The Hulk Trivia: 19 fascinating facts about the fictional character!

The Hulk is a fictional superhero created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, who first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book The Incredible Hulk in May 1962 published by Marvel Comics.

Let’s find out some more facts about it!

1. In his comic book appearances, the character is both the Hulk, a green-skinned, hulking and muscular humanoid possessing a vast degree of physical strength, and his alter ego Bruce Banner, a physically weak, socially withdrawn, and emotionally reserved physicist, the two existing as personalities independent and resenting of the other.

2. Following his accidental exposure to gamma radiation during the detonation of an experimental bomb, Banner is physically transformed into the Hulk when subjected to emotional stress, at or against his will, often leading to destructive rampages and conflicts that complicate Banner’s civilian life.

3. The Hulk’s level of strength is normally conveyed as proportionate to his level of anger. Commonly portrayed as a raging savage, the Hulk has been represented with other personalities based on Banner’s fractured psyche, from a mindless, destructive force, to a brilliant warrior, or genius scientist in his own right.

4. Despite both Hulk and Banner’s desire for solitude, the character has a large supporting cast, including Banner’s lover Betty Ross, his friend Rick Jones, his cousin She-Hulk, sons Hiro-Kala and Skaar, and his co-founders of the superhero team the Avengers. However, his uncontrollable power has brought him into conflict with his fellow heroes and others.

5. Lee stated that the Hulk’s creation was inspired by a combination of Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

6. Although the Hulk’s coloration has varied throughout the character’s publication history, the most usual color is green. He has two main catchphrases: “Hulk is strongest one there is!” and the better-known “HULK SMASH!”, which has founded the basis for numerous pop culture memes.

7. One of the most iconic characters in popular culture, the character has appeared on a variety of merchandise, such as clothing and collectable items, inspired real-world structures (such as theme park attractions), and been referenced in a number of media.

8. Banner and the Hulk have been adapted in live-action, animated, and video game incarnations, including the 1970s The Incredible Hulk television series (played by Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno respectively) and in film by Eric Bana, Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo.

9. Supervising the trial of an experimental gamma bomb that he designed for the U.S. Defense Department at a nuclear research facility in New Mexico, Bruce selflessly rushed to the rescue of an ignorant teenager who had wandered onto the testing field as the countdown ticked inexorably toward zero. After shoving young Rick Jones to safety in a nearby ditch, Bruce was struck full-force by the bomb blast. He survived, but was irradiated by the deadly gamma energy.

10. At first, Banner would transform into the brutish gray Hulk only at sunset, and revert to human form at dawn. Eventually, his changes into the childlike green Hulk came to be triggered by the release of adrenaline when he was intensely excited, no matter what time of day. The green Hulk possesses little of Banner’s memory and intelligence, and is easily enraged; making him a menace to society.

11. Since Banner’s initial transformation into the Hulk, military forces commanded by the implacable General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross – Bruce’s one-time benefactor – have hunted him continually. Hulk continued to make more enemies within the military such as Major Glenn Talbot as he and Bruce constantly competed for the affections of Ross’ daughter, Betty.

12. For a short time, Banner successfully treated his condition with radiation and was able to maintain enough of his own personality when he became the Hulk to control himself in that form. Subsequently, he earned the government’s favor by destroying the alien Metal Master and received a presidential pardon.

13. Not long after Hulk was baited into a trap by the Asgardian trickster, Loki, into destroying a train trestle. This would lead to the first instance where Hulk became a team player.

14. Beside the occasional group endeavors, Hulk has teamed-up with many others that didn’t think he was so bad. Spider-Man, Power Man and Iron Fist have partnered with Hulk on several occasions. Even brutes like the Thing and scrappers like Wolverine identified with Hulk and have allied with him almost as many times as they’ve fought against him. Not only has Hulk befriended those in the super-hero community, but he has managed to form bonds with regular people such as “Crackajack” Jackson and Jim Wilson.

15. Unfortunately for the Hulk, there are many who used his limited intelligence against him and attempted to manipulate him for their own selfish means. Vile menaces like the Leader, Tyrannus, and Captain Omen. When Hulk proved to be too hard to control, they sent their minions like Aquon and Mogol to confront him physically.

16. Enemies came in all shapes and sizes, ranging in power levels. From mere humans like Devastator, to evolved beings like the Inheritor, to monstrous powerhouses like Glob, Hulk always found a way to prevail – even against those who masqueraded as friends such as his old physics professor, Geoffrey Crawford – later known as Ravage.

17. How the Hulk died: When everyone on Earth is killed in a nuclear war, only one man is left standing. Hulk: The End features Bruce Banner as an elderly and decrepit man doomed to wander the Earth forever because the Hulk simply will not let him die. By this point, the Green Goliath has become invulnerable and is constantly attacked by irradiated cockroaches that eat him alive. He regenerates each time though, but finally allows Banner to die, giving the Hulk his wish of being left alone.

18. Years ago, Lost writer Damon Lindelof penned an Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk series for Marvel. The premise of the six part series was that Nick Fury decided to hire Wolverine – the man with the best possible chance of taking down the Green Goliath – to put an end to this headache for S.H.I.E.L.D. once and for all. However, not long after they first come to blows, the Hulk tears Wolverine clean in half!

19. During the Civil War crisis, the Hulk becomes a huge problem to the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. When the government insists that all superheroes register and reveal their secret identities, the Hulk goes on a rampage through Las Vegas that kills a bunch of people. Tony Stark, other members of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Avengers come up with a plan. They trick Banner into thinking that they need his scientific expertise on a deep space mission, to which Banner agrees. However, once in space, they aim the ship at a wormhole. This is supposed to transport the Hulk to an uninhabited planet, where he can cause no harm. Instead, however, he ends up being sent to Sakaar, a planet teeming with intelligent life. The Hulk is then enslaved by its natives. He fights his way to freedom, becomes the leader of a resistance army, conquers the whole world, and leads his new army back to Earth for revenge.