The Hulk is the strongest one there is, but he's not exactly known for his brains. The Jade Giant usually smashes everything in his way, but that doesn't mean the Hulk is incapable of being smart. In fact, there have been several intelligent incarnations of Hulk.
Whether it's been Bruce Banner in his many transformations or one of the other gamma irradiated men and women who used the name Hulk, they've proved brains and brawn can coexist. They've been able to use both sides of themselves to fight their battles, surprising their enemies with their physical and mental prowess.
10 The Baseline Hulk Has The Intelligence Of A Child
The main incarnation of the Hulk, the one who can be the most dangerous but also the most heroic, doesn't have a reputation for being super smart. He's mostly monosyllabic and speaks in the third person, but he still surpasses the savage Hulk. This baseline Hulk is basically a child with infinite strength, for better and for worse.
For example, this Hulk is smart enough to lead his enemies to a place where he has an advantage, but he's quick to go into tantrum mode. He has remarkable emotional intelligence, even loving Bruce Banner and trying to protect him, but his book smarts are about nil.
9 The Gray Hulk Is Known For Being Crafty
There have been two gray Hulks, the original incarnation and Joe Fixit, but when people talk about the gray Hulk, they're usually taking about the latter. Joe Fixit differed from the green Hulk. He wasn't Banner smart — in fact, he hated Bruce — but he had his own kind of intellect.
Joe Fixit was as crafty as they come, able to outfox his enemies and use his strength to take them out. He returned during the Immortal Hulk years, sometimes taking complete control of the body the Hulks shared. Often operating like a Vegas hustler, Fixit can control himself better than most other Hulks.
8 The Immortal Hulk Had A Plan
The Immortal Hulk incarnation proved an interesting version for the Hulk. Banner returned to life and became a powerful new Hulk, one who could survive anything. At first, this Hulk wasn't the smartest, but his intellect grew as time went by. Eventually, the Immortal Hulk made a plan, creating alliances with former Shadow Base workers and other gamma powered individuals.
If there was any weakness to this Hulk, it's that other incarnations would sometimes take control of him. Immortal Hulk proved to be a crafty, intelligent Hulk, although he had to transform into Banner to use Bruce's scientific skills.
7 Red She-Hulk Was Once Betty Ross
The Hulk has had numerous relationships over the years, but none of them were as important as the one he shared with Betty Ross. Betty and Bruce's relationship proved to be a major bone of contention once he became the Hulk, as her father was constantly hunting him. However, they'd eventually get married and stay together for years.
Betty was always a big part of Hulk's life, even after they broke up. When her father became the Red Hulk, Betty was eventually transformed into the Red She-Hulk. A college grad, Betty established herself as a smart individual, even when she was Red She-Hulk.
6 Worldbreaker Hulk Grew Into A Tactician And Leader
Planet Hulk was the most important Hulk story of the '00s. Accidentally sent to Sakaar in the story, this Hulk was forced into the gladiatorial arenas of the Red King before rebelling. He became known as the Green Scar, leading the rebels to victory after victory. It wasn't just because of his strength either, as he was weaker on Sakaar for a time. Hulk won because he was intelligent.
This was the Hulk as he had never been before. He became a leader and tactician, eventually regaining his physical power as well. After the destruction of Sakaar, he'd become known as the Worldbreaker, leading an attack on Earth that saw him defeat the greatest heroes the planet had to offer.
5 Red Hulk Was A Tactical Mastermind
The Hulk hated many people over the years, but none so vociferously as Thunderbolt Ross. Ross and the Hulk have had some climactic battles, with Ross bringing the full might of the military down on his foe. As a general, Thunderbolt Ross was an excellent tactician and administrator. When he became Red Hulk, he used his intelligence to his advantage ever more than before.
Red Hulk tricked everyone, using subterfuge to defeat anyone in his way. He wasn't exactly super smart, but Ross had it where it counted. A military man through and through, the officer had a wide base of knowledge he used as much as possible.
4 She-Hulk's Brains Have Always Been A Big Part Of Her Time As A Hero
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She-Hulk has proven to have strength in spades, but she's also a genius. Jennifer Walters is a brilliant lawyer, one who specializes in superhuman law. She maintains her intelligence as a Hulk, while having the strength of her more savage cousin. She's been an Avenger and a member of the Fantastic Four, with the latter leading her to work with Reed Richards.
She-Hulk's brains are a big part of her success as a superhero. Even though she's been known to lose her cool and become as monosyllabic as the childlike baseline Hulk, she's usually a very smart Hulk. Able to fight it out on multiple battlefields, She-Hulk's as good in the courtroom as she is in a brawl.
3 Professor Hulk Combined Strength And Super Genius Intelligence
Being the Hulk has some perks, but intelligence isn't usually one of them. However, Bruce Banner has gone through a lot of changes over the years, as a consequence of how his gamma mutation interacts with his mind. Banner's most stable period as the Hulk was during the Professor Hulk years.
This Hulk had all the strength and the knowledge of Bruce Banner. The most integrated the Hulk had ever been, Professor Hulk was stable, powerful, and could do anything Banner could do. He was Banner, in fact, allowing this incarnation of Hulk to do some amazing things.
2 Amadeus Cho Is Among The Most Intelligent People On The Planet
Amadeus Cho's super genius puts him among the most intelligent humans ever born. Cho was in the Hulk's orbit for years, but eventually he and Banner began working together to cure the scientist. Amadeus did something no one before him had — he cured Bruce Banner of the Hulk. However, he used the energy drained from Banner to become a Hulk himself.
As the Totally Awesome Hulk, Cho used his brain and brawn in equal measure. Eventually, he fell into the Hulk's rage and lost his place as the Hulk. He'd become known as Brawn and work with the Champions. After losing much of his Hulk strength, Cho kept his intelligence.
1 The Maestro Is The Most Dangerous Hulk Of Them All
The Maestro became the most powerful incarnation of the Hulk. This future version of the Green Goliath had spent years absorbing radiation and was stronger than ever. He was also the most intelligent Hulk of them all. The Maestro had Bruce Banner's intellect but kept getting smarter and smarter. He killed every hero and villain on the planet, outsmarting every foe.
The Maestro had years more experience and knowledge than any other Hulk. He kept learning more, becoming a greater scientist and creating technology no other Hulk ever could. The Maestro even became an amazing tactician, allowing him to take over the world of the future.