What's the deal w/ Hulk now?

[EC1231]

He's not still Savage Hulk is he? He seems like a halfway point between SH and Mr. Fixit. He's got a subtle/focused rage thing going on. It's not "Hulk Smash!" anymore; it's more like "Hulk will smash your head and use it to paint my boat red."

Also, on Planet Hulk, they kept saying he was getting stronger & faster. Was he getting stronger than "normal base-level Hulk," stronger in the sense he was getting madder the longer he was on Planet Hulk, or stronger as in recovering his strength since being sucked through the wormhole?

It would be bada$$ if Hulk meets the Thing and just owns him b/c Thing can't keep up w/ a faster, stronger, more skilled Hulk.

[DannyV_El_Acme]

First of all, it's the Hulk active inside that noggin at the moment, not Bruce Banner. Part of the crazy thing about Planet Hulk is exactly that, Bruce Banner's consciousness has gone AWOL.

About his increased strength, the Hulk has been battling beings which are AT LEAST his base power level in PH. MANY of them. His base level, accordingly, had to rise to keep up. Not only is his base strength even higher now, he seems to be WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY stronger when enraged, too...

*SPOILER*
...as can be seen in the preview for World War Hulk #1. He ACTUALLY WITHSTANDS A SPOKEN WORD FROM BLACK BOLT. That has to give you an idea of the utterly titanic strength he's exhibiting right now.

As for his personality, here's my theory: finally being able to just act on his own without Banner holding him back, the Hulk's starting to grow mentally. He has always had the relative intelligence of a little kid, maybe right now, after all that time spent in PH growing in strength both physically and mentally, he's developed to the mental level of a moody teenager. That would explain his cockiness lately, too.

It's been established that the Savage Hulk is a representation of Bruce Banner's childhood fears, while Joe Fixit is a representation of his teenage years' repression and frustration. Perhaps the Savage Hulk's maturation has led to him and Joe Fixit fusing together into one. After all, the different Hulks are all parts of Bruce Banner. The Savage Hulk developing has basically made him outgrow his "HULK SMASH!" phase, so now he's going through his teenage Joe Fixit phase, but with the strength and anger of the Savage Hulk. Who knows, maybe at this rate, as he develops, he'll eventually fuse with the adult Banner and turn into the Smart Hulk again!

[Expletive Deleted]

Hulk personality-wise, this particular one is commonly called the "Grayvage" or "Gravage" Hulk. He's the classic Savage Hulk in terms of power and personality, but with Joe Fixit's intelligence.

Funnily enough, he's the original version (or one of the first variants, depending on how you read it) from INCREDIBLE HULK v1 and TALES TO ASTONISH back in the '60s. The Savage Hulk came later.

[Hrungr]

I find it oddly funny that there are comic readers out there who still think (or expect) the Hulk to have the old savage, child-like personality. Think about it, that incarnation has barely seen the light of day in like what... 20 years? The odd blip now and again, often when used in another book, and really... that's it.

[shades of eternity]

he's taking the first steps to become maestro.

[Spider-Sense]

I find it oddly funny that there are comic readers out there who still think (or expect) the Hulk to have the old savage, child-like personality. Think about it, that incarnation has barely seen the light of day in like what... 20 years? The odd blip now and again, often when used in another book, and really... that's it.

I was about to say the same thing.

[Shellhead]

I find it oddly funny that there are comic readers out there who still think (or expect) the Hulk to have the old savage, child-like personality. Think about it, that incarnation has barely seen the light of day in like what... 20 years? The odd blip now and again, often when used in another book, and really... that's it.

That's because some fans are old enough to remember the first 20+ years when Hulk was almost always depicted as the old savage, child-like personality. I don't know if you're even 20 years old yet, but if so, think of something that has been constant in your life for 20 years so far. Now imagine a drastic change in that constant thing. Even though you are aware of the change, you are unlikely to forget the original status quo, because 20 years is a long time.

[beetheb]

[QUOTE=DannyV_El_Acme;4545222]*SPOILER*
...as can be seen in the preview for World War Hulk #1. He ACTUALLY WITHSTANDS A SPOKEN WORD FROM BLACK BOLT. That has to give you an idea of the utterly titanic strength he's exhibiting right now.

You know, it's kinda funny. I've been an avid Marvel reader for about 15-16 years, and I can never remember anyone giving a hoot about Black Bolt at all till about the last 2 or 3 years....and now all of a sudden he's become "the guy the Hulk stood up to!!".....I don't know, to be honest, Black Bolt was always a bit of a B-list character, at best. (at least in MY comic buying generation, which has been the 90's and 2000's, how popular he was in the 60's-80's I really could not say...)

Now, power-wise, we all know Black Bolt is off the chart, as is the Hulk. (Hulks is literally. Theres never been a limit found to his strength...whatever the obstacle, he always has the strength at his disposal, whether it be lifting mountains, pulling broken worlds back together or throwing tanks around like Nerf footballs.)

I would say if it came down to a battle of pure strength (As it will when they fight in Manhattan, Black Bolt can't use his voice or he'll decimate the city.) Then the Hulk has the clear advantage, especially now in his Ultra-powered "King Hulk" form.

But, as we all know, in the end it comes down to what the fans want to see. I'm not trying to take anything away from Black Bolts character, I actually like the character...but the Hulk is A-list through and through, and in comics, popularity has final say over all.

[ivesaidway2much]

I find it oddly funny that there are comic readers out there who still think (or expect) the Hulk to have the old savage, child-like personality. Think about it, that incarnation has barely seen the light of day in like what... 20 years? The odd blip now and again, often when used in another book, and really... that's it.Wasn't savage Hulk the star of the book after the relaunch for about the first year? And I thought, right after that, he showed up quite a bit during Jenkins run as well. I think I remember him being the personality that fought the Abomination.

[MythicBrawn]

IMHO, The "Planet Hulk" Hulk is different from the gray Hulk personality. His personality is better than the gray Hulk. The gray Hulk mostly came across as a petulant teenager. This Hulk is certainly more mature than the gray Hulk. Personally, I think it's a new incarnation. Plus, this Hulk lets Bruce out whereas usually it is was the other way around. If the gray Hulk had a choice he would never have let Bruce out. That to me is another sign of this Hulk's maturity and being different from the gray Hulk.

[Kevinroc]

That's because some fans are old enough to remember the first 20+ years when Hulk was almost always depicted as the old savage, child-like personality. I don't know if you're even 20 years old yet, but if so, think of something that has been constant in your life for 20 years so far. Now imagine a drastic change in that constant thing. Even though you are aware of the change, you are unlikely to forget the original status quo, because 20 years is a long time.

The "Savage" Hulk will always be a part of the character. But the Hulk has had so many incarnations over the years that there really seems to be no "correct" incarnation of the character.

The Hulk has mostly been using personal pronouns for awhile now. The Savage Hulk showed up during the Jenkins run (and he might have appeared in the short Byrne run) as well as the more recent Sentry mini but it's mostly been the "Grayvage" Hulk for awhile now. At least since Peter David came back to the title for a few issues (so some time before House of M).

[chicorage]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this the same incarnation of the Hulk that's been around since the post onslaught saga? Bruce and the Hulk came to an understanding around this point to change back and forth at will when one is needed.
There is nothing new about this Hulk except that he seemingly has become even stronger with Planet Hulk. I guess we'll see how much stronger soon enough.

[Pendaran]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this the same incarnation of the Hulk that's been around since the post onslaught saga? Bruce and the Hulk came to an understanding around this point to change back and forth at will when one is needed.
There is nothing new about this Hulk except that he seemingly has become even stronger with Planet Hulk. I guess we'll see how much stronger soon enough.

Not really, that Hulk incarnation at that varied in such "understanding" as existed at that. ACtually, post Onslaught, the Hulk and Banner were separated for a while, with the Hulk as a distinct personality and entity somewhat similar to the current one running around. They were rejoined, and it varied as far as how much "Shared control" there was, Jones would treat Banner as having more control, Jenkins revived the Savage Hulk and retconned the Professor Hulk as being just another personality in the MPD. And currently Banner is an entirely dominated entity within the Hulk, who the Hulk rarely if ever lets out.

Oh, as for the main question, in the wacky non comics world, the populace at large is most familliar with the Savage Hulk, they see that one as the most iconic, so really, when new writers come in, or movies are made or etc, that's the one that's most likely to come up.

[Chou Blaster]

It goes like this:

Befor eHulk got laucnehd into Space, Banne rha learned inne rpeace. To the ponit he could control his Hulking out to the letter.

When he got launched into space, and back stabbe.d

And got weakened from Worm HOle.

Bruc ebanner faded away.

Because to survvie on that world, banne rknew he had ot be the Hulk.

And as he got his power back and the Hulk persona was "happy"

Boom, the space ship that took him to planet Hulk blew up, and took Hulk/Banner's happiness away.

So yeah as of WWH.

Banner and Hulk hate the Illumati and he is gonig to be in Hulk form pissed off at his "friends' betraying him, and ultimately taknig his happienss away. (Twice0

So yeah by all means.

Hulk has every right to be this pissed.

Rightous Anger, and a perfect reasoning for his behavior.

[Pendaran]

Befor eHulk got laucnehd into Space, Banne rha learned inne rpeace. To the ponit he could control his Hulking out to the letter.

They ditched that when Bruce Jones left, as far as it goes. They basically retconned away most of the things he did/stated they never happened/stated that was a delusion of Bruce Banner's. Several other comics that came out since then and concurrently to such once the Jones run was done away with showed him hulking out still due to rage issues here and there. His control was tenuous at best.

Boom, the space ship that took him to planet Hulk blew up, and took Hulk/Banner's happiness away.

Banner was actually portrayed as being entirely contemptuous of the Hulk the one time we got a look at his Bruce Banner thoughts in a non dominated sense on planet Hulk, and agreed with what was done to him.

Banner and Hulk hate the Illumati and he is gonig to be in Hulk form pissed off at his "friends' betraying him, and ultimately taknig his happienss away. (Twice0

Unless they do a third retcon after the most recent ones.. Banner aint been happy, and hasn't been happy about the Hulk's happiness. He's been dominated into subservience. There's a difference.

Rightous Anger, and a perfect reasoning for his behavior.

Actually, the best you can claim is that Banner is angry at everyone, Hulk included.

Because to survvie on that world, banne rknew he had ot be the Hulk.


You're.. really talking about things that didn't happen. Banner simply got dominated down into complete subservience. He didn't really /want/ that. It's similar to Jenkins retconning that the Professor Hulk was just another MPD personality taking total control and shoving all the other ones down into obeying it. You infer some image of inner harmony that doesn't exist.

[beetheb]

You know, people have been calling this Hulk the "Grayvage" Hulk or somesuch, which is actually not completely accurate...The Gray Hulk was much more talkative and funny than this one. This Hulk is more about bare bones exposition. He only talks when he needs to, and even then it's only to get his point across, period.

No, I'd say this Hulk is just in keeping with where PAD left the character after his "Tempest Fugit" storyline (New series, #'s 77-82). Very brutish, but also very sly. I remember reading an article somewhere where Pak says the Hulk PAD left after Tempest fugit was perfect for Planet Hulk and WWH.

[Expletive Deleted]

No, I'd say this Hulk is just in keeping with where PAD left the character after his "Tempest Fugit" storyline (New series, #'s 77-82). Very brutish, but also very sly. I remember reading an article somewhere where Pak says the Hulk PAD left after Tempest fugit was perfect for Planet Hulk and WWH.Yeah, that's pretty much the Gravage/Grayvage Hulk.

He doesn't have the Gray Hulk's personality, he has his intelligence and cunning. If you read the original INCREDIBLE HULK v1 #2-6, which is basically the definition of this Hulk incarnation, that's pretty much this guy.

[jigrig]

Exactly as the previous post stated, This Hulk is virtually The Original Hulk without the restraints that Stan Lee must have had on Him.
He especially reminds Me of Hulk from issues 4 & 5, also, Banner was using a contraption to control his transformations & the more He used it the harder it became for Him to control Himself.
I have a feeling that we are going to find that it's banner who really wants revenge more than Hulk & We'll see the Hulk stop Banner from killing & this will be the so called "never be the same" from this story.
Just a thought.

[StoneGold]

From the title of this, I keep getting like the worst Jerry Seinfeld routine ever running through my head.

[Mike Smash!]

Yup, the current Hulk is indeed the "Grayvage" Hulk that we saw early in his run and during his time with the original Avengers. The personna also came back in the late 90s during the end of Peter David's first run on the book.

He's got normal intelligence, the Grey Hulk's cunning, the Savage Hulk's strength and green skin. He also tends to be a bit more savage than the Grey Hulk. He tends to be cynical and has a morbid sense of humor. Peter David brought him back during his second run on the book about two years ago.

[Shai Hulud]

One thing fo sure,that hulk personnality is my fav ever and the planet hulk storyline was a great reading.