TheHulkis a truly fascinating Marvel Comics character, not simply because he’s arguably the strongest hero in the universe, but because of the complexity of his character. The Hulk isn’t just one person, or even two. The most famous are Bruce Banner and the Hulk, but within their shared mindscape exist many others, like Joe Fixit, the Green Scar, and the one who isthe most terrifying of all: Devil Hulk.
While Devil Hulk has existed in Marvel Comics canon for many years, it wasn’t untilThe Immortal Hulkby Al Ewing and Joe Bennet that the character had time to shine. Devil Hulk was Bruce Banner’s first alternate personality, born from the abuse Bruce suffered at the hands of his father, Brian. Devil Hulk’s only purpose was to keep Bruce safe, and whenBruce Banner was exposed to gamma radiation, Devil Hulk finally had the means to make sure he always would be.
Before the gamma bomb explosion that gave life to the Hulk, Devil Hulk was little more than a hallucination within the fractured mind of a young Bruce Banner. But when the gamma gave life to Bruce’s alternate personas, Devil Hulk was free to break into the physical world and utterly crush anyone who threatened Banner.
In many ways, Devil Hulk is Bruce Banner’s personal hero. However, Devil Hulk is ruthless with anyone he sees as a threat, which makes him too dangerous to let out.
Why Devil Hulk is So Terrifying in Marvel Comics
As previously mentioned, the last time Devil Hulk was prominently featured in Marvel Comics was inThe Immortal Hulk. In that storyline, Devil Hulk was the primary Hulk personality who came out whenever Banner got angry. The version of Hulk fans are used to seeing whenever Banner transforms is Savage Hulk (or just Hulk), but that version was forced to take a backseat to Devil Hulk, who sought to control Bruce’s life to keep him safe.
Again, while this seems like a good thing, Devil Hulk has proven time and again to be too dangerous. Devil Hulk was born from the abuse a child suffered from his own father, which means everyone Devil Hulk sees is just another potential abuser, and he won’t let them get anywhere near Bruce. Most people around Bruce were not trying to hurt him, but Devil Hulk couldn’t differentiate between those who were safe and those who posed a threat.
The fact that Bruce Banner didn’t even have a say in how he was being ‘protected’ by Devil Hulk made this alter ego especially terrifying. Plus, the appearance of Devil Hulk within Bruce’s mind was that of a snake-like creature that looked as though he belonged in hell. No one around Bruce was safe with Devil Hulk in control (even if Bruce was), and the appearance of Devil Hulk only added to the terror.
What Happened to Devil Hulk in Marvel Comics?
Interestingly, it was arguably Hulk’s most dangerous villain, the Leader, who was key to Banner’s salvation from his unwanted protector, Devil Hulk. InThe Immortal Hulk, the Leader (after gaining immense otherworldly power fromthe One Below All) infiltrates Banner’s psyche to kidnap Banner himself, killing Devil Hulk to do so.
Devil Hulk tried to fight off the Leader and protect Bruce from getting kidnapped and brought to the Below-Place, but Devil Hulk failed to do so. While that was initially a bad thing, as Banner suffered horrors beyond comprehension while trapped in that hellish underworld, it ultimately proved to be good.
Hulk and Joe Fixit were eventually able to save Banner from the Below-Place, and when he returned to the world, Bruce was no longer plagued by Devil Hulk. Now, in the current continuity of Hulk comics, the only two personalities left within Bruce Banner’s mind are Bruce himself and a more mature version of Savage Hulk.
Now is the Perfect Time to Bring Back Devil Hulk
While it is good that Devil Hulk is no longer asserting himself as the primary personality in a twisted effort to keep Bruce Banner safe by basically threatening or killing everyone around him, Bruce could use someone who has his back right about now. In the current continuity ofHulkcomics,The Incredible HulkVol. 4 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein, Bruce Banner and the Hulk are not on very good terms, and Bruce is paying a hellish price for it.
The Hulk is still upset with Banner after Bruce trapped Hulk’s mind within their shared psyche and effectively tortured him and siphoned his strength to pilot the Hulk’s physical body, which Banner controlled like a ‘starship’. This all happened in Donny Cates’Hulk(2021), and it’s something that Bruce is still paying for even in the most recent Hulk comics.
To repay Banner for what he did, Hulk has trapped Bruce in a metaphysical hell within their shared mindscape, and that’s where Banner has been left to rot permanently. This would not have happened if Devil Hulk were still around.
Devil Hulk wouldn’t have hesitated for even a split second before slaughtering Savage Hulk for even attempting to harm Bruce Banner in any way, let alone trap him in a swirling hellscape from which there is no escape. Devil Hulk could have saved Banner from this dark fate, despite the fact that Bruce genuinely deserves what’s happening to him.
Devil Hulk is Too Fascinating for Marvel to Keep On the Sidelines
The current Hulk storyline is all about an internal war between Hulk and Bruce Banner, both between each other and within themselves, as Banner and Hulk are coming to terms with who they truly are: heroes or monsters. Throwing Devil Hulk into the mix could be a fascinating twist that expands upon the current book’s themes, and the timing would definitely work in Bruce Banner’s favor (even if just in the short term).
Not only would bringing Devil Hulk back be good for the story (especially for Bruce Banner within the story), but doing so in general would be a smart move by Marvel.
Devil Hulk is theHulk’s most terrifying enemy, and that’s because he’s Bruce Banner’s most ruthless ally, making him a fascinating character that Marvel Comics needs to bring back.
