How do we define a hero? A hero is someone who uses their power selflessly to help others. They have no intention of self affirmation, only making the lives of people around them as safe as they can possibly be. They put themselves in harm’s way no matter the risk, for the sake of the greater good. The Hulk is without a doubt super, but when it comes to defining him as a hero, that’s where things get tricky. Despite the simple nature of his power, he is an incredibly complex character. Different interpretations of Hulk over the years show him as both a hero and villain at various points.
So, it’s more accurate to define him as a character capable of performing both heroic and villainous acts, depending on the situation. A lot -- and we mean a lot -- of bad stuff happens to the Hulk. Given the context, he can use his nearly unlimited power to save earth or innocent lives from destruction. But when he’s been wronged, scorned, or is simply having a bad day, he is capable of some very villainous, and incredibly destructive feats. Here’s a look at some of the Green Scar’s, The Jade Giant’s and/or the World Breaker’s most heroic and villainous actions.
20 VILLAINOUS: BEATS UP SANTA CLAUS
In the Incredible Hulk #378, Hulk delivers a fist full of season’s beatings to jolly old Saint Nick. Okay, it’s not the real Santa -- it’s not even a real mall Santa. It’s actually Rhino, after he stole a Salvation Army Santa’s costume and was roped into a mall Santa gig. Now, it’s important to note that both Rhino and Hulk are in the wrong for different reasons. Rhino enjoys the new job at first until he has a run in with a particularly bratty group of kids. His Santa takes on an evil persona, encouraging the children to misbehave and generally act like little miscreants. It’s bad enough to sully the good name of Santa Claus but what’s worse, is beating the living daylights out if him in front of crowds of mall goers.
Gray Hulk only wanted to protect Santa’s street cred. In the process, he unfortunately carries out one of the most villainous acts a group of children could possibly witness when he kicks Santa Claus straight in the groin. If he wasn’t before, Hulk is definitely on the naughty list now. Their fight carries on throughout the mall, smashing through stores and exchanging cheesy one-liners. The fight is eventually stopped by an innocent girl named Virginia, who doesn’t like mall Santa hitting his helper. Absolutely villainous, and 100% awesome.
19 HEROIC: FIGHTS THE RED KING
The “Planet Hulk” storyline gave birth to arguably the strongest version of the Hulk we’ve ever seen: World Breaker. Sent away from Earth in a shuttle by the Marvel Illuminati, he crash lands on the planet Sakaar. Previously thought to be uninhabited, it turns out to be a brutally dangerous planet, ruled over by the equally dangerous Red King, who is a truly detestable villain if there ever was one. He runs his kingdom with an iron fist, happily dispatching anyone who disagrees with him in a torrent of fire. The Hulk is already angry with the Red King for imprisoning him and forcing him to fight as a gladiator. So, when he learns that the king is responsible for the invasion of the alien spikes, the gloves, if there ever were any, come off.
We all knew this beatdown was coming and it was more than deserved. It was earned, through years of the Red King tormenting and subjugating the planet to his will. The memo never reached Sakaar: don’t make Hulk angry. All the rocket-powered, weaponized armor in the world isn’t enough to stop him when he’s mad. Not to mention, The Hulk is seen by many on Sakaar as their prophesized savior, Sakaarson, meaning that the Red King never stood a chance. Thoroughly beaten, dismantled and incinerated, he is overthrown by Hulk, the new king.
18 VILLAINOUS: EVERYTHING ABOUT LANDLORD HULK
Everything about this version of the Hulk screams villain. Some say all the gamma radiation finally made it to his brain, turning him insane but whatever it was, it really messed the Hulk up. Appearing in the “Old Man Logan” storyline, Hulk is the conqueror and ruler of California, renamed Hulkland. After deciding that humans are not worthy, he has multiple children with his cousin She-Hulk, who become known as the Hulk Gang and are a group of murderous, hulked out hillbillies who listen only to Banner.
After failing to pay his rent on time (and taking a severe Hulkish beating), Logan accepts a job with Hawkeye to deliver a secret package. Upon returning with the money he needs, he finds that the Hulk Gang has murdered his family. The vow Logan took to never use his claws again is broken as he goes on a bloody rampage. The real reason the Hulk had his family murdered? He was bored. Bored of being a super powered landlord and wanted to make Logan angry enough to fight him. He hasn’t had something good to smash in years. Wish granted. The Hulk literally beats up and then eats Logan. But he forgets about Logan’s healing factor, who recuperates in Hulk’s stomach before tearing a door to freedom through the behemoth’s back -- he definitely deserved this one.
17 HEROIC: SAVES SAKAAR
Seriously, the Red King was just a menace. Sensing he’s going to lose to the Hulk, he triggers a device that causes the plates of planet Sakaar to separate. Lava spews from the mantle of the earth, and a great river of magma threatens to destroy all in its path -- except for Hulk. Without a moment’s hesitation, he dives into the expanding lake of molten rock. With flesh being melted from his bones, he swims to the bottom of the massive hole and literally pulls the plates of the planet back together! The World Breaker un-breaks the world with brute force alone -- this is quite possibly the most literal interpretation of saving the planet ever.
This is a big hero moment for Hulk, even in a series full of heroic Hulk moments. In the beginning of the “Planet Hulk” story, he didn’t want anything to do with anyone. He didn’t care for alliances and only worried about himself. But the level of selflessness needed to jump into a lake of magma to save your allies is not one easily matched. Hulk is probably one of the only characters capable of pulling off such a monstrous feat, but the fact that he does shows his growth s a hero during this series.
16 VILLAINOUS: HUNTS THE FANTASTIC FOUR AND AVENGERS
Hulk doesn’t just get angry when you hit him -- he gets angry when he’s ignored and very angry when he gets left out. But most of all, he gets really, really angry when you steal his best friend. When your mood swings can turn you onto a rampaging beast, emotion can be a dangerous thing. In Fantastic Four #25 and #26, Hulk is put through the emotional ringer as his spot in the Avengers is taken over by Captain America. If that weren’t enough, his best friend Rick Jones tags along with Cap as his sidekick. But Hulk doesn’t sulk around and brood. Instead, he gets mad. In fact, he gets mad and jealous enough to head to New York to face the heroes who spurned him.
While rampaging on the city streets of New York, Hulk encounters and defeats the Fantastic Four, destroying the Washington bridge in the process. After a few more squabbles, a final battle breaks out. The Fantastic Four and Avengers team up to take down the Hulk and stop his jealous rampage. Although he’s defeated the two teams before, their combined powers prove to be too much for the Hulk. Rick Jones manages to slip him a gamma-ray treated capsule which turns him back into puny Banner. A tip for all Marvel heroes: stop making Hulk mad!
15 HEROIC: TRAINS HIS SON
Skaar is the son of the Hulk and Caiera the Oldstrong, and as such is incredibly powerful. Initially, Skaar wants nothing more than to kill the Hulk for abandoning him on Sakaar and blames him for all the hardships he has had to endure as a child. But when Bruce Banner was freed of his Hulk persona by the Red Hulk, he and Skaar became allies. Banner took on the task of training Skaar to defeat the Hulk, should the Green Scar return. Banner knows all to well that Hulk is dangerous and needed there to be someone who could take him out. Who better than his son, who has both his powers and the ancient power of the Oldstrong.
Banner isn’t going to win any father of the year awards for the time he spends with his son, but his intentions are good. He is intent of teaching Skaar things that he couldn’t learn during his childhood: developing friendships, teamwork and trust. Banner pits his son against a number of superpowered sparring partners to polish his skills. Skaar throws down with the unstoppable Juggernaut, the savage Daken and one of Hulk’s old enemies, Tyrannus. This is Skaar’s first step to becoming a hero, and Banner hopes that his son can be better than he ever was.
14 VILLAINOUS: FIGHTS LITERALLY EVERYBODY
The Hulk, devoid of any trace of Bruce Banner, is not easy to deal with. But deal with him they must, as shown in The Incredible Hulk #300. As Wasp astutely points out, Banner’s subconscious acts like a limiter for Hulk. Without that limiter, he’s just a raging monster, and immediately began wrecking havoc on New York City. As a rather large group of heroes find out, stopping this savage version of the Hulk is easier said than done. S.H.I.E.L.D Carriers are torn to shreds and littered across the streets. Iron Fist’s most powerful punch was nothing more than a strong breeze to the Hulk. Luke Cage was swatted away like a fly at a family picnic. Even the combined power of Avengers like Vision and the Scarlet Witch are nothing before Hulk.
In typical fashion, it comes down to Thor to try and stop him. The most powerful mortal versus the immortal God of Thunder. The two exchange blows of epic proportions all across Manhattan. Hulk even picks up an adamantium statue of himself to club Thor with, but before he can, Dr. Strange enters the fray. He opens up a portal and transports the Hulk to a different dimension. It seems to be a recurring theme that the only real way to stop the Hulk, is to send him away to another planet.
13 HEROIC: HOLDS UP A 150 BILLION TON MOUNTAIN
This incredible feat of strength is showcased in Secret Wars #4, as Earth’s greatest heroes and villains are transported to the Battle World and forced to fight by the Beyonder. Molecule Man, that matter manipulating sleaze ball, drops an entire mountain range on top of a group of heroes in an attempt to make some superpowered pancakes. It makes sense. Powerhouses like Ben Grimm, She-Hulk and Captain Marvel were all unconscious, so it would be a miracle if they survived. But the heroes don’t need a miracle when they have the Hulk. The villains celebrate their apparent victory, but underneath the 150 billion tons of rock, the Hulk stands strong.
Using every inch of his gamma enhanced muscles, he holds up the mountain range to save the lives of iconic characters like Spider-Man and Iron Man. Nobody but Hulk could pull something off like this. Not only did he save them from death, but a rather embarrassing death at that. Imagine, after all the villains vanquished, robberies thwarted, and aliens averted, the thing to do a hero in is a big chunk of rock. Hulk doesn’t just save their lives -- he saves their images. Thank you Hulk. We much prefer our heroes whole than splattered to the underside of a rock.
12 VILLAINOUS: GETS CANNIBALISTIC
Eating other people is not heroic -- no matter what. Cannibalism is a crime, one that the Ultimate Bruce Banner is guilty of on multiple accounts. In the “Ultimate Marvel” universe, Bruce Banner works for S.H.I.E.L.D., with the goal of recreating the Super Solider serum that granted Captain America his powers. Against warnings, he injects himself with an experimental version of the serum, transforms into the green Hulk and rampages through New York. Spider-Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. manage to take him down. Bruce then tries a new formula, by mixing the previous Hulk serum with some of Captain America’s blood, and transforms into a gray-skinned Hulk.
We’ve seen a gray Hulk before, but not one that willingly commits mass murder and eats his victims. Such evil deeds led to him being sentenced to execution by nuclear warhead, which he of course survives. Although he teeters on the line between hero and villain in this series, the bad outweighs the good. Cannibalizing his enemies, even one as notorious as Abomination, is an evil deed. Even when Hulk is holding back so as not to kill people, he has a hard a time. So, a version that actively looks for people to kill is among one of the most dangerous things that can exist in the Marvel Universe.
11 HEROIC: UNLEASHES ON ONSLAUGHT
At various points in the history of the Hulk, Bruce Banner and Hulk have been separate personas, and at other times they have been merged together. Bruce Banner is calculated and logical, while the Hulk, in proper fashion, is a rage-fueled smashing machine. As we all know, an unhindered Hulk is incredibly powerful but equally dangerous. Hulk is kept in check by the human part of his mind, Bruce Banner. While he’s still incredibly strong, his humanity acts like a limiter. But when Onslaught, a villain with the combined powers of Professor X, Magneto, Franklin Richards and X-Man, threatens to destroy all of humanity, unleashing the Hulk is a risk worth taking.
That’s exactly what happened in “Onslaught: Marvel Universe”, when Hulk asked Jean Grey to block the human part of his mind, allowing him to go full Hulk mode against Onslaught. With a thundering strike, the raging Hulk was able to penetrate Onslaught’s armour, revealing his true psionic form. Of course, this was another problem that was solved by non-mutant vessels absorbing his power, leaving him open to being destroyed. Most of Earth’s heroes were killed by Onslaught, but without Hulk revealing his true form, he likely would have been able to kill them all. A super powered universe without the superheroes would be pretty boring.
10 VILLAINOUS: DECIMATES LAS VEGAS
“Hulk smash!”, can be an indication of an enemy about to get their comeuppance, or a warning signal to steer clear. In Fantastic Four Vol.1 #534, the detonation of a Hydra gamma bomb causes Banner to revert to his savage gray form. This sets off his rampage in the desert outside of Las Vegas. The Thing and the Human Torch are dispatched to fix the situation, but the enraged Hulk is not open to listening to reason. He wipes the floor with two of the Fantastic Four and his frenzy on Las Vegas continues.
At one point, the Thing notes that Hulk is not fighting them. The gamma blast has forced him to relive all the terrible memories he has associated with the Hulk and he’s fighting against those. It’s terribly depressing, but doesn’t change the fact that Hulk’s rampage is dangerous to civilians which is why Human Torch and the Thing continue to pursue him. The rampage wasn’t his fault necessarily, but he killed around two dozen civilians during it. This was the event that set the stage for "Planet Hulk". The Illuminati decided Hulk was too dangerous to have on Earth, so they tricked him into a shuttle, that once in orbit, took off for a peaceful planet. As we know, that didn’t turn out so well for the Marvel Universe either.
9 HEROIC: DESTROYS AN ASTEROID TWICE THE SIZE OF EARTH
In Marvel Comics Presents #52, Hulk is forced to deal with a superhero stereotype. There is a big asteroid rocketing through space towards our planet and he needs to destroy it. This asteroid wasn’t sent towards Earth with any malice or ill-intent though. It was simply a game between three powerful alien kids who accidentally knock an asteroid twice the size of Earth onto a collision course with it. Darn kids! It may be big, but as Hulk remarks, nothing is too big for the Incredible Hulk to deal with. He shatters the asteroid into tiny bits, meaning that Earth can remain in one piece for yet another day.
But it begs the question, how does he get up that high? We’ve seen that classic Hulk jump, but there’s no way he can jump high enough to make it into orbit. Luckily, he has a little help from what he calls ‘experimental anti-magnetic jet-propelled fortified rocket springs’. We honestly have no idea what those are -- what is a jet-propelled spring anyways? Are we to believe that this was an extremely powerful pair of Moon Boots? Magnets are an excellent form of propulsion, why not utilize them? Logistics aside, Hulk’s heroic side shines through by saving Earth once again.
8 VILLAINOUS: TAKES OUT THE X-MEN
Ah, the World Breaker, aka the strongest Hulk there is. As Hulk fans, we give him a little leeway when it comes to his actions in “World War Hulk”. The spaceship the Marvel Illuminati exiled him in blew up, destroying his city on Sakaar and killing his wife. Hulk deserves his revenge, but in doing so, becomes one of the biggest antagonists the Marvel Universe has ever had to face. He systematically targets members of the Illuminati, and when he goes for Professor X, he tears through just about every member of the X-Men to get to him.
He may be the hero of the series, but to the Marvel Illuminati, he’s a furious, scarily powerful villain. Hulk slaps away Beast like he’s a mosquito. Cyclops’s eye beams are nothing more than bright sunshine against his skin. Colossus’s arms snap like toothpicks under his grip. Wolverine’s brain is reduced to jelly by a barrage of punches. The scariest part is, Hulk didn’t even have to try -- he toys with them like a cat playing with a mouse. Even an Omega level mutant like Emma Frost is simply shoved into the cement ground like Hulk is potting a plant. Because he is just after Xavier, he shows a bit of mercy in his attacks-- just a bit though. It’s still a brutal beatdown on all accounts.
7 HEROIC: PREVENTS EVIL BANNER FROM TAKING OVER
Typically, the Marvel Universe is relieved when Hulk reverts back to Banner --he's a scary guy to be around. However, what’s equally as dangerous as the Hulk is if Bruce Banner, his alter ego, turns evil. This is exactly the premise for Incredible Hulk #8, which is the beginning of the “Stay Angry” storyline. A person as smart as Bruce Banner turning evil is a recipe for something terrible to happen in the Marvel Universe. So how does Hulk stop evil Banner from taking over? He tries to stay angry so he can remain as the Hulk and keep Banner trapped in his mind. We know Bruce is planning something big, but Hulk isn’t intent on finding out what it is.
This isn’t exactly easy for the Hulk though as he needs to actively put himself in situations to make himself angry. One such situation is challenging the Punisher to a fight. Anyone who has read Punisher comics knows that he doesn’t hold back when it comes to doling out the pain. So, it’s the perfect opponent to make Hulk angry. They don’t exactly fight, but Punisher pumping seven pistol rounds into Hulk’s face seems to do the trick. Even the Hulk is terrified to turn into evil Banner, so it shows just how important it is for him to be contained.
6 VILLAINOUS: TURNS MSG INTO A GLADIATOR ARENA
Once again, we understand why Hulk is doing this. In the “World War Hulk” story, turning Madison Square Garden into a gladiatorial arena is equal parts ironic and villainous. Ironic considering the Illuminati’s decision to exile Hulk led to him becoming a gladiator on the planet Sakaar. Villainous because, well, he intends to make people fight to the death. His plan is to make Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Black Bolt and Mister Fantastic (all members of the Marvel Illuminati) fight a giant tentacled alien before being forced to fight each other to the death. As much as that’s a fight we’d like to see, we also don’t want to see them killed off.
The tragedy of the “Planet Hulk” and subsequent “World War Hulk” stories, is that Hulk’s anger is somewhat misguided. Although he has reason to be angry with the Illuminati for exiling him, it is revealed that Red King loyalists, not the Illuminati, were responsible for the explosion on Sakaar. Miek, one of the Warbound, says he could have stopped it, but didn’t in the hopes it would fuel Hulk’s rage. Clearly it worked, because the Hulk unintentionally begins to radiate so much energy at this point, it threatens to destroy Earth. Tony Stark activates a concentrated attack from a series of weaponized satellites that finally knocks an injured Hulk unconscious.
5 HEROIC: DEMANDS JUSTICE FROM ZEUS
Not many people would make demands of the All-Father Zeus. Even fewer would think to lash out at him when those demands aren’t met. But Hulk has never really been one for social standing. After the "Chaos War", Hulk is angered how some of Earth’s heroes received praise for their assistance, but the Hulk family was given nothing despite the paramount importance of their involvement. The Chaos King destroyed the Olympus gods, and it was the Hulks who brought down the Chaos King, resurrecting the Olympians. Infuriated, he storms Mt. Olympus and demands Zeus give his family the opportunity to live normal lives. We think that after saving the world, this isn’t too much to ask for, but Zeus is not one to give into demands.
In one of the most one-sided beat downs in the history of Hulk, Zeus pummels the Green Scar. One punch to the midsection causes Hulk to vomit up what appears to be half the blood in his body. Hulk never asks him to stop. All he asks is “Just give them what you owe them”, referring to his Hulk family that are the reason the Chaos King was defeated. A truly selfless act by the Hulk, as he was ready to die so his family could get the praise and the life they deserve.
4 HEROIC: STOPS MAESTRO
Maestro is the futuristic, evil, insane and incredibly strong version of the Hulk. Appearing for the first time in The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1, Maestro lives 100 years in the future. In his time, a nuclear war has wiped out nearly every super human on Earth and brought the world to the edge of extinction. Maestro seized control during this time -- no one could oppose him. He has the intelligence of Bruce Banner and has grown physically more powerful due to all of the radiation from the fallout. Add into the mix that he’s gone insane, and it’s clear why he shouldn’t be ruling things.
Rebels from Maestro’s time use Doctor Doom’s time machine to transport Professor Hulk (the body of Hulk but mind of Banner) to Maestro in the hopes he can defeat him. Unfortunately, Maestro is too experienced and strong for Professor Hulk. Maestro is only defeated when Hulk lures him to the rebel base and uses the time machine to transport him to the exact moment the original gamma bomb exploded. Maestro is supposedly killed in the same blast that created the Hulk. However, he remained there, slowly draining radiation from Hulk every time he returned. The emaciated and weakened Maestro eventually faces Hulk once more, but he is last seen being buried under a rockslide. Good riddance we say.
3 VILLAINOUS: BECOMES APOCALYPSE’S WAR
It’s fair to say, that if you come into the employ of the ancient mutant Apocalypse, you’ll be doing some pretty villainous things. In Incredible Hulk #456, Hulk submitted to Apocalypse’s offer to get rid of the distressing mental and emotional vulnerability that has plagued him his whole life. Celestial technology was used to remove Hulk’s healing factor, highly durable armor was grafted to his skin and he was fitted with a black helmet that stopped Hulk (mostly) from imagining he hears his dead father’s voice. Under Apocalypse’s mind control, Hulk was instilled with a love for destruction, outfitted with Celestial weaponry and became War.
The Hulk becoming the incarnation of War is about as destructive as you’d imagine. Outside of Apocalypse’s base, he lifts up an entire pyramid and drops it on a truck carrying the Absorbing Man, Janis and Rick Jones. Absorbing Man grabs onto Hulk’s sword but blows up from all the power it gives off. Juggernaut enters the fray but War manages to halt the advance of the unstoppable object. While fighting in the streets of Cairo, War cuts off Juggernaut’s helmet with the intent to behead him. After injuring Rick, he has a moment of clarity and tears off Apocalypse’s armor, freeing himself from mind control. Phew! Not a villain that could have been easily dealt with.
2 HEROIC: STOPS HIRO-KALA FROM DESTROYING EARTH
How many times is Hulk going to have to save the Earth from being shattered into tiny bits? Well, it seems at least one more time. Hiro-Kala is Hulk and Caiera’s second son and the twin brother of Skaar. He may not have the Hulkish body of his father and brother, but his connection to the Old Power make him incredibly strong. After brainwashing the population of the planet of K’ai, he sets his sights on Earth and plans to destroy it. Skaar warns Hulk of this so he prepares to stop his son. We would love to see Hulk finally get along with one of his kids, but murdering brainwashed children is not the way to get on the Hulk’s good side.
Like many villains, Hiro-Kala had noble (at least to him) intentions: he wanted to rid the universe of the Old Power, believing it is corrupt and will take trillions of lives. Hiro-Kala is dedicated to his beliefs and he wants to destroy Earth and K’ai to make sure the Old Power can’t hurt anyone else. Sorry, but that’s not going to happen when Hulk is hanging around. Hulk and his allies managed to seal Hiro-Kala in stone and he was placed in the planet core of K’ai where his Old Power was siphoned to heal the planet he almost destroyed. Seems like fitting punishment.
1 VILLAINOUS: BETRAYS AND DESTROYS THE AVENGERS
Sometimes, Hulk’s villainous deeds can be chalked up to being in rough circumstances. However, in this alternate dystopian Marvel Universe of “The Last Avengers Story”, Hulk is just a big, green meanie. To make a long story short, a lot of the old Avengers are dead and Hank Pym reluctantly forms another team to deal with the threat of a time traveling Kang the Conqueror. Heroes like Wasp and Hawkeye join the new team and have a deadly battle against Kang and his allies: Ultron 19, Grim Reaper and a deformed Oddball. Hulk was supposed to be part of the team to take down Ultron, but betrayed them to side with the enemies.
Out of nowhere he sucker-punches Wonder Man, sending Tigra into a fit of rage. She jumps on Hulk’s head in an attempt to claw out his eyes. Very poor decision making. Hulk grabs her by the hands and feet and rips her in half like a Christmas cracker. Wonder Man is infuriated by the betrayal and slugs it out with Hulk in a fight to the death. Amidst the thunderous punches they exchange, one of Hulk’s strikes manages to crack Wonder Man’s skin causing it to leak out ionic energy. Knowing he’ll die, he grabs onto Hulk and the two are killed when Wonder Man erupts in a blaze of ionic energy.