Bruce Banner just spawned a horrifying new version of the Hulk, with major implications for the future of his gamma powers.
Bruce Banner Spawns New ‘Coward Hulk’ Form
In today’s The Infernal Hulk #4 – from Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Kev Walker, Nic Klein, Cam Smith, Matt Wilson and Cory Petit – Bruce Banner is confronted by Iron Man and Mister Fantastic. When he refuses to help bring down the new Infernal Hulk, Iron Man berates him as a coward, causing a worm-like Hulk to spawn from Bruce’s back.
The moment is depicted like a hallucination, with Iron Man and Reed Richards not reacting, however things aren’t so simple. Bruce Banner’s Hulk forms have always been a product of his dissociative identity disorder, with each persona given a unique body thanks to gamma energy. Even if this ‘coward Hulk’ only exists in Bruce’s mind, it’s still as real as the classic Savage Hulk – it just needs gamma energy to manifest physically.
Indeed, Bruce Banner’s mind is a literal dimension called the Hulkscape where different versions of Hulk live, interact and influence him.
It seems that after losing his gamma powers, Bruce is still generating new Hulks to join the Hulkscape – and that seems to be where the adventure is heading next.
Our Take on New Change to Bruce Banner’s Powers
Recently, Bruce Banner had his gamma powers stolen by the demonic Eldest, who became the Infernal Hulk and began trying to unleash a new ‘Age of Monsters.’ Meanwhile, Bruce and Betty Ross have been trying to forge a civilian life, even as Marvel’s heroes search for Bruce to try and stop Eldest.
In Infernal Hulk #4, the comic will finally check in on the ‘true’ Hulk within Bruce Banner’s mind, with the issue’s summary reading:
As the Infernal Hulk’s Age of Monsters rages across the globe, the INCREDIBLE Hulk is effectively dead, his consciousness locked away in the brutal depths of the Hulkscape. But Hulk discovers he’s not alone… his previous alters are locked in with him, as well as the countless victims and vessels of ELDEST. Could one of the Hulks possess the key to taking back their stolen body? And could they have a way to communicate with their long-lost companion CHARLIE?
Cover art for the issue makes it clear we’ll be seeing many different Hulk personas interacting within the Hulkscape – and it’s likely that Bruce’s new Coward Hulk form will be among them – the result of his self-loathing after abandoning the world to the Infernal Hulk.
Bruce has long treated the Hulk as another person, but that’s never been true. Every version of the Hulk – from Joe Fixit to the Devil Hulk – is an aspect of Bruce’s identity. The more stress Bruce is under, the more aspects of his identity split off and gain their own gamma form.
And as Infernal Hulk just showed, far from being happy with his new civilian life, Bruce is churning with rage and fear, leading to the creation of brand new Hulks the world has never had to reckon with before.
The Infernal Hulk #3 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- First Appearance
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The Incredible Hulk (1962)
- Alias
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Robert Bruce Banner
- Alliance
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Avengers, Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Pantheon, Warbound, S.M.A.S.H., Secret Avengers
- Franchise
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Marvel