanonDiscontinuity but why don't we just pretend that was fanfiction?]] [[http://www.comicbookresources.com/prev_img.php?pid=9307&pg=3 They've been reunited since.]]
** A 1960's comic had the Mandarin team up with the Sandman. It ended with Mandarin sending the Sandman into a molten vat turning him to glass.
** There is the Intelligencia, a super villain team made of {{Mad Scientist}}s. So far they've managed to avoid infighting. In fact, they've been able to work perfectly as a unit. Not only that, but they apparently worked together for years, and various instances when they fought each other were retconned to be set-up so nobody would suspect a thing.
* VillainousCrush: Umar, ComicBook/DoctorStrange villainess and sister to [[GodOfEvil Dormammu]] has a huge crush on the Hulk. [[BlackComedyRape She actually kept him as her love-slave for a while,]] [[FanonDiscontinuity but why don't we just pretend that was fanfiction?]] [[http://www.comicbookresources.com/prev_img.php?pid=9307&pg=3 They've been reunited since.]]
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* WhatAnIdiot: Bruce Banner is a normal guy on the run who tries to stay away from populated areas and stress because when he gets angry, he turns into a giant monster that destroys everything in his way while screaming "Leave Hulk alone!"\\
'''You'd Expect:''' ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} to provide Banner with a map of and free transport to the most deserted locations on earth, and the Army to issue warnings to anyone in Banner's vicinity not to antagonize him and keep their distance.\\
'''Instead:''' The government tries to capture Banner at every available opportunity.
** Connected to the above, General "Thunderbolt" Ross continually exhorts the government to give him men and equipment to wage his private war against the Hulk.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' The government would realize that Ross's crusade is costing them a steady fortune and pull the plug.\\
'''Instead:''' They keep pouring money into his vendetta.
** In issue ''#395'', ComicBook/ThePunisher comes to Vegas looking to take down a hitman named Frost, and happens to see Frost talking with "Mr. Fixit".\\
'''You'd Expect:''' The Punisher would realize that the 7ft plus green "Mr. Fixit" is The Hulk and would avoid getting involved.\\
'''Instead:''' He stalks the Hulk, and then starts blazing away at him with a machine gun when the Hulk confronts him, achieving nothing more than shredding the Hulk's clothes. The Hulk promptly knocks him out cold with a tap of the finger.
'''You'd Expect:''' ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} to provide Banner with a map of and free transport to the most deserted locations on earth, and the Army to issue warnings to anyone in Banner's vicinity not to antagonize him and keep their distance.\\
'''Instead:''' The government tries to capture Banner at every available opportunity.
** Connected to the above, General "Thunderbolt" Ross continually exhorts the government to give him men and equipment to wage his private war against the Hulk.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' The government would realize that Ross's crusade is costing them a steady fortune and pull the plug.\\
'''Instead:''' They keep pouring money into his vendetta.
** In issue ''#395'', ComicBook/ThePunisher comes to Vegas looking to take down a hitman named Frost, and happens to see Frost talking with "Mr. Fixit".\\
'''You'd Expect:''' The Punisher would realize that the 7ft plus green "Mr. Fixit" is The Hulk and would avoid getting involved.\\
'''Instead:''' He stalks the Hulk, and then starts blazing away at him with a machine gun when the Hulk confronts him, achieving nothing more than shredding the Hulk's clothes. The Hulk promptly knocks him out cold with a tap of the finger.
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* {{Woobie}}: Bruce Banner has to be one of the most unfortunate people ever born, even before the gamma bomb accident. His father was a [[AbusiveParents physically and verbally abusive alcoholic]] who was convinced that he was a "monster" just because he was so intelligent, from an early age, eventually murdered his mother right before his eyes by repeatedly smashing her head on the ground, and then browbeat him into not testifying against him in court otherwise he would go to hell; he repressed his emotions in order to avoid being like his father, which caused him to develop [[SplitPersonality Multiple Personality Disorder]]; he was picked on and beaten up in school, he took his father in after he was released from a mental institution, only to end up accidentally killing him in self-defence when dear ol' dad reverted to type (he repressed the memory of this for years), and the father of the woman he was falling in love with considered him a milksop. Since becoming the Hulk, he's been constantly harassed and hounded by the military, superheroes, and supervillains, accused of treason, imprisoned, tortured, exploited, and had to spend years on the run from the authorities. Whenever things look like they're looking up for him, his world always gets ripped apart. Brutally. And people wonder what the Hulk's problem is...
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* YouNoTakeCandle: The Hulk, though he doesn't do as much talking as most other incarnations. Count on at least one of the people he's trying to "Hulk Smash" at the moment to tell him third-person speaking is a sign of conceit.
** This is parodied frequently in ''ComicStrip/TwistedToyfareTheatre''. "...You know Hulk's grasp of language tenuous at best."
** Miek from the ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' storyline; Though strictly speaking he actually ''doesn't'' speak English and his speech is just translated by Sakaaran talkboxes, he can't seem to grasp verb conjugation at all; "is [verb]ing" is the form he uses for pretty much every verb in every context. In general, his lack of aptitude for speech is implied to be due to his people not naturally communicating verbally, but by "chemming".
** This is parodied frequently in ''ComicStrip/TwistedToyfareTheatre''. "...You know Hulk's grasp of language tenuous at best."
** Miek from the ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' storyline; Though strictly speaking he actually ''doesn't'' speak English and his speech is just translated by Sakaaran talkboxes, he can't seem to grasp verb conjugation at all; "is [verb]ing" is the form he uses for pretty much every verb in every context. In general, his lack of aptitude for speech is implied to be due to his people not naturally communicating verbally, but by "chemming".
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Crosswicking
* HeyYou: During the "Merged Hulk" period, in which the Hulk had Banner's psyche, he was a member of a group called "The Pantheon" whose other members were all related and were all named after Greek heroes. One (Paris) was an insufferable jerk who insisted on calling Doctor Robert Bruce Banner (who went by Hulk, Bruce, or Dr. Banner) "Bobby."
* HoaxHogan: The Hulk easily defeated a wrestler who claimed to be the one, true Hulk and was a clear {{Expy}} of Hulk Hogan in ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents'' #45.
* HoaxHogan: The Hulk easily defeated a wrestler who claimed to be the one, true Hulk and was a clear {{Expy}} of Hulk Hogan in ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents'' #45.
* HoldingBackThePhlebotinum: [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and the Hulk have clashed many times through the years, with the majority of their fights ending in draws. Just before a memorable clash in Creator/PeterDavid's ''The Incredible Hulk'' run, Thor revealed that he had intentionally held back during all of those past encounters, as he was worried unleashing his full strength would cause him to lose control.
* HoldingOutForAHero: Justified in a late 1970s issue, with the Hulk rampaging desperately through New York and all the regular authorities like the NYPD can't stop him. As a cameraman is getting this, he is wondering where are The ComicBook/FantasticFour, ComicBook/TheAvengers or ComicBook/SpiderMan to help stop the monster.
* HomeRunHitter: Occurs in a standalone mini-series, where Doc Samson dares Hulk to hit him, offering him the first punch. The path his flying body describes could best be called a projectile arc...
** He does it again during the ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' arc. Hulk's response to an annoying D-lister who describes herself as "practically invulnerable"? Punting her like a football and deadpanning "Go be invulnerable in Jersey."
* HoldingOutForAHero: Justified in a late 1970s issue, with the Hulk rampaging desperately through New York and all the regular authorities like the NYPD can't stop him. As a cameraman is getting this, he is wondering where are The ComicBook/FantasticFour, ComicBook/TheAvengers or ComicBook/SpiderMan to help stop the monster.
* HomeRunHitter: Occurs in a standalone mini-series, where Doc Samson dares Hulk to hit him, offering him the first punch. The path his flying body describes could best be called a projectile arc...
** He does it again during the ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' arc. Hulk's response to an annoying D-lister who describes herself as "practically invulnerable"? Punting her like a football and deadpanning "Go be invulnerable in Jersey."
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* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Hulk and any human-sized love interest.
to:
* HugeGuyTinyGirl: The Hulk and with basically any human-sized love interest.interest. Even his AmazonianBeauty cousin ComicBook/SheHulk (6'7) is only chest height to him. Some artist's renditions of the Hulk are capable and actually have held love interests clasped between his hands.
** Part of the problem with the Hulk is that his size is incredibly inconsistent, to the point where it'll vary between panels on the same page. His third wife, Caiera (7'0"), was a hot amazon with similar proportions to his cousin. Some panels had them standing next to each other with only a few inches difference in height, while others have him absolutely dwarfing her. The Hulk's official height is less than eight feet tall, however some panels will have him pushing fifteen feet for dramatic effect.
** This is not so much artist variation as an effect of his powers, part of his ability to get stronger as he gets madder is an increase in size, up to a maximum of twelve feet.
** The size-changing thing is a {{handwave}} that may or may not be used DependingOnTheWriter. Most writers have his size remain consistent, though the artwork usually won't reflect this for dramatic purposes. This is why the Hulk won't always just get bigger as he gets angrier, he'll vary in either direction from one panel to another (even if they show the same moment in time or are separated by a matter of seconds).
** Originally, Bruce Banner became the Hulk by saving an irresponsible teenager (5'9) from being caught in an atomic bomb blast and that said teenager became [[HeterosexualLifePartners hulk's companion]], which would make it [[BigGuyLittleGuy another trope altogether]].
** [[ComicBook/UltimateMarvel Ultimate Hulk]] can be worse. Typically only around the 2.4 meter (7'10) mark, there's one storyline where he's somewhere in the neighborhood of six meters (19'8) tall and has a harem of dozens of normal-sized women.
** Part of the problem with the Hulk is that his size is incredibly inconsistent, to the point where it'll vary between panels on the same page. His third wife, Caiera (7'0"), was a hot amazon with similar proportions to his cousin. Some panels had them standing next to each other with only a few inches difference in height, while others have him absolutely dwarfing her. The Hulk's official height is less than eight feet tall, however some panels will have him pushing fifteen feet for dramatic effect.
** This is not so much artist variation as an effect of his powers, part of his ability to get stronger as he gets madder is an increase in size, up to a maximum of twelve feet.
** The size-changing thing is a {{handwave}} that may or may not be used DependingOnTheWriter. Most writers have his size remain consistent, though the artwork usually won't reflect this for dramatic purposes. This is why the Hulk won't always just get bigger as he gets angrier, he'll vary in either direction from one panel to another (even if they show the same moment in time or are separated by a matter of seconds).
** Originally, Bruce Banner became the Hulk by saving an irresponsible teenager (5'9) from being caught in an atomic bomb blast and that said teenager became [[HeterosexualLifePartners hulk's companion]], which would make it [[BigGuyLittleGuy another trope altogether]].
** [[ComicBook/UltimateMarvel Ultimate Hulk]] can be worse. Typically only around the 2.4 meter (7'10) mark, there's one storyline where he's somewhere in the neighborhood of six meters (19'8) tall and has a harem of dozens of normal-sized women.
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* {{Hunk}}: Bruce Banner averts it, [[GeekPhysique being short and skinny.]] His alter ego doesn't fare much better, as he is generally drawn as extremely muscular but troll-faced. However, during the 1990s, Bruce Banner and the Hulk were merged into a single persona and this new incarnation was drawn with the Hulk's body and Banner's face, creating a (green) hunk. Also, while Banner was initially skinny, he was vey fit, and the physical exertion caused by being years of being on the run caused him to develop muscle mass, leading to several comments on it.
* HuskyRusskie: Mongu (Boris Monguski) subverted the stereotype by actually being a smaller man inside a set of PoweredArmor that ''looked'' like a barbaric giant, which was ultimately trashed by the Hulk. Years later an ''actual'' barbarian [[NamesTheSame named Mongu]] would show up, though as he hailed from another dimension he had no ties to Russia.
** Emil Blonsky, The Abomination is also this. A gamma-radiated one at that.
* HuskyRusskie: Mongu (Boris Monguski) subverted the stereotype by actually being a smaller man inside a set of PoweredArmor that ''looked'' like a barbaric giant, which was ultimately trashed by the Hulk. Years later an ''actual'' barbarian [[NamesTheSame named Mongu]] would show up, though as he hailed from another dimension he had no ties to Russia.
** Emil Blonsky, The Abomination is also this. A gamma-radiated one at that.
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Crosswicking
* EvilOverlord: The Hulk's evil alternate self the ComicBook/{{Maestro}} in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulkFutureImperfect'' who ruled as a brutal despot in a [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic society]] with an iron fist and lives off as a hedonist that surrounds himself with concubines. He is still a dangerous foe, since he has Banner's intellect, the Hulk's strength augmented several times and absolutely no moral inhibitions.
* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: The Hulk's son, Skaar, said this when he first met his father on Earth.
* ExtraOreDinary:
** In the sixth issue of the original series, the Hulk faces off against an alien called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Metal Master]] who promptly waltzes over Hulk. Hulk comes back for round two with a gun that Banner and Rick Jones have made, which the Metal Master can't control. Hulk promptly knocks him out [[spoiler: because the gun was made of cardboard]].
** [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Michael Steel]] aka Ironclad of the U-Foes was transformed into a creature of organic metal when he and his associates attempted to replicate the accident that gave the ComicBook/FantasticFour their powers.
** In the sixth issue of the original series, the Hulk faces off against an alien called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Metal Master]] who promptly waltzes over Hulk. Hulk comes back for round two with a gun that Banner and Rick Jones have made, which the Metal Master can't control. Hulk promptly knocks him out [[spoiler: because the gun was made of cardboard]].
** [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Michael Steel]] aka Ironclad of the U-Foes was transformed into a creature of organic metal when he and his associates attempted to replicate the accident that gave the ComicBook/FantasticFour their powers.
* FallenHero: Among one of the Hulk's most dangerous foes is a [[FutureMeScaresMe future version of himself,]] the ComicBook/{{Maestro}}, an insane, hedonistic, sadistic tyrant.
* FalseUtopia: In one of the comics, Bruce Banner has a dream where all his biggest wishes are true: married to Betty, friend to her father and other former enemies... This is an illusion from his inner monster, the Devil Hulk, in which Bruce could be trapped if he let the devil take over his body. Bruce turned down the offer.
* FantasticMeasurementSystem: When Amadeus Cho studies magical phenomena, he measures the reality-warping field strength in "hercs", one herc being equal to the field strength of his friend Hercules. It sounds like "hertz" so it's pretty natural to tack on SI prefixes like megahercs or gigahercs, but most of the measurements he gives are between zero and five hercs.
* FalseUtopia: In one of the comics, Bruce Banner has a dream where all his biggest wishes are true: married to Betty, friend to her father and other former enemies... This is an illusion from his inner monster, the Devil Hulk, in which Bruce could be trapped if he let the devil take over his body. Bruce turned down the offer.
* FantasticMeasurementSystem: When Amadeus Cho studies magical phenomena, he measures the reality-warping field strength in "hercs", one herc being equal to the field strength of his friend Hercules. It sounds like "hertz" so it's pretty natural to tack on SI prefixes like megahercs or gigahercs, but most of the measurements he gives are between zero and five hercs.
* FashionableAsymmetry: The Hulk's ComicBook/PlanetHulk and ComicBook/WorldWarHulk getup.
* FearsomeFoot: The series and its adaptations often emphasize the Hulk's massive size and strength by showing his feet tear apart Banner's footwear, or stomp on something.
* FingerPokeOfDoom:
** During the Mr. Fixit storyline, the Grey Hulk (almost as strong as green, as smart as Banner, and totally amoral) gave a human opponent (Doctor Octopus, see below) "da Finger". A finger thump to the forehead, knocking him out.
** While it happened off-panel, later during the Merged Hulk period he says to the Punisher, "If I had used two fingers instead of one, you'd still be out cold."
** During the Mr. Fixit storyline, the Grey Hulk (almost as strong as green, as smart as Banner, and totally amoral) gave a human opponent (Doctor Octopus, see below) "da Finger". A finger thump to the forehead, knocking him out.
** While it happened off-panel, later during the Merged Hulk period he says to the Punisher, "If I had used two fingers instead of one, you'd still be out cold."
* FleetingDemographicRule: The relationship between Bruce Banner and The Hulk is permanently changed. Maybe Hulk is the one in charge now. Maybe it's Banner. Maybe they're separate. Maybe one side is DarkerAndEdgier, and one side is completely gone.
* FlightStrengthHeart: The Hulk has super-strength and durability... and the ability to see astral forms. Which is more useful than you might think, but not ''that'' much more useful. To be even more obscure, he can also always sense his location relative to the place he was "born" in the gamma bomb.
* FlipFlopOfGod: Marvel goes back and forth over whether or not the Hulk has ever accidentally killed someone during his city destroying rampages. This led to a notable {{Retcon}} at least once; the Hulk was sent into space for the ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' storyline because a fight between him and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Thing]] inadvertently caused the deaths of over twenty people. This was later retconned into severe injuries, which made the whole "shoot him into space" thing into retroactive DisproportionateRetribution.
* FlightStrengthHeart: The Hulk has super-strength and durability... and the ability to see astral forms. Which is more useful than you might think, but not ''that'' much more useful. To be even more obscure, he can also always sense his location relative to the place he was "born" in the gamma bomb.
* FlipFlopOfGod: Marvel goes back and forth over whether or not the Hulk has ever accidentally killed someone during his city destroying rampages. This led to a notable {{Retcon}} at least once; the Hulk was sent into space for the ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' storyline because a fight between him and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Thing]] inadvertently caused the deaths of over twenty people. This was later retconned into severe injuries, which made the whole "shoot him into space" thing into retroactive DisproportionateRetribution.
* ForgingScene: ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' ends with the Hulk and Hiroim forging the sword Hulk would go on to use in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk''. This is done with the BookEnds narration "This is the story of the Hulk... and how he finally came home." over a shot of the Hulk pointing his still cooling sword at an image of Earth on the screen.
* FourFingeredHands: The Hulk has had an ever-changing number of toes. When he first appeared, he had five toes. When his book was cancelled and he resurfaced in ''Fantastic Four'', he now had three. When he joined the Avengers, he then had four, but went back to three by the second issue, only for this number to vary wildly in each subsequent appearance before the artists finally settled on five in ''ComicBook/TalesToAstonish''. This was the subject in a MythologyGag in ''ComicBook/UltronForever'', where the Hulk transported from the past still had three toes.
* FourStarBadass: [[ComicBook/RedHulk General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross]].
* FourthDateMarriage: The Hulk and Caiera hit it off pretty fast in ''Planet Hulk''. The exact amount of time is hard to pin down but it doesn't seem more than a few weeks, though they are engaged in some fairly intense flirting during their second meeting. [[DroppedABridgeOnHim It didn't last long, though.]]
* FourStarBadass: [[ComicBook/RedHulk General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross]].
* FourthDateMarriage: The Hulk and Caiera hit it off pretty fast in ''Planet Hulk''. The exact amount of time is hard to pin down but it doesn't seem more than a few weeks, though they are engaged in some fairly intense flirting during their second meeting. [[DroppedABridgeOnHim It didn't last long, though.]]
* FromASingleCell: The Hulk's [[FutureMeScaresMe future incarnation]], the ComicBook/{{Maestro}}, was capable of regenerating from dust.
* FullCircleRevolution: One story has Professor Hulk taken to a planet where a green race was enslaved by a red race. Professor Hulk helped the green people overthrow the rulers and before leaving asked them to live peacefully together. Looking through a telescope as he was getting far off he saw the red people enslaved by the green ones and wept.
** One comic from the 90's, where right after beating the hell out of Captain America, the savage Hulk had a particularly brutal fight with Thor, all while completely naked. The Hulk won.
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* GalacticConqueror: Arm'Chedon, also known as Armageddon, leader of the Troyjan Empire and foe of the Hulk during his days with the Pantheon. Arm'Chedon was so busy conquering planets that he literally did not notice that he had two sons until one of them died on earth(the other was later killed in combat with the Hulk). Interestingly, his relative obscureness might have worked in his favor, as there's no sign that his empire suffered the massive amounts of destruction that Marvel's other galactic empires (The Kree, Skrulls, and Shi'ar) have in recent years.
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* GalacticConqueror: Arm'Chedon, also known as Armageddon, leader of the Troyjan Empire and foe of the Hulk during his days with the Pantheon. Arm'Chedon was so busy conquering planets that he literally did not notice that he had two sons until one of them died on earth(the earth harassing the Pantheon, and the other was later killed in trial by combat with the Hulk).Hulk. He swore vengeance, but got all of one appearance until well over a decade later. Interestingly, his relative obscureness might have worked in his favor, as there's no sign that his empire suffered the massive amounts of destruction that Marvel's other galactic empires (The Kree, Skrulls, and Shi'ar) have in recent years.
* GeneralFailure: General Ross' lifelong goal (some would say obsession) with bringing the [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]] to justice has obviously [[LawfulStupid caused more casualties and property damage]] than he ever could have prevented, and cost the U.S. Army a fortune, all without results. This probably has something to do with the fact he [[TooDumbToLive keeps insisting on]] [[BullyingTheDragon taking on the guy who turns into a giant, super-strong, bulletproof monster when under stress...]] [[ShootingSuperman by shooting him on sight]]. And it only gets worse; Ross proves himself the worst hypocrite imaginable when he becomes the ComicBook/RedHulk, becoming just as much a menace as the one he tries to bring down.
* GenerationalSaga: Interestingly, generation is a bit of a fluid thing here. The first generation is Bruce Banner, [[ComicBook/SheHulk Jen Walters]], and their supporting casts, then we get the second generation with Skaar and Lyra, the Hulk's son and daughter, as well as members of the first generation becoming Hulks themselves.
* GenerationalSaga: Interestingly, generation is a bit of a fluid thing here. The first generation is Bruce Banner, [[ComicBook/SheHulk Jen Walters]], and their supporting casts, then we get the second generation with Skaar and Lyra, the Hulk's son and daughter, as well as members of the first generation becoming Hulks themselves.
* GeniusBonus: In Issue #418, Death herself appears as a guest in Rick Jones' wedding, and gives Marlo, the bride, a hairbrush as a gift. It could be just a joke about a {{Psychopomp}} giving something so mundane as a gift... or it's a reference to the fact that in japanese culture, hairbrushes are considered [[{{Irony}} bad gifts to give]], since their name contains the words for pain ''and'' death. It could however just be a {{pun}} on the phrase "A Brush with Death".
* GenreTurningPoint: The Hulk got a lot of attention as an ambiguous hero who was neither entirely a superhero nor entirely a monster, and his series pushed the boundaries of the Comics Code Authority by depicting the United States military as antagonists (the Code stipulated that comic books couldn't portray respected organizations in a negative light). With his anger, his inherently flawed nature, and his troubled relationship with authority figures, he also went on to become a counterculture icon, showing the potential for superheroes to act as a voice for the youth.
* GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion: Reprints of earlier stories would change the Hulk from gray to green, but this is no longer necessary as the gray Hulk form is now established in continuity.
* GollumMadeMeDoIt: Madman is an example of this. He tried to give himself powers like the Hulk. Since gamma radiation's ability to grant powers is based off of the person's personality (e.g. the Hulk represents Bruce Banner's anger and abuse as a child, Doc Samson's powers are a reflection of a desire to live up to his biblical namesake, the Abomination is formed from Emil Blonsky's self-loathing), the Powered form took on its own personality, making the original form his slave.
* GoodBadGirl: Marlo Chandler, spouse of Rick Jones and former lover of Mister Fixit (aka the Hulk).
* GoodBadGirl: Marlo Chandler, spouse of Rick Jones and former lover of Mister Fixit (aka the Hulk).
* GoodWithNumbers: TeenGenius Amadeus Cho can do advanced physics in his head, complete with glowing diagrams around him. He's claimed to be good enough that he can use math to stop a charging rhino with a grape seed, and proved it when he fought [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk the freaking Hulk]].
* GrandfatherClause: As the Hulk's [[ILoveNuclearPower origin involves exposure to gamma radiation]], gamma radiation is always going to be the cause of his transformation, even though the trope has been disproven.
** [[Film/{{Hulk}} the movie]] averts this somewhat by combining radiation with several other factors -- the gamma rays only break down his cells, the {{Nanomachines}} try to repair them, and [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke his genes weren't really normal to begin with]].
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' have explicitly attached a mystical element to the Marvel universe's gamma radiation to explain its unscientific effects.
* GreenRocks: Gamma radiation often has a completely random effect on the individual exposed, usually something to do with their psychological makeup, although this effect is often completely arbitrary. This is the way they explained gamma radiation turning Hulk into a id-like monster, She-Hulk into a fun-loving Amazon, Doc Samson into a musclebound superhero type, and the Abomination into [[MeaningfulName what you'd expect]].
** It's also been revealed that most people would just die horribly when exposed to such large amounts of gamma radiation (which is a rather more plausible result), and the people who got superpowers from it did so because the radiation interacted in some pseudoscientific way with random genetic anomalies they already had. It was explained once that everyone who got a positive mutation from gamma exposure had a single common genetic ancestor somewhere back in the mists of history. No one else has that funny genetic quirk. This was demonstrated when the Leader dropped a gamma bomb on a town of about ten thousand people or so; everyone died, except five individuals who mutated. One of the Leader's main goals is perfecting gene therapy to allow anyone to achieve powers from gamma radiation.
* GrewBeyondTheirProgramming: Bruce Banner's little Recordasphere assistant fell in love with him, up to the point of feeling bitter jealousy over the human woman Banner himself was falling for. When Banner realizes this, he says in amazement, "You've exceeded your programming!"
* GroundPound: The Hulk uses this a lot, to the point that not only is this a staple of his in the comics, animations, and the most recent movie, but every game adaptation has him able to do it.
* GrandfatherClause: As the Hulk's [[ILoveNuclearPower origin involves exposure to gamma radiation]], gamma radiation is always going to be the cause of his transformation, even though the trope has been disproven.
** [[Film/{{Hulk}} the movie]] averts this somewhat by combining radiation with several other factors -- the gamma rays only break down his cells, the {{Nanomachines}} try to repair them, and [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke his genes weren't really normal to begin with]].
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' have explicitly attached a mystical element to the Marvel universe's gamma radiation to explain its unscientific effects.
* GreenRocks: Gamma radiation often has a completely random effect on the individual exposed, usually something to do with their psychological makeup, although this effect is often completely arbitrary. This is the way they explained gamma radiation turning Hulk into a id-like monster, She-Hulk into a fun-loving Amazon, Doc Samson into a musclebound superhero type, and the Abomination into [[MeaningfulName what you'd expect]].
** It's also been revealed that most people would just die horribly when exposed to such large amounts of gamma radiation (which is a rather more plausible result), and the people who got superpowers from it did so because the radiation interacted in some pseudoscientific way with random genetic anomalies they already had. It was explained once that everyone who got a positive mutation from gamma exposure had a single common genetic ancestor somewhere back in the mists of history. No one else has that funny genetic quirk. This was demonstrated when the Leader dropped a gamma bomb on a town of about ten thousand people or so; everyone died, except five individuals who mutated. One of the Leader's main goals is perfecting gene therapy to allow anyone to achieve powers from gamma radiation.
* GrewBeyondTheirProgramming: Bruce Banner's little Recordasphere assistant fell in love with him, up to the point of feeling bitter jealousy over the human woman Banner himself was falling for. When Banner realizes this, he says in amazement, "You've exceeded your programming!"
* GroundPound: The Hulk uses this a lot, to the point that not only is this a staple of his in the comics, animations, and the most recent movie, but every game adaptation has him able to do it.
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* HairTriggerTemper: While he's not exactly a bad guy, this is the reason he tends to get into so many battles with other superheroes. It takes very little to piss him off, so you're basically walking on eggshells when he's in your presence for the entire time.
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* GroundShatteringLanding: The Hulk often uses this as an attack.
* GrowingMusclesSequence: The Hulk in all his incarnations. He is, after all, the TropeNamer of the related trope HulkingOut.
** Likewise, but to a lesser extent, [[ComicBook/SheHulk his cousin Jennifer]]. Whether or not she goes from mousy and unassuming to [[StatuesqueStunner tall]] and athletic to [[AmazonianBeauty flat-out ripped]] [[DependingOnTheArtist depends on who's drawing her]] (the same applies to the other She-Hulks, Lyra and Red She-Hulk).
* GunsAreWorthless: The Hulk is impervious to most forms of damage, including gunfire.
* GuttedLikeAFish: Minor slasher villain Speed Freek tries this on the Hulk once. The Hulk has no problem holding his guts in, but then his skin heals ''over'' his hand...
* HairTriggerTemper:While he's not exactly a bad guy, The Hulk's entire existence basically hinges on this is the reason he tends to get into so many battles with other superheroes.concept. It takes very little to piss him off, so you're basically walking on eggshells when he's in your presence for the entire time. Even if you do manage to get him to a calm state, he often assumes that someone is stealth insulting him or trying to tell him what to do, which either causes him to leave in a huff or just attempt to smash your ass. Or some dumbass will come along and [[InterruptedCooldownHug provoke him again]]. While he's not exactly a bad guy, this is the reason he tends to get into so many battles with other superheroes.
* GrowingMusclesSequence: The Hulk in all his incarnations. He is, after all, the TropeNamer of the related trope HulkingOut.
** Likewise, but to a lesser extent, [[ComicBook/SheHulk his cousin Jennifer]]. Whether or not she goes from mousy and unassuming to [[StatuesqueStunner tall]] and athletic to [[AmazonianBeauty flat-out ripped]] [[DependingOnTheArtist depends on who's drawing her]] (the same applies to the other She-Hulks, Lyra and Red She-Hulk).
* GunsAreWorthless: The Hulk is impervious to most forms of damage, including gunfire.
* GuttedLikeAFish: Minor slasher villain Speed Freek tries this on the Hulk once. The Hulk has no problem holding his guts in, but then his skin heals ''over'' his hand...
* HairTriggerTemper:
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* HeadbuttingHeroes: The Hulk REALLY has this in spades. He has loads of characters he'll never get along with. Amongst them, [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] is the one with whom he has the biggest rivalry. The ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}}, ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour The Thing]] are also common rivals.
** As far as the Hulk goes, he and Thor will occasionally get along perfectly well until one sets the other off, and a fight breaks out. Hulk and Ben also have mutual respect for each other. That being said, the Hulk does have a few heroes he absolutely hates, especially after the ComicBook/PlanetHulk / ComicBook/WorldWarHulk incidents. Reed Richards, Tony Stark, and Professor X being among them. Wolverine and Juggernaut, on the other hand, are purely antagonistic with the Hulk.
** As far as the Hulk goes, he and Thor will occasionally get along perfectly well until one sets the other off, and a fight breaks out. Hulk and Ben also have mutual respect for each other. That being said, the Hulk does have a few heroes he absolutely hates, especially after the ComicBook/PlanetHulk / ComicBook/WorldWarHulk incidents. Reed Richards, Tony Stark, and Professor X being among them. Wolverine and Juggernaut, on the other hand, are purely antagonistic with the Hulk.
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* HeroAntagonist: The U.S. military usually genuinely believe that the Hulk is a dangerous monster that they need to stop. Creator/StanLee commented in an interview that portraying them that way allowed him to get around UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode's insistence that authority figures always be portrayed positively. Afterwards this changed, and there emerged a trend to portray General Ross, who usually commands the anti-Hulk military forces, as a GeneralRipper.
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* HeroicBuild: Bruce Banner is not particularly muscular or defined as himself (Creator/BillBixby, who played Banner in [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 the TV show]], was widely regarded as having the proper physique); how sculpted he becomes when he Hulks out depends on the artist.
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* HeroicRROD: A variation occurred with the Hulk himself at [[spoiler:the climax of ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk''. The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets. He'd never been that mad before, and he got so strong he actually couldn't control it anymore. He actually ''asked'' the heroes to knock him down before he started, well, [[MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds accidentally ripping the world apart.]]]]
** The madder ''ComicBook/RedHulk'' gets, the hotter he gets, until he overheats.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: This happens with the Hulk a lot, due to the fact that both his strength and his rate of recovery speed up the more he's angered. When he's down and seemingly out for the count he'll usually get mad enough to get his second wind. In the [[Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008 2008 movie]], he has a few just from seeing Betty Ross in danger (or apparent danger).
** The madder ''ComicBook/RedHulk'' gets, the hotter he gets, until he overheats.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: This happens with the Hulk a lot, due to the fact that both his strength and his rate of recovery speed up the more he's angered. When he's down and seemingly out for the count he'll usually get mad enough to get his second wind. In the [[Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008 2008 movie]], he has a few just from seeing Betty Ross in danger (or apparent danger).
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* DoubleJump: In a very early issue, the Hulk somehow does this by flexing to avoid face planting into the side of a bridge.
* DramaPreservingHandicap: the Abomination/Emil Blonsky generally has a default strength level that is greater than the Hulk's, and also retains his human mind where Hulk could be reduced to his familiar DumbMuscle whenever he transforms. However, Blonsky's main weakness in a fight is that his strength level is fixed, with the result that Hulk can theoretically beat Blonsky if a fight lasts long enough for him to get sufficiently angry and thus strong enough to beat his foe.
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* DumbIsGood: Depending on the story. Many of the times Hulk clashes with the heroes is due to some misunderstanding or someone fooling him into thinking one of the good guys did him wrong.
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* DumbIsGood: Depending on the story.The Hulk is usually TheHero or at least an AntiHero. However, DependingOnTheWriter, he is near mindless or at least has a childlike mentality. Many of the times Hulk clashes with the heroes is due to some misunderstanding or someone fooling him into thinking one of the good guys did him wrong. His main villain is an EvilGenius named ''The Leader'' who has super intelligence. Likewise in ComicBook/UltimateMarvel, Hulk defeats Abomination because the latter "thinks too much."
* DynamicAkimbo: Hulk himself rarely does this, but the Merged "Professor" Hulk took the pose often, and was one of the more confident, handsome and intelligent forms of the character.
* EarFins: The Abomination has fins in place of his ears.
* DynamicAkimbo: Hulk himself rarely does this, but the Merged "Professor" Hulk took the pose often, and was one of the more confident, handsome and intelligent forms of the character.
* EarFins: The Abomination has fins in place of his ears.
* EarthShatteringKaboom: This is a major threat for the planet Sakaar in the ''Comicbook/PlanetHulk'' saga. The ChekhovsGun finally goes off in ''ComicBook/SkaarSonOfHulk'', as Galactus devours Sakaar.
* EatMe: The Hulk let the Galaxy Master eat him, so that he can smash it from the inside.
* ElementalRockPaperScissors: The Hulk has defeated some of his opponents this way, such as by spraying the villainess Vapor with oxygen when she had transformed herself into hydrogen, effectively turning her into water ([[ArtisticLicensePhysics which should have required burning it]]), or by beating X-Ray (a living field of radiation) with a lead pipe, [[ArtisticLicenseNuclearPhysics which disrupts his radioactive body]].
** This is much more more fun if you realize that pure oxygen and pure hydrogen tend to explode when combined.
** Vapor and X-Ray were both members of the U-Foes, a group of villains who tried to get superpowers by copying Reed Richards' flawed space flight. They ended up as direct analogues of the Fantastic Four (but evil, and therefore punchable), making them Elementals twice removed.
* EleventhHourSuperpower: The Hulk's "Worldbreaker" form basically counts as this. Hulk's basic power is that the angrier he gets, the stronger he gets, seemingly without an upper limit. The "Worldbreaker" form is when he gets so angry that his strength is enough [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin to break a planet]].
* EatMe: The Hulk let the Galaxy Master eat him, so that he can smash it from the inside.
* ElementalRockPaperScissors: The Hulk has defeated some of his opponents this way, such as by spraying the villainess Vapor with oxygen when she had transformed herself into hydrogen, effectively turning her into water ([[ArtisticLicensePhysics which should have required burning it]]), or by beating X-Ray (a living field of radiation) with a lead pipe, [[ArtisticLicenseNuclearPhysics which disrupts his radioactive body]].
** This is much more more fun if you realize that pure oxygen and pure hydrogen tend to explode when combined.
** Vapor and X-Ray were both members of the U-Foes, a group of villains who tried to get superpowers by copying Reed Richards' flawed space flight. They ended up as direct analogues of the Fantastic Four (but evil, and therefore punchable), making them Elementals twice removed.
* EleventhHourSuperpower: The Hulk's "Worldbreaker" form basically counts as this. Hulk's basic power is that the angrier he gets, the stronger he gets, seemingly without an upper limit. The "Worldbreaker" form is when he gets so angry that his strength is enough [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin to break a planet]].
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** The Hulk himself is wrath, of course, but there are more subtle examples in his various personalities - Banner classically dealing with issues of self-loathing and fatalism, for instance. Many of his classic foes have also been examples of the trope; for instance the Abomination is typically portrayed as an embodiment of [[{{Pride}} hubris]].
** Peter David characterized the savage Green Hulk like a child prone to tantrums. Grey Hulk on the other hand would be the embodiment of pubescent desires. As Joe Fixit he worked as mafia muscle and led a hedonist lifestyle in Las Vegas: snappy dresses, fine meals, parties and booze, sleeping with beautiful women...
** Peter David characterized the savage Green Hulk like a child prone to tantrums. Grey Hulk on the other hand would be the embodiment of pubescent desires. As Joe Fixit he worked as mafia muscle and led a hedonist lifestyle in Las Vegas: snappy dresses, fine meals, parties and booze, sleeping with beautiful women...
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** The Hulk himself is wrath, of course, but there are more subtle examples in his various personalities - Banner classically dealing with issues of self-loathing and fatalism, for instance. Many of his classic foes have also been examples of the trope; for instance the Abomination is typically portrayed as an embodiment of [[{{Pride}} hubris]].
** Peter Davidinstance.
*** Creator/PeterDavid characterized the savage Green Hulk like a child prone to tantrums. Grey Hulk on the other hand would be the embodiment of pubescent desires. As Joe Fixit he worked as mafia muscle and led a hedonist lifestyle in Las Vegas: snappy dresses, fine meals, parties and booze, sleeping with beautifulwomen...women...
** Many of his classic foes have also been examples of the trope; for instance the Abomination is typically portrayed as an embodiment of hubris.
** Peter David
*** Creator/PeterDavid characterized the savage Green Hulk like a child prone to tantrums. Grey Hulk on the other hand would be the embodiment of pubescent desires. As Joe Fixit he worked as mafia muscle and led a hedonist lifestyle in Las Vegas: snappy dresses, fine meals, parties and booze, sleeping with beautiful
** Many of his classic foes have also been examples of the trope; for instance the Abomination is typically portrayed as an embodiment of hubris.
* EmotionalBruiser: Naturally, the Hulk has this going for him a good deal. While he's mostly associated with anger, he often displays other intense emotions in combat; such as extreme sadness or fear. Hulk in most versions represents raw, unfettered emotion free from intellect or reason, so it's expected.
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* EpiphanyTherapy[=/=]SplitPersonalityMerge: Doc Samson uses this with Bruce to create The Merged Hulk. Ultimately averted, as Samson insists on following up with regular therapy sessions, and Hulk keeps skipping those. It ''might'' have stuck if he had followed the doctor's advice.
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* EpiphanyTherapy[=/=]SplitPersonalityMerge: EpiphanyTherapy: Doc Samson uses this with Bruce Banner/The Hulk to create The Merged merge their different personalities into one, creating the Merged/Professor Hulk. Ultimately averted, This was subverted though, as Samson insists had insisted on following up with regular therapy sessions, and Hulk keeps kept skipping those. them. It ''might'' have stuck if he had followed the doctor's advice.advice.
** This was later altogether retconned away with TherapyDoesNotWorkThatWay to establish that Samson had really just created a new, if more stable, alternate.
* EscapistCharacter: The Hulk is a mix between ThisLoserIsYou and this. Most people can relate to feeling like poor, downtrodden Bruce Banner at least once in their life and he can provide wish fulfillment by turning into an unstoppable rage monster that can curbstomp almost anything that pisses him off. Less so in later storylines, as his Hulk persona wrecked his personal and professional life.
** This was later altogether retconned away with TherapyDoesNotWorkThatWay to establish that Samson had really just created a new, if more stable, alternate.
* EscapistCharacter: The Hulk is a mix between ThisLoserIsYou and this. Most people can relate to feeling like poor, downtrodden Bruce Banner at least once in their life and he can provide wish fulfillment by turning into an unstoppable rage monster that can curbstomp almost anything that pisses him off. Less so in later storylines, as his Hulk persona wrecked his personal and professional life.
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* EvilFeelsGood: When Red She-Hulk's identity is revealed to be [[spoiler: Betty Ross Banner]], she tells Bruce Banner how she became what she is.
-->'''Red She-Hulk:''' "They filled me with '''rage'''... stripped away my '''will'''... but you know what? I kind of '''liked''' it. '''You''' understand what I'm talking about, Bruce. Maybe you're the only one who really can. That insane rush of really cutting loose, of not caring at all what will happen as a result... just smashing and smashing and '''smashing''' anyone they sent me against."
-->'''Red She-Hulk:''' "They filled me with '''rage'''... stripped away my '''will'''... but you know what? I kind of '''liked''' it. '''You''' understand what I'm talking about, Bruce. Maybe you're the only one who really can. That insane rush of really cutting loose, of not caring at all what will happen as a result... just smashing and smashing and '''smashing''' anyone they sent me against."
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* DevilButNoGod:
** A good example is when an old flame allows Bruce Banner to see all his inner personalities (each a different Hulk), one of whom takes the form of a monstrous reptilian devil. Devil Hulk tells Bruce "There's a little bit of God and the Devil in everyone", but the comics have yet to get around to that God part. We do get to see that an incarnation of the Beast lives in Bruce's head as well.
** Another Hulk story offers a DoubleSubversion: Old Greenskin (who at the time had Bruce Banner's intellect) acted as best man at Rick Jones' wedding, and Mephisto crashed the party, claiming to have a lien on the bride's soul. He offered the Hulk a deal: His soul for hers. Banner thought it over, looked up at the sky, and sucker-punched the demon so completely that he flew right through the fire-circle wards he'd set up to keep the other superbeings in attendance from interfering. Sputtering, Mephisto screamed that what the Hulk had done was impossible (No mortal, however powerful, should be able to land a blow on a conceptual being without permission). Banner replied, (not an exact quote): "Weren't you listening to what the preacher said? ''We are gathered here in the sight of God!'' What, did you, of all beings, think that those were just words?" While Mephisto leaves the wedding seemingly defeated, his thoughts reveal that he took the beating on purpose to increase the Hulk's hubris. A few issues later, the Hulk's organisation, the Pantheon, went down in flames and Banner suffered a pretty bad nervous breakdown, ruining all of his work with Doc Samson.
** A good example is when an old flame allows Bruce Banner to see all his inner personalities (each a different Hulk), one of whom takes the form of a monstrous reptilian devil. Devil Hulk tells Bruce "There's a little bit of God and the Devil in everyone", but the comics have yet to get around to that God part. We do get to see that an incarnation of the Beast lives in Bruce's head as well.
** Another Hulk story offers a DoubleSubversion: Old Greenskin (who at the time had Bruce Banner's intellect) acted as best man at Rick Jones' wedding, and Mephisto crashed the party, claiming to have a lien on the bride's soul. He offered the Hulk a deal: His soul for hers. Banner thought it over, looked up at the sky, and sucker-punched the demon so completely that he flew right through the fire-circle wards he'd set up to keep the other superbeings in attendance from interfering. Sputtering, Mephisto screamed that what the Hulk had done was impossible (No mortal, however powerful, should be able to land a blow on a conceptual being without permission). Banner replied, (not an exact quote): "Weren't you listening to what the preacher said? ''We are gathered here in the sight of God!'' What, did you, of all beings, think that those were just words?" While Mephisto leaves the wedding seemingly defeated, his thoughts reveal that he took the beating on purpose to increase the Hulk's hubris. A few issues later, the Hulk's organisation, the Pantheon, went down in flames and Banner suffered a pretty bad nervous breakdown, ruining all of his work with Doc Samson.
* DisabilityNegatingSuperpower: In one storyline, Bruce Banner is shot in the head while turning into the Hulk. With the Hulk's HealingFactor, he survives (and even manages to remain in control of it) but, since the bullet remains lodged in his brain, has to refrain from turning back into Banner at all costs or ''die immediately''. This continues until the Leader manages to remove the bullet.
* DisappearedDad: Bruce Banner had once realized that he himself became one, as two or more of his Hulk personas have made children under contrived situations; Bruce in one self-introspecting moment felt he should be responsible for them, awkwardly attempting to connect with his estranged children. It didn’t quite work as none of them felt a connection to Bruce Banner and he didn’t try to push things much further, just accepting it as one of the many things that never works out in his life.
* DisappearedDad: Bruce Banner had once realized that he himself became one, as two or more of his Hulk personas have made children under contrived situations; Bruce in one self-introspecting moment felt he should be responsible for them, awkwardly attempting to connect with his estranged children. It didn’t quite work as none of them felt a connection to Bruce Banner and he didn’t try to push things much further, just accepting it as one of the many things that never works out in his life.
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* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe: A one-shot character in the ''Hulk'' series was a brainy college student based very loosely on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_and_Loeb Richard Loeb]]; he smoked a pipe as part of his "smartest guy in the room" persona.
* DoNotCallMePaul: The Hulk ''hates'' being called Bruce. Though, it's justified in that they are separate entities inhabiting the same body. This seems to be a recurring theme with Gamma mutates. The Leader also hates it when people call him Samuel Sterns.
* DoNotCallMePaul: The Hulk ''hates'' being called Bruce. Though, it's justified in that they are separate entities inhabiting the same body. This seems to be a recurring theme with Gamma mutates. The Leader also hates it when people call him Samuel Sterns.
to:
* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe: DistantFinale: Creator/PeterDavid set the final issue of his 12-year-run 10 years after the previous issue. A Daily Bugle [[FlashBack interview]] with [[UnreliableNarrator Rick Jones]] serves as a fitting end to both David's tenure on the title and the Hulk mythos in general.
* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe:
** Bruce Banner smoked a pipe in his first appearance, in ''The Incredible Hulk #1''. In TheNineties when Hulk had Bruce Banner's brain he also smoked a normal sized pipe, which for him was very tiny.
** A one-shot character in the ''Hulk'' series was a brainy college student based very loosely on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_and_Loeb Richard Loeb]]; he smoked a pipe as part of his "smartest guy in the room" persona.
* DoNotCallMePaul:The Hulk ''hates'' being called Bruce. Though, it's justified in that they are separate entities inhabiting the same body. This seems to be a recurring theme with Gamma mutates. mutates.
** Calling TheLeader also Hulk "Bruce" is a [[BerserkButton good way to end up on the receiving end of the worst beat down of your life]]. Justified, though, as they really are separate personalities inhabiting the same body. And they do not like each other.
** In the same vein, Joe Fixit doesn't like to be called "Hulk", and neither does the Doc Omega personality, who sees the name Hulk as something pushed on him. And the Maestro hates to called Hulk ''or'' Banner.
--->'''Maestro:''' I'm sorry, Banner can't hear you right now. Please leave your message at the sound of a thousand cracking femurs.
** Just narrowly averted in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', when someone calls that Hulk Banner and he just asks "are you trying to piss me off?"
** Same goes for his Archfoe The Leader. He hates it when peoplecall refer to him by Samuel Sterns.
* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe:
** Bruce Banner smoked a pipe in his first appearance, in ''The Incredible Hulk #1''. In TheNineties when Hulk had Bruce Banner's brain he also smoked a normal sized pipe, which for him was very tiny.
** A one-shot character in the ''Hulk'' series was a brainy college student based very loosely on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_and_Loeb Richard Loeb]]; he smoked a pipe as part of his "smartest guy in the room" persona.
* DoNotCallMePaul:
** Calling The
** In the same vein, Joe Fixit doesn't like to be called "Hulk", and neither does the Doc Omega personality, who sees the name Hulk as something pushed on him. And the Maestro hates to called Hulk ''or'' Banner.
--->'''Maestro:''' I'm sorry, Banner can't hear you right now. Please leave your message at the sound of a thousand cracking femurs.
** Just narrowly averted in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', when someone calls that Hulk Banner and he just asks "are you trying to piss me off?"
** Same goes for his Archfoe The Leader. He hates it when people
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** Savage Hulk: KnightInSourArmor or PragmaticHero. Extremely noble, well-intended, loyal, heroic, constantly persecuted without understanding why, only wants to be loved and have friends, but cannot understand the society around him, protector of all oppressed peoples around the universe, will be inconsolable after watching ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'' or seeing a dead bunny, and strictly a force for good as long as somebody (like his former father figure Comicbook/DoctorStrange, or own, as opposed to Banner's, "the greatest love of his life" Queen Jarella) gives him a comprehensible direction. Basically the most pure-hearted and genuinely heroic version, but non-constructively constantly hunted like an animal due to his sheer scale of power without the maturity to handle it properly. Nowadays, tends to usually be treated more kindly by other heroes when he shows up.
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** Savage Hulk: KnightInSourArmor or PragmaticHero. Extremely noble, well-intended, loyal, heroic, constantly persecuted without understanding why, only wants to be loved and have friends, but cannot understand the society around him, protector of all oppressed peoples around the universe, will be inconsolable after watching ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'' or seeing a dead bunny, and strictly a force for good as long as somebody (like his former father figure Comicbook/DoctorStrange, ComicBook/DoctorStrange, or own, as opposed to Banner's, "the greatest love of his life" Queen Jarella) gives him a comprehensible direction. Basically the most pure-hearted and genuinely heroic version, but non-constructively constantly hunted like an animal due to his sheer scale of power without the maturity to handle it properly. Nowadays, tends to usually be treated more kindly by other heroes when he shows up.
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** Parodied in Creator/PeterDavid's run. Rick Jones' fiancee Marlo is dead. He goes to Comicbook/DoctorStrange and the following conversation ensues.
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** Parodied in Creator/PeterDavid's run. Rick Jones' fiancee Marlo is dead. He goes to Comicbook/DoctorStrange ComicBook/DoctorStrange and the following conversation ensues.
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** Comicbook/ImmortalHulk uses this, ''with his severed hand''. to shatter the glass jars his different body parts were kept.
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** Comicbook/ImmortalHulk ComicBook/ImmortalHulk uses this, ''with his severed hand''. to shatter the glass jars his different body parts were kept.
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* BareYourMidriff: The Hulk's Comicbook/MarvelNOW costume, which is a suit of armor that shows off his abs when transformed.
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* BareYourMidriff: The Hulk's Comicbook/MarvelNOW ComicBook/MarvelNOW costume, which is a suit of armor that shows off his abs when transformed.
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** Ask any moderate comics fan who the core members of ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'' are, and you'll immediately hear "The Hulk, ComicBook/DoctorStrange, ComicBook/SilverSurfer, and [[Comicbook/SubMariner Namor the Sub-Mariner]]." Sometimes they'll add Nighthawk, or maybe Comicbook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}}. While Strange and Hulk have been on most versions of the Defenders, with Strange usually being the de facto leader, Namor and Surfer quit after just a few issues. People familiar with the original run will tell you that the Defenders ''never'' had a consistent lineup, and variously included nearly every hero and some villains active at the time. This is part of the reason that modern revivals of the team tend to get cancelled quickly. As it turns out, not many writers can make the "classic" lineup work, since all the characters involved are [[SuperpowerLottery grotesquely overpowered]] and relative loners, but they assume that it has to work because the original comic made it work, right?
** Similarly, nearly every adaptation of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' either mentions the Hulk or makes heavy use of him: see ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'', [[Film/TheAvengers2012 the movie]], ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', etc. How many issues of the comic was Hulk a part of the team (not counting guest spots like his brief stint as an Avengers reservist in an ''Evolutionary War'' annual)? ''Two.'' He rejoined the team in ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', to capitalize on the movie, but that was a comic written in 2012, and that was the first time he'd ever officially rejoined. Flip open a comic from the '60s or '70s, and you're much more likely to see ComicBook/{{Black Knight|MarvelComics}}, ComicBook/TheVision, Comicbook/{{Beast|Marvel Comics}}, ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules, or Moondragon, none of whom have managed Hulk's prominence on the Avengers in other media. Even ComicBook/RedHulk was on the team longer by the time he rejoined!
** Similarly, nearly every adaptation of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' either mentions the Hulk or makes heavy use of him: see ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'', [[Film/TheAvengers2012 the movie]], ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', etc. How many issues of the comic was Hulk a part of the team (not counting guest spots like his brief stint as an Avengers reservist in an ''Evolutionary War'' annual)? ''Two.'' He rejoined the team in ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', to capitalize on the movie, but that was a comic written in 2012, and that was the first time he'd ever officially rejoined. Flip open a comic from the '60s or '70s, and you're much more likely to see ComicBook/{{Black Knight|MarvelComics}}, ComicBook/TheVision, Comicbook/{{Beast|Marvel Comics}}, ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules, or Moondragon, none of whom have managed Hulk's prominence on the Avengers in other media. Even ComicBook/RedHulk was on the team longer by the time he rejoined!
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** Ask any moderate comics fan who the core members of ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'' are, and you'll immediately hear "The Hulk, ComicBook/DoctorStrange, ComicBook/SilverSurfer, and [[Comicbook/SubMariner [[ComicBook/SubMariner Namor the Sub-Mariner]]." Sometimes they'll add Nighthawk, or maybe Comicbook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel ComicBook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}}. While Strange and Hulk have been on most versions of the Defenders, with Strange usually being the de facto leader, Namor and Surfer quit after just a few issues. People familiar with the original run will tell you that the Defenders ''never'' had a consistent lineup, and variously included nearly every hero and some villains active at the time. This is part of the reason that modern revivals of the team tend to get cancelled quickly. As it turns out, not many writers can make the "classic" lineup work, since all the characters involved are [[SuperpowerLottery grotesquely overpowered]] and relative loners, but they assume that it has to work because the original comic made it work, right?
** Similarly, nearly every adaptation of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' either mentions the Hulk or makes heavy use of him: see ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'', [[Film/TheAvengers2012 the movie]], ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', etc. How many issues of the comic was Hulk a part of the team (not counting guest spots like his brief stint as an Avengers reservist in an ''Evolutionary War'' annual)? ''Two.'' He rejoined the team in ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', to capitalize on the movie, but that was a comic written in 2012, and that was the first time he'd ever officially rejoined. Flip open a comic from the '60s or '70s, and you're much more likely to see ComicBook/{{Black Knight|MarvelComics}}, ComicBook/TheVision,Comicbook/{{Beast|Marvel ComicBook/{{Beast|Marvel Comics}}, ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules, or Moondragon, none of whom have managed Hulk's prominence on the Avengers in other media. Even ComicBook/RedHulk was on the team longer by the time he rejoined!
** Similarly, nearly every adaptation of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' either mentions the Hulk or makes heavy use of him: see ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'', [[Film/TheAvengers2012 the movie]], ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', etc. How many issues of the comic was Hulk a part of the team (not counting guest spots like his brief stint as an Avengers reservist in an ''Evolutionary War'' annual)? ''Two.'' He rejoined the team in ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', to capitalize on the movie, but that was a comic written in 2012, and that was the first time he'd ever officially rejoined. Flip open a comic from the '60s or '70s, and you're much more likely to see ComicBook/{{Black Knight|MarvelComics}}, ComicBook/TheVision,
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* CrystalDragonJesus: During the ''Planet Hulk'' story arc, many of the natives of Sakaar believed that the Hulk was their Crystal Dragon Jesus, the Sakaarson. Then again, just as many thought he was their Crystal Dragon Antichrist, the Worldbreaker. After the Hulk left the planet, both of his sons were subject to the same debate. Considering that in ''Comicbook/FearItself'' [[spoiler: Hulk becomes Nul, the ''Breaker of Worlds'',]] it seems there is truth in both. Also, [[ComicBook/Warlock1967 Adam Warlock]]'s crucifixion and resurrection on Counter-Earth actually took place in a Hulk title.
* CurseEscapeClause: In issue #298-300, the Hulk had reverted to a mindless brute and was sent to "the Crossroads" by Comicbook/DoctorStrange. From this nexus he could go to almost any world (except straight back to Earth), with the caveat that, if he were truly unhappy in a given world, he would be sent back to the Crossroads to choose again.
* CurseEscapeClause: In issue #298-300, the Hulk had reverted to a mindless brute and was sent to "the Crossroads" by Comicbook/DoctorStrange. From this nexus he could go to almost any world (except straight back to Earth), with the caveat that, if he were truly unhappy in a given world, he would be sent back to the Crossroads to choose again.
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* CrystalDragonJesus: During the ''Planet Hulk'' story arc, many of the natives of Sakaar believed that the Hulk was their Crystal Dragon Jesus, the Sakaarson. Then again, just as many thought he was their Crystal Dragon Antichrist, the Worldbreaker. After the Hulk left the planet, both of his sons were subject to the same debate. Considering that in ''Comicbook/FearItself'' ''ComicBook/FearItself'' [[spoiler: Hulk becomes Nul, the ''Breaker of Worlds'',]] it seems there is truth in both. Also, [[ComicBook/Warlock1967 Adam Warlock]]'s crucifixion and resurrection on Counter-Earth actually took place in a Hulk title.
* CurseEscapeClause: In issue #298-300, the Hulk had reverted to a mindless brute and was sent to "the Crossroads" byComicbook/DoctorStrange.ComicBook/DoctorStrange. From this nexus he could go to almost any world (except straight back to Earth), with the caveat that, if he were truly unhappy in a given world, he would be sent back to the Crossroads to choose again.
* CurseEscapeClause: In issue #298-300, the Hulk had reverted to a mindless brute and was sent to "the Crossroads" by
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* DeadMansSwitch: When Bruce Banner starts working for Comicbook/{{SHIELD}}, he first sets up one of these in case they decide to just kill him to neutralize the threat presented by the Hulk. Prior to his initial meeting with Maria Hill, he steals ''highly'' classified information -- implied to be damning enough to bring down the whole organization if released -- and gives it to a contact (who turns out to be Daredevil) along with instructions to release it if Banner doesn't check in with him on a regular basis.
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* DeadMansSwitch: When Bruce Banner starts working for Comicbook/{{SHIELD}}, ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}, he first sets up one of these in case they decide to just kill him to neutralize the threat presented by the Hulk. Prior to his initial meeting with Maria Hill, he steals ''highly'' classified information -- implied to be damning enough to bring down the whole organization if released -- and gives it to a contact (who turns out to be Daredevil) along with instructions to release it if Banner doesn't check in with him on a regular basis.
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** Lampshaded ''endlessly'' in issues #397-#400. When a distraught Rick Jones goes to Comicbook/DoctorStrange so that he can resurrect his girlfriend Marlo, Strange explains how it's impossible. Rick goes on to point out how many other characters have died and come back, asking if Strange' assistant had (responding "Actually, yes"). It gets to the point where Marlo does get brought back to life by a magical priest and a crystal chamber simply called the "Deux Ex Machina." She comes back... but is left a complete shell from the experience. (She gets better before issue #418 [their wedding], though.)
to:
** Lampshaded ''endlessly'' in issues #397-#400. When a distraught Rick Jones goes to Comicbook/DoctorStrange ComicBook/DoctorStrange so that he can resurrect his girlfriend Marlo, Strange explains how it's impossible. Rick goes on to point out how many other characters have died and come back, asking if Strange' assistant had (responding "Actually, yes"). It gets to the point where Marlo does get brought back to life by a magical priest and a crystal chamber simply called the "Deux Ex Machina." She comes back... but is left a complete shell from the experience. (She gets better before issue #418 [their wedding], though.)
* DestructiveSaviour:
** Even more so considering that in the ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' storyline he literally played the dualistic roles of Savior and Destroyer.
** His sons are also this. In fact, they may well be ''more'' dangerous than their father, because while the Hulk typically tries not to kill other people, his sons have no such compunction.
** Even more so considering that in the ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' storyline he literally played the dualistic roles of Savior and Destroyer.
** His sons are also this. In fact, they may well be ''more'' dangerous than their father, because while the Hulk typically tries not to kill other people, his sons have no such compunction.
* DeusAngstMachina: The series evetually got to the point where it more or less became a parody of itself for half a decade during UsefulNotes/{{the Dark Age|OfComicBooks}} because the writers were sick of the endless angst (probably).
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** Oddly enough, Hulk's RoguesGallery also includes ''someone else's'' Evil Counterparts. The U-Foes are a group of four villains whose origin, powers, and personalities are all extremely similar to those of the Comicbook/FantasticFour. Strangely, they have never faced the FF despite all of the characters being Creator/MarvelComics characters.
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** Oddly enough, Hulk's RoguesGallery also includes ''someone else's'' Evil Counterparts. The U-Foes are a group of four villains whose origin, powers, and personalities are all extremely similar to those of the Comicbook/FantasticFour.ComicBook/FantasticFour. Strangely, they have never faced the FF despite all of the characters being Creator/MarvelComics characters.
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** General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross is obsessed with stopping the Hulk at any cost, often interfering with Bruce Banner's attempts to cure himself in the process. Which one he actually hates can get blurry -- he once tried to shoot a de-Hulked Bruce Banner on the day Bruce married his daughter. He's even willing to [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Hulkify himself]] (and his daughter, in addition to {{brainwashing}} her) if it means stopping the Hulk (he became the Comicbook/{{Red|Hulk}} one).
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** General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross is obsessed with stopping the Hulk at any cost, often interfering with Bruce Banner's attempts to cure himself in the process. Which one he actually hates can get blurry -- he once tried to shoot a de-Hulked Bruce Banner on the day Bruce married his daughter. He's even willing to [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Hulkify himself]] (and his daughter, in addition to {{brainwashing}} her) if it means stopping the Hulk (he became the Comicbook/{{Red|Hulk}} ComicBook/{{Red|Hulk}} one).
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** The Comicbook/RedHulk has his own General Ripper nemesis in General Fortean, Ross's former apprentice, who blames him for Ross's death. [[spoiler:Of course, Red Hulk ''is'' Ross. The irony is not lost on him.]] Fortean returns in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', which showcases some of the differences between them - Ross has some humanizing elements, and the occasional standard. Fortean does ''not'', and will do absolutely anything to destroy his enemies, including ignoring the chain of command, forcing everyone under him to go along with his insane vendetta.
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** The Comicbook/RedHulk ComicBook/RedHulk has his own General Ripper nemesis in General Fortean, Ross's former apprentice, who blames him for Ross's death. [[spoiler:Of course, Red Hulk ''is'' Ross. The irony is not lost on him.]] Fortean returns in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', which showcases some of the differences between them - Ross has some humanizing elements, and the occasional standard. Fortean does ''not'', and will do absolutely anything to destroy his enemies, including ignoring the chain of command, forcing everyone under him to go along with his insane vendetta.
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* AGirlInEveryPort: Hulk has had many different lovers and wives, and he's fathered children with some of them. The main reason why he's had so many is Bruce Banner's constant need to stay on the run and find a place where he and the Hulk won't cause trouble or hurt anyone, but he still cannot avoid falling in love with a local. Also, a lot of Hulk's separate personalities consider themselves entirely different people, often disagreeing on which woman they consider their OneTrueLove (if any). Gray Hulk, for instance, moved to Las Vegas and worked as a pimp and a bouncer, acquiring a harem of women in the process. On another occasion, Savage Hulk entered the sub-atomic kingdom K'ai and, after magically having the Bruce Banner personality become dominant in Hulk's mind, fell in love with princess Jarella, The Green Scar was forced off-world by Comicbook/TheIlluminati and found a happy life on the planet Sakaar, along with his new wife, Caiera. On yet ''another'' occasion, an otherworldly deity named Umar took an enraged Hulk back to her dimension to make him her consort. Feeling there was nothing left for him back on Earth, Hulk allowed her to, although his ex-wife, Betty Ross, resented it and eventually followed Hulk to that world.
to:
* AGirlInEveryPort: Hulk has had many different lovers and wives, and he's fathered children with some of them. The main reason why he's had so many is Bruce Banner's constant need to stay on the run and find a place where he and the Hulk won't cause trouble or hurt anyone, but he still cannot avoid falling in love with a local. Also, a lot of Hulk's separate personalities consider themselves entirely different people, often disagreeing on which woman they consider their OneTrueLove (if any). Gray Hulk, for instance, moved to Las Vegas and worked as a pimp and a bouncer, acquiring a harem of women in the process. On another occasion, Savage Hulk entered the sub-atomic kingdom K'ai and, after magically having the Bruce Banner personality become dominant in Hulk's mind, fell in love with princess Jarella, The Green Scar was forced off-world by Comicbook/TheIlluminati ComicBook/TheIlluminati and found a happy life on the planet Sakaar, along with his new wife, Caiera. On yet ''another'' occasion, an otherworldly deity named Umar took an enraged Hulk back to her dimension to make him her consort. Feeling there was nothing left for him back on Earth, Hulk allowed her to, although his ex-wife, Betty Ross, resented it and eventually followed Hulk to that world.
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* HulkSpeak: The Hulk, for whom this trope is named, but only the animated version and the "savage" version from the comics. In the movies, Hulk only [[ScreamingWarrior roars]], with a single line in the first three ([[{{Film/Hulk}} 2003 movie version]] has him saying "'''[[MythologyGag Puny human]]'''" in Bruce Banner's dream sequence; [[Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008 in the 2008 movie]], Hulk said "'''[[HulkSmash HULK... SMASH]]'''!" during the final fight scene with Abomination -- [[CatchPhrase because it had to be said at least once]] -- and in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', given Comicbook/{{Loki}} [[AGodAmI called himself a god]] [[MetronomicManMashing before being beaten]], Hulk walks away saying "[[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Puny God...]]"). For the most part, however, he speaks correct, [[TerseTalker if terse]], English. In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' he finally starts talking extensively in classic Hulk speak.
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* HulkSpeak: The Hulk, for whom this trope is named, but only the animated version and the "savage" version from the comics. In the movies, Hulk only [[ScreamingWarrior roars]], with a single line in the first three ([[{{Film/Hulk}} 2003 movie version]] has him saying "'''[[MythologyGag Puny human]]'''" in Bruce Banner's dream sequence; [[Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008 in the 2008 movie]], Hulk said "'''[[HulkSmash HULK... SMASH]]'''!" during the final fight scene with Abomination -- [[CatchPhrase because it had to be said at least once]] -- and in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', given Comicbook/{{Loki}} ComicBook/{{Loki}} [[AGodAmI called himself a god]] [[MetronomicManMashing before being beaten]], Hulk walks away saying "[[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Puny God...]]"). For the most part, however, he speaks correct, [[TerseTalker if terse]], English. In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' he finally starts talking extensively in classic Hulk speak.
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* LetsYouAndHimFight: The series can usually pull these off repeatedly due to the Hulk's unstable mental nature. One day he's a giant with the mind of Bruce Banner, the next an unthinking ball of green rage. Getting these fights to stop usually involves a CoolDownHug and the inevitable HulksCooldownHugCorollary to avoid a change in the [[StatusQuoIsGod Status Quo]]. Various heroes have been unlucky enough to cross the Hulk's path, including Franchise/SpiderMan, Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}, Comicbook/IronMan and the heroes who make up part of his regular rogues' gallery (see below). It's not an experience any of the other guys would care to repeat.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by the Hulk (in Smart/Banner/Merged Hulk form at the time) during the Marvel Knights crossover storyline, when he accidentally bumps into Comicbook/GhostRider while strolling through the park at knight. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for the reader, Ghost Rider, currently fully possessed by the [[KnightTemplar Spirit of Vengeance]] and only seeing the (accidental, collateral) pain Hulk has caused, is not having any of it and doesn't go along with the plan.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by the Hulk (in Smart/Banner/Merged Hulk form at the time) during the Marvel Knights crossover storyline, when he accidentally bumps into Comicbook/GhostRider while strolling through the park at knight. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for the reader, Ghost Rider, currently fully possessed by the [[KnightTemplar Spirit of Vengeance]] and only seeing the (accidental, collateral) pain Hulk has caused, is not having any of it and doesn't go along with the plan.
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* LetsYouAndHimFight: The series can usually pull these off repeatedly due to the Hulk's unstable mental nature. One day he's a giant with the mind of Bruce Banner, the next an unthinking ball of green rage. Getting these fights to stop usually involves a CoolDownHug and the inevitable HulksCooldownHugCorollary to avoid a change in the [[StatusQuoIsGod Status Quo]]. Various heroes have been unlucky enough to cross the Hulk's path, including Franchise/SpiderMan, Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}, Comicbook/IronMan ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}, ComicBook/IronMan and the heroes who make up part of his regular rogues' gallery (see below). It's not an experience any of the other guys would care to repeat.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by the Hulk (in Smart/Banner/Merged Hulk form at the time) during the Marvel Knights crossover storyline, when he accidentally bumps intoComicbook/GhostRider ComicBook/GhostRider while strolling through the park at knight. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for the reader, Ghost Rider, currently fully possessed by the [[KnightTemplar Spirit of Vengeance]] and only seeing the (accidental, collateral) pain Hulk has caused, is not having any of it and doesn't go along with the plan.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by the Hulk (in Smart/Banner/Merged Hulk form at the time) during the Marvel Knights crossover storyline, when he accidentally bumps into
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* NeverSmileAtACrocodile: Whenever Hulk ventures into Comicbook/ManThing's swamp, he is attacked by alligators.
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* NeverSmileAtACrocodile: Whenever Hulk ventures into Comicbook/ManThing's ComicBook/ManThing's swamp, he is attacked by alligators.
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** The majority of Comicbook/HulkGray consisted of Bruce coming to realise that he had a surprising amount in common with his long-time enemy General Ross. Naturally, this being a Hulk comic, he didn't take it well.
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** The majority of Comicbook/HulkGray ComicBook/HulkGray consisted of Bruce coming to realise that he had a surprising amount in common with his long-time enemy General Ross. Naturally, this being a Hulk comic, he didn't take it well.
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** The ''Rampaging Hulk'' stories were initially far out stories featuring the Hulk. In ''Comicbook/{{The Incredible Hulk|1968}}'' #269-287, it is revealed the stories were created as techno-art movies by Bereet the Krylorian. Similarly, an unpublished story by Steve Gerber would have retconned the ''Comicbook/HowardTheDuck'' stories not written by Gerber as art made by the Krylorian Chireep.
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** The ''Rampaging Hulk'' stories were initially far out stories featuring the Hulk. In ''Comicbook/{{The ''ComicBook/{{The Incredible Hulk|1968}}'' #269-287, it is revealed the stories were created as techno-art movies by Bereet the Krylorian. Similarly, an unpublished story by Steve Gerber would have retconned the ''Comicbook/HowardTheDuck'' ''ComicBook/HowardTheDuck'' stories not written by Gerber as art made by the Krylorian Chireep.
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* RoguesGallery: The Hulk has a really big one. Most of the Hulk's enemies are other super-strong bruisers who can actually go a few rounds with the Big Green Machine without immediately getting turned into roadkill, like the [[EvilCounterpart Abomination]], Red Hulk, Absorbing Man, Mister Hyde, Madman, the Glob, Bi-Beast, and the Wendigo. Not everyone fits the bill however, such as the Leader, a MadScientist and EvilGenius who has as much brains as the Hulk does brawn; the U-Foes, a collective EvilCounterpart to the Comicbook/FantasticFour with a similar origin and powers, although they never actually met the Four; [[EnergyBeings Zzzax]], a sentient electrical field; Mercy, a fragile-looking and wayward DarkMagicalGirl; the Gamma Corps, a collection of other gamma-mutated humans who serve the Leader; Rock and Redeemer, one of whom is a sentient shapeshifting boulder and the other who wears a suit of deadly power armor; and others such as Speedfreek, Constrictor, Boomerang, and Piecemeal. The Hulk has even battled a couple of {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, like the Crawling Unknown (a giant, cancerlike growth that mutated out of control), and Sh'mballah, an {{Expy}} of Franchise/{{Cthulhu|Mythos}} who tried to conquer the Earth, messed with the Hulk, [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu and didn't live to regret it]]. The Hulk is also a popular choice for [[RoguesGalleryTransplant villains who fight someone besides their traditional enemies]], as he's tangled with the likes of [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Sandman and the Rhino]], [[Comicbook/XMen the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]] and the ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}}. The Hulk is also one of the few Marvel characters who has other heroes in his rogues gallery, regularly slugging it out with [[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]], ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, and [[Comicbook/FantasticFour The Thing.]]
to:
* RoguesGallery: The Hulk has a really big one. Most of the Hulk's enemies are other super-strong bruisers who can actually go a few rounds with the Big Green Machine without immediately getting turned into roadkill, like the [[EvilCounterpart Abomination]], Red Hulk, Absorbing Man, Mister Hyde, Madman, the Glob, Bi-Beast, and the Wendigo. Not everyone fits the bill however, such as the Leader, a MadScientist and EvilGenius who has as much brains as the Hulk does brawn; the U-Foes, a collective EvilCounterpart to the Comicbook/FantasticFour ComicBook/FantasticFour with a similar origin and powers, although they never actually met the Four; [[EnergyBeings Zzzax]], a sentient electrical field; Mercy, a fragile-looking and wayward DarkMagicalGirl; the Gamma Corps, a collection of other gamma-mutated humans who serve the Leader; Rock and Redeemer, one of whom is a sentient shapeshifting boulder and the other who wears a suit of deadly power armor; and others such as Speedfreek, Constrictor, Boomerang, and Piecemeal. The Hulk has even battled a couple of {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, like the Crawling Unknown (a giant, cancerlike growth that mutated out of control), and Sh'mballah, an {{Expy}} of Franchise/{{Cthulhu|Mythos}} who tried to conquer the Earth, messed with the Hulk, [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu and didn't live to regret it]]. The Hulk is also a popular choice for [[RoguesGalleryTransplant villains who fight someone besides their traditional enemies]], as he's tangled with the likes of [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Sandman and the Rhino]], [[Comicbook/XMen [[ComicBook/XMen the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]] and the ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}}. The Hulk is also one of the few Marvel characters who has other heroes in his rogues gallery, regularly slugging it out with [[Comicbook/TheMightyThor [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, and [[Comicbook/FantasticFour [[ComicBook/FantasticFour The Thing.]]
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** Ever since ''Comicbook/TheDefenders'' introduced Umar (a ''Doctor Strange'' villain) as a StalkerWithACrush for the Hulk, she's been added to his list of foes ''and'' romantic interests.
to:
** Ever since ''Comicbook/TheDefenders'' ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'' introduced Umar (a ''Doctor Strange'' villain) as a StalkerWithACrush for the Hulk, she's been added to his list of foes ''and'' romantic interests.
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** Although Doc Green (yet another Hulk persona) once stated that Comicbook/SheHulk is the Hulk's SuperiorSuccessor. The rest of the gamma crew are all a mess in one way or another, with their power and potential squandered by their psychological issues. But Jennifer has proven to be the most stable and heroic of them, which is why she is the only one he doesn't DePower.
to:
** Although Doc Green (yet another Hulk persona) once stated that Comicbook/SheHulk ComicBook/SheHulk is the Hulk's SuperiorSuccessor. The rest of the gamma crew are all a mess in one way or another, with their power and potential squandered by their psychological issues. But Jennifer has proven to be the most stable and heroic of them, which is why she is the only one he doesn't DePower.
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** Unlike her cousin Bruce, Comicbook/SheHulk doesn't get stronger when she's angry. However, her strength when she's "hulked out" is exponentially proportional to her strength as a normal human. She-Hulk's original limit was 85 tons but like other examples she's been shown to lift far greater weights. A month of exercise and an extra pound or two of muscle mass can make her as strong as the Hulk at baseline; too bad for her she never goes to the gym except to show off when she's already big and green. She-Hulk's feats include [[http://i.imgur.com/p3nEFZK.jpg using the maximum setting]] on a weight machine designed for ComicBook/TheThing, [[https://i.imgur.com/WNPfwJE.jpg flipping]] a giant over, [[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/b161d17b-aa7d-4d4c-8f79-0879fdb98710/degwrvq-d3b6e1d2-4763-4491-94d5-08d6687d1266.jpg/v1/fill/w_900,h_888,q_70,strp/she_hulk_vs__t_rex_2_by_mit19237_degwrvq-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9OTU2IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvYjE2MWQxN2ItYWE3ZC00ZDRjLThmNzktMDg3OWZkYjk4NzEwXC9kZWd3cnZxLWQzYjZlMWQyLTQ3NjMtNDQ5MS05NGQ1LTA4ZDY2ODdkMTI2Ni5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9OTY4In1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX0.KSknMBBkm1MZarkG9a3zDlAicPUMX_WTEKtfePnJbE0 swinging a T-Rex around]] like [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]] to protect a little boy, [[https://www.writeups.org/wp-content/uploads/She-Hulk-Marvel-Comics-early-h8.jpg holding a bridge]] together, ripping ComicBook/TheVision [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a9/fc/8e/a9fc8edf105bcc9d1dffac8d9dbba2ad.jpg apart]], [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/kQzx2vu8T1hfia-Twi8u_gXwqRG2M5dk59Fm5wq1rCN1gZuUGxNbSR25CrEON825TAg96eaDcsAtasGTZHLYdD7uIVBqrLMlIKVgJPTQAOrWwT4z_jTPngJDPLiH59gQa8rHKrxD52g=s1600 beating up Thor]], [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/yBY6R2B7_-PgOIn5kjKcmdcS9eCPM8s-hiJpXYSTz3JwuUIo9z2UaotosJYdK20rWs430pJLiTE3_A=s1600 slamming Sentry]] [[https://i.stack.imgur.com/QlzN2.jpg rugby tackling Thanos]]. In ''Immortal Hulk'' Jen manages to [[https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-cbb6cd1d3bd570fd2ce51df3341e3f1d hold her own against her cousin]] longer than Thor did.
to:
** Unlike her cousin Bruce, Comicbook/SheHulk ComicBook/SheHulk doesn't get stronger when she's angry. However, her strength when she's "hulked out" is exponentially proportional to her strength as a normal human. She-Hulk's original limit was 85 tons but like other examples she's been shown to lift far greater weights. A month of exercise and an extra pound or two of muscle mass can make her as strong as the Hulk at baseline; too bad for her she never goes to the gym except to show off when she's already big and green. She-Hulk's feats include [[http://i.imgur.com/p3nEFZK.jpg using the maximum setting]] on a weight machine designed for ComicBook/TheThing, [[https://i.imgur.com/WNPfwJE.jpg flipping]] a giant over, [[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/b161d17b-aa7d-4d4c-8f79-0879fdb98710/degwrvq-d3b6e1d2-4763-4491-94d5-08d6687d1266.jpg/v1/fill/w_900,h_888,q_70,strp/she_hulk_vs__t_rex_2_by_mit19237_degwrvq-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9OTU2IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvYjE2MWQxN2ItYWE3ZC00ZDRjLThmNzktMDg3OWZkYjk4NzEwXC9kZWd3cnZxLWQzYjZlMWQyLTQ3NjMtNDQ5MS05NGQ1LTA4ZDY2ODdkMTI2Ni5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9OTY4In1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX0.KSknMBBkm1MZarkG9a3zDlAicPUMX_WTEKtfePnJbE0 swinging a T-Rex around]] like [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]] to protect a little boy, [[https://www.writeups.org/wp-content/uploads/She-Hulk-Marvel-Comics-early-h8.jpg holding a bridge]] together, ripping ComicBook/TheVision [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a9/fc/8e/a9fc8edf105bcc9d1dffac8d9dbba2ad.jpg apart]], [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/kQzx2vu8T1hfia-Twi8u_gXwqRG2M5dk59Fm5wq1rCN1gZuUGxNbSR25CrEON825TAg96eaDcsAtasGTZHLYdD7uIVBqrLMlIKVgJPTQAOrWwT4z_jTPngJDPLiH59gQa8rHKrxD52g=s1600 beating up Thor]], [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/yBY6R2B7_-PgOIn5kjKcmdcS9eCPM8s-hiJpXYSTz3JwuUIo9z2UaotosJYdK20rWs430pJLiTE3_A=s1600 slamming Sentry]] [[https://i.stack.imgur.com/QlzN2.jpg rugby tackling Thanos]]. In ''Immortal Hulk'' Jen manages to [[https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-cbb6cd1d3bd570fd2ce51df3341e3f1d hold her own against her cousin]] longer than Thor did.
Changed line(s) 797 (click to see context) from:
** Any crew that includes The Hulk is doomed (ComicBook/TheDefenders, The Pantheon). True companions that fight him fare better, which may be why Comicbook/TheAvengers outlasted his membership in it.
to:
** Any crew that includes The Hulk is doomed (ComicBook/TheDefenders, The Pantheon). True companions that fight him fare better, which may be why Comicbook/TheAvengers ComicBook/TheAvengers outlasted his membership in it.
Changed line(s) 803 (click to see context) from:
* UniquenessDecay: Over the years, many other gamma-powered powerhouses have appeared to rival the Jade Giant, including Comicbook/SheHulk, Doc Samson, The Abomination, Comicbook/RedHulk, Red She-Hulk, A-Bomb, Skaar, Cosmic Hulk, and the Totally Awesome Hulk. You know, just to name a few. Worth noting, however, is that except for brief stints with TheWorfEffect, the Hulk hasn't been unseated as WorldsStrongestMan by any of them, mostly due to his uniquely-unstable mentality, which gamma power feeds from.
to:
* UniquenessDecay: Over the years, many other gamma-powered powerhouses have appeared to rival the Jade Giant, including Comicbook/SheHulk, ComicBook/SheHulk, Doc Samson, The Abomination, Comicbook/RedHulk, ComicBook/RedHulk, Red She-Hulk, A-Bomb, Skaar, Cosmic Hulk, and the Totally Awesome Hulk. You know, just to name a few. Worth noting, however, is that except for brief stints with TheWorfEffect, the Hulk hasn't been unseated as WorldsStrongestMan by any of them, mostly due to his uniquely-unstable mentality, which gamma power feeds from.
Changed line(s) 828 (click to see context) from:
** Interestingly for gamma ray mutants, what happens to the subject's mind depends on what part of their personality they had dissociated themselves from. Banner suppressed the rage that came from being abused as a child, Comicbook/SheHulk suppressed [[MsFanservice her sexuality]], Doc Samson suppressed his desire to be a hero, and the Abomination suppressed his self-hatred.
to:
** Interestingly for gamma ray mutants, what happens to the subject's mind depends on what part of their personality they had dissociated themselves from. Banner suppressed the rage that came from being abused as a child, Comicbook/SheHulk ComicBook/SheHulk suppressed [[MsFanservice her sexuality]], Doc Samson suppressed his desire to be a hero, and the Abomination suppressed his self-hatred.
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Crosswicking
Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* AlliterativeName: Bruce Banner/''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk''. (The alliteration didn't save Stan from calling him "Bob Banner" in an early story, thus enshrining in canon the full name of "Robert Bruce Banner".) [[labelnote:on TV]]In [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 the TV series]], it was changed to David Banner (with Bruce still as his middle name) because of directorial distaste for this trope. At least that's what Kenneth Johnson (the producer and writer of the bulk of the series) says. Stan Lee says that [[ExecutiveMeddling the producers]] thought the name "Bruce" sounded gay. See, back in the funky '70s the name Bruce was thought of as a "gay" name the United States.[[/labelnote]]
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* AlliterativeName: Bruce Banner/''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk''.Banner/The Hulk''. (The alliteration didn't save Stan from calling him "Bob Banner" in an early story, thus enshrining in canon the full name of "Robert Bruce Banner".) [[labelnote:on TV]]In [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 the TV series]], it was changed to David Banner (with Bruce still as his middle name) because of directorial distaste for this trope. At least that's what Kenneth Johnson (the producer and writer of the bulk of the series) says. Stan Lee says that [[ExecutiveMeddling the producers]] thought the name "Bruce" sounded gay. See, back in the funky '70s the name Bruce was thought of as a "gay" name the United States.[[/labelnote]]
Changed line(s) 125 (click to see context) from:
** While "I'm the strongest one there is" is the Hulk's catch phrase boast, recently he's simplified it. When told he can't do something, or asked how he thinks he can do something thought impossible, he responds "Sure I can/Easy, I'm [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]]."
to:
** While "I'm the strongest one there is" is the Hulk's catch phrase boast, recently he's simplified it. When told he can't do something, or asked how he thinks he can do something thought impossible, he responds "Sure I can/Easy, I'm [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]].Hulk."
Deleted line(s) 157 (click to see context) :
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'':
* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: Bruce Banner was introduced without a family. Eventually it was revealed that his mental troubles partly derive from his mother being killed by his abusive father. Bruce's longtime love-interest (and, for a time, wife) Betty Ross was introduced having lost her mother. The Hulk's occasional side-kick Rick Jones has been an orphan from the start.
Changed line(s) 443 (click to see context) from:
** Betty Ross as Red She-Hulk has pulled one of those in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' sagas "Super Spy Banner" and "Heart of the Monster". She's a Face for good in the end of "Heart of the Monster". And then she seemingly resumes Heel status after becoming Red Harpy, only for it to turn out she is actually Face.
to:
** Betty Ross as Red She-Hulk has pulled one of those in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulks'' sagas "Super Spy Banner" and "Heart of the Monster". She's a Face for good in the end of "Heart of the Monster". And then she seemingly resumes Heel status after becoming Red Harpy, only for it to turn out she is actually Face.
Changed line(s) 538 (click to see context) from:
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': Hiro-Kala knew that he was the son of the Hulk. He didn't know that Bruce Banner was the Hulk. So when they first met, the following exchange happened:
to:
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': LukeIAmYourFather: Hiro-Kala knew that he was the son of the Hulk. He didn't know that Bruce Banner was the Hulk. So when they first met, the following exchange happened:
Changed line(s) 602 (click to see context) from:
* NeverLiveItDown: Umar will, understandably, never live down the fact she once raped [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the Hulk]]. It doesn't help that this instance was played for laughs when Hulk had been the victim of both an attempted ''and'' a successful rape before, and they were rightfully shown to be the horrible, traumatizing events they were.
to:
* NeverLiveItDown: Umar will, understandably, never live down the fact she once raped [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the Hulk]].Hulk. It doesn't help that this instance was played for laughs when Hulk had been the victim of both an attempted ''and'' a successful rape before, and they were rightfully shown to be the horrible, traumatizing events they were.
Changed line(s) 687 (click to see context) from:
** ZigZaggingTrope with Gremlin. Gremlin uses the name and the armor of the Titanium Man, an Iron Man foe who goes way back, but Gremlin himself is primarily a Hulk villain, first appearing in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' #163.
to:
** ZigZaggingTrope with Gremlin. Gremlin uses the name and the armor of the Titanium Man, an Iron Man foe who goes way back, but Gremlin himself is primarily a Hulk villain, first appearing in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' issue #163.
Changed line(s) 698 (click to see context) from:
* SeriesContinuityError: Creator/StanLee wasn't good at remembering names. In some early issues of ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' that he wrote, the protagonist Bruce Banner was suddenly called [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2005/11/03/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-23/ "Bob Banner"]]. Lee [[HandWave handwaved]] the error by revealing that his full name is Robert Bruce Banner.
to:
* SeriesContinuityError: Creator/StanLee wasn't good at remembering names. In some early issues of ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' that he wrote, the protagonist Bruce Banner was suddenly called [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2005/11/03/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-23/ "Bob Banner"]]. Lee [[HandWave handwaved]] the error by revealing that his full name is Robert Bruce Banner.
Changed line(s) 728 (click to see context) from:
** There is a hilarious moment where Death of the Endless from Creator/NeilGaiman’s ''ComicBook/{{The Sandman|1989}}'' makes a cameo in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' #418 during Rick Jones’s wedding but says she needs to go before “that creep Thanos show ups” looking for her.
to:
** There is a hilarious moment where Death of the Endless from Creator/NeilGaiman’s ''ComicBook/{{The Sandman|1989}}'' makes a cameo in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' issue #418 during Rick Jones’s wedding but says she needs to go before “that creep Thanos show ups” looking for her.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Crosswicking
* {{Angrish}}: The Hulk would seem to be the living distillation of this trope. Whenever Bruce Banner gets angry enough, he manifests as the incarnation of Angrish. "RRAAAAARRGH! HULK SMASH! AAAARRRGH!"
Changed line(s) 114 (click to see context) from:
* BackFromTheDead: Subverted in ''Fall of the Hulk'', when it appears Glenn Talbot has come back. Eventually, Red Hulk reveals he's just a [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots LMD]]. The real Talbot is still very much dead.
to:
* BackFromTheDead: BackFromTheDead:
** Parodied in Creator/PeterDavid's run. Rick Jones' fiancee Marlo is dead. He goes to Comicbook/DoctorStrange and the following conversation ensues.
-->'''Rick''': Wong, have you returned from the dead?
-->'''Wong''': Well, yes.
-->'''Rick''': And Doc, have you come back from the dead?
-->'''Doctor Strange''': Yes, but I ''am'' a professional.
*** Eventually he [[DealWithTheDevil asks the Leader]] to bring her back from the dead. And the Leader does.
** In issue #434, following the death of Nick Fury at the Punisher's hands, several of Fury's old "Howling Commandos" buddies laugh, drink, and jokingly float numerous theories involving android duplicates, alien intervention, and the like until they reach the casket at the graveside. They're still sitting there speechless and shocked even after the rest of the attendees have left.
** Subverted in ''Fall of the Hulk'', when it appears Glenn Talbot has come back. Eventually, Red Hulk reveals he's just a [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots LMD]]. The real Talbot is still very muchdead.dead.
* BadassBoast:
** While "I'm the strongest one there is" is the Hulk's catch phrase boast, recently he's simplified it. When told he can't do something, or asked how he thinks he can do something thought impossible, he responds "Sure I can/Easy, I'm [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]]."
** In his first fight with Namor:
---> '''Namor:''' [[ThisCannotBe No one has ever broken thru my whirlpool trap before]]! \\
'''Hulk:''' No one else- is Hulk!
** Bruce Banner once forced Wolverine and [[AxeCrazy Daken]] to back down when he explained to them what it means to be one of the smartest people in the world ''and'' be dangerously unstable.
---> Maybe the real reason I became the Hulk... was to protect the world from Banner.
** In ''ComicBook/SeasonOne'', Bruce Banner gets one himself, against Hulk, and finished it off with a punch that knocks Hulk down.
--->'''Bruce''': You're passion, Hulk. But I'm will. You said it yourself. [[SuppressedRage I've bottled you up for years]]. Why stop now? You underestimated me, Hulk. Don't feel bad. Most do. What [[AbusiveParents he]] put me through as a kid -- you don't survive that by being weak. ''I'm'' [[BorrowedCatchphrase the strongest there is]].
** In ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulkFutureImperfect'', the ComicBook/{{Maestro}} had this excellent villainous version;
--->'''Maestro:''' You're fighting the inevitable, Hulk. I'm simply the final product of natural selection. The strong survive. I'm the strongest. I survived. When you go against me, you go against the laws of nature.
*** He also had this to say about what he did to all the heroes in his time.
---> No, by beating them to death, and it all went so quickly that I'm sorry I didn't prolong it.
** Parodied in Creator/PeterDavid's run. Rick Jones' fiancee Marlo is dead. He goes to Comicbook/DoctorStrange and the following conversation ensues.
-->'''Rick''': Wong, have you returned from the dead?
-->'''Wong''': Well, yes.
-->'''Rick''': And Doc, have you come back from the dead?
-->'''Doctor Strange''': Yes, but I ''am'' a professional.
*** Eventually he [[DealWithTheDevil asks the Leader]] to bring her back from the dead. And the Leader does.
** In issue #434, following the death of Nick Fury at the Punisher's hands, several of Fury's old "Howling Commandos" buddies laugh, drink, and jokingly float numerous theories involving android duplicates, alien intervention, and the like until they reach the casket at the graveside. They're still sitting there speechless and shocked even after the rest of the attendees have left.
** Subverted in ''Fall of the Hulk'', when it appears Glenn Talbot has come back. Eventually, Red Hulk reveals he's just a [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots LMD]]. The real Talbot is still very much
* BadassBoast:
** While "I'm the strongest one there is" is the Hulk's catch phrase boast, recently he's simplified it. When told he can't do something, or asked how he thinks he can do something thought impossible, he responds "Sure I can/Easy, I'm [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]]."
** In his first fight with Namor:
---> '''Namor:''' [[ThisCannotBe No one has ever broken thru my whirlpool trap before]]! \\
'''Hulk:''' No one else- is Hulk!
** Bruce Banner once forced Wolverine and [[AxeCrazy Daken]] to back down when he explained to them what it means to be one of the smartest people in the world ''and'' be dangerously unstable.
---> Maybe the real reason I became the Hulk... was to protect the world from Banner.
** In ''ComicBook/SeasonOne'', Bruce Banner gets one himself, against Hulk, and finished it off with a punch that knocks Hulk down.
--->'''Bruce''': You're passion, Hulk. But I'm will. You said it yourself. [[SuppressedRage I've bottled you up for years]]. Why stop now? You underestimated me, Hulk. Don't feel bad. Most do. What [[AbusiveParents he]] put me through as a kid -- you don't survive that by being weak. ''I'm'' [[BorrowedCatchphrase the strongest there is]].
** In ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulkFutureImperfect'', the ComicBook/{{Maestro}} had this excellent villainous version;
--->'''Maestro:''' You're fighting the inevitable, Hulk. I'm simply the final product of natural selection. The strong survive. I'm the strongest. I survived. When you go against me, you go against the laws of nature.
*** He also had this to say about what he did to all the heroes in his time.
---> No, by beating them to death, and it all went so quickly that I'm sorry I didn't prolong it.
Added DiffLines:
* BadFuture:
** In ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulkFutureImperfect'', the Hulk was once pulled into a bad future where, after a global nuclear war killed most of the world's superheroes, the Hulk himself, having renamed himself the Maestro, had taken over, having gone insane due to the massive amounts of radiation he absorbed during the war.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' features a particularly dark one: [[spoiler: Billions of years into the future, the Hulk (utterly controlled by [[TheAntiGod the One Below All]] after fully eating away Bruce and Devil Hulk) kills off Franklin Richards and Mr. Immortal to take the role of Galactus's successor. Becoming a true Breaker of Worlds, in issue #25 it succeeds in destroying all life in the next universe, leaving a dark, dead, utterly broken abyss where it resides entirely alone. The last living being in that universe tries to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong and avert this timeline... except they may only have created a StableTimeLoop.]]
** In ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulkFutureImperfect'', the Hulk was once pulled into a bad future where, after a global nuclear war killed most of the world's superheroes, the Hulk himself, having renamed himself the Maestro, had taken over, having gone insane due to the massive amounts of radiation he absorbed during the war.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' features a particularly dark one: [[spoiler: Billions of years into the future, the Hulk (utterly controlled by [[TheAntiGod the One Below All]] after fully eating away Bruce and Devil Hulk) kills off Franklin Richards and Mr. Immortal to take the role of Galactus's successor. Becoming a true Breaker of Worlds, in issue #25 it succeeds in destroying all life in the next universe, leaving a dark, dead, utterly broken abyss where it resides entirely alone. The last living being in that universe tries to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong and avert this timeline... except they may only have created a StableTimeLoop.]]
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* BewareTheNiceOnes:
** Bruce Banner is usually a pretty nice guy. Just don't get him angry. [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry You won't like him when he's angry]].
** Bruce Banner himself isn't exactly helpless either. WordOfGod confirms that his intelligence is on par with [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] or [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]]; he's been able to avoid the authorities countless times and was able to hold his own in a few fights without turning into the Hulk. If you are [[TooDumbToLive dumb enough]] to piss him off, [[HulkingOut he]] [[UnstoppableRage WILL]] [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge smash]] [[CurbStompBattle you.]] In one of the ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'' issues he proves that he is smarter than Stark, humming afterwards "Banner is the smartest one there is."
** All the above is explored in the 'Banner & Son' storyline, which sees Banner temporarily unable to transform into the Hulk. He still manages to take down villains like Juggernaut and the Harpy by being a GadgeteerGenius (and with a little help from Skaar). In fact, Norman Osborn considers Banner to be a far greater threat to him than the Hulk ("The Hulk is purely reactive... Banner thinks he's some sort of hero") and exposes Banner to a substance which will accelerate the reacquisition of his Hulk powers. During this time, he also muses whether the Hulk is there to protect him from the world or to protect the world from Banner.
** Hulk himself actually quite a timid guy... if you leave him alone. Sadly, the usual response is... well, doing what the Hulk does.
** Part of Bruce's backstory is that he [[spoiler:killed his own abusive murderous father in a fit of rage (in self-defense) long before he was hit by the gamma-bomb]]. He's ''always'' been dangerous. The gamma rays just gave his rage a form.
** Bruce Banner is usually a pretty nice guy. Just don't get him angry. [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry You won't like him when he's angry]].
** Bruce Banner himself isn't exactly helpless either. WordOfGod confirms that his intelligence is on par with [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] or [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]]; he's been able to avoid the authorities countless times and was able to hold his own in a few fights without turning into the Hulk. If you are [[TooDumbToLive dumb enough]] to piss him off, [[HulkingOut he]] [[UnstoppableRage WILL]] [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge smash]] [[CurbStompBattle you.]] In one of the ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'' issues he proves that he is smarter than Stark, humming afterwards "Banner is the smartest one there is."
** All the above is explored in the 'Banner & Son' storyline, which sees Banner temporarily unable to transform into the Hulk. He still manages to take down villains like Juggernaut and the Harpy by being a GadgeteerGenius (and with a little help from Skaar). In fact, Norman Osborn considers Banner to be a far greater threat to him than the Hulk ("The Hulk is purely reactive... Banner thinks he's some sort of hero") and exposes Banner to a substance which will accelerate the reacquisition of his Hulk powers. During this time, he also muses whether the Hulk is there to protect him from the world or to protect the world from Banner.
** Hulk himself actually quite a timid guy... if you leave him alone. Sadly, the usual response is... well, doing what the Hulk does.
** Part of Bruce's backstory is that he [[spoiler:killed his own abusive murderous father in a fit of rage (in self-defense) long before he was hit by the gamma-bomb]]. He's ''always'' been dangerous. The gamma rays just gave his rage a form.
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* BoisterousBruiser: The Hulk often takes this role when forced on a team; the Joe Fixit incarnation is practically the avatar of this trope.
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* DamselScrappy: Rick Jones was this from his first appearance, in which he stupidly drove out into an active military testing site, causeing Bruce Banner being subjected to Gamma radiation while saving him, turning him into the Hulk. This tendancy tends to annoy the Hulk, especially during his grey, intelligent phases, and is lampshaded by Rick himself in one issue where he manages to beat his captor and escape on his own.
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* DeadMansSwitch: When Bruce Banner starts working for Comicbook/{{SHIELD}}, he first sets up one of these in case they decide to just kill him to neutralize the threat presented by the Hulk. Prior to his initial meeting with Maria Hill, he steals ''highly'' classified information -- implied to be damning enough to bring down the whole organization if released -- and gives it to a contact (who turns out to be Daredevil) along with instructions to release it if Banner doesn't check in with him on a regular basis.
* DeadSidekick: In the early 90s, the Hulk had a sidekick named Jim Wilson, a homeless kid with HIV. Eventually he died of AIDS in a VerySpecialEpisode.
* DeadSidekick: In the early 90s, the Hulk had a sidekick named Jim Wilson, a homeless kid with HIV. Eventually he died of AIDS in a VerySpecialEpisode.
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* NamesToRunAwayFrom:
** The Hulk.
** Doc Samson, a [[TheShrink psychiatrist]] who has a green-haired GeniusBruiser transformation. Predictably, his hair grows long in his transformed state, and his power is dependent on his hair just like the mythical Samson.
** The Abomination, the EvilCounterpart of the Hulk.
** The ComicBook/{{Maestro}}, an evil alternate universe version of the Hulk.
** The Hulk.
** Doc Samson, a [[TheShrink psychiatrist]] who has a green-haired GeniusBruiser transformation. Predictably, his hair grows long in his transformed state, and his power is dependent on his hair just like the mythical Samson.
** The Abomination, the EvilCounterpart of the Hulk.
** The ComicBook/{{Maestro}}, an evil alternate universe version of the Hulk.
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* TheJuggernaut: The Hulk can go into Juggernaut mode if you really piss him off. During ''World War Hulk'', the most powerful characters in the MU, including Black Bolt, [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]], ComicBook/IronMan in Hulkbuster Armor, ComicBook/SheHulk, ComicBook/{{Ares|Marvel}}, ComicBook/GhostRider, [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Thing]], ComicBook/DoctorStrange with the power of a demonic superweapon, ComicBook/TheSentry, and the ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}} himself couldn't stop him! Though Strange lost control and Ghost Rider had a [[BystanderSyndrome lack of motivation rather than ability]]. Still, Hulk defeating Sentry was thought up until then impossible, and when they thought all his energy was used up doing so, he saw who was really responsible for bombing Sakaar and Hulked Out hard enough to nearly break Earth with his ''steps'' before he was finally stopped.
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* MyBrainIsBig:
** Yuri Topolov, a [[SovietSuperscience Soviet scientist]], was mutated into a big-headed dwarf and, becoming an EvilGenius, called himself the Gargoyle. Bruce actually managed to cure him, though, and a grateful Topolov [[RedemptionEqualsDeath sacrificed himself]] to ensure Banner's safe return to America.
** Yuri's [[LegacyCharacter son Kondrati]], who inherited his father's deformity (and capacity for EvilGenius), chose to [[MisplacedRetribution blame the Hulk]] for his father's death, and became the villainous Gremlin. As the second Titanium Man, he died during ComicBook/IronMan's ''ComicBook/ArmorWars'' rampage.
*** The Leader, whose ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' version combines this with [[GeniusCripple a totally useless body]]. Sometimes, he is even shown needing a metal frame to keep his head from snapping his neck. While other [[ILoveNuclearPower gamma-radiation mutated]] characters had their physical strength enhanced, the Leader instead was given SuperIntelligence.
** Yuri Topolov, a [[SovietSuperscience Soviet scientist]], was mutated into a big-headed dwarf and, becoming an EvilGenius, called himself the Gargoyle. Bruce actually managed to cure him, though, and a grateful Topolov [[RedemptionEqualsDeath sacrificed himself]] to ensure Banner's safe return to America.
** Yuri's [[LegacyCharacter son Kondrati]], who inherited his father's deformity (and capacity for EvilGenius), chose to [[MisplacedRetribution blame the Hulk]] for his father's death, and became the villainous Gremlin. As the second Titanium Man, he died during ComicBook/IronMan's ''ComicBook/ArmorWars'' rampage.
*** The Leader, whose ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' version combines this with [[GeniusCripple a totally useless body]]. Sometimes, he is even shown needing a metal frame to keep his head from snapping his neck. While other [[ILoveNuclearPower gamma-radiation mutated]] characters had their physical strength enhanced, the Leader instead was given SuperIntelligence.
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* ConquerorFromTheFuture: The ComicBook/{{Maestro}} (who is actually [[spoiler:an evil future incarnation of the Hulk himself]]) has become this when various incarnations of him have found their way from the "Future Imperfect" he rules over and into the present day.
* ConvenientlyEmptyBuilding: [[DependingOnTheWriter Some writers]] take this to absurd lengths. The Hulk could be a speck in a full-page of city-wide devastation, yet someone will maintain that no one was killed in the conveniently empty 20 city block radius.
** Even more absurd in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk''. New York is mostly leveled and a huge number of people remain despite evacuation orders. Despite this, it is specifically noted that no one was killed.
** Even more absurd in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk''. New York is mostly leveled and a huge number of people remain despite evacuation orders. Despite this, it is specifically noted that no one was killed.
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** Rick Jones, Jim Wilson, Jarella, and Betty Ross can do this when the Hulk is especially irate.
** Betty later lost the ability to do this when she became the Red She-Hulk. The Red She-Hulk form is Betty's repressed anger and inhibitions, and so releases those years of frustrations she has towards the Hulk. In her own words, she only makes him ''crazier''. She later got it back after the Red She-Hulk form was cured.
** Franchise/{{Superman}} did this in the second ''[[ComicBook/SupermanVsTheAmazingSpiderMan Superman/Spider-Man]]'' comic, first by letting Hulk pound him in a UnstoppableForceMeetsImmovableObject moment, after which Superman removed the sound-emitting bug that was giving Hulk an UnstoppableRage, then reassured Hulk that he only wanted to help him - which Hulk believed.
** Betty later lost the ability to do this when she became the Red She-Hulk. The Red She-Hulk form is Betty's repressed anger and inhibitions, and so releases those years of frustrations she has towards the Hulk. In her own words, she only makes him ''crazier''. She later got it back after the Red She-Hulk form was cured.
** Franchise/{{Superman}} did this in the second ''[[ComicBook/SupermanVsTheAmazingSpiderMan Superman/Spider-Man]]'' comic, first by letting Hulk pound him in a UnstoppableForceMeetsImmovableObject moment, after which Superman removed the sound-emitting bug that was giving Hulk an UnstoppableRage, then reassured Hulk that he only wanted to help him - which Hulk believed.
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** Rick Jones, Jim Wilson, Jarella, and Betty Ross can do this when the Hulk is especially irate.
** Betty later lostirate. If she's not available, the ability next most likely candidates are Rick Jones and ComicBook/SheHulk. Jim Wilson, Jarella are also both close to the Hulk so they can sometimes do this when she became too.
** Subverted during Betty's time as the Red She-Hulk.The Since the Red She-Hulk form is Betty's repressed anger and inhibitions, and so it releases those years of frustrations she has towards the Hulk. In her own words, she only makes him ''crazier''. She later got it back after the Red She-Hulk form was cured.
[[InvertedTrope ''crazier'']].
**Franchise/{{Superman}} ComicBook/{{Superman}} did this in the second ''[[ComicBook/SupermanVsTheAmazingSpiderMan Superman/Spider-Man]]'' comic, first by letting Hulk pound him in a UnstoppableForceMeetsImmovableObject moment, after which Superman removed the sound-emitting bug that was giving Hulk an UnstoppableRage, then reassured Hulk that he only wanted to help him - which Hulk believed.
** Betty later lost
** Subverted during Betty's time as the Red She-Hulk.
**
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* CraterPower: The Hulk in general, when he lands after one of his [[InASingleBound quarter-mile leaps]].
* CreativeSterility: The Shaper of Worlds is a RealityWarper with nearly unlimited power and one huge limitation: he absolutely lacks imagination. He can only create by copying the desires of others.
* CreatorCameo: Writer Creator/PeterDavid cameos as the priest who officiates the wedding of the Hulk's friend Rick Jones to Marlo Chandler.
* CreditsGag: The credits for issue #467 lists Peter David (who was leaving the book after that issue) as "Ex-writer" and artist Adam Kubert (who was moving on to ComicBook/XMen) as "X-artist".
* CreativeSterility: The Shaper of Worlds is a RealityWarper with nearly unlimited power and one huge limitation: he absolutely lacks imagination. He can only create by copying the desires of others.
* CreatorCameo: Writer Creator/PeterDavid cameos as the priest who officiates the wedding of the Hulk's friend Rick Jones to Marlo Chandler.
* CreditsGag: The credits for issue #467 lists Peter David (who was leaving the book after that issue) as "Ex-writer" and artist Adam Kubert (who was moving on to ComicBook/XMen) as "X-artist".
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* CurseEscapeClause: In issue #298-300, the Hulk had reverted to a mindless brute and was sent to "the Crossroads" by Comicbook/DoctorStrange. From this nexus he could go to almost any world (except straight back to Earth), with the caveat that, if he were truly unhappy in a given world, he would be sent back to the Crossroads to choose again.
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: The Hulk usually has green eyes to match his hair and skin.
* CutApart: At the end of John Byrne's brief run, Bruce Banner and Betty Ross are getting married in a small ceremony in a small church. At the same time Doctor Samson and Hulk are beating the crap out of each other in the desert (Hulk and Banner were physically separated at this point). It so just happens that there is a small church near them... Eventually a hit from Hulk sends Samson flying right towards the church, and he crashes through it - revealing it's been abandoned for years. Meanwhile, the wedding continues elsewhere completely unaffected by the battle.
* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: The Hulk usually has green eyes to match his hair and skin.
* CutApart: At the end of John Byrne's brief run, Bruce Banner and Betty Ross are getting married in a small ceremony in a small church. At the same time Doctor Samson and Hulk are beating the crap out of each other in the desert (Hulk and Banner were physically separated at this point). It so just happens that there is a small church near them... Eventually a hit from Hulk sends Samson flying right towards the church, and he crashes through it - revealing it's been abandoned for years. Meanwhile, the wedding continues elsewhere completely unaffected by the battle.
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* {{BFG}}:
** In issue #390, a soldier in a battle mans a high-tech cannon about ten feet long. When a blast knocks the weapon off its legs, pinning the soldier beneath, the Hulk (the really smart version) picks up the cannon, wields it in one hand, and to the enemy says "...let us reason together"
** Hulk himself succumbed to this trope during the Dark Age, when he spent a story arc running around with a huge energy cannon in each hand. Thankfully, that story tends to be ignored these days.
** In issue #390, a soldier in a battle mans a high-tech cannon about ten feet long. When a blast knocks the weapon off its legs, pinning the soldier beneath, the Hulk (the really smart version) picks up the cannon, wields it in one hand, and to the enemy says "...let us reason together"
** Hulk himself succumbed to this trope during the Dark Age, when he spent a story arc running around with a huge energy cannon in each hand. Thankfully, that story tends to be ignored these days.
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* BarbarianHero: Most especially the Green Scar incarnation, but most versions of Hulk have shades of this at least.
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* BarbarianHero: BadassFingersnap:
** Played for laughs when Professor Hulk has a EurekaMoment, he snapped his fingers, sending others around him reeling.
** Comicbook/ImmortalHulk uses this, ''with his severed hand''. to shatter the glass jars his different body parts were kept.
* BadassLongcoat: Joe Fixit often wore a purple trenchcoat, especially during the period of time where he was still repressing the Bruce Banner persona and exposure to sunlight weakened him.
* BagOfHolding: Bruce Banner built himself one of these, though unusually for this trope, it actually connects to his lab in the same dimension. [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Amadeus Cho]] once defeated an EldritchAbomination by stuffing it inside. Since this meant said abomination was now running around his lab, Banner was annoyed.
* {{Bambification}}: DependingOnTheWriter, the Hulk is quite fond of deer. He even calls them Bambi! One memorable issue had him stumble upon some hunters killing deer, and he reacted [[UnstoppableRage pretty much exactly how you'd expect him to.]]
-->'''Hulk''': ''Men killed Bambi's mother!''
* BarbarianHero:
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'':
** Most versions of the Hulk often has shades of this, especially the Green Scar incarnation, butmost versions this is particularly noticable when he was on the sub atomic planet K'ai and the alien world of Sakaar.
** His son Skaar is a proud example of this, even getting nicknamed "Conan" when he arrives on Earth.
** Kronen is a Conan parody featured in a Hulkhave shades of this at least.story. He's one-eyed, cruel, and possesses an amulet with a smile demon.
** Played for laughs when Professor Hulk has a EurekaMoment, he snapped his fingers, sending others around him reeling.
** Comicbook/ImmortalHulk uses this, ''with his severed hand''. to shatter the glass jars his different body parts were kept.
* BadassLongcoat: Joe Fixit often wore a purple trenchcoat, especially during the period of time where he was still repressing the Bruce Banner persona and exposure to sunlight weakened him.
* BagOfHolding: Bruce Banner built himself one of these, though unusually for this trope, it actually connects to his lab in the same dimension. [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Amadeus Cho]] once defeated an EldritchAbomination by stuffing it inside. Since this meant said abomination was now running around his lab, Banner was annoyed.
* {{Bambification}}: DependingOnTheWriter, the Hulk is quite fond of deer. He even calls them Bambi! One memorable issue had him stumble upon some hunters killing deer, and he reacted [[UnstoppableRage pretty much exactly how you'd expect him to.]]
-->'''Hulk''': ''Men killed Bambi's mother!''
* BarbarianHero:
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'':
** Most versions of the Hulk often has shades of this, especially the Green Scar incarnation, but
** His son Skaar is a proud example of this, even getting nicknamed "Conan" when he arrives on Earth.
** Kronen is a Conan parody featured in a Hulk
* BaseballEpisode: The Hulk, while incognito, got a gig playing outfield for a minor league team. The gig ended when he had a fight with the Rhino, who was playing catcher for a rival minor league team. Foul-tempered, mutated superbehemoths playing baseball? ''Shocking''.
* BatFamilyCrossover: ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks'' for ''The Incredible Hulk'' and ''ComicBook/{{Hulk|2008}}'', plus a number of minis and one-shots.
* BatFamilyCrossover: ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks'' for ''The Incredible Hulk'' and ''ComicBook/{{Hulk|2008}}'', plus a number of minis and one-shots.
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* BattleStrip: Tends to be reduced to tattered rags a lot. See MagicPants.
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* BattleCry: "HULK SMASH!"
* BattleStrip:Tends The Hulk is a common example. No fanservice involved. [[NightmareFetishist Unless...]][[note]]At the times Hulk wore more clothes, he would Battle Strip after the inevitable ClothingDamage. Grey Hulk did it to be reduced [[LetsGetDangerous get dangerous]] on someone who already [[BerserkButton ruined his Armani suit]].[[/note]]
* BeardnessProtectionProgram: Bruce Banner has tried once shaving his head, and another time growing a beard, totattered rags disguise himself from the authorities pursuing him. Consequently, we got to see a lot. See MagicPants.bald Hulk and a fuzzy-faced Hulk.
* BattleStrip:
* BeardnessProtectionProgram: Bruce Banner has tried once shaving his head, and another time growing a beard, to
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* BecauseImGoodAtIt: Occasionally Bruce Banner is called out on the fact that, despite having an intellect on par with Reed Richards or Tony Stark, before becoming the Hulk he devoted his life to making bombs. His explanation? He was good at it. And indeed, he made the most destructive bomb ever; one that never stops exploding. [[PersonOfMassDestruction The Hulk.]]
* BeneathNotice: This is how Bruce Banner gets into labs generally speaking. He needs the equipment or access to machinery, he dresses up as a janitor. Plus it's the added bonus of being there after hours.
* BeneathNotice: This is how Bruce Banner gets into labs generally speaking. He needs the equipment or access to machinery, he dresses up as a janitor. Plus it's the added bonus of being there after hours.
* BladeReflection: [[http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080831180659/marveldatabase/images/3/31/Incredible_Hulk_Vol_1_340.jpg The famous cover of Hulk #340 (1988)]] has ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} with his claws popped and Joe Fixit being reflected in them as he's about to unleash [[HulkSmash the Smash]].
** This image (along with a number of other covers relating to one or both of these characters) is replicated in the animated [[WesternAnimation/HulkVs Hulk Vs Wolverine]].
** Wolverine also uses his claws to reflect The Gorgon's [[TakenForGranite stone gaze]] back on him. You'd think a guy who calls himself The Gorgon would've read the legend of Perseus.
** This image (along with a number of other covers relating to one or both of these characters) is replicated in the animated [[WesternAnimation/HulkVs Hulk Vs Wolverine]].
** Wolverine also uses his claws to reflect The Gorgon's [[TakenForGranite stone gaze]] back on him. You'd think a guy who calls himself The Gorgon would've read the legend of Perseus.
* BloodFromTheMouth: During the fight between Zeus and the Hulk, Zeus punches the Hulk in the stomach and he vomits up a mass of green blood.
* BoisterousWeakling: Normally, getting angry turns the scrawny geek Dr. Banner into the [[HulkingOut savage brute]] called the Hulk. When he becomes the GeniusBruiser Professor Hulk, getting too angry changes him into a savage ''Banner''. He has all of the Hulk's usual aggression, but he's back to being a scrawny geek.
* BoldlyComing: Two of the Hulk's three wives have been aliens.
* BoldlyComing: Two of the Hulk's three wives have been aliens.
* BoringButPractical: Doc Samson has noted that for a fraction of what General Ross and other have wasted trying to build robots/containment/powered armor to take down/control the Hulk, you could just get a satellite array going that would warn people in urban areas to evacuate when he starts getting too close. Naturally no one will consider this.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Bruce Banner himself and his various alters also act as this to each other as an actual dynamic: when he's more cooperative with his alters, Bruce takes on the role of Brain to their Brawn, and a moral compass as well. At times, Bruce has even been suggested to be working in Hulk's mind to direct all his actions to ensure there are no casualties. Joe Fixit (while also a Hulk and bruiser in his own right) sometimes has this dynamic compared to the more powerful but less streetwise Hulks, since he's more willing to think smart and strategically.
** This is also Rick Jones dynamic with the Hulk, with Rick generally being the smarter one of the two, directing the Hulk what exactly he needs to smash.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Bruce Banner himself and his various alters also act as this to each other as an actual dynamic: when he's more cooperative with his alters, Bruce takes on the role of Brain to their Brawn, and a moral compass as well. At times, Bruce has even been suggested to be working in Hulk's mind to direct all his actions to ensure there are no casualties. Joe Fixit (while also a Hulk and bruiser in his own right) sometimes has this dynamic compared to the more powerful but less streetwise Hulks, since he's more willing to think smart and strategically.
** This is also Rick Jones dynamic with the Hulk, with Rick generally being the smarter one of the two, directing the Hulk what exactly he needs to smash.
* BrawnHilda:
** Ogress was a frustrated defense attorney exposed to gamma radiation by the Leader. She gained massive super strength, but unlike [[ComicBook/SheHulk that other gamma powered lady lawyer]] did not keep her attractiveness.
** She-Hulk's gamma form has become larger and more muscular to reflect her inner turmoil after being put in a coma and her cousin being killed in ''ComicBook/CivilWarII''.
** Ogress was a frustrated defense attorney exposed to gamma radiation by the Leader. She gained massive super strength, but unlike [[ComicBook/SheHulk that other gamma powered lady lawyer]] did not keep her attractiveness.
** She-Hulk's gamma form has become larger and more muscular to reflect her inner turmoil after being put in a coma and her cousin being killed in ''ComicBook/CivilWarII''.
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* BrieferThanTheyThink: Despite nearly every adaptation of ComicBook/TheAvengers prominently using him, Hulk was a member of Earth's Mightiest for only the ''first two'' issues back in the '60s, and never again until 2012 to capitalize on the movie.
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* BrieferThanTheyThink: Despite BreakTheBadass: The ''only'' villain that the Hulk will ''admit'' to being scared of is ComicBook/TheSentry's evil alter ego, the Void.
* BrieferThanTheyThink:
** Ask any moderate comics fan who the core members of ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'' are, and you'll immediately hear "The Hulk, ComicBook/DoctorStrange, ComicBook/SilverSurfer, and [[Comicbook/SubMariner Namor the Sub-Mariner]]." Sometimes they'll add Nighthawk, or maybe Comicbook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}}. While Strange and Hulk have been on most versions of the Defenders, with Strange usually being the de facto leader, Namor and Surfer quit after just a few issues. People familiar with the original run will tell you that the Defenders ''never'' had a consistent lineup, and variously included nearly every hero and some villains active at the time. This is part of the reason that modern revivals of the team tend to get cancelled quickly. As it turns out, not many writers can make the "classic" lineup work, since all the characters involved are [[SuperpowerLottery grotesquely overpowered]] and relative loners, but they assume that it has to work because the original comic made it work, right?
** Similarly, nearly every adaptation ofComicBook/TheAvengers prominently using him, ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' either mentions the Hulk was a member or makes heavy use of Earth's Mightiest for only him: see ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'', [[Film/TheAvengers2012 the ''first two'' movie]], ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', etc. How many issues back in of the '60s, and never again until 2012 comic was Hulk a part of the team (not counting guest spots like his brief stint as an Avengers reservist in an ''Evolutionary War'' annual)? ''Two.'' He rejoined the team in ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', to capitalize on the movie.movie, but that was a comic written in 2012, and that was the first time he'd ever officially rejoined. Flip open a comic from the '60s or '70s, and you're much more likely to see ComicBook/{{Black Knight|MarvelComics}}, ComicBook/TheVision, Comicbook/{{Beast|Marvel Comics}}, ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules, or Moondragon, none of whom have managed Hulk's prominence on the Avengers in other media. Even ComicBook/RedHulk was on the team longer by the time he rejoined!
* BruiserWithASoftCenter: The Hulk has been known to cuddle kittens and bunnies, and as seen in the page image, is also good with other animals and children, DependingOnTheWriter. Notably, one of SHIELD's plans to calm him down is putting him in the same room with a bunch of puppies. Even Hulk at his worst still has shade of this, as in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' he battles the Earth Mightiest Heroes in New York ''but was still [[IAmNotLeftHanded holding back]] [[NeverHurtAnInnocent so civilians wouldn't get hurt]]''.
* BrieferThanTheyThink:
** Ask any moderate comics fan who the core members of ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'' are, and you'll immediately hear "The Hulk, ComicBook/DoctorStrange, ComicBook/SilverSurfer, and [[Comicbook/SubMariner Namor the Sub-Mariner]]." Sometimes they'll add Nighthawk, or maybe Comicbook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}}. While Strange and Hulk have been on most versions of the Defenders, with Strange usually being the de facto leader, Namor and Surfer quit after just a few issues. People familiar with the original run will tell you that the Defenders ''never'' had a consistent lineup, and variously included nearly every hero and some villains active at the time. This is part of the reason that modern revivals of the team tend to get cancelled quickly. As it turns out, not many writers can make the "classic" lineup work, since all the characters involved are [[SuperpowerLottery grotesquely overpowered]] and relative loners, but they assume that it has to work because the original comic made it work, right?
** Similarly, nearly every adaptation of
* BruiserWithASoftCenter: The Hulk has been known to cuddle kittens and bunnies, and as seen in the page image, is also good with other animals and children, DependingOnTheWriter. Notably, one of SHIELD's plans to calm him down is putting him in the same room with a bunch of puppies. Even Hulk at his worst still has shade of this, as in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' he battles the Earth Mightiest Heroes in New York ''but was still [[IAmNotLeftHanded holding back]] [[NeverHurtAnInnocent so civilians wouldn't get hurt]]''.
* BurningWithAnger: If Red Hulk gets mad, he starts emitting heat.
* CerebusRollercoaster: The series became very dark during the ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' and ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' storylines, becoming ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace IN SPACE!]], but the following Creator/JephLoeb run was much LighterAndSofter. When ''Planet Hulk'''s writer Greg Pak returned, he tried to restore the previous tone. The result was the ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks'' storyline, where Pak and Loeb tried to combine their styles, which didn't end well. Following that we had an increased number of more optimistic stories by Pak and then Mark Waid (and Jason Aaron's run in-between leaning into pulp action as Hulk clashed with an antagonistic Banner), only for it to end on Gerry Duggan's run, where Hulk's new personality, Doc Green, was a clear VillainProtagonist.
** And what followed that? Pak's ''ComicBook/TotallyAwesomeHulk'', where Amadeus Cho took the Hulk curse from Banner and tried to show the world a more optimistic, heroic Hulk in fun-loving stories...only for it to get dark when Banner was killed in ''ComicBook/CivilWarII''. The tone then went up for a few stories only to get progresively darker, until a BittersweetEnding. And then Banner returned in Al Ewing's ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', which is straight out a horror story.
* ChainedToARock: The Hulk had this done to him by Marvel's Zeus, like Prometheus, but instead of eagles, it's vultures, cause he's worth less.
* ChaoticGood: The Hulk practically embodies this trope; he is a force for good at almost all times, but is almost completely unpredictable and wants to be left alone. (DependingOnTheWriter, though, he sometimes enters ChaoticNeutral territory.)
* ChaoticNeutral: The Hulk arguably fits in here. Sure, he'll go AxCrazy if you make him mad, and he'll cause tremendous amounts of damage in the process, but a lot of the time he '''does''' go crazy, it's because one of his enemies pushed him too far. He's capable of showing a certain amount of empathy and friendship in rare cases, and rarely seeks to hurt people or try and use his power for personal gain... but God help you if you provoke him.
** And what followed that? Pak's ''ComicBook/TotallyAwesomeHulk'', where Amadeus Cho took the Hulk curse from Banner and tried to show the world a more optimistic, heroic Hulk in fun-loving stories...only for it to get dark when Banner was killed in ''ComicBook/CivilWarII''. The tone then went up for a few stories only to get progresively darker, until a BittersweetEnding. And then Banner returned in Al Ewing's ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', which is straight out a horror story.
* ChainedToARock: The Hulk had this done to him by Marvel's Zeus, like Prometheus, but instead of eagles, it's vultures, cause he's worth less.
* ChaoticGood: The Hulk practically embodies this trope; he is a force for good at almost all times, but is almost completely unpredictable and wants to be left alone. (DependingOnTheWriter, though, he sometimes enters ChaoticNeutral territory.)
* ChaoticNeutral: The Hulk arguably fits in here. Sure, he'll go AxCrazy if you make him mad, and he'll cause tremendous amounts of damage in the process, but a lot of the time he '''does''' go crazy, it's because one of his enemies pushed him too far. He's capable of showing a certain amount of empathy and friendship in rare cases, and rarely seeks to hurt people or try and use his power for personal gain... but God help you if you provoke him.
* ChromeDomePsi: The Leader is telepathic and [[DependingOnTheArtist sometimes]] bald.
* ClumsyCopyrightCensorship: The trade paper back collection ''Regression'' includes issue 296, which had a guest appearance by Rom, a character based on a Parker Brothers toy. Since Marvel no longer has the rights to Rom, the pages on which he appears aren't reprinted, and instead there's a text summary which refers only to a "heroic alien cyborg".
* ColorCodedEyes: The Hulk is often shown with green eyes, which are more of a reflection of the gamma radiation that turned his hair and skin green too. In the past, they've been red for the associations of danger. Bruce Banner, on the other hand, is more often shown with brown (muggle mode indicator) or blue eyes (more gentle than his alter ego), with the change to green being the signal that [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry running might be]] a good idea.
* ColorCodedEyes: The Hulk is often shown with green eyes, which are more of a reflection of the gamma radiation that turned his hair and skin green too. In the past, they've been red for the associations of danger. Bruce Banner, on the other hand, is more often shown with brown (muggle mode indicator) or blue eyes (more gentle than his alter ego), with the change to green being the signal that [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry running might be]] a good idea.
* ComboPlatterPowers: The Hulk has SuperStrength, is {{Nigh Invulnerab|ility}}le, can create a stunning sonic boom with his hands, [[HealingFactor regenerates]], okay, all fit sort of with the "unstoppable force of rage" idea. However, some of his other, lesser-known powers include seeing, and HITTING, ghosts and astral projections, and homing in on the site where the gamma bomb that created him went off. And [[SuperIntelligence supermath]], the ability to automatically reduce collateral damage when levelling down entire cities. Officially, this is explained as Bruce being a 'hypermind', able to analyze and predict the consequences of his actions near-instantaneously (after all, he was a brilliant scientist before being turned into the Hulk). Hulk is also highly resistant to telepathy and mind control (it's mentioned that he was the only one who wasn't affected by the CosmicRetcon that wiped out everyone's memory of ComicBook/{{the Sentry}}, and neither ComicBook/ProfessorX nor ComicBook/EmmaFrost can MindRape him), occasionally capable of absorbing radiation, and has limited reactive adaptation. He's shown adapting to being able to breathe underwater and survive for a fairly considerable time in the vacuum of space (while still needing to breathe eventually). [[ComicBook/UltimateMarvel Ultimate Hulk]] takes it a step further, adapting to the atmospheres of Mars and Venus after limited exposure. Then ''ComicBook/AvengersNoSurrender'' adds ResurrectiveImmortality (again, fitting with "unstoppable force of rage"), which is followed by LivingLieDetector in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk''.
* CommieLand: The [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk1962 original series]] had the Gargoyle abducting Bruce Banner/The Hulk and bringing him to Russia all the way back in issue ''#1''.
* CompanionCube: In his childhood, Bruce had a stuffed doll which served as a makeshift guardian (between his abusive dad and an abusive nanny, and burgeoning D.I.D., there wasn't a lot of love in the Banner household). Years later, Bruce's mind uses an anthropomorphization of the doll as a guardian entity.
* CompanionCube: In his childhood, Bruce had a stuffed doll which served as a makeshift guardian (between his abusive dad and an abusive nanny, and burgeoning D.I.D., there wasn't a lot of love in the Banner household). Years later, Bruce's mind uses an anthropomorphization of the doll as a guardian entity.
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* StealthHiBye: Dr. Banner actually pulls this on Commissioner Gordon in the ''Hulk[=/=]Franchise/{{Batman}}'' crossover. Gordon seems to inspire this from ''everyone''.
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:Batman vs The Incredible Hulk]]
* BlindAndTheBeast: An old blind tramp who looks a lot like Creator/StanLee advises the Hulk that maybe puny humans would stop trying to hurt him if he showed a little kindness. Hulk thinks he's right. [[spoiler:{{Subverted| trope}} when the tramp is actually a disguised Batman, who needs the Hulk to go with the Joker ([[{{it makes sense in context}} long story]]).]]
* BoringInsult: The [[RealityWarper Shaper of Worlds]] gives Joker some of his power, allowing Joker to re-shape the world with his imagination. Batman soon accuses Joker of being uncreative, to which Joker begins re-shaping the world in more chaotic ways, eventually straining his mind to the breaking point.
* DealWithTheDevil: The Shaper of Worlds makes one with ComicBook/TheJoker.
* InsultOfEndearment: Pointy Ears for Batman
* KnockoutGas: Batman uses knockout gas on Ol' Greenskin.
* UnexpectedCharacter: The Shaper of Worlds, a RealityWarper born from a Skrull Cosmic Cube, is the villian of the crossover.
* StealthHiBye: Bruce Banner actually pulls this on Commissioner Gordon. Gordon seems to inspire this from ''everyone''.
[[/folder]]
* BlindAndTheBeast: An old blind tramp who looks a lot like Creator/StanLee advises the Hulk that maybe puny humans would stop trying to hurt him if he showed a little kindness. Hulk thinks he's right. [[spoiler:{{Subverted| trope}} when the tramp is actually a disguised Batman, who needs the Hulk to go with the Joker ([[{{it makes sense in context}} long story]]).]]
* BoringInsult: The [[RealityWarper Shaper of Worlds]] gives Joker some of his power, allowing Joker to re-shape the world with his imagination. Batman soon accuses Joker of being uncreative, to which Joker begins re-shaping the world in more chaotic ways, eventually straining his mind to the breaking point.
* DealWithTheDevil: The Shaper of Worlds makes one with ComicBook/TheJoker.
* InsultOfEndearment: Pointy Ears for Batman
* KnockoutGas: Batman uses knockout gas on Ol' Greenskin.
* UnexpectedCharacter: The Shaper of Worlds, a RealityWarper born from a Skrull Cosmic Cube, is the villian of the crossover.
* StealthHiBye: Bruce Banner actually pulls this on Commissioner Gordon. Gordon seems to inspire this from ''everyone''.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Crosswicking
* AbusiveParents: There's Bruce Banner's father, Brian. He'd been abused by his father, leading Brian to believe his father was a monster, that he had inherited the 'monster gene', and that any children he had [[VillainousLineage would be monsters too]]. Brian initially chose to ignore Bruce, believing him to be a monster in the making. When it became apparent Bruce was a child genius, Brian saw his worst fears confirmed, and started beating both Bruce and his mother, Rebecca. After several years of abuse, Rebecca attempted to escape with Bruce, but Brian killed her and intimidated Bruce into saying Brian hadn't done anything to them. The truth only came out when Brian got drunk and boasted about what he'd done. Brian was locked up in a mental institution, dying shortly after release. End result? Bruce developed [[SplitPersonality multiple personality syndrome]] - and after a certain accident with a gamma bomb, [[SelfFulfillingProphecy his personalities became the various Hulks]]. [[spoiler: And Bruce (accidentally) killed him. In a subsequent story, Banner himself admits it might not have been accidental. He came back from the dead and in Devil Hulk form in the ComicBook/ChaosWar tie-in, but the Hulk sent him to Hell... only to return as a body-hopping spirit to confront his son in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk''.]]
* AlliterativeName: Bruce Banner/''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk''. (The alliteration didn't save Stan from calling him "Bob Banner" in an early story, thus enshrining in canon the full name of "Robert Bruce Banner".) [[labelnote:on TV]]In [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 the TV series]], it was changed to David Banner (with Bruce still as his middle name) because of directorial distaste for this trope. At least that's what Kenneth Johnson (the producer and writer of the bulk of the series) says. Stan Lee says that [[ExecutiveMeddling the producers]] thought the name "Bruce" sounded gay. See, back in the funky '70s the name Bruce was thought of as a "gay" name the United States.[[/labelnote]]
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Bruce Banner has been shown to resent Tony Stark because of how beloved and successful Tony's inventions have made him, while Bruce's invention turned him into an out of control freak.
** Meanwhile the Hulk serves as this to Ben Grimm, the ever lovin blue eyed Thing. Ben is an accomplished fighter and one of ''the'' physically strongest heroes on Earth but the Hulk is just plain stronger and tougher than Ben ever is at his best. The Thing can put up a good fight through a WeakButSkilled approach that takes advantage of his skill as a fighter rather than his power but most of their battles are usually in Hulk's favor by the end and any clear cut victories on Ben's end come from drastically different circumstances than they normally work under, such as one instance when Ben had received a significant power boost and the Hulk was locked into his weaker Grey Hulk form.
** Meanwhile the Hulk serves as this to Ben Grimm, the ever lovin blue eyed Thing. Ben is an accomplished fighter and one of ''the'' physically strongest heroes on Earth but the Hulk is just plain stronger and tougher than Ben ever is at his best. The Thing can put up a good fight through a WeakButSkilled approach that takes advantage of his skill as a fighter rather than his power but most of their battles are usually in Hulk's favor by the end and any clear cut victories on Ben's end come from drastically different circumstances than they normally work under, such as one instance when Ben had received a significant power boost and the Hulk was locked into his weaker Grey Hulk form.
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* AntiHero: Considering that the Hulk has a very "Hollywood version" of [[SplitPersonality Multiple Personality Disorder]], with a heavy dose of DependingOnTheWriter on top, it shifts wildly from incarnation to incarnation, individual interpretations thereof, and even deliberate CharacterDevelopment. However, roughly speaking, the incarnations go as follow:
to:
* AntiHero: Considering The Hulk, while always up to stop a bad guy and capable of empathy and loyalty, frequently leaves a trail of destruction on his path (though [[NoEndorHolocaust Marvel claims it's usually without victims]]) and clashes with other heroes. Considering, however, that the Hulk has a very "Hollywood version" of [[SplitPersonality Multiple Personality Disorder]], with a heavy dose of DependingOnTheWriter on top, it shifts wildly from incarnation to incarnation, individual interpretations thereof, and even deliberate CharacterDevelopment. However, roughly speaking, the incarnations go as follow:follow:
** Bruce Banner: Varies DependingOnTheWriter, anywhere from a pure hero to ClassicalAntiHero, KnightInSourArmor, or PragmaticHero, with Greg Pak playing him as the last category by lying to those close to him into getting his way. Not to mention putting innocent people including his own son in harm's way for his personal gain.
** Bruce Banner: Varies DependingOnTheWriter, anywhere from a pure hero to ClassicalAntiHero, KnightInSourArmor, or PragmaticHero, with Greg Pak playing him as the last category by lying to those close to him into getting his way. Not to mention putting innocent people including his own son in harm's way for his personal gain.
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** Savage Hulk: KnightInSourArmor or PragmaticHero. Extremely noble, well-intended, loyal, heroic, constantly persecuted without understanding why, only wants to be loved and have friends, but cannot understand the society around him, protector of all oppressed peoples around the universe, will be inconsolable after watching ''Bambi'' or seeing a dead bunny, and strictly a force for good as long as somebody (like his former father figure Comicbook/DoctorStrange, or own, as opposed to Banner's, "greatest love of his life" queen Jarella) gives him a comprehensible direction. Basically the most pure-hearted and genuinely heroic version, and seen in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperHeroSquadShow'', but non-constructively constantly hunted like an animal due to his sheer scale of power without the maturity to handle it properly. Nowadays, tends to usually be treated more kindly by other heroes when he shows up .
to:
** Savage Hulk: KnightInSourArmor or PragmaticHero. Extremely noble, well-intended, loyal, heroic, constantly persecuted without understanding why, only wants to be loved and have friends, but cannot understand the society around him, protector of all oppressed peoples around the universe, will be inconsolable after watching ''Bambi'' ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'' or seeing a dead bunny, and strictly a force for good as long as somebody (like his former father figure Comicbook/DoctorStrange, or own, as opposed to Banner's, "greatest "the greatest love of his life" queen Queen Jarella) gives him a comprehensible direction. Basically the most pure-hearted and genuinely heroic version, and seen in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperHeroSquadShow'', but non-constructively constantly hunted like an animal due to his sheer scale of power without the maturity to handle it properly. Nowadays, tends to usually be treated more kindly by other heroes when he shows up .up.
Changed line(s) 89 (click to see context) from:
** Merged Hulk: Knight In Sour Armor or Pragmatic Hero. Possibly the most well-adjusted incarnation, and genuinely proactively well-intended, actively dedicating himself to helping the world, without going to murderous extremes, and playing reasonably well with others. However, he had a WhatTheHellHero Wolverine-style psychotic rage episode in issue 400, wherein he accidentally killed the Leader, supposedly the leftover "truly mindless Hulk", which briefly bumped him to type IV.
to:
** Merged Hulk: Knight In Sour Armor KnightInSourArmor or Pragmatic Hero.PragmaticHero. Possibly the most well-adjusted incarnation, and genuinely proactively well-intended, actively dedicating himself to helping the world, without going to murderous extremes, and playing reasonably well with others. However, he had still has as much a WhatTheHellHero Wolverine-style psychotic rage episode in issue 400, wherein he accidentally killed the Leader, supposedly the leftover "truly mindless Hulk", which briefly bumped him hot temper as any other Hulk, is prone to type IV.cynicism and also tends to do his own thing just like them.
Changed line(s) 91 (click to see context) from:
** Green Scar: Roughly a Pragmatic Hero on Sakaar/basically a more responsible version of the original. Views are split about whether he was provoked into Unscrupulous Hero or Nominal Hero during World War Hulk (compare a sovereign nation being annihilated, and then strictly retaliating by going after those responsible, without any Hiroshima or civilian casualties involved), although due to extremes of very inconsiderate property damage, and still less bloodthirsty than the majority of pragmatic heroes.
to:
** Green Scar: Roughly a Pragmatic Hero PragmaticHero on Sakaar/basically a more responsible version of the original. Savage Hulk. Views are split about whether he was provoked into Unscrupulous Hero UnscrupulousHero or Nominal Hero NominalHero during World ''World War Hulk Hulk'' (compare a sovereign nation being annihilated, and then strictly retaliating by going after those responsible, without any Hiroshima or civilian casualties involved), although due to extremes of despite his RoaringRampageOfRevenge casuing very inconsiderate property damage, and he is still less bloodthirsty than the majority of pragmatic heroes.heroes.
** Devil Hulk: TerrorHero and WellIntentionedExtremist. He isn't called "Devil Hulk" for anything, as he dispenses justice in his own brutal way. Case in point, after Banner gets shot in the head by an obviously-terrified gunman trying to rob a convenience store to pay his debts, Hulk awakens in the dead of night and chases after him. [[NothingIsScarier We don't see what happens to the guy]], but we cut back to him after the fact and his body is so destroyed that if he ever wakes up, he'll never walk again.
*** Hulk’s allies and family aren’t much better. His cousin ComicBook/SheHulk was this originally before becoming nicer but is still terrifying on a rampage, his wife Betty Ross once a sweet young woman is now violent and bitter DarkActionGirl, his son Skaar is a bloodthirsty sword wielding savage who joins the ''ComicBook/DarkAvengers'' and his best friend and former KidSidekick Rick Jones becomes a destructive monster before being cured, getting killed, and resurrected as a creepy yellow-eyed gamma zombie.
* AntiHeroSubstitute: The Hulk has both subverted and played this trope straight at the same time. After ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'', with the Hulk [[spoiler:imprisoned by the army]], his series was taken over by Hercules and a new series was launched with a mysterious ComicBook/RedHulk as the central character. ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules subverted the trope quickly, proving he's anything ''but'' an AntiHero, while Red Hulk played it straight, acting like a ''total dick'' and [[spoiler:making Hulk lose his powers.]]
** Earlier on in the '80s this trope popped up, with the normal destructive but rarely malicious green Hulk being replaced by an amoral jerkass grey Hulk named Joe Fixit. Green Hulk is an anti-hero to begin with but the trope still stands as Joe Fixit is several notches down the scale. The twist is Joe Fixit is just another of Bruce Banner's repressed personalities.
** And while we're on the subject: Dr. Leonard Samson was a nerdy little nebbish scientist who managed to de-Hulkify Hulk, turning him back into Bruce Banner. He then used a portion of the stored gamma energy to turn himself into Doc Samson, who wasn't really an anti-hero so much as he was just kind of an egotistical jerk. When he started wooing Betty, it convinced Bruce (who was initially ''thrilled'' to be himself again) to use the ''rest'' of the stored gamma energy to turn himself back into the Hulk.
** Devil Hulk: TerrorHero and WellIntentionedExtremist. He isn't called "Devil Hulk" for anything, as he dispenses justice in his own brutal way. Case in point, after Banner gets shot in the head by an obviously-terrified gunman trying to rob a convenience store to pay his debts, Hulk awakens in the dead of night and chases after him. [[NothingIsScarier We don't see what happens to the guy]], but we cut back to him after the fact and his body is so destroyed that if he ever wakes up, he'll never walk again.
*** Hulk’s allies and family aren’t much better. His cousin ComicBook/SheHulk was this originally before becoming nicer but is still terrifying on a rampage, his wife Betty Ross once a sweet young woman is now violent and bitter DarkActionGirl, his son Skaar is a bloodthirsty sword wielding savage who joins the ''ComicBook/DarkAvengers'' and his best friend and former KidSidekick Rick Jones becomes a destructive monster before being cured, getting killed, and resurrected as a creepy yellow-eyed gamma zombie.
* AntiHeroSubstitute: The Hulk has both subverted and played this trope straight at the same time. After ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'', with the Hulk [[spoiler:imprisoned by the army]], his series was taken over by Hercules and a new series was launched with a mysterious ComicBook/RedHulk as the central character. ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules subverted the trope quickly, proving he's anything ''but'' an AntiHero, while Red Hulk played it straight, acting like a ''total dick'' and [[spoiler:making Hulk lose his powers.]]
** Earlier on in the '80s this trope popped up, with the normal destructive but rarely malicious green Hulk being replaced by an amoral jerkass grey Hulk named Joe Fixit. Green Hulk is an anti-hero to begin with but the trope still stands as Joe Fixit is several notches down the scale. The twist is Joe Fixit is just another of Bruce Banner's repressed personalities.
** And while we're on the subject: Dr. Leonard Samson was a nerdy little nebbish scientist who managed to de-Hulkify Hulk, turning him back into Bruce Banner. He then used a portion of the stored gamma energy to turn himself into Doc Samson, who wasn't really an anti-hero so much as he was just kind of an egotistical jerk. When he started wooing Betty, it convinced Bruce (who was initially ''thrilled'' to be himself again) to use the ''rest'' of the stored gamma energy to turn himself back into the Hulk.
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* BadassBookworm: Although there are plenty of people smarter than him, most famously [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Reed Richards]] and ComicBook/DoctorDoom, Banner ''is'' one of the most brilliant people on the planet, and in his primary area of expertise, radiation, he is totally unsurpassed on Earth, with even Dr. Doom admitting that he doesn't know as much as Banner does on the topic. When he sets his mind to it very little can get in Banner's way.
to:
* BadassBookworm: Bruce Banner is ''the'' Badass Bookworm you wouldn't want to make angry! Perhaps not 100% applicable because the Hulk is a different personality, but overall they're the same person, and can certainly scrap ''any'' of the others.
** Although there are plenty of people smarter than him, most famously [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Reed Richards]] and ComicBook/DoctorDoom, Banner ''is'' one of the most brilliant people on the planet, and in his primary area of expertise, radiation, he is totally unsurpassed on Earth, with even Dr. Doom admitting that he doesn't know as much as Banner does on the topic. When he sets his mind to it very little can get in Banner'sway.way.
** Not so long ago Bruce lost his powers (again) because of ComicBook/RedHulk. Every sign on [[WordOfGod heaven]] or earth shows that Bruce is so Badass Bookworm that taking away his Hulk persona can make him even '''more''' dangerous. It's easy to forget he turned into The Hulk to begin with because he had a career building super-weapons for the government, which as Banner, he's intelligent enough to use and improve upon.
--> '''Bruce:''' ''You know, it just now occurs to me that maybe the real reason I became the Hulk... was to protect the world from Banner.''
** Although there are plenty of people smarter than him, most famously [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Reed Richards]] and ComicBook/DoctorDoom, Banner ''is'' one of the most brilliant people on the planet, and in his primary area of expertise, radiation, he is totally unsurpassed on Earth, with even Dr. Doom admitting that he doesn't know as much as Banner does on the topic. When he sets his mind to it very little can get in Banner's
** Not so long ago Bruce lost his powers (again) because of ComicBook/RedHulk. Every sign on [[WordOfGod heaven]] or earth shows that Bruce is so Badass Bookworm that taking away his Hulk persona can make him even '''more''' dangerous. It's easy to forget he turned into The Hulk to begin with because he had a career building super-weapons for the government, which as Banner, he's intelligent enough to use and improve upon.
--> '''Bruce:''' ''You know, it just now occurs to me that maybe the real reason I became the Hulk... was to protect the world from Banner.''
* BareYourMidriff: The Hulk's Comicbook/MarvelNOW costume, which is a suit of armor that shows off his abs when transformed.
Changed line(s) 114,115 (click to see context) from:
** This trope is used in a few Hulk stories, like ''Hulk: The End'', which shows the Hulk finally getting what he always wished for: to be left alone. Completely alone, not even Banner nagging in the back of his mind. He almost immediately begins to regret it.
* BerserkButton: The big one is that due to the issues with his dad, both Hulk and Banner ''really'' don't like abusive parents, or bullies in general. The Joe Fixit Hulk also hates when someone compares him to the Savage Hulk, as the Blob found out to his sorrow.
* BerserkButton: The big one is that due to the issues with his dad, both Hulk and Banner ''really'' don't like abusive parents, or bullies in general. The Joe Fixit Hulk also hates when someone compares him to the Savage Hulk, as the Blob found out to his sorrow.
to:
**
** The 2011 "Heart of the Monster" arc in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulks'' is built around this trope - Hulk and his team encounter a Wishing Well. Everyone involved knows what it will twist every wish it grants. What they don't know is the intentions of the Red She-Hulk, who used
** The beginning of ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' introduces Jackie [=McGee=], a
** The AlternateUniverse story ''Hulk: The End'',
* BerserkButton: The
** SugarWiki/{{Funny|Moments}}: The Hulk and
--> '''The Thing:''' He called you a commie, a pinko!\\
'''[[ThirdPersonPerson The Hulk]]:''' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint No! Hulk GREEN!]]
** One surefire way to make Hulk even angrier than usual is comparing him to Bruce Banner, and if it's the Gray Hulk (Joe Fixit), comparing him to the classic Savage Hulk or saying he's not as strong as that version.
*** As well as claiming to be stronger than The Hulk,
Changed line(s) 117 (click to see context) from:
* BettyAndVeronica: Bruce and Talbot for Betty Ross. ''ComicBook/ChaosWar'' would have Jarella and Red She-Hulk.
to:
* BettyAndVeronica: Bruce Banner as the Betty and Glenn Talbot as the Veronica for Betty Ross. Ross.
** ''ComicBook/ChaosWar'' would also have Jarella as the Betty and RedShe-Hulk.She-Hulk as the Veronica for the Hulk.
** ''ComicBook/ChaosWar'' would also have Jarella as the Betty and Red
Changed line(s) 124 (click to see context) from:
* BloodKnight: An increasingly commonly applied character trait, the Hulk was originally an aversion. He held pretty true to the "just wants to be left alone" claim, not caring about the fights he got into. Later writers play the "left alone" as more of a hollow statement, with Hulk enjoying company, and extremely enjoying combat.
to:
* BlessedWithSuck: Here it might be more justified as a lot of people do hate and hound the Hulk, (especially the army), and having multiple personalities is never fun. All that, and [[StuffedInTheFridge his wives keep on dying]].
* BloodKnight:An While an increasingly commonly applied character trait, the Hulk was originally an aversion. He held pretty true to the "just wants to be left alone" claim, not caring about the fights he got into. Later writers play the "left alone" as more of a hollow statement, with Hulk enjoying company, and extremely enjoying combat.combat.
** The earliest version of the Hulk, before his character settled into what most people are familiar with, was always looking for a fight, and didn't particularly care who it was with.
** One of Hulk's villains The Abomination, retains his intelligence when transformed, meaning all the destruction and fighting he does has no FreudianExcuse ''and is purely for shits and giggles''.
* BloodKnight:
** The earliest version of the Hulk, before his character settled into what most people are familiar with, was always looking for a fight, and didn't particularly care who it was with.
** One of Hulk's villains The Abomination, retains his intelligence when transformed, meaning all the destruction and fighting he does has no FreudianExcuse ''and is purely for shits and giggles''.
Changed line(s) 133 (click to see context) from:
* BullyingADragon: Are the people who pick on Banner or Hulk tired of living? Doesn't even make sense when the Hulk is disguised. Even Joe Fixit, the smallest Hulk incarnation, is over six feet and the other over seven. And every one of those incarnations are [[HeroicBuild extremely]] [[MusclesAreMeaningful muscular]]. So people pester a gigantic guy with bulging muscles whose done nothing.to them just because..
to:
* BullyingADragon: Are the people who pick on Banner or Hulk tired of living? Doesn't even make sense when Happens to the Hulk is disguised. Even Joe Fixit, all the smallest time. Most of his rampages could have been avoided had they just backed off a bit. Considering his CatchPhrase (apart from "[[HulkSpeak Hulk incarnation, Smash!]]") is over six feet and usually a variation of him bellowing "LEAVE HULK ALONE!" you'd think the other over seven. And every one denizens of those incarnations are [[HeroicBuild extremely]] [[MusclesAreMeaningful muscular]]. So people pester the Franchise/MarvelUniverse would have cottoned on, but then you remember [[TooDumbToLive this is the Marvel Universe]], where Dragon-bullying (and bitching about the results afterwards) is a gigantic guy widely accepted pastime.
** This was once lampshaded by Doc Samson, in discussion withbulging muscles whose General Ross:
---> '''Samson:''' The Hulk keeps yelling at you to leave him alone. So my advice is to leave Hulk alone. [[BoringButPractical Watch him by satellite. If he gets near a populated area, send out Hulk alerts the way we send out weather alerts]].\\
'''Ross:''' And if America's enemies get hold of him?\\
'''Samson:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Send condolence cards to America's enemies]].
** This was deliberately donenothing.by ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} when he wanted to die: as his [[GoodThingYouCanHeal Regenerative Factor]] allowed him to survive or even to resuscitate from things that would have killed ''Wolverine'', he decided that being reduced to subatomic particles was his best bet, and pissing off Hulk by ''nuking him twice'' was the chosen method. Sadly, by the time he managed to get punched Hulk had calmed down enough that Deadpool was merely liquified, and was back in one piece in five days...
** Happens in [[https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/streams/2014/September/140911/1D274906757835-today-marvelantibully-140911-rs-7.today-inline-large.jpg this]] variant cover which is actually about bullying. The jocks can clearly see that Hulk is glaring at themjust because..with murderous intentions and yet [[TooDumbToLive continue to laugh and bully the kid.]]
** Happened to his cousin ComicBook/SheHulk once too, and PlayedForLaughs. After the Stamford disaster, an angry mob of anti-superhero protestors had formed outside of the courthouse where she — as Jennifer — was defending two surviving members of the New Warriors. One guy recognized her and grabbed her, shouting "I've got She-Hulk!" Then she turned into her large, hulked-out size, and said, "Okay, you've got She-Hulk. Now what?"
* CanonDiscontinuity:
** During Creator/JohnByrne's run on the series, an angry response to writer/artist, particularly his "Man of Steeling" of the Hulk in Annual #1, was responded to in the title's letters page by something along the lines of, "When you not like what happen, do what Hulk do: Pretend it never happened." Thus, the six issues and an annual were simply removed out of existence.
** In Vol. 2, #269-287, the ''Rampaging Hulk'' stories were retconned into being techno-art movies by the Krylorian Bereet.
** During Creator/PeterDavid's "Tempest Fugit" storyline, one line discontinuitized the entirety of previous writer Bruce Jones' 42-issue run.
** This was once lampshaded by Doc Samson, in discussion with
---> '''Samson:''' The Hulk keeps yelling at you to leave him alone. So my advice is to leave Hulk alone. [[BoringButPractical Watch him by satellite. If he gets near a populated area, send out Hulk alerts the way we send out weather alerts]].\\
'''Ross:''' And if America's enemies get hold of him?\\
'''Samson:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Send condolence cards to America's enemies]].
** This was deliberately done
** Happens in [[https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/streams/2014/September/140911/1D274906757835-today-marvelantibully-140911-rs-7.today-inline-large.jpg this]] variant cover which is actually about bullying. The jocks can clearly see that Hulk is glaring at them
** Happened to his cousin ComicBook/SheHulk once too, and PlayedForLaughs. After the Stamford disaster, an angry mob of anti-superhero protestors had formed outside of the courthouse where she — as Jennifer — was defending two surviving members of the New Warriors. One guy recognized her and grabbed her, shouting "I've got She-Hulk!" Then she turned into her large, hulked-out size, and said, "Okay, you've got She-Hulk. Now what?"
* CanonDiscontinuity:
** During Creator/JohnByrne's run on the series, an angry response to writer/artist, particularly his "Man of Steeling" of the Hulk in Annual #1, was responded to in the title's letters page by something along the lines of, "When you not like what happen, do what Hulk do: Pretend it never happened." Thus, the six issues and an annual were simply removed out of existence.
** In Vol. 2, #269-287, the ''Rampaging Hulk'' stories were retconned into being techno-art movies by the Krylorian Bereet.
** During Creator/PeterDavid's "Tempest Fugit" storyline, one line discontinuitized the entirety of previous writer Bruce Jones' 42-issue run.
* CentralTheme:
** ''The Incredible Hulk'': The dangers of repression and the need to accept all sides of yourself.
** ''ComicBook/TotallyAwesomeHulk'': Hubris of thinking you know yourself and that you can solve problems your predecessors struggled with, without [[HistoryRepeats making the same compromises and mistakes they did]].
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'': How we're all shaped by our relationship with death.
** ''The Incredible Hulk'': The dangers of repression and the need to accept all sides of yourself.
** ''ComicBook/TotallyAwesomeHulk'': Hubris of thinking you know yourself and that you can solve problems your predecessors struggled with, without [[HistoryRepeats making the same compromises and mistakes they did]].
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'': How we're all shaped by our relationship with death.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In several of the early comics, the Hulk was slightly more intelligent and could talk better, barely even referring to himself in the 3rd person. Then eventually this paved way to the more popular dumb beast that always spouted "[[HulkSpeak Puny human make Hulk angry! Hulk smash!]]" Though later retcons would establish that this behavior was still canon. The Hulk has [[SplitPersonality multiple personalities]], with some of them being quite intelligent while others are just mindless, screaming monsters.
* ChickMagnet: The Hulk, surprisingly enough. A lot of women, both human and non human, seem to fall for him. To date he has been married at least three times (two now dead and one partially insane) and bedded many more. Bruce Banner on the other hand... Well, at least he has Betty.
* DeathIsCheap:
** General Ross died from fighting Zzzax, but his body was stolen by The Leader and resurrected by the Troyjan.
** Betty Ross died of radiation poisoning, but she didn't really die. She washed up on a beach, was experimented on by Thaddeus Ross, became Red She-Hulk, lost her She-Hulk powers, got shot & died again and came back with her Harpy powers.
** In issue #345, The Hulk is killed by a bomb from The Leader, in Middletown, and returns in issue #347.
** The Leader is killed in an explosion in ''Incredible Hulk'' #400, returns as the leader of the Home Base organization, which never happened due to being part of a plot by Nightmare, shows up at a trial in ''She-Hulk'', was killed by the Punisher, revived, killed again by the Punisher, which turned out to be an LMD, was given a permanent Penance Stare by Ghostrider, got sent to Hell by Mephisto, and is now fine.
** Lampshaded ''endlessly'' in issues #397-#400. When a distraught Rick Jones goes to Comicbook/DoctorStrange so that he can resurrect his girlfriend Marlo, Strange explains how it's impossible. Rick goes on to point out how many other characters have died and come back, asking if Strange' assistant had (responding "Actually, yes"). It gets to the point where Marlo does get brought back to life by a magical priest and a crystal chamber simply called the "Deux Ex Machina." She comes back... but is left a complete shell from the experience. (She gets better before issue #418 [their wedding], though.)
** And lampshaded again in another issue during ComicBook/NickFury's funeral, where his friends laugh and crack jokes, saying things like "What d'ya think it is this time, aliens?" By the end of the story they realize that he's not coming back, and look genuinely mournful. Of course, as we all know, he did come back anyway.
** Someone even called Marvel out on their frequent use of comic book death in the letters pages of that very same issue, to which the response was "Okay, okay, we won't kill Nick Fur--Oops."
** This is explained in the ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' series when it comes to Gamma Beasts as there is a strange green door that can be crossed, bringing Gamma Beasts back from the dead. For Banner, he's more than happy to just die, but it's suggested ''one of his'' Hulk identities charges back through.
** One story in ComicBook/SheHulk's run had her move to have a dead man's ghost testify in his wrongful death case against the company he worked for. When the other side objected, Shulkie called Ben Grimm to testify about how he came back from the dead. When counsel objected the dead person in this case was an ordinary human and not a super-being, she then asked by a show of hands how many people in the courtroom had been resurrected from some cataclysmic event. About half the people in the room (including one of the other defense attorneys) raised their hand.
** General Ross died from fighting Zzzax, but his body was stolen by The Leader and resurrected by the Troyjan.
** Betty Ross died of radiation poisoning, but she didn't really die. She washed up on a beach, was experimented on by Thaddeus Ross, became Red She-Hulk, lost her She-Hulk powers, got shot & died again and came back with her Harpy powers.
** In issue #345, The Hulk is killed by a bomb from The Leader, in Middletown, and returns in issue #347.
** The Leader is killed in an explosion in ''Incredible Hulk'' #400, returns as the leader of the Home Base organization, which never happened due to being part of a plot by Nightmare, shows up at a trial in ''She-Hulk'', was killed by the Punisher, revived, killed again by the Punisher, which turned out to be an LMD, was given a permanent Penance Stare by Ghostrider, got sent to Hell by Mephisto, and is now fine.
** Lampshaded ''endlessly'' in issues #397-#400. When a distraught Rick Jones goes to Comicbook/DoctorStrange so that he can resurrect his girlfriend Marlo, Strange explains how it's impossible. Rick goes on to point out how many other characters have died and come back, asking if Strange' assistant had (responding "Actually, yes"). It gets to the point where Marlo does get brought back to life by a magical priest and a crystal chamber simply called the "Deux Ex Machina." She comes back... but is left a complete shell from the experience. (She gets better before issue #418 [their wedding], though.)
** And lampshaded again in another issue during ComicBook/NickFury's funeral, where his friends laugh and crack jokes, saying things like "What d'ya think it is this time, aliens?" By the end of the story they realize that he's not coming back, and look genuinely mournful. Of course, as we all know, he did come back anyway.
** Someone even called Marvel out on their frequent use of comic book death in the letters pages of that very same issue, to which the response was "Okay, okay, we won't kill Nick Fur--Oops."
** This is explained in the ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' series when it comes to Gamma Beasts as there is a strange green door that can be crossed, bringing Gamma Beasts back from the dead. For Banner, he's more than happy to just die, but it's suggested ''one of his'' Hulk identities charges back through.
** One story in ComicBook/SheHulk's run had her move to have a dead man's ghost testify in his wrongful death case against the company he worked for. When the other side objected, Shulkie called Ben Grimm to testify about how he came back from the dead. When counsel objected the dead person in this case was an ordinary human and not a super-being, she then asked by a show of hands how many people in the courtroom had been resurrected from some cataclysmic event. About half the people in the room (including one of the other defense attorneys) raised their hand.
* {{Deconstruction}}: Bruce Banner turned into the super strong Hulk thanks to a gamma bomb explosion, endowing him with the strength and stamina to battle threats that even some other super strong heroes may struggle with, but Bruce has little to no control over the Hulk, which often results in a lot of property damage and turning Bruce into a fugitive hunted all over the world by the army.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'': The series deconstructs several elements of the Hulk mythos as well as some from super-hero comics in general. Since this is a horror series, many of these tread into NightmareFuel territory.
*** DeathIsCheap is horrifically deconstructed when it's learned that the reason the Hulk and gamma mutates keep coming back is because death has a metaphorical revolving door for them to keep walking out of. Made worse is the fact that it's due to an EldritchAbomination that is TheAntiGod, which is only bringing them back so it has pawns it can use to enact its own plans. There's also the trauma of having to experience death in all of it's pain and terror only to come back repeatedly and realize it's going to keep happening again and again and that you may end up surviving thousands of years past the ends of your friends, loved ones and everything you ever held to be important.
*** IDidWhatIHadToDo is also given a harsh look from various angles and sides. The Avengers try to bring in Bruce and end up tangling with the Hulk. They can ultimately only win when they use a KillSat to hit him with a superbeam of solar energy which ends up not only killing Bruce (again), but destroys what's left of the town they were fighting in. Later, the opposite side is looked at with General Fortean, who believes he is absolutely justified in doing anything to fight the Hulk, while acting like a KnightTemplar. However, it turns out that Reggie is actually mentally disturbed and everything he says it just an excuse to bring order to his world at any cost. It's only at the end when [[spoiler:he's in the Below-Place]] that he realize the horrible mistake he made in pursuing Gamma-based weapon research, which ends up damning himself for all time.
* DependingOnTheArtist: Of all the Marvel characters, the Hulk has probably the greatest variety of appearances. He started out looking like an 8-foot beefed up version of Franchise/{{Frankenstein}}'s monster (probably not accidentally, as Universal's ''Frankenstein'' film was one of the inspirations for the character), but now varies tremendously from artist to artist: facial features resembling anything from a human brute through to a full-on caveman, how muscular he is, how big he is, his hairstyle, the amount of veins visible,the length of his limbs in relation to each other, the length and color of his shredded pants, etc. And that's just the Savage (green) Hulk, never mind his other personas...
** What's more, the Hulk's appearance will vary with the ''same artist''. Each artist will usually keep the face consistant, but his overall size and proportions will vary from panel to panel.
** Other variables; Hulk's eyes. Green or red? Blood; green or red? His third wife [[ComicBook/PlanetHulk Caiera]] and their son Skaar also have variable eye colors, from blue to green.
** Of course, since the Peter David years, it's been established that the Hulk's appearance and personality are a direct reflection of Banner's subconscious mental state, so many of the artists' different approaches to him could probably be put down to Banner's frequently-shifting psychological troubles.
** In the early Silver Age, the Hulk didn't even need different artists to get inconsistent. Creator/JackKirby was particularly variable on how many toes the Hulk had, drawing him with three, four, or five toes per foot virtually at random. Contemporary artists use this as a ShoutOut opportunity, and flashbacks to the early Silver Age (like Hulk's brief tenure on the Avengers) often show him with three toes.
** There’s also Bruce Banner himself as artists make him a beanpole nerd so that the HulkingOut is more visually effective. While other artists give Bruce a rugged look which is fitting given his drifter-like lifestyle.
* DependingOnTheWriter: The Hulk has numerous factors of his character that vary between writers; Whether he's a dumb brute that can only speak in HulkSpeak, a completely mindless monster who can't talk at all, or someone with a fairly average intellect with a somewhat odd speech pattern. Also depending on the writer is the Hulk's power level; while it is in a state of flux depending on his emotional state, some writers have him being knocked out by an average python choking him for less than a minute, and dying from being impaled by a trident when he's previously survived wounds that make that seem like a papercut by comparison. Another significantly variable thing is how goodnatured the Hulk is; he can be basically heroic but bad-tempered, amoral and mostly wanting to be left alone, or a monster ruled by pure id who has done far worse than kill people. Greg Pak's Hulk, for a particular outlier, is a flat-out TechnicalPacifist who subconsciously avoids killing people even in the midst of a rampage. This is somewhat justified by Banner having multiple personality syndrome and there being thousands of Hulks in his mind, but many of these traits have been ascribed to the iconic "Savage" Hulk personality alone.
* {{Determinator}}: This is the Hulk to a T, especially when his loved ones are in danger. Regular Bruce Banner as well, he tries to save the day even when he ''can't'' turn into the Hulk. With just his brain and his wits.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'': The series deconstructs several elements of the Hulk mythos as well as some from super-hero comics in general. Since this is a horror series, many of these tread into NightmareFuel territory.
*** DeathIsCheap is horrifically deconstructed when it's learned that the reason the Hulk and gamma mutates keep coming back is because death has a metaphorical revolving door for them to keep walking out of. Made worse is the fact that it's due to an EldritchAbomination that is TheAntiGod, which is only bringing them back so it has pawns it can use to enact its own plans. There's also the trauma of having to experience death in all of it's pain and terror only to come back repeatedly and realize it's going to keep happening again and again and that you may end up surviving thousands of years past the ends of your friends, loved ones and everything you ever held to be important.
*** IDidWhatIHadToDo is also given a harsh look from various angles and sides. The Avengers try to bring in Bruce and end up tangling with the Hulk. They can ultimately only win when they use a KillSat to hit him with a superbeam of solar energy which ends up not only killing Bruce (again), but destroys what's left of the town they were fighting in. Later, the opposite side is looked at with General Fortean, who believes he is absolutely justified in doing anything to fight the Hulk, while acting like a KnightTemplar. However, it turns out that Reggie is actually mentally disturbed and everything he says it just an excuse to bring order to his world at any cost. It's only at the end when [[spoiler:he's in the Below-Place]] that he realize the horrible mistake he made in pursuing Gamma-based weapon research, which ends up damning himself for all time.
* DependingOnTheArtist: Of all the Marvel characters, the Hulk has probably the greatest variety of appearances. He started out looking like an 8-foot beefed up version of Franchise/{{Frankenstein}}'s monster (probably not accidentally, as Universal's ''Frankenstein'' film was one of the inspirations for the character), but now varies tremendously from artist to artist: facial features resembling anything from a human brute through to a full-on caveman, how muscular he is, how big he is, his hairstyle, the amount of veins visible,the length of his limbs in relation to each other, the length and color of his shredded pants, etc. And that's just the Savage (green) Hulk, never mind his other personas...
** What's more, the Hulk's appearance will vary with the ''same artist''. Each artist will usually keep the face consistant, but his overall size and proportions will vary from panel to panel.
** Other variables; Hulk's eyes. Green or red? Blood; green or red? His third wife [[ComicBook/PlanetHulk Caiera]] and their son Skaar also have variable eye colors, from blue to green.
** Of course, since the Peter David years, it's been established that the Hulk's appearance and personality are a direct reflection of Banner's subconscious mental state, so many of the artists' different approaches to him could probably be put down to Banner's frequently-shifting psychological troubles.
** In the early Silver Age, the Hulk didn't even need different artists to get inconsistent. Creator/JackKirby was particularly variable on how many toes the Hulk had, drawing him with three, four, or five toes per foot virtually at random. Contemporary artists use this as a ShoutOut opportunity, and flashbacks to the early Silver Age (like Hulk's brief tenure on the Avengers) often show him with three toes.
** There’s also Bruce Banner himself as artists make him a beanpole nerd so that the HulkingOut is more visually effective. While other artists give Bruce a rugged look which is fitting given his drifter-like lifestyle.
* DependingOnTheWriter: The Hulk has numerous factors of his character that vary between writers; Whether he's a dumb brute that can only speak in HulkSpeak, a completely mindless monster who can't talk at all, or someone with a fairly average intellect with a somewhat odd speech pattern. Also depending on the writer is the Hulk's power level; while it is in a state of flux depending on his emotional state, some writers have him being knocked out by an average python choking him for less than a minute, and dying from being impaled by a trident when he's previously survived wounds that make that seem like a papercut by comparison. Another significantly variable thing is how goodnatured the Hulk is; he can be basically heroic but bad-tempered, amoral and mostly wanting to be left alone, or a monster ruled by pure id who has done far worse than kill people. Greg Pak's Hulk, for a particular outlier, is a flat-out TechnicalPacifist who subconsciously avoids killing people even in the midst of a rampage. This is somewhat justified by Banner having multiple personality syndrome and there being thousands of Hulks in his mind, but many of these traits have been ascribed to the iconic "Savage" Hulk personality alone.
* {{Determinator}}: This is the Hulk to a T, especially when his loved ones are in danger. Regular Bruce Banner as well, he tries to save the day even when he ''can't'' turn into the Hulk. With just his brain and his wits.
Changed line(s) 200 (click to see context) from:
* TheDreaded: While not a villain, the Hulk is typically treated as being as every bit as much a threat as any of the Marvel universe's major villains when heroes clash with him.
to:
* TheDreaded: While not a villain, the The Hulk is typically treated as being as every bit as much a threat as any scares the ''hell'' out of the Marvel universe's major villains when rest of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. The most powerful heroes clash - even knowing full well that he's NotEvilJustMisunderstood - take his arrival as seriously as that of someone like Doctor Doom, if not more. Given what a rampaging Hulk can do, it's not without reason. He could get angry, you see. And you wouldn't like him when he's angry. In everything from trading cards to the actual comic books, other heroes are shown to be ''very'' reluctant to confront him.
** In Greg Pak's run, people start to wonder if Banner is actually the more dangerous one. [[spoiler:He is.]]
** ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} had a [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments memorable meltdown]] when he found out that he had to get a blood sample from the big green galoot in an attempt to cure his currently-failing HealingFactor. His reaction was to talk him up using the lyrics of his old cartoon theme song ("Ain't he unglamorous").
** Subverted withhim.ComicBook/CaptainAmerica. He not only holds immense respect for Hulk in either form (he bitched out the Illuminati for sending Hulk into space) but it has been said by numerous characters that the only thing Cap would need to do to stop a rampaging Hulk would be to stand in front of him.
** The new Hulk personality introduced in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' terrifies even Thor, he refers to him as a Devil.
** In Greg Pak's run, people start to wonder if Banner is actually the more dangerous one. [[spoiler:He is.]]
** ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} had a [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments memorable meltdown]] when he found out that he had to get a blood sample from the big green galoot in an attempt to cure his currently-failing HealingFactor. His reaction was to talk him up using the lyrics of his old cartoon theme song ("Ain't he unglamorous").
** Subverted with
** The new Hulk personality introduced in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' terrifies even Thor, he refers to him as a Devil.
Changed line(s) 203 (click to see context) from:
** The day-one Hulk wasn't just different from the Savage Hulk, he wasn't even much like the Gray Hulk is portrayed these days. He was Banner by day and Hulk by night regardless of his anger level - no HulkingOut at noon no matter how angry, no staying himself past dusk no matter how calm. As the Hulk he was similar to Frankenstein's Monster, whom he more closely resembled in the old days -- he could be outright malevolent, though you could see how he was driven to it. He once nearly deployed a doomsday device he invented just because he'd had it with puny humans. (Yes, invented, as Hulk. Loss of intelligence meant things got ''harder,'' but he was still brilliant. With this Hulk's misanthropy, that's very ''bad.'') Thankfully, Rick Jones, being close to the site of the disaster, gained a mental link with Banner that allows him to influence the Hulk. The world would ''literally'' have ended by issue three at Hulk's hands otherwise. He was less the hero and more Banner's EnemyWithin, with tremendous (but not at current levels) strength, most of his intelligence, and a belief that those rotten humans did not deserve to exist. It was [[KidWithTheLeash all Rick Jones could do]] to keep him aimed at the people chasing Banner, and bad guys they encountered, instead of... '''everyone.'''
to:
** The day-one Hulk wasn't just different from the Savage Hulk, he wasn't even much like the Gray Hulk is portrayed these days. He was Banner by day and Hulk by night regardless of his anger level - no HulkingOut at noon no matter how angry, no staying himself past dusk no matter how calm. As the Hulk he was similar to Frankenstein's Monster, whom he more closely resembled in the old days -- he could be outright malevolent, though you could see how he was driven to it. He once nearly deployed a doomsday device he invented just because he'd had it with puny humans. (Yes, invented, as Hulk. Loss of intelligence meant things got ''harder,'' but he was still brilliant. With this Hulk's misanthropy, that's very ''bad.'') Thankfully, Rick Jones, being close to the site of the disaster, gained a mental link with Banner that allows him to influence the Hulk. The world would ''literally'' have ended by issue three at Hulk's hands otherwise. He was less the hero and more Banner's EnemyWithin, with tremendous (but not at current levels) strength, most of his intelligence, and a belief that those rotten humans did not deserve to exist. It was [[KidWithTheLeash all Rick Jones could do]] to keep him aimed at the people chasing Banner, and bad guys they encountered, instead of... '''everyone.''''''everyone'''. It takes them awhile before the character is associated with anger, around his first visit with ComicBook/TheInhumans where they establish that his strength increases with his rage.
*** The situation with the Hulk's intelligence was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in an issue of Creator/MarkWaid's ''ComicBook/{{The Avengers|MarkWaid}}'' run, where the Silver Age Hulk doesn't understand why the present-day Spider-Man keeps trying to use HulkSpeak to communicate with him.
*** The situation with the Hulk's intelligence was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in an issue of Creator/MarkWaid's ''ComicBook/{{The Avengers|MarkWaid}}'' run, where the Silver Age Hulk doesn't understand why the present-day Spider-Man keeps trying to use HulkSpeak to communicate with him.
** The later ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' series intentionally went back to the character's roots, with the Hulk depicted as a far more intelligent and overtly malicious figure than most fans were generally used to. The series also revives some of the Hulk's original mechanics, with "the night is his time" being a repeated theme-phrase. The way the "Immortal" part works is that if Bruce Banner is killed, the Hulk will rise as soon as night falls on his corpse.
** Hulk also had an ever-changing number of toes. When he first appeared, he had five toes. When his book was cancelled and he resurfaced in ''Fantastic Four'', he now had three. When he joined the Avengers, he then had four, but went back to three by the second issue, only for this number to vary wildly in each subsequent appearance before the artists finally settled on five in ''ComicBook/TalesToAstonish''. This was the subject in a MythologyGag in ''ComicBook/UltronForever'', where the Hulk transported from the past still had three toes.
** Originally, the Hulk could also ''fly'', but this ability was quickly dropped (retconned into super jumps that could be mistaken for flight by witnesses).
** The Hulk being a founding member of ComicBook/TheAvengers. It didn't take Stan Lee long to figure out that the Hulk wasn't exactly a team player, such that by the third issue of the series he's actually fighting ''against'' the others in full-on supervillain mode. Later comics have dealt with his on-again, off-again membership in all manner of ways as his intelligence has fluctuated.
** Hulk also had an ever-changing number of toes. When he first appeared, he had five toes. When his book was cancelled and he resurfaced in ''Fantastic Four'', he now had three. When he joined the Avengers, he then had four, but went back to three by the second issue, only for this number to vary wildly in each subsequent appearance before the artists finally settled on five in ''ComicBook/TalesToAstonish''. This was the subject in a MythologyGag in ''ComicBook/UltronForever'', where the Hulk transported from the past still had three toes.
** Originally, the Hulk could also ''fly'', but this ability was quickly dropped (retconned into super jumps that could be mistaken for flight by witnesses).
** The Hulk being a founding member of ComicBook/TheAvengers. It didn't take Stan Lee long to figure out that the Hulk wasn't exactly a team player, such that by the third issue of the series he's actually fighting ''against'' the others in full-on supervillain mode. Later comics have dealt with his on-again, off-again membership in all manner of ways as his intelligence has fluctuated.
* {{Flanderization}}: The Hulk's raw power has been greatly exaggerated. In his first appearance, Hulk was perfectly capable of fluent speech and clear-minded reasoning. Over the years the "dumb" part of DumbMuscle got amplified along with the "muscle", until we reach the iconic "HULK SMASH!" levels. Then, Creator/PeterDavid got the idea of explaining this as two different facets of Bruce Banner's fractured mind manifesting in different types of Hulk. How his level of strength tends to be inversely proportional to his intelligence has been explained by that his ability to reason tends to put limits to how much pure rage he can build up. An alternate universe supervillain, the Maestro, was even created out of the idea of "what if the Hulk stopped caring about holding back, then lived for a hundred years?"
** Contemporary Marvel writers have some fun with this when time-travel shenanigans bring later characters in contact with early Silver Age Hulk. Heroes (and villains) expecting the monosyllabic rage-monster are shocked to meet a gruff, clever Hulk who is functionally equivalent to a stronger, tougher, more devious Ben Grimm.
* {{Foil}}:
** The Hulk and The Leader, as raw strength contrasting with enhanced intelligence.
** The Hulk and She-Hulk
*** Bruce is rarely the one in control of his Hulk form, which is more often than not being used by one of his many, many split personalities. Jennifer is almost always in control of her She-Hulk form.
*** Bruce wants more than anything to be [[IJustWantToBeNormal normal]]. Jennifer has in the past done whatever it takes to [[IJustWantToBeSpecial remain She-Hulk permanently]].
*** Hulk represents everything Bruce represses about himself. She-Hulk is everything that Jennifer ever wanted to let out.
** Contemporary Marvel writers have some fun with this when time-travel shenanigans bring later characters in contact with early Silver Age Hulk. Heroes (and villains) expecting the monosyllabic rage-monster are shocked to meet a gruff, clever Hulk who is functionally equivalent to a stronger, tougher, more devious Ben Grimm.
* {{Foil}}:
** The Hulk and The Leader, as raw strength contrasting with enhanced intelligence.
** The Hulk and She-Hulk
*** Bruce is rarely the one in control of his Hulk form, which is more often than not being used by one of his many, many split personalities. Jennifer is almost always in control of her She-Hulk form.
*** Bruce wants more than anything to be [[IJustWantToBeNormal normal]]. Jennifer has in the past done whatever it takes to [[IJustWantToBeSpecial remain She-Hulk permanently]].
*** Hulk represents everything Bruce represses about himself. She-Hulk is everything that Jennifer ever wanted to let out.
* FourthWallObserver: The Hulk used to pal around with a group of super-powered do-gooders called ''The Pantheon''. Except Paris wasn't quite the do-gooder they thought. In addition to causing outright chaos, he speaks to the reader, is aware when the end of the book is coming up and at one point, turns the book OFF. Creepy.
* HarsherInHindsight: In issue #434, Hulk is accosted by the Avengers while trying to peacefully watch Nick Fury's funeral. He had inadvertently caused his death, so he wasn't welcome there. When the ComicBook/ScarletWitch tells him so, he goes on a whole rant about his history of [[HeroWithBadPublicity being hunted down by the government]] and the fact that even though Scarlet Witch is an Avenger ''now'', she was a mutant terrorist working with ComicBook/{{Magneto}} back when ''he'' was an Avenger. He [[NotSoDifferentRemark tells her it'd only take the slightest change for her to be in his position now]]. The Hulk was unambiguously heroic back then, and while he would [[ComicBook/WorldWarHulk occasionally]] [[ComicBook/ImmortalHulk turn against his fellow heroes again]] later down the line, the Scarlet Witch [[ComicBook/AvengersDisassembled was also no slouch]] [[ComicBook/HouseOfM in that regard]].
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* HeroWithBadPublicity: In fact, it would be very hard to find anyone in the Marvel Universe with ''worse'' publicity who could still be considered a hero. But you really can't blame anyone.
to:
* HeroWithBadPublicity: In fact, due to the damage he's caused in his career, it would be very hard to find anyone someone in the Marvel Universe with ''worse'' publicity who could still be considered a hero. But you really can't blame anyone.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The U-Foes seem to kill themselves off like this the first time they turn up -- their newly gained powers are strong enough to potentially take down the Big Green Machine, but PowerIncontinence kicks in. Vapour can turn herself into any gas... but soon cannot keep her molecules together. Ironclad can increase his mass... which keeps increasing so he cannot move and sinks into the ground. And their leader Vector, just like Unus above, can repel things -- eventually he repels the air around him so he suffocates, then he repels ''Earth itself'' and shoots out into space. X-Ray's ability to manipulate radiation very nearly causes him to explode from absorbing too much energy. [[UnexplainedRecovery They come back]].
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* LetsYouAndHimFight: Various heroes have been unlucky enough to cross the Hulk's path, including Franchise/SpiderMan, Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}, Comicbook/IronMan and the heroes who make up part of his regular rogues' gallery (see below). It's not an experience any of the other guys would care to repeat.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d during the Marvel Knights crossover storyline, where Hulk (in Smart/Banner/Merged Hulk form at the time) accidentally bumps into Comicbook/GhostRider while strolling through the park at knight. Hulk outright says "Let me guess, this is one of those times two heroes meet, there's a misunderstanding, and they end up fighting before they realize there's a bigger threat and should work together, right? How about we just skip to the end?" Ghost Rider, fully possessed by the [[KnightTemplar Spirit of Vengeance]] and only seeing the (accidental, collateral) pain Hulk has caused, doesn't go along with the plan.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d during the Marvel Knights crossover storyline, where Hulk (in Smart/Banner/Merged Hulk form at the time) accidentally bumps into Comicbook/GhostRider while strolling through the park at knight. Hulk outright says "Let me guess, this is one of those times two heroes meet, there's a misunderstanding, and they end up fighting before they realize there's a bigger threat and should work together, right? How about we just skip to the end?" Ghost Rider, fully possessed by the [[KnightTemplar Spirit of Vengeance]] and only seeing the (accidental, collateral) pain Hulk has caused, doesn't go along with the plan.
to:
* LetsYouAndHimFight: The series can usually pull these off repeatedly due to the Hulk's unstable mental nature. One day he's a giant with the mind of Bruce Banner, the next an unthinking ball of green rage. Getting these fights to stop usually involves a CoolDownHug and the inevitable HulksCooldownHugCorollary to avoid a change in the [[StatusQuoIsGod Status Quo]]. Various heroes have been unlucky enough to cross the Hulk's path, including Franchise/SpiderMan, Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}, Comicbook/IronMan and the heroes who make up part of his regular rogues' gallery (see below). It's not an experience any of the other guys would care to repeat.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}dduring by the Marvel Knights crossover storyline, where Hulk (in Smart/Banner/Merged Hulk form at the time) during the Marvel Knights crossover storyline, when he accidentally bumps into Comicbook/GhostRider while strolling through the park at knight. Hulk outright says "Let me guess, this is one of those times two heroes meet, there's a misunderstanding, and they end up fighting before they realize there's a bigger threat and should work together, right? How about we just skip to Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for the end?" reader, Ghost Rider, currently fully possessed by the [[KnightTemplar Spirit of Vengeance]] and only seeing the (accidental, collateral) pain Hulk has caused, is not having any of it and doesn't go along with the plan.plan.
--> '''Hulk''': Alright, I get it. This is the obligatory "good guy meets good guy, they have an obligatory fight based on misunderstanding, then team up to fight the REAL bad guy. Can we just skip it?"
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d
--> '''Hulk''': Alright, I get it. This is the obligatory "good guy meets good guy, they have an obligatory fight based on misunderstanding, then team up to fight the REAL bad guy. Can we just skip it?"
* LoveTriangle: Betty Ross with Bruce Banner and Glenn Talbot, then with Bruce and disposable love interest Ramon. Throw her and Bruce's alternate personalities into the mix and things get even more complicated.
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': Hiro-Kala knew that he was the son of the Hulk. He didn't know that Bruce Banner was the Hulk. So when they first met, the following exchange happened:
-->'''Hiro-Kala:''' Who are you?\\
'''Banner:''' Your... your father.\\
'''Hiro-Kala:''' Hmp. I don't think so.\\
'''Banner:''' Yeah, [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry I'm not too happy about it either.]]
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': Hiro-Kala knew that he was the son of the Hulk. He didn't know that Bruce Banner was the Hulk. So when they first met, the following exchange happened:
-->'''Hiro-Kala:''' Who are you?\\
'''Banner:''' Your... your father.\\
'''Hiro-Kala:''' Hmp. I don't think so.\\
'''Banner:''' Yeah, [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry I'm not too happy about it either.]]
* MadScientist: Bruce Banner usually isn’t this, but without the Hulk as an outlet, he can start to lose it as all his anger and darker impulses build up.
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* MuggingTheMonster: Sometimes the {{Asshole Victim}}s don't recognize Bruce Banner until it's too late...
to:
* MuggingTheMonster: Sometimes Naturally, this has happened to Bruce Banner a few times, as sometimes the {{Asshole Victim}}s don't recognize Bruce Banner until it's too late...
** In one instance the Grey Hulk was nearly mugged, which is odd considering he's taller than most people and almost as wide.
** The moment where Bruce Banner is nearly raped by two men in the shower of the YMCA takes the cake. It's an aversion, though, as when Banner threatens to turn into the Hulk, they doubt him but decide not to risk it.
** The moment where Bruce Banner is nearly raped by two men in the shower of the YMCA takes the cake. It's an aversion, though, as when Banner threatens to turn into the Hulk, they doubt him but decide not to risk it.
* NeverMyFault:
** Brian Banner was all over this one. His horrific abuse of his wife and son is his dad's fault, for being abusive, or little Bruce's fault for being born super-smart. His eventual murder of his wife? Bruce's fault, for being ''born'' at all. [[spoiler:Even in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', when he's been dragged down to Hell itself for his actions, ''twice'', he still refuses to acknowledge that the situation might possibly in any way be his own fault.]]
** General Reginald Fortean, through ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk''. He constantly shifts any responsibility for his actions onto other people, when he's the one forcing them to do those things, ''especially'' when anyone tries calling him out on his deeds.
* NeverLiveItDown: Umar will, understandably, never live down the fact she once raped [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the Hulk]]. It doesn't help that this instance was played for laughs when Hulk had been the victim of both an attempted ''and'' a successful rape before, and they were rightfully shown to be the horrible, traumatizing events they were.
** Brian Banner was all over this one. His horrific abuse of his wife and son is his dad's fault, for being abusive, or little Bruce's fault for being born super-smart. His eventual murder of his wife? Bruce's fault, for being ''born'' at all. [[spoiler:Even in ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', when he's been dragged down to Hell itself for his actions, ''twice'', he still refuses to acknowledge that the situation might possibly in any way be his own fault.]]
** General Reginald Fortean, through ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk''. He constantly shifts any responsibility for his actions onto other people, when he's the one forcing them to do those things, ''especially'' when anyone tries calling him out on his deeds.
* NeverLiveItDown: Umar will, understandably, never live down the fact she once raped [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the Hulk]]. It doesn't help that this instance was played for laughs when Hulk had been the victim of both an attempted ''and'' a successful rape before, and they were rightfully shown to be the horrible, traumatizing events they were.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: General Ross has unwittingly and sometimes deliberately stopped Banner from curing himself of the Hulk many many times, not to mention acting as the catalyst for pissing off Banner and thus transforming him into the Hulk even more often. Ross' attempts to stop the Hulk only tend to make things [[FromBadToWorse even worse.]] Whether an incident falls under NiceJobBreakingItHero or NiceJobFixingItVillain depends on which side of the FaceHeelRevolvingDoor one considers Ross to be at the time.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain:
** The Hulk's ''raison d'être'': if you're going to kill him, at least try to make him happy about it. This makes Ultimate Nick Fury pretty smart since he did JUST THAT. Pity Loki intervened.
** The ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} saga springs to mind... "And Hulk is ANGRY!!!!"
* NiceJobFixingItVillain:
** The Hulk's ''raison d'être'': if you're going to kill him, at least try to make him happy about it. This makes Ultimate Nick Fury pretty smart since he did JUST THAT. Pity Loki intervened.
** The ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} saga springs to mind... "And Hulk is ANGRY!!!!"
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* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Zeus vs. the Hulk. The god wins, enough so that only Hulk's HealingFactor keeps him alive long enough to be rescued. Hulk himself has been handing these out like candy for years.
to:
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: Bruce Banner pays an even more personal cost for saving Rick Jones.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown:Zeus vs. the Hulk. The god wins, Hulk himself has been handing these out like candy for years, giving these to anyone foolish enough so to fight him. Especially during ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk''.
** He still receives them here and there, namely from Zeus, who left him crippled for days. The beatdown was bad enough that only Hulk's HealingFactor keeps him alive long enough to be rescued.Hulk himself has been handing these out like candy for years.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown:
** He still receives them here and there, namely from Zeus, who left him crippled for days. The beatdown was bad enough that only Hulk's HealingFactor keeps him alive long enough to be rescued.
* NotSoDifferentRemark:
** The majority of Comicbook/HulkGray consisted of Bruce coming to realise that he had a surprising amount in common with his long-time enemy General Ross. Naturally, this being a Hulk comic, he didn't take it well.
** In ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', the Devil Hulk gets the upper hand in a duel with ''ComicBook/SheHulk'' by pointing out how she's recently gone from being a bubbly, much-beloved AmazonianBeauty into a [[FanDisservice disfigured, muscle-bound, rage-fueled brute]] that everybody distrusts, just like her "savage" cousin. She-Hulk is so horrified and busy protesting it gives the Devil Hulk the opportunity to MegatonPunch her away from the battlefield.
** The majority of Comicbook/HulkGray consisted of Bruce coming to realise that he had a surprising amount in common with his long-time enemy General Ross. Naturally, this being a Hulk comic, he didn't take it well.
** In ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', the Devil Hulk gets the upper hand in a duel with ''ComicBook/SheHulk'' by pointing out how she's recently gone from being a bubbly, much-beloved AmazonianBeauty into a [[FanDisservice disfigured, muscle-bound, rage-fueled brute]] that everybody distrusts, just like her "savage" cousin. She-Hulk is so horrified and busy protesting it gives the Devil Hulk the opportunity to MegatonPunch her away from the battlefield.
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* OhCrap: Is Hulk coming your way? Is he angry? Then it's too late to run.
to:
* OhCrap: Is the Hulk coming your way? Is he angry? Then it's too late to run.run. Let's just save some time and say damn near everyone who's ever made [[Bruce Banner]] [[HulkingOut angry.]] has had this reaction.
* PhysicalGod: The Hulk qualifies, seeing as how he has potentially ''infinite strength'', even managing to defeat Onslaught, who had easily overpowered ''the Juggernaut''. The Beyonder says the Hulk's power has no limitations.
** There was an evil BadFuture version of the Hulk named Maestro who was even '''stronger'''.
** There was an evil BadFuture version of the Hulk named Maestro who was even '''stronger'''.
* PowerIncontinence:
** Bruce Banner transforms into the Hulk whenever someone makes him too angry, and once he's in that form, he has no control over his actions (depending on which personality is in control).
** Joe Fixit (a smaller, gray-skinned variant) had a brief storyline where he always came out at night and generally did things Bruce did not approve of. (This is in fact what the Hulk was ''always'' like in the very earliest issues. This new storyline tweaked the original Gray Hulk a bit, taking him from EarlyInstallmentWeirdness to a different manifestation of his powers.)
** Hulk villain Emil Blonsky aka the Abomination. He follows this trope in a different manner. While he has full control of himself, he cannot change back to his human form. His gamma powers are always active. Since his transformation is fueled by his own self-loathing, that really says a lot about Blonsky.
** Bruce Banner transforms into the Hulk whenever someone makes him too angry, and once he's in that form, he has no control over his actions (depending on which personality is in control).
** Joe Fixit (a smaller, gray-skinned variant) had a brief storyline where he always came out at night and generally did things Bruce did not approve of. (This is in fact what the Hulk was ''always'' like in the very earliest issues. This new storyline tweaked the original Gray Hulk a bit, taking him from EarlyInstallmentWeirdness to a different manifestation of his powers.)
** Hulk villain Emil Blonsky aka the Abomination. He follows this trope in a different manner. While he has full control of himself, he cannot change back to his human form. His gamma powers are always active. Since his transformation is fueled by his own self-loathing, that really says a lot about Blonsky.
* ReedRichardsIsUseless:
** ''ComicBook/IndestructibleHulk'' {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d and perhaps {{averted|Trope}} this, with Bruce Banner lamenting the fact that all the years he spent trying to cure himself of the Hulk could have been used to fight problems like famine and disease. He then agrees to join ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} on the condition that they give him funding to work towards bettering mankind while not in his Hulk form.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' begins to address this around Issue #25: [[spoiler:After Bruce/Hulk takes over the organization meant to kill him, he begins formulating a new sort of plan, one that he gives some of the basics to Amadeus Cho. Namely, in that he declares war against the "world's leaders" or more specifically, the individuals and groups such as Dario Agger, the CEO of Roxxon (and a minotaur). According to Bruce, the reason people like Reed, Tony and Adam Brashear ([[ComicBook/AdamLegendOfTheBlueMarvel Blue Marvel]]) have failed to make an impact is because of powerful people like Agger manipulating the world and thus Bruce takes it upon himself to tear down the establishment with the hopes of entrusting the younger folk to fix it. Put simply, "I can't build what needs to be built, but I can smash what needs to be smashed."]].
** ''ComicBook/IndestructibleHulk'' {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d and perhaps {{averted|Trope}} this, with Bruce Banner lamenting the fact that all the years he spent trying to cure himself of the Hulk could have been used to fight problems like famine and disease. He then agrees to join ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} on the condition that they give him funding to work towards bettering mankind while not in his Hulk form.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' begins to address this around Issue #25: [[spoiler:After Bruce/Hulk takes over the organization meant to kill him, he begins formulating a new sort of plan, one that he gives some of the basics to Amadeus Cho. Namely, in that he declares war against the "world's leaders" or more specifically, the individuals and groups such as Dario Agger, the CEO of Roxxon (and a minotaur). According to Bruce, the reason people like Reed, Tony and Adam Brashear ([[ComicBook/AdamLegendOfTheBlueMarvel Blue Marvel]]) have failed to make an impact is because of powerful people like Agger manipulating the world and thus Bruce takes it upon himself to tear down the establishment with the hopes of entrusting the younger folk to fix it. Put simply, "I can't build what needs to be built, but I can smash what needs to be smashed."]].
* {{RetCon}}:
** The ''Rampaging Hulk'' stories were initially far out stories featuring the Hulk. In ''Comicbook/{{The Incredible Hulk|1968}}'' #269-287, it is revealed the stories were created as techno-art movies by Bereet the Krylorian. Similarly, an unpublished story by Steve Gerber would have retconned the ''Comicbook/HowardTheDuck'' stories not written by Gerber as art made by the Krylorian Chireep.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' has a few:
*** Quite a few regarding the first appearance of the Hulk. Firstly, Bruce's ResurrectiveImmortality was first activiated in the accident that turned him into the Hulk as he was originally actually killed in the gamma bomb explosion. Additionally, it undoes the CanonDiscontinuity Creator/PeterDavid gave to the Devil Hulk by revealing he was real: he's actually the Immortal Hulk and thus, his actual true form resembles a traditional green Hulk. And that the Immortal/Devil Hulk is in fact the Hulk seen in Bruce's first few adventures.
*** Brian Banner, Bruce's father, is also shown to have feared the existence of offspring from him would break a spell instead of a fear of something wrong with his genetics, and he'd previously dealt with the Green Door.
*** The Hulk seen in ''ComicBook/SecretEmpire'' is really a new personality.
** The ''Rampaging Hulk'' stories were initially far out stories featuring the Hulk. In ''Comicbook/{{The Incredible Hulk|1968}}'' #269-287, it is revealed the stories were created as techno-art movies by Bereet the Krylorian. Similarly, an unpublished story by Steve Gerber would have retconned the ''Comicbook/HowardTheDuck'' stories not written by Gerber as art made by the Krylorian Chireep.
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' has a few:
*** Quite a few regarding the first appearance of the Hulk. Firstly, Bruce's ResurrectiveImmortality was first activiated in the accident that turned him into the Hulk as he was originally actually killed in the gamma bomb explosion. Additionally, it undoes the CanonDiscontinuity Creator/PeterDavid gave to the Devil Hulk by revealing he was real: he's actually the Immortal Hulk and thus, his actual true form resembles a traditional green Hulk. And that the Immortal/Devil Hulk is in fact the Hulk seen in Bruce's first few adventures.
*** Brian Banner, Bruce's father, is also shown to have feared the existence of offspring from him would break a spell instead of a fear of something wrong with his genetics, and he'd previously dealt with the Green Door.
*** The Hulk seen in ''ComicBook/SecretEmpire'' is really a new personality.
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* RoguesGallery: The Hulk has a really big one, including the Leader, the U-Foes, the Abomination, the Glob, the Rhino, Speedfreek, the Bi-Beast, Rock, Redeemer, the Gamma Corps, Constrictor, Boomerang, Madman, the Wendigo, Piecemeal, Absorbing Man, the Juggernaut, Mercy, Mister Hyde, ComicBook/RedHulk, and ZZZAX. The Hulk also stands out in that he regularly clashes with a number of other ''heroes'', including [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, and ComicBook/TheThing.
to:
* RoguesGallery: The Hulk has a really big one, including one. Most of the Hulk's enemies are other super-strong bruisers who can actually go a few rounds with the Big Green Machine without immediately getting turned into roadkill, like the [[EvilCounterpart Abomination]], Red Hulk, Absorbing Man, Mister Hyde, Madman, the Glob, Bi-Beast, and the Wendigo. Not everyone fits the bill however, such as the Leader, a MadScientist and EvilGenius who has as much brains as the Hulk does brawn; the U-Foes, a collective EvilCounterpart to the Abomination, Comicbook/FantasticFour with a similar origin and powers, although they never actually met the Glob, the Rhino, Speedfreek, the Bi-Beast, Rock, Redeemer, Four; [[EnergyBeings Zzzax]], a sentient electrical field; Mercy, a fragile-looking and wayward DarkMagicalGirl; the Gamma Corps, a collection of other gamma-mutated humans who serve the Leader; Rock and Redeemer, one of whom is a sentient shapeshifting boulder and the other who wears a suit of deadly power armor; and others such as Speedfreek, Constrictor, Boomerang, Madman, the Wendigo, Piecemeal, Absorbing Man, the Juggernaut, Mercy, Mister Hyde, ComicBook/RedHulk, and ZZZAX. Piecemeal. The Hulk has even battled a couple of {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, like the Crawling Unknown (a giant, cancerlike growth that mutated out of control), and Sh'mballah, an {{Expy}} of Franchise/{{Cthulhu|Mythos}} who tried to conquer the Earth, messed with the Hulk, [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu and didn't live to regret it]]. The Hulk is also stands out a popular choice for [[RoguesGalleryTransplant villains who fight someone besides their traditional enemies]], as he's tangled with the likes of [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Sandman and the Rhino]], [[Comicbook/XMen the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]] and the ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}}. The Hulk is also one of the few Marvel characters who has other heroes in that he his rogues gallery, regularly clashes slugging it out with a number of other ''heroes'', including [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor [[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]], ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, and ComicBook/TheThing.[[Comicbook/FantasticFour The Thing.]]
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** Some of the Hulk's recurring enemies, like the Juggernaut, and Absorbing Man, originally started out fighting other foes (and those two still do on a regular basis). The Big Green Machine also tangles with other heroes' enemies every now and again, even if they don't become permanent fixtures.
to:
** Some of the Hulk's recurring enemies, like the Juggernaut, Mister Hyde, and Absorbing Man, originally started out fighting other foes (and those two still do on a regular basis). The Big Green Machine also tangles with other heroes' enemies every now and again, even if they don't become permanent fixtures.
** ZigZaggingTrope with Gremlin. Gremlin uses the name and the armor of the Titanium Man, an Iron Man foe who goes way back, but Gremlin himself is primarily a Hulk villain, first appearing in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' #163.
** ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} started out as a foe of the Hulk before becoming primarily associated with the ComicBook/XMen.
** The [[PsychoForHire contract killer]] Boomerang, who uses deadly gimmick boomerangs as his weapons, originally started out fighting the Hulk, before he moved on to become a semi-regular ComicBook/SpiderMan villain after writers realized that trick boomerangs versus the most powerful creature on Earth was a bit of a mismatch. Boomerang even appears in the Uncanny X-Men UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo|EntertainmentSystem}} game by LJN even though he's neither a X-Men enemy nor a mutant.
** ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} started out as a foe of the Hulk before becoming primarily associated with the ComicBook/XMen.
** The [[PsychoForHire contract killer]] Boomerang, who uses deadly gimmick boomerangs as his weapons, originally started out fighting the Hulk, before he moved on to become a semi-regular ComicBook/SpiderMan villain after writers realized that trick boomerangs versus the most powerful creature on Earth was a bit of a mismatch. Boomerang even appears in the Uncanny X-Men UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo|EntertainmentSystem}} game by LJN even though he's neither a X-Men enemy nor a mutant.
* SeriesContinuityError: Creator/StanLee wasn't good at remembering names. In some early issues of ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' that he wrote, the protagonist Bruce Banner was suddenly called [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2005/11/03/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-23/ "Bob Banner"]]. Lee [[HandWave handwaved]] the error by revealing that his full name is Robert Bruce Banner.
** This one is better remembered than it should be because subsequent Marvel writers, particularly in the editorial DorkAge of the 70s, liked to cite it as a "nobody's perfect" precedent when fan letters called them out on their own heinous continuity errors. Marv Wolfman was probably the worst about this; he pre-emptively invoked it in an editor's note attached to a Dracula comic that he '''knew''' was going to tie the timeline of ''ComicBook/TheTombOfDracula'' into a Gordian Knot.
** This one is better remembered than it should be because subsequent Marvel writers, particularly in the editorial DorkAge of the 70s, liked to cite it as a "nobody's perfect" precedent when fan letters called them out on their own heinous continuity errors. Marv Wolfman was probably the worst about this; he pre-emptively invoked it in an editor's note attached to a Dracula comic that he '''knew''' was going to tie the timeline of ''ComicBook/TheTombOfDracula'' into a Gordian Knot.
* SmugSnake: The Leader is a textbook InsufferableGenius with an ego the size of a planet. Unlike many of the villains on this list he is capable of learning from his mistakes, and has been the BigBad of multiple arcs, but his arrogance and obsession with the Hulk continue to undermine his plans, no matter how hard he tries to rectify that.
* SpannerInTheWorks: The Hulk once witnessed a gigantic extraterrestrial energy beast materializing. Not knowing how to react, and being himself, he attempted to smash it and temporarily drove it away, thus preventing a properly equipped professional hunter from taking it down.
** There is a hilarious moment where Death of the Endless from Creator/NeilGaiman’s ''ComicBook/{{The Sandman|1989}}'' makes a cameo in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' #418 during Rick Jones’s wedding but says she needs to go before “that creep Thanos show ups” looking for her.
* SuperpowerLottery: The Hulk has unlimited strength, accelerated healing, the ability to breathe underwater, dynamic durability, and the ability to leap as high as Superman, and unlike Supes he has a high resistance to MindControl. He also has a number of minor abilities like absorbing gamma radiation and seeing ghosts and astral forms. As a bonus, Bruce Banner is one of the smartest men in the Marvel Universe, to the point where ComicBook/NormanOsborn decided he preferred fighting the Hulk. Come ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', he adds ResurrectiveImmortality to the list. Note that most of these powers are directly proportional to his anger level, which will normally steadily increase over the course of a fight. The standard rule of thumb when fighting the Hulk is to hit him with everything you've got ''immediately'' and hope you can end the fight before it starts, because his powers will increase with every passing second that the fight continues.
** The ComicBook/RedHulk had a very similar power set to the green Hulk as well as the ability to absorb any type of energy such as cosmic rays. When he was infected by Cable's techno-organic virus, he was able to control his body heat to burn the virus out of his system. He also does not revert to human form when rendered unconscious unlike the green Hulk.
** Skaar and Hiro-Kala, the sons of Caiera and Hulk, inherited their father's gamma mutate powers and their mother's ability to [[DishingOutDirt control rock]], known as the Old Power to the people of Sakaar. Hiro-Kala took it to even more absurd levels, being able to fire energy blasts, project force fields and manifest a water-like substance. Eventually, Skaar had his Hulk powers taken from him by his father in his Doc Green persona and Hiro-Kala has since forsaken the Old Power in favor of using his Hulk form.
** The ComicBook/RedHulk had a very similar power set to the green Hulk as well as the ability to absorb any type of energy such as cosmic rays. When he was infected by Cable's techno-organic virus, he was able to control his body heat to burn the virus out of his system. He also does not revert to human form when rendered unconscious unlike the green Hulk.
** Skaar and Hiro-Kala, the sons of Caiera and Hulk, inherited their father's gamma mutate powers and their mother's ability to [[DishingOutDirt control rock]], known as the Old Power to the people of Sakaar. Hiro-Kala took it to even more absurd levels, being able to fire energy blasts, project force fields and manifest a water-like substance. Eventually, Skaar had his Hulk powers taken from him by his father in his Doc Green persona and Hiro-Kala has since forsaken the Old Power in favor of using his Hulk form.
* TakeThat: During the nineties period, somebody gave the Hulk a fin to wear on his head that resembled ComicBook/TheSavageDragon's. Hulk pointed out that despite this "ingenious disguise" everyone who saw him would think, "Hey there goes Hulk with a fin on his head."
** There was also the ongoing feud between Creator/PeterDavid and Erik Larsen. In the 90's, Larsen wrote a Sinister Six story where ComicBook/DoctorOctopus ''beat the fuck'' out of the Hulk without even trying, which pissed off David. David responded by writing a story where the Hulk subjected Doc Ock to a CurbStompBattle and effortlessly humiliated him without even trying. Hulk then explained that last time they fought, [[WorfHadTheFlu he only lost because he was holding back.]] The issue also mocked Larsen and the other Marvel creators who left to form Creator/ImageComics.
--->'''Hulk:''' Last time we met, Doctor, I feel I was robbed. Petty ''larceny'', as it were.
** There was also the ongoing feud between Creator/PeterDavid and Erik Larsen. In the 90's, Larsen wrote a Sinister Six story where ComicBook/DoctorOctopus ''beat the fuck'' out of the Hulk without even trying, which pissed off David. David responded by writing a story where the Hulk subjected Doc Ock to a CurbStompBattle and effortlessly humiliated him without even trying. Hulk then explained that last time they fought, [[WorfHadTheFlu he only lost because he was holding back.]] The issue also mocked Larsen and the other Marvel creators who left to form Creator/ImageComics.
--->'''Hulk:''' Last time we met, Doctor, I feel I was robbed. Petty ''larceny'', as it were.
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* ThouShaltNotKill: Not an absolute version, and he makes exceptions for any thoroughly malevolent EldritchAbomination, OmnicidalManiac, and such, or as a very last option if too many other lives depend on it, but contrary to popular belief (due to that he loves to rumble and smashing inanimate objects), and similarly to Franchise/SpiderMan, the most heroic Hulk incarnations (including Banner, Savage Hulk, the merged version, and likely the Green Scar), are as close as the Franchise/MarvelUniverse gets, or at the very least far more so than the majority of the heroes. He really, ''really'' hates to kill, and has [[FriendTOAllLivingThings repeatedly gone into a panic or been brought to tears at times when he hasn't been able to save bystanders]]. It takes ridiculous extremes to get him to that point. Lampshaded by his son Skaar who considers him extremely "[[ARealManIsAKiller weak]]" in this respect. Of course, [[TokenEvilTeamMate Joe Fixit]] doesn't have that problem, although he seemed to avoid using lethal force during the Dale Keown run/towards the end. The Immortal Hulk likewise doesn't, being more than willing to kill if he feels it deserved.
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* ThouShaltNotKill: Not an absolute version, With the exceptions of truly mindless incarnations of the character, the Hulk rarely kills anyone intentionally. Most deaths caused by his rampages are accidental and he the result of property damage, that -- to be perfectly fair -- could result from most superhero battles (admittedly, the Hulk tends to cause more damage than most superheroes). Even then, deaths are fairly rare.
** The Hulk does makes exceptions for any thoroughly malevolent EldritchAbomination, OmnicidalManiac, and such, or as a very last option if too many other lives depend on it, but contrary to popular belief (due to that he loves to rumble and smashing inanimate objects), and similarly to Franchise/SpiderMan, the most heroic Hulk incarnations (including Banner, Savage Hulk, the merged version, and likely the Green Scar), are as close as the Franchise/MarvelUniverse gets, or at the very least far more so than the majority of the heroes. He really, ''really'' hates to kill, and has [[FriendTOAllLivingThings repeatedly gone into a panic or been brought to tears at times when he hasn't been able to save bystanders]]. It takes ridiculous extremes to get him to that point. Lampshaded by his son Skaar who considers him extremely "[[ARealManIsAKiller weak]]" in this respect. Of course, [[TokenEvilTeamMate Joe Fixit]] doesn't have that problem, although he seemed to avoid using lethal force during the Dale Keown run/towards the end. The Immortal Hulk likewise doesn't, being more than willing to kill if he feels itdeserved.deserved.
** In one issue, where Bruce Banner admits to murdering his abusive father and making it look like an accident while defending himself, he stated that as the Hulk, [[NoEndorHolocaust he had leveled entire cities without killing a single person]]. All of this being said, it isn't clear just how much of this is intentional and how much is coincidental; in some cases the Hulk clearly intends to kill an enemy, with them happening to meet a KarmicDeath during the course of the battle.
** This is averted when it comes to the ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', who has no issue killing his enemies, having killed ArcVillain Fortean ([[DeaderThanDead twice]]).
** The Hulk does makes exceptions for any thoroughly malevolent EldritchAbomination, OmnicidalManiac, and such, or as a very last option if too many other lives depend on it, but contrary to popular belief (due to that he loves to rumble and smashing inanimate objects), and similarly to Franchise/SpiderMan, the most heroic Hulk incarnations (including Banner, Savage Hulk, the merged version, and likely the Green Scar), are as close as the Franchise/MarvelUniverse gets, or at the very least far more so than the majority of the heroes. He really, ''really'' hates to kill, and has [[FriendTOAllLivingThings repeatedly gone into a panic or been brought to tears at times when he hasn't been able to save bystanders]]. It takes ridiculous extremes to get him to that point. Lampshaded by his son Skaar who considers him extremely "[[ARealManIsAKiller weak]]" in this respect. Of course, [[TokenEvilTeamMate Joe Fixit]] doesn't have that problem, although he seemed to avoid using lethal force during the Dale Keown run/towards the end. The Immortal Hulk likewise doesn't, being more than willing to kill if he feels it
** In one issue, where Bruce Banner admits to murdering his abusive father and making it look like an accident while defending himself, he stated that as the Hulk, [[NoEndorHolocaust he had leveled entire cities without killing a single person]]. All of this being said, it isn't clear just how much of this is intentional and how much is coincidental; in some cases the Hulk clearly intends to kill an enemy, with them happening to meet a KarmicDeath during the course of the battle.
** This is averted when it comes to the ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'', who has no issue killing his enemies, having killed ArcVillain Fortean ([[DeaderThanDead twice]]).
* TookALevelInJerkass: Nearly every incarnation of the Hulk goes through periods where he goes from [[TheWoobie Woobie]] to JerkassWoobie to just plain {{Jerkass}}. Then again, it's The Hulk. His different personalities have different levels of jerkass. The most notable one was his Grey Hulk phase, or Mr. Fixit as he called himself. This Hulk enjoyed beating people [[BloodKnight a bit too much]] and even accepted to work as an enforcer in Vegas so he could earn money for punching people all day. His newfound intelligence allowed him to be much crueler with his foes than the classic Green Hulk ever was. For example, when attacked by the Rock and Redeemer, he took advantage of the Rock's spinning spikes attack, smashing Redeemer against said spikes and effectively killing him.
* TranquilFury:
** ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' has the Hulk so angry that he becomes calm.
*** "People of New York. [[WhamLine I have come to smash]]." He then proceeded to tear through everyone available, growing so angry at some point [[PersonOfMassDestruction his very steps were causing tectonic shifts]] before he was stopped. Angriest Hulk we've seen, and calmest Hulk we've seen at the same time.
** Lyra, who is the daughter of the Hulk from a future timeline, becomes weaker as she becomes angrier, in contrast to her father. She is at her strongest when she is calm and collected.
** One Hulk persona, "The Professor", worked on the same principle that Lyra did as a failsafe, growing weaker to the point where he'd become "The Savage Banner", a Bruce Banner with the Savage Hulk's rage and (lack of) self-control, but none of Hulk's strength or Banner's intelligence.
* TranquilFury:
** ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' has the Hulk so angry that he becomes calm.
*** "People of New York. [[WhamLine I have come to smash]]." He then proceeded to tear through everyone available, growing so angry at some point [[PersonOfMassDestruction his very steps were causing tectonic shifts]] before he was stopped. Angriest Hulk we've seen, and calmest Hulk we've seen at the same time.
** Lyra, who is the daughter of the Hulk from a future timeline, becomes weaker as she becomes angrier, in contrast to her father. She is at her strongest when she is calm and collected.
** One Hulk persona, "The Professor", worked on the same principle that Lyra did as a failsafe, growing weaker to the point where he'd become "The Savage Banner", a Bruce Banner with the Savage Hulk's rage and (lack of) self-control, but none of Hulk's strength or Banner's intelligence.
* TraumaCongaLine: Bruce Banner's trauma conga line is more like trauma conga ''life''. He went from a traumatic, abused, isolated childhood right into an even more traumatic, abused, isolated adulthood, and has suffered through pretty much every misfortune and tragedy that life can throw at a person. On the rare occasions he does find a measure of peace or happiness, it never lasts and gets ripped away in the most brutal manner possible. Oh, and as of ''ComicBook/AvengersNoSurrender'' it's confirmed not even death will bring him peace.
* TrueCompanions:
** The gladiators with whom the Hulk formed a Warbound pact in ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk''; they even joined hands together like in the page picture up top. Warbound are new families forged in conflicts, with whom teamwork and understanding are the only ways to survive. This is made all the more significant given that each member of the Warbound has lost their actual family, as Miek saw his entire hive slaughtered before him, Korg was forced to kill his own brothers in the Maw, Hiroim was exiled for breaking a previous Warbound pact, the Brood was separated from her sisters, Elloe's father was killed by the foreman of the Maw, etc.
** Any crew that includes The Hulk is doomed (ComicBook/TheDefenders, The Pantheon). True companions that fight him fare better, which may be why Comicbook/TheAvengers outlasted his membership in it.
* TrueCompanions:
** The gladiators with whom the Hulk formed a Warbound pact in ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk''; they even joined hands together like in the page picture up top. Warbound are new families forged in conflicts, with whom teamwork and understanding are the only ways to survive. This is made all the more significant given that each member of the Warbound has lost their actual family, as Miek saw his entire hive slaughtered before him, Korg was forced to kill his own brothers in the Maw, Hiroim was exiled for breaking a previous Warbound pact, the Brood was separated from her sisters, Elloe's father was killed by the foreman of the Maw, etc.
** Any crew that includes The Hulk is doomed (ComicBook/TheDefenders, The Pantheon). True companions that fight him fare better, which may be why Comicbook/TheAvengers outlasted his membership in it.
* TheUnfettered:
** The ComicBook/UltimateMarvel version of the Hulk. In every way that Banner represses and limits himself; emotionally, sexually, socially, the Hulk has a complete lack of inhibition or limits. His only goal? Torment Banner. Banner refuses to eat meat. Hulk eats people. Banner doesn't act on his attraction to Betty Ross. Hulk keeps a harem of concubines.
** In the mainline Marvel Universe, we have the Grey Hulk, an amoral [[TheHedonist hedonist]] who had no qualms about working as an enforcer for the mob. Then there's the Maestro, a BadFuture version of the Hulk who dedicated himself to [[ThenLetMeBeEvil becoming the monster that people feared the Hulk was]]. And ironically enough, ''Bruce Banner'' turned into this during a time he was separated from the Hulk, becoming willing to do anything to get the Hulk back.
** The ComicBook/UltimateMarvel version of the Hulk. In every way that Banner represses and limits himself; emotionally, sexually, socially, the Hulk has a complete lack of inhibition or limits. His only goal? Torment Banner. Banner refuses to eat meat. Hulk eats people. Banner doesn't act on his attraction to Betty Ross. Hulk keeps a harem of concubines.
** In the mainline Marvel Universe, we have the Grey Hulk, an amoral [[TheHedonist hedonist]] who had no qualms about working as an enforcer for the mob. Then there's the Maestro, a BadFuture version of the Hulk who dedicated himself to [[ThenLetMeBeEvil becoming the monster that people feared the Hulk was]]. And ironically enough, ''Bruce Banner'' turned into this during a time he was separated from the Hulk, becoming willing to do anything to get the Hulk back.
** The Hulk and ComicBook/SpiderMan. Their team-ups always start off as hostile, Hulk often finds Spider-Man very annoying, and Spidey obviously doesn't approve of Hulk smashing up New York. But after many encounters, they warm to each and Hulk starts saying "[[AffectionateNickname Bug-Man]] is Hulk's Friend", in ''ComicBook/SecretWars1984''. In other comics, Hulk even lets Spider-Man take a [[ShoulderTeammate ride on his shoulders]].
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** The Leader also falls under this; his goals are usually to take over the world and use his genius to create a utopia. At the expense of a hell of a lot of lives, that is.
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** The Leader also falls under this; his goals are usually is most often portrayed as this. He wants to take over conquer the world and use solve all of its problems (in some cases, he doesn't even want to conquer the world, just set up his genius to create a utopia. At own utopia). Depending on the expense of writer, he may or may not want to turn everyone in the world into a hell of a lot of lives, that is.gamma monster like himself and the Hulk, as well.
* WhamLine:
** ''The Incredible Hulk #600'': "The Good Doctor is out. The Bad Doctor is in."
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk #16'': "I ain't Bruce." [[CloseOnTitle It's Joe.]]
* WhamLine:
** ''The Incredible Hulk #600'': "The Good Doctor is out. The Bad Doctor is in."
** ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk #16'': "I ain't Bruce." [[CloseOnTitle It's Joe.]]
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* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: The gamma bomb gave Bruce Banner huge power and exacerbated his multiple personality syndrome. Plus, the madder he gets, the stronger he becomes.
** Interestingly for gamma ray mutants, what happens to the subject's mind depends on what part of their personality they had dissociated themselves from. Banner suppressed the rage that came from being abused as a child, Comicbook/SheHulk suppressed [[MsFanservice her sexuality]], Doc Samson suppressed his desire to be a hero, and the Abomination suppressed his self-hatred.
** Interestingly for gamma ray mutants, what happens to the subject's mind depends on what part of their personality they had dissociated themselves from. Banner suppressed the rage that came from being abused as a child, Comicbook/SheHulk suppressed [[MsFanservice her sexuality]], Doc Samson suppressed his desire to be a hero, and the Abomination suppressed his self-hatred.
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[[folder:Skaar: Son of Hulk]]
* AntiVillain: Axeman Bone may be a brutal warrior but, as he makes a point of expressing, at least he knows what he's doing (trying to unite his people and re-establish formal society on Sakaar) and when to stop, unlike the aimless and animalistic Skaar.
[[/folder]]
* AntiVillain: Axeman Bone may be a brutal warrior but, as he makes a point of expressing, at least he knows what he's doing (trying to unite his people and re-establish formal society on Sakaar) and when to stop, unlike the aimless and animalistic Skaar.
[[/folder]]
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* SinglePowerSuperheroes: The Hulk's potential levels of physics-defying sheer strength are unmatched among other superheroes; but it is also his only offensive power. Some readers think of the Hulk's victories over characters with a much wider powerset, such as Thor, the Sentry, and Gladiator, as PlotInducedStupidity.
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* SinglePowerSuperheroes: The Hulk's potential levels of physics-defying sheer strength are unmatched among other superheroes; but it is also his only offensive power. Some readers think of the Hulk's victories over characters with a much wider powerset, such as Thor, the Sentry, and Gladiator, as PlotInducedStupidity.
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Crosswicking
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* OpaqueNerdGlasses: Bruce Banner's most recognizable appearance is that of a [[http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/124444-180838-hulk_super.jpg short, scrawny, lab-coat-wearing geek with completely opaque nerd glasses.]]
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[[caption-width-right:349:[[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry You wouldn't like him when he's angry]].]]
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!!!Comics
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* CasuallyPowerfulGiant: This happens sometimes, usually to show off how much more powerful he is than normal people. At one point, Dr. Octopus fought Joe Fixit only to lose when Joe casually flicked him away with one finger and broke most of the bones in his body.
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This eventually led to Banner [[TookALevelInBadAss taking a level in Badass]] and the next event -- ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks''. Afterwards, inspired by the positive reception of the character in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', the Hulk was given a new, more heroic direction in ''Indestructible Hulk'', working for ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} in exchange for using his Hulk persona to attack enemies, and once again a member of the Avengers. It ended on a {{cliffhanger}} with Banner getting shot in the head, leading into the next relaunch, ''ComicBook/{{Hulk|2014}}'', as Tony Stark's attempt to cure Banner resulted in the creation of a new Hulk incarnation, Doc Green, intent on "curing" the other Hulks, whether they wanted it or not.
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This eventually led to Banner [[TookALevelInBadAss taking a level in Badass]] and the next event -- ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks''. Afterwards, inspired by the positive reception of the character in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', the Hulk was given a new, more heroic direction in ''Indestructible Hulk'', ''ComicBook/IndestructibleHulk'', working for ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} in exchange for using his Hulk persona to attack enemies, and once again a member of the Avengers. It ended on a {{cliffhanger}} with Banner getting shot in the head, leading into the next relaunch, ''ComicBook/{{Hulk|2014}}'', as Tony Stark's attempt to cure Banner resulted in the creation of a new Hulk incarnation, Doc Green, intent on "curing" the other Hulks, whether they wanted it or not.
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[[folder:Indestructable Hulk]]
-> See ComicBook/IndestructableHulk
-> See ComicBook/IndestructableHulk
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-> See
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* AllJustADream: Most of Bruce Jones' run on the series was {{retcon}}ned as being a dream induced by Nightmare. Although the story introducing this twist left ambiguous what had been real or not, most future writers considered that none of it happened.
* AmbiguousCloneEnding: An odd case occurs in the ''Split Decisions'' story arc where the Hulk is cloned. The final confrontation follows all the conventions of the AmbiguousCloneEnding: Banner and the Clone face each other alone, the fight itself isn't shown, and the scene skips to Banner returning to his friends telling them the clone is dead. It seems like we're meant to be unsure that the real Hulk won... except that the clone was heavily modified, and in Hulk form looks unmistakably different from the real Hulk. Since we see the Hulk looking perfectly normal the very next storyline, he's clearly the original... so why does the narrative go through all the plot points associated with this trope?
* AmbiguousSituation: In the ''Tempest Fugit'' arc, it was revealed that the Hulk was originally an imaginary friend of Bruce Banner's, and implied that the Hulk was really an alternate personality. One day after Bruce was bullied at school, the Hulk took over his body and planted a bomb at his school. Bruce stopped the bomb but was expelled from school. Thaddeus Ross, impressed with how advanced the bomb was, offered to guide Bruce through his education. The end of the arc revealed Nightmare has been plaguing the Hulk for years with hallucinations, misdirections, and manipulations of reality. It is thus left ambiguous on whether the flashback we saw was real or fake.
* ArbitrarySkepticism: One issue of Bruce Jones's controversial run on ''The Incredible Hulk'' involving ''[[Series/TheXFiles X-Files]]'' type shenanigans with [[TheGrays Gray-style aliens]] has the Hulk casually dismiss the idea, saying he doesn't believe in aliens. Needless to say, the Marvel Universe in general and the Hulk's life in particular are always up to their eyeballs in aliens, and he knows that perfectly well.
* ChildByRape: In issue #77 of ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol. 2, Betty has a daughter, the benevolent mystical entity Daydream, due to being raped by Nightmare, but although the demon keeps up his creepy "children fathered through rape" tendency with Trauma and Dreamqueen, nobody has had an interest in reintroducing her yet.
* ItOnlyWorksOnce: In ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol 2, when Bruce was suffering from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, he eventually received a cure from the Leader. However, this cure was only possible with gene sequences taken from Brian Banner and inserted into the Hulk's genetic structure by Scott Lang under the direction of Reed Richards, these new genes being integrated into Banner's physiology during the energy surge when the Hulk returned to Banner, making it clear that this cure would ''only'' work for Banner.
* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind: In Paul Jenkins' run, Bruce Banner travels into his own mind to try and strike a deal with his Hulk personalities, each of which represents a different aspect of Bruce. Due to the psychology-themed nature of the character, this trope has cropped up repeatedly over the years, but Jenkins's use of it stands out as the most notable. Other examples include the time the Hulk made physical contact with the Watcher's "Ultimate Machine," which sent him on a sort of vision quest to come to terms with Betty's death; the depiction of his psychiatric session with Doc Samson that resulted in his personalities being merged; the appearance of his three childhood imaginary friends during the Crossroads Saga, who helped Banner find his way back from psychic oblivion; and various dream sequences over the years in which he has come into physical conflict with one or more of his Hulk personae.
* ModestyTowel: In ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol. 2, minor villainess Sandra Verdugo gets to wear a towel several times, one time she even threw it at her partner's face while teaching him about how her TheVamp routine works.
* NothingIsScarier: Issue #34 (from 2002, despite the low number), written by Bruce Jones, does a masterful job of this. We see Banner, but never the Hulk, other than Banner's eyes turning green as he's about to change. The results of the Hulk's actions, seen afterwards, have far more impact than seeing him in action.
* PermaShave: Averted in ''Peace in our Time''. After living in the wilderness for a while, Bruce sports a long beard, so the Hulk has one as well.
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* AllJustADream: Most of Bruce Jones' run on the series was {{retcon}}ned as being a dream induced by Nightmare. Although the story introducing this twist left ambiguous what had been real or not, most future writers considered that none of it happened.
* AmbiguousCloneEnding: An odd case occurs in the ''Split Decisions'' story arc where the Hulk is cloned. The final confrontation follows all the conventions of the AmbiguousCloneEnding: Banner and the Clone face each other alone, the fight itself isn't shown, and the scene skips to Banner returning to his friends telling them the clone is dead. It seems like we're meant to be unsure that the real Hulk won... except that the clone was heavily modified, and in Hulk form looks unmistakably different from the real Hulk. Since we see the Hulk looking perfectly normal the very next storyline, he's clearly the original... so why does the narrative go through all the plot points associated with this trope?
* AmbiguousSituation: In the ''Tempest Fugit'' arc, it was revealed that the Hulk was originally an imaginary friend of Bruce Banner's, and implied that the Hulk was really an alternate personality. One day after Bruce was bullied at school, the Hulk took over his body and planted a bomb at his school. Bruce stopped the bomb but was expelled from school. Thaddeus Ross, impressed with how advanced the bomb was, offered to guide Bruce through his education. The end of the arc revealed Nightmare has been plaguing the Hulk for years with hallucinations, misdirections, and manipulations of reality. It is thus left ambiguous on whether the flashback we saw was real or fake.
* ArbitrarySkepticism: One issue of Bruce Jones's controversial run on ''The Incredible Hulk'' involving ''[[Series/TheXFiles X-Files]]'' type shenanigans with [[TheGrays Gray-style aliens]] has the Hulk casually dismiss the idea, saying he doesn't believe in aliens. Needless to say, the Marvel Universe in general and the Hulk's life in particular are always up to their eyeballs in aliens, and he knows that perfectly well.
* ChildByRape: In issue #77 of ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol. 2, Betty has a daughter, the benevolent mystical entity Daydream, due to being raped by Nightmare, but although the demon keeps up his creepy "children fathered through rape" tendency with Trauma and Dreamqueen, nobody has had an interest in reintroducing her yet.
* ItOnlyWorksOnce: In ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol 2, when Bruce was suffering from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, he eventually received a cure from the Leader. However, this cure was only possible with gene sequences taken from Brian Banner and inserted into the Hulk's genetic structure by Scott Lang under the direction of Reed Richards, these new genes being integrated into Banner's physiology during the energy surge when the Hulk returned to Banner, making it clear that this cure would ''only'' work for Banner.
* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind: In Paul Jenkins' run, Bruce Banner travels into his own mind to try and strike a deal with his Hulk personalities, each of which represents a different aspect of Bruce. Due to the psychology-themed nature of the character, this trope has cropped up repeatedly over the years, but Jenkins's use of it stands out as the most notable. Other examples include the time the Hulk made physical contact with the Watcher's "Ultimate Machine," which sent him on a sort of vision quest to come to terms with Betty's death; the depiction of his psychiatric session with Doc Samson that resulted in his personalities being merged; the appearance of his three childhood imaginary friends during the Crossroads Saga, who helped Banner find his way back from psychic oblivion; and various dream sequences over the years in which he has come into physical conflict with one or more of his Hulk personae.
* ModestyTowel: In ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol. 2, minor villainess Sandra Verdugo gets to wear a towel several times, one time she even threw it at her partner's face while teaching him about how her TheVamp routine works.
* NothingIsScarier: Issue #34 (from 2002, despite the low number), written by Bruce Jones, does a masterful job of this. We see Banner, but never the Hulk, other than Banner's eyes turning green as he's about to change. The results of the Hulk's actions, seen afterwards, have far more impact than seeing him in action.
* PermaShave: Averted in ''Peace in our Time''. After living in the wilderness for a while, Bruce sports a long beard, so the Hulk has one as well.
to:
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
----
* AllJustADream: Most of Bruce Jones' run on the series was {{retcon}}ned as being a dream induced by Nightmare. Although the story introducing this twist left ambiguous what had been real or not, most future writers considered that none of it happened.
* AmbiguousCloneEnding: An odd case occurs in the ''Split Decisions'' story arc where the Hulk is cloned. The final confrontation follows all the conventions of the AmbiguousCloneEnding: Banner and the Clone face each other alone, the fight itself isn't shown, and the scene skips to Banner returning to his friends telling them the clone is dead. It seems like we're meant to be unsure that the real Hulk won... except that the clone was heavily modified, and in Hulk form looks unmistakably different from the real Hulk. Since we see the Hulk looking perfectly normal the very next storyline, he's clearly the original... so why does the narrative go through all the plot points associated with this trope?
* AmbiguousSituation: In the ''Tempest Fugit'' arc, it was revealed that the Hulk was originally an imaginary friend of Bruce Banner's, and implied that the Hulk was really an alternate personality. One day after Bruce was bullied at school, the Hulk took over his body and planted a bomb at his school. Bruce stopped the bomb but was expelled from school. Thaddeus Ross, impressed with how advanced the bomb was, offered to guide Bruce through his education. The end of the arc revealed Nightmare has been plaguing the Hulk for years with hallucinations, misdirections, and manipulations of reality. It is thus left ambiguous on whether the flashback we saw was real or fake.
* ArbitrarySkepticism: One issue of Bruce Jones's controversial run on ''The Incredible Hulk'' involving ''[[Series/TheXFiles X-Files]]'' type shenanigans with [[TheGrays Gray-style aliens]] has the Hulk casually dismiss the idea, saying he doesn't believe in aliens. Needless to say, the Marvel Universe in general and the Hulk's life in particular are always up to their eyeballs in aliens, and he knows that perfectly well.
* ChildByRape: In issue #77 of ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol. 2, Betty has a daughter, the benevolent mystical entity Daydream, due to being raped by Nightmare, but although the demon keeps up his creepy "children fathered through rape" tendency with Trauma and Dreamqueen, nobody has had an interest in reintroducing her yet.
* ItOnlyWorksOnce: In ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol 2, when Bruce was suffering from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, he eventually received a cure from the Leader. However, this cure was only possible with gene sequences taken from Brian Banner and inserted into the Hulk's genetic structure by Scott Lang under the direction of Reed Richards, these new genes being integrated into Banner's physiology during the energy surge when the Hulk returned to Banner, making it clear that this cure would ''only'' work for Banner.
* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind: In Paul Jenkins' run, Bruce Banner travels into his own mind to try and strike a deal with his Hulk personalities, each of which represents a different aspect of Bruce. Due to the psychology-themed nature of the character, this trope has cropped up repeatedly over the years, but Jenkins's use of it stands out as the most notable. Other examples include the time the Hulk made physical contact with the Watcher's "Ultimate Machine," which sent him on a sort of vision quest to come to terms with Betty's death; the depiction of his psychiatric session with Doc Samson that resulted in his personalities being merged; the appearance of his three childhood imaginary friends during the Crossroads Saga, who helped Banner find his way back from psychic oblivion; and various dream sequences over the years in which he has come into physical conflict with one or more of his Hulk personae.
* ModestyTowel: In ''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol. 2, minor villainess Sandra Verdugo gets to wear a towel several times, one time she even threw it at her partner's face while teaching him about how her TheVamp routine works.
* NothingIsScarier: Issue #34 (from 2002, despite the low number), written by Bruce Jones, does a masterful job of this. We see Banner, but never the Hulk, other than Banner's eyes turning green as he's about to change. The results of the Hulk's actions, seen afterwards, have far more impact than seeing him in action.
* PermaShave: Averted in ''Peace in our Time''. After living in the wilderness for a while, Bruce sports a long beard, so the Hulk has one as well.
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* ArrogantGodVsRagingMonster: Subverted. In the aftermath of ''ComicBook/ChaosWar'', despite warnings from [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]], Hulk decides to mouth off to Zeus and give him an ultimatum: help his suffering family, ''or else''. Zeus is so enraged by the insult that he converts his massive cosmic power into raw muscle just to [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame humiliate the Hulk with brute force]]. The result is a CurbStompBattle that leaves the Hulk broken, bloody and completely beaten.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The "Heart of the Monster" arc played this for all it was worth. It also pointed out that an enemy's wishes would rebound to Hulk's advantage.
* BloodKnight: Highlighted in ''Heart of the Monster'', where, confronted by Fin Fang Foom, giant dragon (who also happens to be green with purple pants...) [[AlwaysABiggerFish who crushes the giant fish monster]] that Hulk, She-Hulk, and A-Bomb were struggling with moments before, the following exchange occurs;
--->'''Fin Fang Foom:''' {{Who dares}} disturb the slumber of '''Him whose limbs shatter the mountains and whose back scrapes the sun?'''\\
'''Hulk:''' Hah! '''Is it my birthday?'''
* EmasculatedCuckold: During Greg Pak's run on ''The Incredible Hulks'', the final two arcs had Betty Ross (as Red She-Hulk) beginning a relationship with Hulk's archnemesis, Tyrannus. This trope is specifically invoked numerous times by Tyrannus, specifically stating that he and Betty "did more than dance" at one point to make the Hulk angry enough to fight a common foe. Making it worse for both Bruce and the Hulk is the fact that it's clear Betty wants to be with Bruce again, but Red She-Hulk wants Tyrannus just to spite him. This comes back to bite her later when Hulk enters a "Worldbreaker" level of rage and needs a CooldownHug which she can no longer provide - so Umar steps up and lovingly brings Hulk to her realm to put his energy to "more enjoyable use". This time, it's ''Betty's'' turn to be jealous and angry.
* HeroInsurance: Hulk and his teammates devastated a space launching bay because they didn't want America to interfere with Hulk's son. When called about it, Banner said they killed no one, and rebuilding all of this would ''create jobs!'' (If bombing expensive high-tech construction was a good way to create jobs, terrorism [[ArtisticLicenseEconomics would fix economies]]).
* NeverMyFault: The epilogue of ''Heart of the Monster'' has Bruce realize to himself that one of the reasons the various Hulk personas exist is to shift blame to one-another. For example, Hulk blames Bruce for being too weak to save their mother from their abusive father, as well as the numerous times he's screwed things up with science. Bruce blames the Hulk for acting out Banner's most destructive thoughts and feelings (especially since each Hulk acts out different feelings). Thanks to these transformations, all of them can continue shifting blame to one-another rather than accept that they're all the same person and thus the failings are shared amongst them all.
* PlanetDestroyer: During the "Heart of the Monster" storyline, Hulk and his wife/enemy Red She-Hulk are transported to the Dark Dimension, on a planet ruled by the RealityWarper Umar. Due to the high levels of radiation, magic, and rage powering the two as they fight, Bruce and Betty destroy the entire Dark Dimension over and over again ''by accident'', forcing a bored and annoyed Umar to continuously rebuild it with a snap of her fingers until a portal finally appears for them to escape to another realm.
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
----
* ArrogantGodVsRagingMonster: Subverted. In the aftermath of ''ComicBook/ChaosWar'', despite warnings from [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]], Hulk decides to mouth off to Zeus and give him an ultimatum: help his suffering family, ''or else''. Zeus is so enraged by the insult that he converts his massive cosmic power into raw muscle just to [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame humiliate the Hulk with brute force]]. The result is a CurbStompBattle that leaves the Hulk broken, bloody and completely beaten.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The "Heart of the Monster" arc played this for all it was worth. It also pointed out that an enemy's wishes would rebound to Hulk's advantage.
* BloodKnight: Highlighted in ''Heart of the Monster'', where, confronted by Fin Fang Foom, giant dragon (who also happens to be green with purple pants...) [[AlwaysABiggerFish who crushes the giant fish monster]] that Hulk, She-Hulk, and A-Bomb were struggling with moments before, the following exchange occurs;
--->'''Fin Fang Foom:''' {{Who dares}} disturb the slumber of '''Him whose limbs shatter the mountains and whose back scrapes the sun?'''\\
'''Hulk:''' Hah! '''Is it my birthday?'''
* EmasculatedCuckold: During Greg Pak's run on ''The Incredible Hulks'', the final two arcs had Betty Ross (as Red She-Hulk) beginning a relationship with Hulk's archnemesis, Tyrannus. This trope is specifically invoked numerous times by Tyrannus, specifically stating that he and Betty "did more than dance" at one point to make the Hulk angry enough to fight a common foe. Making it worse for both Bruce and the Hulk is the fact that it's clear Betty wants to be with Bruce again, but Red She-Hulk wants Tyrannus just to spite him. This comes back to bite her later when Hulk enters a "Worldbreaker" level of rage and needs a CooldownHug which she can no longer provide - so Umar steps up and lovingly brings Hulk to her realm to put his energy to "more enjoyable use". This time, it's ''Betty's'' turn to be jealous and angry.
* HeroInsurance: Hulk and his teammates devastated a space launching bay because they didn't want America to interfere with Hulk's son. When called about it, Banner said they killed no one, and rebuilding all of this would ''create jobs!'' (If bombing expensive high-tech construction was a good way to create jobs, terrorism [[ArtisticLicenseEconomics would fix economies]]).
* NeverMyFault: The epilogue of ''Heart of the Monster'' has Bruce realize to himself that one of the reasons the various Hulk personas exist is to shift blame to one-another. For example, Hulk blames Bruce for being too weak to save their mother from their abusive father, as well as the numerous times he's screwed things up with science. Bruce blames the Hulk for acting out Banner's most destructive thoughts and feelings (especially since each Hulk acts out different feelings). Thanks to these transformations, all of them can continue shifting blame to one-another rather than accept that they're all the same person and thus the failings are shared amongst them all.
* PlanetDestroyer: During the "Heart of the Monster" storyline, Hulk and his wife/enemy Red She-Hulk are transported to the Dark Dimension, on a planet ruled by the RealityWarper Umar. Due to the high levels of radiation, magic, and rage powering the two as they fight, Bruce and Betty destroy the entire Dark Dimension over and over again ''by accident'', forcing a bored and annoyed Umar to continuously rebuild it with a snap of her fingers until a portal finally appears for them to escape to another realm.
to:
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
----
* ArrogantGodVsRagingMonster: Subverted. In the aftermath of ''ComicBook/ChaosWar'', despite warnings from [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]], Hulk decides to mouth off to Zeus and give him an ultimatum: help his suffering family, ''or else''. Zeus is so enraged by the insult that he converts his massive cosmic power into raw muscle just to [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame humiliate the Hulk with brute force]]. The result is a CurbStompBattle that leaves the Hulk broken, bloody and completely beaten.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The "Heart of the Monster" arc played this for all it was worth. It also pointed out that an enemy's wishes would rebound to Hulk's advantage.
* BloodKnight: Highlighted in ''Heart of the Monster'', where, confronted by Fin Fang Foom, giant dragon (who also happens to be green with purple pants...) [[AlwaysABiggerFish who crushes the giant fish monster]] that Hulk, She-Hulk, and A-Bomb were struggling with moments before, the following exchange occurs;
--->'''Fin Fang Foom:''' {{Who dares}} disturb the slumber of '''Him whose limbs shatter the mountains and whose back scrapes the sun?'''\\
'''Hulk:''' Hah! '''Is it my birthday?'''
* EmasculatedCuckold: During Greg Pak's run on ''The Incredible Hulks'', the final two arcs had Betty Ross (as Red She-Hulk) beginning a relationship with Hulk's archnemesis, Tyrannus. This trope is specifically invoked numerous times by Tyrannus, specifically stating that he and Betty "did more than dance" at one point to make the Hulk angry enough to fight a common foe. Making it worse for both Bruce and the Hulk is the fact that it's clear Betty wants to be with Bruce again, but Red She-Hulk wants Tyrannus just to spite him. This comes back to bite her later when Hulk enters a "Worldbreaker" level of rage and needs a CooldownHug which she can no longer provide - so Umar steps up and lovingly brings Hulk to her realm to put his energy to "more enjoyable use". This time, it's ''Betty's'' turn to be jealous and angry.
* HeroInsurance: Hulk and his teammates devastated a space launching bay because they didn't want America to interfere with Hulk's son. When called about it, Banner said they killed no one, and rebuilding all of this would ''create jobs!'' (If bombing expensive high-tech construction was a good way to create jobs, terrorism [[ArtisticLicenseEconomics would fix economies]]).
* NeverMyFault: The epilogue of ''Heart of the Monster'' has Bruce realize to himself that one of the reasons the various Hulk personas exist is to shift blame to one-another. For example, Hulk blames Bruce for being too weak to save their mother from their abusive father, as well as the numerous times he's screwed things up with science. Bruce blames the Hulk for acting out Banner's most destructive thoughts and feelings (especially since each Hulk acts out different feelings). Thanks to these transformations, all of them can continue shifting blame to one-another rather than accept that they're all the same person and thus the failings are shared amongst them all.
* PlanetDestroyer: During the "Heart of the Monster" storyline, Hulk and his wife/enemy Red She-Hulk are transported to the Dark Dimension, on a planet ruled by the RealityWarper Umar. Due to the high levels of radiation, magic, and rage powering the two as they fight, Bruce and Betty destroy the entire Dark Dimension over and over again ''by accident'', forcing a bored and annoyed Umar to continuously rebuild it with a snap of her fingers until a portal finally appears for them to escape to another realm.
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----
* BadassBookworm: While Banner is out of his mind after being completely separated from the Hulk, he demonstrats just how badass he can be, creating an arsenal of superscience weapons that allowed him to fight on equal terms with the green giant.
* BadassNormal: Kraven the Hunter manages to disable the green goliath via adamantium wires and fishhooks.
* BrainWithAManualControl: One Jason Aaron issue shows the villain trying to take over the Hulk's mind. The Hulk's mind consists of a control console with a keyboard for Bruce Banner on one side, and on the other side a Hulk-sized BigRedButton labeled "SMASH!"
* MaleGaze: Amanda Von Doom (no relation to [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Victor]]) gets a [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/yhhyNOOIToohAgxqUU0FTImE2uGWalZ-LtQ86qN0rknlqZNAwiHACSeFwkUQ4d2EbztHXy-CPCNi=s1600 good]] [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/a7dB_wq_8xLwoIMNbXO4jABis5L0O3-oZtDmxzCHPBM_7Q9U9KnAFze87LM7AurBhwaFgcIcqN3-=s1600 amount]] of this. The same series also has Betty Ross walking around in [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/1OwqLOpvGLkBjwvfxc-j-TLYYkeAJx8JSjBTD_2W2FMfIBSFEPGi3VadXT92LyK-NqkdfTWrpoLf=s1600 skimpy bikini]] and only [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/YERqinjdP6C9PI4dEAde04FteYClm3GLCtLcGEY9V38m4RJ5qurN8E0RHihIl5-vveiVjACxD4lJ=s1600 improving the situation]] by turning into Red She-Hulk.
* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: Jason Aaron's run on the book decided it had to one up all earlier status quo changes by separating the Hulk and Banner into two separate entities, driving Banner to do anything he can to be one with the Hulk again to the point that he basically becomes a mad scientist figure and makes a FaceHeelTurn.
* TheUnfettered: Once Banner's finally separated from the Hulk, he becomes an absolutely terrifying example of the unfettered in his quest to get the Hulk back.
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
----
* BadassBookworm: While Banner is out of his mind after being completely separated from the Hulk, he demonstrats just how badass he can be, creating an arsenal of superscience weapons that allowed him to fight on equal terms with the green giant.
* BadassNormal: Kraven the Hunter manages to disable the green goliath via adamantium wires and fishhooks.
* BrainWithAManualControl: One Jason Aaron issue shows the villain trying to take over the Hulk's mind. The Hulk's mind consists of a control console with a keyboard for Bruce Banner on one side, and on the other side a Hulk-sized BigRedButton labeled "SMASH!"
* MaleGaze: Amanda Von Doom (no relation to [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Victor]]) gets a [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/yhhyNOOIToohAgxqUU0FTImE2uGWalZ-LtQ86qN0rknlqZNAwiHACSeFwkUQ4d2EbztHXy-CPCNi=s1600 good]] [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/a7dB_wq_8xLwoIMNbXO4jABis5L0O3-oZtDmxzCHPBM_7Q9U9KnAFze87LM7AurBhwaFgcIcqN3-=s1600 amount]] of this. The same series also has Betty Ross walking around in [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/1OwqLOpvGLkBjwvfxc-j-TLYYkeAJx8JSjBTD_2W2FMfIBSFEPGi3VadXT92LyK-NqkdfTWrpoLf=s1600 skimpy bikini]] and only [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/YERqinjdP6C9PI4dEAde04FteYClm3GLCtLcGEY9V38m4RJ5qurN8E0RHihIl5-vveiVjACxD4lJ=s1600 improving the situation]] by turning into Red She-Hulk.
* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: Jason Aaron's run on the book decided it had to one up all earlier status quo changes by separating the Hulk and Banner into two separate entities, driving Banner to do anything he can to be one with the Hulk again to the point that he basically becomes a mad scientist figure and makes a FaceHeelTurn.
* TheUnfettered: Once Banner's finally separated from the Hulk, he becomes an absolutely terrifying example of the unfettered in his quest to get the Hulk back.
to:
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
----
* BadassBookworm: While Banner is out of his mind after being completely separated from the Hulk, he demonstrats just how badass he can be, creating an arsenal of superscience weapons that allowed him to fight on equal terms with the green giant.
* BadassNormal: Kraven the Hunter manages to disable the green goliath via adamantium wires and fishhooks.
* BrainWithAManualControl: One Jason Aaron issue shows the villain trying to take over the Hulk's mind. The Hulk's mind consists of a control console with a keyboard for Bruce Banner on one side, and on the other side a Hulk-sized BigRedButton labeled "SMASH!"
* MaleGaze: Amanda Von Doom (no relation to [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Victor]]) gets a [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/yhhyNOOIToohAgxqUU0FTImE2uGWalZ-LtQ86qN0rknlqZNAwiHACSeFwkUQ4d2EbztHXy-CPCNi=s1600 good]] [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/a7dB_wq_8xLwoIMNbXO4jABis5L0O3-oZtDmxzCHPBM_7Q9U9KnAFze87LM7AurBhwaFgcIcqN3-=s1600 amount]] of this. The same series also has Betty Ross walking around in [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/1OwqLOpvGLkBjwvfxc-j-TLYYkeAJx8JSjBTD_2W2FMfIBSFEPGi3VadXT92LyK-NqkdfTWrpoLf=s1600 skimpy bikini]] and only [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/YERqinjdP6C9PI4dEAde04FteYClm3GLCtLcGEY9V38m4RJ5qurN8E0RHihIl5-vveiVjACxD4lJ=s1600 improving the situation]] by turning into Red She-Hulk.
* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: Jason Aaron's run on the book decided it had to one up all earlier status quo changes by separating the Hulk and Banner into two separate entities, driving Banner to do anything he can to be one with the Hulk again to the point that he basically becomes a mad scientist figure and makes a FaceHeelTurn.
* TheUnfettered: Once Banner's finally separated from the Hulk, he becomes an absolutely terrifying example of the unfettered in his quest to get the Hulk back.
Changed line(s) 637,647 (click to see context) from:
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%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
Having determined that his condition is incurable (for the present at least), Dr. Bruce Banner approaches S.H.I.E.L.D with an offer — take him in and give him facilities, and Dr. Banner will use his incredible intellect in their service while the Hulk will work for them as a weapon of mass destruction.
----
* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: ''Indestructible'' Hulk.
* TheAtoner: Banner is committed to doing far more good for the world than the Hulk has ever done harm.
* GreenEyedMonster: Jokes aside, the ''Indestructible Hulk'' series reveals one of Bruce's major issues with being the Hulk is that he's constantly in the shadow of men like [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]] - they'll be remembered by history as men of science, while he'll be remembered as the Hulk, even though he has as much to offer the world as either of them. The fact that neither treats him as an equal doesn't help matters.
* TheIdealist: It is revealed that Bruce was originally a pacifist who wished to develop clean energy sources, but couldn't receive funding, so he developed a bomb for the military instead, with the hope that he could harness gamma power for this purpose. He also consistently used his genius to develop technology for the betterment of mankind during this period, and signed up the Hulk to help the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Illuminati.
* OddFriendship: Bruce develops one with Maria Hill in ''Indestructible Hulk''. Although they disagree on most things, he likes that she always gets him back whenever he messed with her. Might cross over into UnresolvedSexualTension.
* {{Retcanon}}: The Hulk's new status quo reads just as sensibly as a follow-up to his appearance in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
Having determined that his condition is incurable (for the present at least), Dr. Bruce Banner approaches S.H.I.E.L.D with an offer — take him in and give him facilities, and Dr. Banner will use his incredible intellect in their service while the Hulk will work for them as a weapon of mass destruction.
----
* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: ''Indestructible'' Hulk.
* TheAtoner: Banner is committed to doing far more good for the world than the Hulk has ever done harm.
* GreenEyedMonster: Jokes aside, the ''Indestructible Hulk'' series reveals one of Bruce's major issues with being the Hulk is that he's constantly in the shadow of men like [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]] - they'll be remembered by history as men of science, while he'll be remembered as the Hulk, even though he has as much to offer the world as either of them. The fact that neither treats him as an equal doesn't help matters.
* TheIdealist: It is revealed that Bruce was originally a pacifist who wished to develop clean energy sources, but couldn't receive funding, so he developed a bomb for the military instead, with the hope that he could harness gamma power for this purpose. He also consistently used his genius to develop technology for the betterment of mankind during this period, and signed up the Hulk to help the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Illuminati.
* OddFriendship: Bruce develops one with Maria Hill in ''Indestructible Hulk''. Although they disagree on most things, he likes that she always gets him back whenever he messed with her. Might cross over into UnresolvedSexualTension.
* {{Retcanon}}: The Hulk's new status quo reads just as sensibly as a follow-up to his appearance in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.
to:
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
Having determined that his condition is incurable (for the present at least), Dr. Bruce Banner approaches S.H.I.E.L.D with an offer — take him in and give him facilities, and Dr. Banner will use his incredible intellect in their service while the Hulk will work for them as a weapon of mass destruction.
----
* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: ''Indestructible'' Hulk.
* TheAtoner: Banner is committed to doing far more good for the world than the Hulk has ever done harm.
* GreenEyedMonster: Jokes aside, the ''Indestructible Hulk'' series reveals one of Bruce's major issues with being the Hulk is that he's constantly in the shadow of men like [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]] - they'll be remembered by history as men of science, while he'll be remembered as the Hulk, even though he has as much to offer the world as either of them. The fact that neither treats him as an equal doesn't help matters.
* TheIdealist: It is revealed that Bruce was originally a pacifist who wished to develop clean energy sources, but couldn't receive funding, so he developed a bomb for the military instead, with the hope that he could harness gamma power for this purpose. He also consistently used his genius to develop technology for the betterment of mankind during this period, and signed up the Hulk to help the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Illuminati.
* OddFriendship: Bruce develops one with Maria Hill in ''Indestructible Hulk''. Although they disagree on most things, he likes that she always gets him back whenever he messed with her. Might cross over into UnresolvedSexualTension.
* {{Retcanon}}: The Hulk's new status quo reads just as sensibly as a follow-up to his appearance in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Crosswicking
Added DiffLines:
* FreudianTrio: In the early 90s, writer Peter David had psychologist Doc Samson use hypnosis to the integrate the Hulk's different personalities which he described as:
** Id: The savage, green Hulk,
** Ego: The cunning grey Hulk aka "Joe Fixit", and
** Superego: Bruce Banner, and combine them into one new Hulk.
** Id: The savage, green Hulk,
** Ego: The cunning grey Hulk aka "Joe Fixit", and
** Superego: Bruce Banner, and combine them into one new Hulk.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Page Launched. See The Incredible Hulk Vs Superman
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[[folder:The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_incredible_hulk_vs_superman_1.jpg]]
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''The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman'' is a One-Shot {{crossover}} betweem Creator/MarvelComics and Creator/DCComics written by Roger Stern with art by Steve Rude.
The one-shot is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and is notable for mixing different stylistic eras of the characters — 1940's style Superman and Lois, 1960's style Hulk and Rick Jones, and Post-Crisis Luthor.
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_incredible_hulk_vs_superman_1.jpg]]
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
''The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman'' is a One-Shot {{crossover}} betweem Creator/MarvelComics and Creator/DCComics written by Roger Stern with art by Steve Rude.
The one-shot is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and is notable for mixing different stylistic eras of the characters — 1940's style Superman and Lois, 1960's style Hulk and Rick Jones, and Post-Crisis Luthor.
Deleted line(s) 674,680 (click to see context) :
* GeniusBruiser: The Hulk quickly adapts to the fact that Superman is a) invulnerable and b) can fly, and uses various tactics that don't involve brute strength (such as spitting cactus needles at supersonic speed to bring him down.)
* InsultOfEndearment: The Hulk has "Cape Man" for Superman.
* LightningBruiser: Superman attempts to grapple the Hulk to calm him down, only to find himself almost instantly flung into space, causing Supes to remark, "How can someone that big be so ''fast''?"
* TranquilFury: Superman stonily tells Luthor he understands ''why'' Hulk gets so pissed off all the time while keeping his cool.
[[/folder]]
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* InsultOfEndearment: The Hulk has "Cape Man" for Superman.
* LightningBruiser: Superman attempts to grapple the Hulk to calm him down, only to find himself almost instantly flung into space, causing Supes to remark, "How can someone that big be so ''fast''?"
* TranquilFury: Superman stonily tells Luthor he understands ''why'' Hulk gets so pissed off all the time while keeping his cool.
[[/folder]]
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Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Adding Image and Intro
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_incredible_hulk_vs_superman_1.jpg]]
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
''The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman'' is a One-Shot {{crossover}} betweem Creator/MarvelComics and Creator/DCComics written by Roger Stern with art by Steve Rude.
The one-shot is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and is notable for mixing different stylistic eras of the characters — 1940's style Superman and Lois, 1960's style Hulk and Rick Jones, and Post-Crisis Luthor.
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%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
''The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman'' is a One-Shot {{crossover}} betweem Creator/MarvelComics and Creator/DCComics written by Roger Stern with art by Steve Rude.
The one-shot is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and is notable for mixing different stylistic eras of the characters — 1940's style Superman and Lois, 1960's style Hulk and Rick Jones, and Post-Crisis Luthor.
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Changed line(s) 668 (click to see context) from:
* InsultOfEndearment: "Cape Man" for Superman.
to:
* InsultOfEndearment: The Hulk has "Cape Man" for Superman.
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Crosswicking
Added DiffLines:
* NewOldFlame: A while back, Bruce Banner of all people had an incredibly hot girlfriend in college, but dumped her because he was a neurotic twit. She's now an evil HotScientist, and still bitter about the breakup.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Crosswicking
Added DiffLines:
* AlienBlood: The Hulk very often bleeds a ''dark'' green. ComicBook/RedHulk has glowing yellow blood.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Crosswicking
Added DiffLines:
* BadassNormal: Kraven the Hunter manages to disable the green goliath via adamantium wires and fishhooks.
