TheHulkhas managed to withstand more punishment from fights than the average Marvel superhero. Like a child in the middle of an outburst, the Hulk’s default mode is to fight whenever he finds himself enraged the moment that Bruce Banner transforms. As a result,Hulk’s fights always get brutalboth onscreen, and on-panel.
Most ofHulk’s rivals tend to be strong, if not stronger than the mean green giant. And the stronger the combatants, the more war-torn their environment will be post-fight (not to mention how damaged the fighters themselves are going to be). Whether superhuman, alien, or all-out monster, his strongest enemies havegiven Hulk some of the most vicious fights ever seen in the Marvel Universe.
10Ultimate Wolverine Gave Hulk His Most Gruesome Brawl
Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk#1-6 by Damon Lindelof and Leinil Francis Yu
There is perhaps no foe that Wolverine has faced more often than the Hulk, beginning withWolverine making his first comic appearanceby fighting the Hulk. That took place in Marvel’s main Earth-616 continuity, but over on Earth-1610, the Ultimate version of the pairing features an extra dash of blood.
For an indicator ofjust how bloody things get, the first page sees the Hulk rip Wolverine in half… and that’s just the beginning. When Wolverine is hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. to hunt and kill the Hulk, he quickly learns that he’s bitten off more than he can chew. To say the least, Hulk putsWolverine’s indestructible healing abilityto the test.
9Zeus is Strong Enough To Overwhelm Hulk’s Healing Ability
The Incredible Hulk#622 by Greg Pak and Paul Pelletier
Hulk’s healing abilities are known as one of the most fast-acting that anyone has in the Marvel Universe, but still, it’sno match for a powerful God. The God in question is the God of Lightning, Zeus. Hulk’s strength already struggles against most gods, but his encounters with the likes of Thor have proven that Hulk can still manage a victory.
Zeus, though, is on a whole different level from any god that Hulk has faced, particularly when talking about a Zeus who is infuriated to find Hulk invading his Mount Olympus.This is probably the most one-sided beatdown that the Hulk has ever suffered, adding insult to injury when Zeus defeats Hulk and leaves him for the vultures.
8Abomination Doesn’t Just Beat Hulk, But Literally Melts Him Away
Immortal Hulk#23 by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett
The Abomination remains one of the Hulk’s most formidable and persistent adversaries, and in theImmortal Hulkseries, his shell was used as armor for the villain General Fortean, seeking revenge on the Hulk for killing General Thunderbolt Ross.
He created a Redeemer suit in retaliation, and after touching the torn-off remains of the Abomination, the two fused together, turning Fortean into the new Abomination.This also gave Fortean new powers, including unleashing acid chemicals from his mouth.
As seen in the images, launching such a substance at Hulk produced one ofthe franchise’s greatest moments of horror.
7The Original Abomination and Hulk Were A Devastating Match in Power
The Incredible Hulk#25 by Paul Jenkins and John Romita Jr.
Upon being told that The Abomination killed Betty Ross, Bruce Banner immediately transforms into his alter ego, ready to engage inHulk’s most vengeful and evenly matched wrestling bout that he’s ever had with The Abomination. The two tussle toe-to-toe, turning their wasteland into a personal coliseum befitting of two gladiators in their prime.
Each page catches every pound of flesh that these two behemoths weigh upon each other, as Romita’s engrossing artwork depicts juggernauts filled with emotion who throw their punches not at each other, butthroughone another as if eager to maim. Fists continue to fly until Bruce bashes Emil Blomsky’s skull in.
6The Hulk Defeated Thor Using His Own Regrowing Arm
Immortal Hulk#7 by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett
The whole reason that the Hulk becomes “Immortal,” so to speak, is due to him dying inCivil War II, ashocking death (or, rather, shock value)which in itself was engineered under Captain Marvel’s leadership. When Bruce returns, they pick right back where they left off, with The Avengers determined to take Hulk in by force.
InCivil War II, Captain Marvel had gained the support of an Inhuman who could apparently see the future. In one future, Ulysses foresees the Hulk killing The Avengers, despite Banner not transforming in several months. When he’s confronted by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Hawkeye shoots a stray arrow through Banner’s head after convincing himself that he saw Bruce’s eyes go green. No one else is able to corroborate the claim.
This proves to be ill-advised as Hulk makes short work of The Avengers. The Hulk’s offense ranges from tossing Tony Stark’s Hulkbuster Iron Man armor at the Black Panther, or pummeling Thor within an inch of his life. Learning the hard way that the Hulk’s powers reach their peak during the night, The Avengers are forced to retreat.
5The Hulk Forces The Thing to Shatter His Own Arm
Fantastic Four Vol. 6#12-13 by Dan Slott and Sean Izaakse
Just when The Fantastic Four think they’ll get some downtime after foiling Doctor Doom’s plan to steal Galactus' power and defending Yancy Street from Malkith in the same breath, the Hulk resurfaces mind-controlled by The Puppet Master while Ben Grimm is on vacation. After all, there’s no rest for the wicked, andThing and Hulk have their wickedest scuffle yet.
The Thing punches Hulk hard enough to break The Puppet Master’s control, and his own arm.
More often than not, The Hulk typically wins against The Thing, but under the Pupper Master’s control, Ben comes out on top for once. The Thing punches Hulk hard enough to break The Puppet Master’s control, and his own arm. Before The Thing can even celebrate his first win over Hulk, he collapses unconscious, not dissimilar to how he knocks out Hulk.
4Hulk Eats Wolverine Alive, Then Gets Torn Open From The Inside
Giant-Size Old Man Logan#1 by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven
The Hulk and Wolverine’s history becomes further complicated in the timeline in which he becomes Old Man Logan and suffers years of torment from the Hulk Gang. After killing each other’s family, the two adversaries have one final showdown, where a more cannibalistic Hulk is certain that eating Logan would end this charade.
Alas, Logan’s powerful (yet sometimes inconsistent) regeneration ability allows him to regrow inside of Hulk. Hours after consumption, Hulk starts to feel an intense pain within his gut, and before he knows it,Logan claws his way to freedom to emerge out of Hulk. It’s the grossest use of his power, but one that saves his life.
3Hulk Finally Defeats Thanos (in The Comics, At Least)
The Incredible Hulk Annual(2024) by Derek Landy and Geoff Shaw
MCU audiences saw The Hulk get decimated by Thanos, and that outcome, traditionally, isn’t too different from how some of their comics fights have ended. However,Hulk finally beats Thanosduring the “Infinity Watch” storyline where both sides play dirty. Being a villain, viewers expect Thanos to use underhanded tactics like clawing at Hulk’s throat.
For Hulk, he decides that fighting fire with fire is the best means of survival. He reacts by punching Thanos in the back and square in the stomach.When the dust settles, Hulk sports a grin over his face as he has finally managed to topple Thanos in one of his greatest achievements.
2Hulk and Sentry Took Each Other to the Limit
World War Hulk #5 by Greg Pak, John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, and Chistina Strain
The Hulk and Sentry have what may be the most unexpected, yet heartwarming friendship in the Marvel Universe. However, all of that was thrown out the window when Hulk went on a rampage of the planet Earth, blaming its heroes for the apparent murder of his wife and children on Sakaar.
For a better understanding of the “World War Hulk” arc, clickherefor a complete guide on the event.
Sentry, previously sworn to being a recluse after the events of “Siege,” begrudgingly fights as Earth’s only answer to Hulk’s strength siince the last time they fought, Hulk lost every bone in his body to The Void. This time,the duo left a wave of blood, sweat, tears, and rubble in their wake.
1The Absorbing Man Took Everything From Hulk. Literally
Immortal Hulk #9 by Al Ewing, Joe Bennett, and Martin Simmonds
Out of all the encounters that he’s had with The Absorbing Man, their fight in theImmortal Hulkseries was the most draining on Hulk’s body. In contrast to past fights, The Absorbing Man has learned how to absorb Gamma radiation this time around. As a result, he practically sucks the life out of Hulk.
He drains the Hulk out of not just the Gamma, but quite nearly every ounce of strength that Hulk has to offer. His plan backfires when he absorb’s Hulk’s connection toMarvel’s ultimate villain, the One Bellow All,but by then, the damage is done. SeeingHulkalmost wither away into nothingness is easily one of his most brutal moments.
