The Sensational She-Hulk: the spin-off character of The Incredible Hulk that could have been one of the most epic disasters of attempts to create a sidekick character for a popular hero but Hulk's cousin Jennifer Walters ended up becoming a cult classic who would return again and again over the decades.
Though they do obviously feature similar traits to each other, the Hulk and She-Hulk display their own unique qualities and stories that both heroes feature their own fanbases who debate on who is the better Marvel hero. Do Bruce Banner and Hulk remain the most incredible or has Jen become the new standard?
Updated on November 6th, 2020 by Josh Davison: The Hulk has always been among the most popular Marvel characters in the company's publishing history, but the powerhouse Immortal Hulk series has injected additional life into the Jade Giant. Al Ewing, Joe Bennett, and company have made something both horrifying and special out of Immortal Hulk. Meanwhile, She-Hulk has gone through some of her own transformations recently, and she's returned to her position of being a mainstay Avenger. Both of the green cousins have had a new heyday as of late, and that's before we even talk about the movies and Disney+ series. The question still remains though: who is the better Hulk? Is it the original Bruce Banner or his more controlled cousin, Jen Walters? This list made a good argument for both, but we here at CBR are going to dive back in with another two arguments in favor of the Incredible Hulk and another two in favor of the Sensational She-Hulk.
14 HULK: The Immortal One
Needless to say, whatever it is that the Hulk has become in Immortal Hulk is far more powerful than we ever thought the Hulk could be. The question to be asked is who is in control of it: Bruce Banner? The Devil Hulk? The Leader? Or the One-Below-All? Whatever the case, it's more than just being immortal--it's being a terrifying force of nature capable of swallowing whole realities. It seems that She-Hulk is just as immortal as Bruce, but she hasn't shown anything quite on par with what we've seen from the new and improved Immortal Hulk.
13 SHE-HULK: Also A Lawyer
Bruce Banner is one of the greatest minds on the planet, but there is something to be said about a good lawyer who is working for the common person--or hero. She-Hulk has served to defend many an unfortunate cape and mask over the years from Speedball of the New Warriors to Daredevil. While Bruce Banner may be looking at world-shattering problems, Jen Walters is keeping an eye on the little guy who may have been put on the wrong side of a prosecution for any reason.
12 HULK: Many Flavors
While She-Hulk has shown some new personalities in more recent years, the Hulk has a litany of personalities that could take control at any moment. There is the Devil Hulk, the Worldbreaker, Joe Fixit, Professor Hulk (who is sort of just Bruce Banner), the classic Savage Hulk, the Omega Hulk, and more we may have yet to meet. The Hulk is versatile in a way that only the likes of Moon Knight could understand. While this many hands on the wheel could prove to be a liability, it's also won the Hulk several fights because you can never be sure what Hulk you are dealing with.
11 SHE-HULK: More Control
Until the encounter with Thanos before Civil War II, She-Hulk was known for being the Hulk you could completely count on. Jen Walters was in complete control of her Hulk form and often walked around as a Hulk in her everday life. She had clothes to fit and was completely comfortable in her green skin. Those days may yet return for Jen Walters, though she is bigger and more savage than ever in her current role as an Avenger. Time will tell what lies ahead for Jen Walters--whether she will stay savage or return to the sensational.
10 HULK: Was The One That Started It All
While Jen certainly has made a name for herself, the truth of the matter is that she would not be going on her fun and crazy adventures as a jade giantess if it weren't for her cousin. The Hulk, inspired by Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde mixed with Frankenstein, was created first in 1962 and proved to be a giant (no pun intended) success for Marvel.
It was because of his success that the idea of the female spin-off character came to fruition in 1980 almost twenty years later. Even in the story, Jen would have never become She-Hulk if it weren't for Bruce giving a blood transfusion to save her life.
9 SHE-HULK: Much More Personality
There's nothing but love for Hulk and his caveman-like speech but if we're comparing who has more charm and personality as a whole? She-Hulk wins by a mile due to her changing from a soft-spoken lawyer to a wise-cracking, fun-loving superhero who happens to break the fourth wall from time to time.
While Bruce's search for a peaceful life is always great, Jen's plight is much more fun to read or watch since she actually prefers being She-Hulk and hates having to reduce her size in order to fit it. It leads to some great comedic moments as she tries to balance lawyer life and superhero life.
8 HULK: Is Still The Strongest One There Is
Jen was not given her powers the same way as her cousin: she's more of a perfect balance between a human and a Hulk-like creature which makes her not nearly as powerful. Even Jen herself says that her cousin is much more powerful than she is.
The Incredible Hulk is a character whose limit has yet to be determined since he can continuously get stronger the angrier he gets. He's held back a Celestial, he's held planets together to prevent them from falling apart, and even took on Thanos one on one which is something not many can do...even if he lost that fight.
7 SHE-HULK: Is The Better Fighter
The Hulk doesn't really implement any tactics into his fighting. As his famous catchphrase suggests, he just smashes and punches his way to victory a majority of the time which certainly works in his favor. Especially with monologuing gods of mischief.
However, Jen knew martial arts as a human before her fateful transformation into a superhero and since she retains her intelligence in both forms (most of the time), She-Hulk is also a martial artist who uses more tactics and strategy to fight more powerful villains.
6 HULK: Bruce Banner Is A Genius
Not to say that Jen is dumb, far from it actually. She is a very smart lawyer who tends to use her brain a lot more as a superhero along with her brawn. However, if the situation calls for creating a device that can save the universe or disarming a nuclear bomb: Jen is not the woman for the job unless it involves throwing the bomb into space.
Bruce Banner, despite his error with the gamma radiation that turned him into the Hulk, is ranked as one of Earth's most intelligent individuals including Tony Stark, Reed Richards, Doctor Doom, and Luna Lafayette AKA Moon Girl.
5 SHE-HULK: Lots Of Superhero Gigs
Jen has been a member of the Avengers, she's had her own sensational solo adventures, but one of her most standout stories has to be her temporary gig as the fifth member of the Fantastic Four. Her chemistry with the four was so infectious that some fans wish that she had stuck around to create more hilarious moments.
This story was so famous that it has been referenced multiple times in the comics but was also adapted in animation in the form of one episode of the criminally short-lived Fantastic Four: Earth's Greatest Heroes. Jen has also been the leader of her own superhero team known as A-Force which consists of many of Marvel's leading ladies.
4 HULK: A Founding Member Of The Avengers
While Jen has been a member of the Avengers in the past, especially in more recent comics: the Hulk is without a doubt one of the more essential members of Earth's Mightiest Heroes alongside Thor and Iron Man.
The Hulk was a member of the Avengers even before Captain America ever was. So without everyone's favorite green rage monster, there might not have ever been an Avengers to assemble in the first place.
3 SHE-HULK: Strong And Stylish
The Hulk is mostly known for wearing tattered and stretched out pairs of pants, always conveniently purple for whatever reason. This is definitely an iconic look for the character but he's not really known for wearing a superhero uniform except for certain occasions.
Jen, on the other hand, has had several different uniforms over the years, from a black one-piece to her famous purple and white leotard, and even upgrading to a very superhero-esque uniform sporting an S-shaped symbol that fits her more fun-loving style.
2 HULK: Inner Struggle With Duality
As mentioned before, the Hulk was heavily inspired by Jekyll and Hyde mixed with Frankenstein and it clearly shows since Bruce Banner is constantly feuding or at least in some sort of conflict with the monster that lurks inside of him.
Hulk is not just a transformed version of Banner, he's a completely different person with his own thoughts and desires which makes it difficult to side with either of them since one can sympathize with both plights: one wants his old life back while the other just wants to live his own life.
1 SHE-HULK: She Breaks The Fourth Wall
Similar to the likes of Deadpool or DC's Mr. Nobody from Doom Patrol, Jen has spoken directly to the readers in the comics in the past. The interesting part is that She-Hulk broke the fourth wall before Deadpool ever did thus making her the Queen of the art in the Marvel department.
If one is curious as to why she's aware that she's the star of a comic book: some mysteries are better left unsolved. Perhaps Jen will bring the fourth wall breaking to the Marvel Cinematic Universe before Deadpool does when her upcoming Disney+ series finally arrives.