WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Maestro #5, by Peter David, German Peralta, Jesus Aburtov, and VC's Ariana Maher, on sale now.

As devastating as his rampages can be, the Hulk has almost always been a force for good but the notable exception to that rule was the Maestro. Known as the maniacal despot of a dystopian world, it was not until the recent Maestro miniseries that it's been revealed just how the ruler claimed his crown. With the conclusion of the series, the mysteries surrounding Maestro's ascent to power are revealed, and his taking of the throne was as bloody as expected.

This all started with an older Hulk awoke from an alternate reality simulation to find a world devastated by a nuclear apocalypse. Disparaging over the ruins of humanity and finding small pockets of civilization scrambling to survive, the increasingly dark Hulk gave way to his more violent impulses and desire for power. Coming across a city ruled by his former ally Hercules now known as the Maestro the Hulk decided he wanted the position for himself, but getting it proved trickier than he may have first imagined.

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While the Hulk's fights are a mainstay of the character, what's most notable about the Maestro's battle with Hercules is that he proved too formidable a physical force for the future Hulk to overcome. In fact, Hercules even explained at one point during their bout that only a Savage Hulk had the lack of restraint and raw power to destroy him, and the more intelligent incarnations of Hulk simply did not have what it took. It turns out that proves a lack of imagination on his part. His intelligence is exactly what makes the Hulk that would be known as the Maestro so much more deadly than so many Hulks.

Previously, he recruited the aid of his former foe Vapor to bypass Hercules' godly durability altogether and simply poison him to death. For all intents and purposes, the assassination attempt seemed to work, but in the conclusion to the Maestro miniseries it turned out that death was not so permanent for the Greek god.

As Maestro tried to publicly cremate Hercules' corpse the Prince of Power sprung back to life, sent by Hades to enact his revenge. Once more Hercules proved too powerful a physical threat and even the Dogs of War were no challenge for him. A weapon meant to be Maestro's demise proved his salvation at a critical juncture, however. When a former member of Rick Jones' rebels unleashed a weapon designed by Forge years previously to kill Hulk the evil Hulk managed to evade the weapon before his ally the Minister used it to execute Hercules once at for all.

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The Minister's betrayal of the old Maestro gave way to his lofty position with the new one as the Hulk claimed his throne. With his Dogs of War, allies like the Minister, and some of the most powerful weapons in the world available to him it's finally clear how the irradiated mastermind cultivated so much power that no one on Earth could stop him.

With so much power, intellect, and cunning he may just be the deadliest Hulk in any reality, and at last, the bloody trail he took to the top has been uncovered.

KEEP READING: One Evil Hulk Was Even More TERRIFYING Than The Maestro