Powers and abilities
Strength
The Hulk supporting a mountain/overpowering Onslaught and destroying his armor.
The Hulk supporting a mountain/overpowering Onslaught and destroying his armor.
The Hulk possesses the potential for incredible levels of superhuman strength, growing directly proportional to his emotional state, particularly his anger, spawning the famous quotes: "The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets," and "Hulk is the strongest one there is." His original enraged strength made him a match in combat with beings such as Thor[1] and Hercules.[2]
The Hulk has been shown capable of protecting other prominent Marvel superheroes from the collision of a falling mountain range, claimed to dwarf the Andes, and supporting a part of it on his back, with the assistance of leverage. The cover stated "Beneath one hundred and fifty billion tons stands the Hulk".[3] More impressively, he managed to shift the continental plates of an entire planet to keep it from collapsing.[4] The Hulk has also been shown shattering an asteroid twice the size of Earth with a single punch, with the help of hydraulic catapults launching him into outer space at great speed.[5] On another occasion he lost control of his power to a point where was referred as being about to destroy the entire planet beneath his feet, through the sheer output of force from his body. During that time his merest foot step threatened to sink the entire Eastern Coast of the United States. There are examples of the Leader,[6] and Doc Samson,[7] attempting, unsuccessfully, to measure the limits of The Hulk's strength using the advanced technology at their disposal. Upon probing by the Beyonder, his inner potential for strength was described by the Beyonder as nearly incalculable.[8]
During combat with the psionic entity known as Onslaught, stated to possess power rivaling a Celestial,[9] Jean Grey psionically disables Bruce Banner's persona, to remove all restraints on the Hulk's rage. While trading punches, the Hulk is angered to a point where he is able to overcome Onslaught's strength and destroy his armour.[10] In the officially approved statistics of the "Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game" Hulk was listed as having a calm level strength of 20, but could reach at least 30 when enraged, the same as a Celestial. This can be compared to Thor and Juggernaut being listed at 19, Silver Surfer at 20, Thanos at 22, Destroyer at 24, and Surtur at 28.[11]
The Hulk possesses highly developed leg muscles which enable him to leap several miles at a time, and even longer distances while in an enraged state. He has been shown covering 1000 miles in a single leap,[12] and even jumping into a low-Earth orbit.[13]
Durability
Human Torch's nova-flame + Storm's full power lightning strike/Silver Surfer's blasts
Human Torch's nova-flame + Storm's full power lightning strike/Silver Surfer's blasts
The Hulk is depicted with extremely high levels of superhuman stamina and resistance to physical injury. His muscles are resistant to fatigue poisons, which allows him to function at peak performance for extremely long periods without tiring. He's been shown enduring the impact of high-caliber artillery shells, falls from orbital heights, or extremely powerful energy blasts without sustaining injury, and resisting poisons and diseases with no ill effect. The Hulk has been shown capable of withstanding a ground zero nuclear explosion,[14] as well as the 1,000,000-degree Fahrenheit "nova-burst" of the Human Torch, in one case combined with a full-power lightning strike by Storm.[15]
At the end of the "Planet Hulk" storyline, he withstands the blast effect of a "warp core breach", which generated enough force to destabilise the fictional planet Sakaar near the point of collapse,[16] and following this, Black Bolt's voice, which generated enough power to knock off a piece of the moon the size of Rhode Island.[17] He has also displayed sufficient durability to survive immersion in magma and the immense temperatures and pressure of a planetary mantle for extended periods.[18]
Other examples include withstanding energy blasts from the Silver Surfer,[19] Thor,[20] a vastly powered-up gigantic Thanos clone,[21] the High Evolutionary,[22] the Sentry,[23] or Galactus (when not fully nourished),[24] and a blast from Exodus was incapable of causing any discomfort.[25]
Even his eyeballs have been demonstrated as completely resistant to portable machine gun fire,[26] and his skin resisted being pierced by a "Dog O' War" stated as capable of crushing adamantium in 7.3 seconds.[27] As noted previously, the Hulk received no damage from a head-on collision powerful enough to shatter an asteroid twice the size of the Earth.[5]
Healing factor
The Hulk's healing factor
The Hulk's healing factor
Despite his body's high resistance to damage, it is possible to injure the Hulk. He has been hurt numerous times by opponents wielding weapons composed of adamantium.[28] However, he can regenerate damaged or destroyed tissue with far greater efficiency than an ordinary human. He has proven capable of regenerating his eyes, skin, and most of his muscle tissue, within moments of having it flayed from his body by Vector.[29] His future "Maestro" incarnation proved capable of eventually reconstructing himself after being blown to powder.[30]
He has displayed great resistance to unwilling transformation of his physical form. For instance, he was immune to direct genetic manipulation from the High Evolutionary.[22] Additionally he fought off the effects of being shrunk by Goom,[31] was quickly restored to normal by his healing factor after he was turned to stone by the Grey Gargoyle, [32] and he immediately tore free, completely unscathed, after having his limbs phased into solid concrete.[33]
As another possible effect, he has been shown as functionally immortal by human standards in terms of long lifespan.[34]
It has been stated that The Hulk's durability, stamina and the efficiency of his healing powers all fluctuate with his emotional state, much like his physical strength.[35]
Speed and reflexes
Marvel Comics executive editor Tom Brevoort officially listed the Hulk as possessing super speed comparable with Thor or Spider-Man.[36] The Hulk has sufficiently fast reflexes and reaction time to match the Sentry in physical combat.[37]
Resistance to psionics
The Hulk has also demonstrated great resistance from psychic control such as assaults from Xemnu the Titan,[38] Cable,[39], Professor Phobos,[40] and Professor Xavier.[41]
In his earliest days, he proved vulnerable to the pre-Phoenix Jean Grey.[42]
Miscellaneous
* In addition to these powers, the Hulk demonstrated the ability to "home in" on the desert base where he was empowered.[43] He also has the ability to see and hear spectres, such as the astral form of Doctor Strange.[44]
* His powers have been shown and stated to increase after absorbing large amounts of radiation up to ground zero nuclear attacks.[45]
* As a result of the Planet Hulk storyline, the Hulk has been written with combat skills and experience as a military strategist and leader. Also, he wears armor and utilizes mêlée weapons. For instance, he was able to eliminate the Juggernaut from his battle with the X-Men by using the latter's own momentum against him, accelerating him to a point where he could not stop himself.[46]
Irregular abilities
* The Hulk has displayed limited reactive evolution, as he's developed a gland that enables him to breathe underwater,[47] and stated that he would adapt to the vacuum of space,[48] which he later did, spending prolonged periods without needing to breathe.[49]
* He once used a ‘homing sense’ to locate Onslaught while burrowing underground.[50]
* He has been stated to possess an undefined mystical connection, enabling him to work as an inter-dimensional nexus of reality,[51] and has acted as a sponge for dark magic, being immune to or empowered by its effects.[52]
* He has also been able to reflect the gamma ray blasts of the Galaxy Master back to the source.[53]
* Occasionally, the Hulk has performed features not possible through real life physical force, even by comic-book 'logic', such as keeping apart matter and anti-matter spheres,[54] changing direction in mid-jump, or punching his way through a time-storm.[55]
Shown higher extents of power
Pushing a 10x stronger than normal Thor to the ground with a single arm
Pushing a 10x stronger than normal Thor to the ground with a single arm
* Ripping the gigantic "Flame of Life", created to withstand and fight the Celestials, in half by pure physical strength.[56]
* Overcoming the strength, and breaking the armour of Onslaught, stated to possess power rivaling a Celestial,[57] during combat after Jean Grey psionically disabled Bruce Banner's persona, to remove all restraints on the Hulk's rage.[58]
* Pushing a 10x stronger than normal,[59] "warrior's madness" Thor towards the ground with a single arm.[20]
* Destroying a pocket universe, by clapping his hands to create a shock wave that reflected the Dark-Crawler's blasts.[60]
* Sending concussive shockwaves, causing cataclysmic upheavals throughout a great number of multiversal planets, by the impact of his punches when within the 'Crossroads' nexus.[61]
* Forcing the Sentry to fight using his entire power, and defeating him after a prolonged battle, in which both were reverted to their human forms for the final 2 seconds.[23]
* Defeating Doctor Strange when the latter was merged with the essence and power of an expended Zom.[62]
Breaking Doctor Strange's Crimson Bands of Cyttorak
Breaking Doctor Strange's Crimson Bands of Cyttorak
* Shattering Doctor Strange's otherwise indestructible Crimson Bands of Cyttorak.[63]
* Breaking free of a power-leeching machine that held Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, and Doctor Strange combined.[64]
* Destroying a force field created by the Stranger, which contained enough energy to change a planet's orbit [65]
* Pulling the continental plates of the planet Sakaar together, while enduring the lack of air and immense heat and pressure of the planetary mantle.[66]
* Denting or cracking true adamantium through physical force.[67]
* Demolishing the armour of, and defeating, the High Evolutionary.[68]
* Overloading the Absorbing Man.[69]
* Stopping the Juggernaut when Hulk had higher base strength, due to nexus-energies from Franklin Richards' pocket universe, but had lost his rage-factor. Likely given help from the technology provided by Apocalypse.[70] In a later deadlock, he seemingly either repeated the feat without help, or severely impeded the Juggernaut's movement.[71]
* Beating the Silver Surfer unconscious with 3 blows.[72]
* Breaking through the Silver Surfer's force field.[73]
* Reflecting Gladiator's eye-beams, stated to burn hotter than the heart of stars,[74] back into the latter's eyes by covering them with his hand, and beating him bloody and unconscious.[75]
The Hulk breaking Superman's grip and throwing him into outer space
The Hulk breaking Superman's grip and throwing him into outer space
* Breaking Superman's grip, and throwing him into outer space.[76]
* Breaking X-Man's telekinetic field.[21]
* Nearly defeating two Avengers teams that included Namor, She Hulk, Hercules, Wonder Man and Iron Man, despite being greatly weakened due to separation from Bruce Banner.[77]
* Defeating the Fantastic Four and Storm single-handedly, including smashing Invisible Woman's force field.[78]
* Closing vault doors to a nuclear core that Thor and Thing together couldn't budge.[79]
* Fighting evenly against Thor and Thing at the same time.[80]
* Destroying the Crypto Man with three punches after the robot had been boosted with strength greater than Thor's.[81]
* Throwing the 20-ton dragon Fin Fang Foom to the moon.[82]
* Effortlessly stopping a strike from Red Norvell's equal copy of Mjolnir with one hand.[83]
* Lifting and moving the Blob.[84]
* Shattering a force field, which had othervise only been pierced by the sonic screams of Black Bolt.[85]
* Destroying a military installation designed to withstand an explosive force of "several thousand megatons", in one punch.[86]
* Destroying a ship with a single blow that Thor, Iron Man and the Human Torch only dented.[87]
* Defeating nearly the entire X-Men roster single-handedly, including easily breaking both of Colossus' arms, and overloading Strong Guy with one strike.[88][89]
Lower-end power occasions
Beyond being a creation that per definition varies greatly in power, as in the case with other Marvel Comics powerhouses like Juggernaut burned by a chandelier,[90] Firelord being physically beaten by Spider-Man,[91] Silver Surfer unable to break the grip of Black Panther,[92] or Thor being wounded by Mongoose and rendered unconscious by a shot to the head from a conventional handgun,[93] comicbook characters are sometimes displayed at wildly differing levels to fit story conveniences (or the interpretation/unfamiliarity of the writer in regards to the character) and greatly shifting personal bias. Hulk has overall been shown to grow vastly more powerful from his origins in the 60's, but even in recent years has occasionally been displayed at seemingly mindboggling lows.
* Passing out from asphyxiation due to being strangled less than a minute by an ordinary python.[94]
* Spider-Man reminiscing about Captain America withstanding the Hulk's blows and knocking him out.[95]
* Injured by a Wolverine restricted to bone claws, and a pygmy Wendigo.[96]
* Hurt by Deadpool's regular steel swords and impaled by a lamppost.[97]
* Several Spanish citizens transformed by Diablo based on the Hulk's appearance, leisurely beaten by a 25-feet tall Giant-Man.[98]
* Knocked unconscious by Spider-Man throwing a truck at him, as relayed by an audience of drunks.[99]
* Knocked unconscious by Thor's lightning.[100]
* Knocked unconscious by a surprise attack from Iron Man emptying his armour's entire power-storage into one blow, after the Hulk had turned dizzy from a small-scale U.S. Army attack.[101]
* Drained and badly damaged by Havok by using his own power against him.[
