TOP TEN INCREDIBLE HULK VILLAINS
Hey, everyone! As some of you may know, the Incredible Hulk is my all time favorite super hero. I've loved the Hulk since I was a child watching the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno Incredible Hulk television show in syndication in the 1980's. Then I discovered the comic books, Peter David's run in particular, and my love for the green goliath was forever cemented. There is no super hero I know more about or have read more of than the Hulk.
I originally crafted this list for the comic book website COMICONVERSE. Here is a link to that article, TOP 10 HULK VILLAINS.
I am representing that list here albeit with a few changes. These are the top villains I personally enjoy seeing battle the Hulk. These are primarily Hulk villains and no heroes allowed. So no Wolverine, Thing (Ben Grimm), Thor, or Doc Samson. Just the villains. And no Dr. Doom or M.O.D.O.K either since they're more associated with other heroes but have tangled with the Hulk numerous times.
So, without further delay, bring on the bad guys!
#12
XEMNU ~ THE TITAN
Because I love the Hulk so much I am giving us two bonus characters for this list.
First appearing in Journey Into Mystery #62 in November 1960, Xemnu was Marvel’s first Hulk.
Originally named The Hulk, Xemnu was an alien monster who crash landed
on Earth. Possessing telepathy and strength surpassing even that of
today’s Hulk (Bruce Banner). Xemnu mind-controlled entire towns of
people forcing them to rebuild his space ship. Xemnu makes our list for
being one of the few Hulk foes who can outclass the green goliath in
sheer strength.
During his first encounter with Earth’s super heroes, Xemnu defeated both Namor the Sub-Mariner and Doctor Strange before coming face to face with his successor, Bruce Banner a.k.a. the Hulk! Through the combined might of the Defenders,
Hulk was able to drive Xemnu away. Xemnu has returned on multiple
occasions since then to battle the Hulk and has even made his television
debut on the show Hulk: Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
#11
THE BI-BEAST
And the second bonus villain for this list is certainly one of the weirdest characters in the entire Marvel pantheon (a little Hulk reference there for those of you in the know "wink").
First appearing in Incredible Hulk #169 from November 1973, the monstrous Bi-Beast is an artificial being created long ago by a race of avian creatures. He has two minds with which to formulate his plans, a nigh indestructible body, and both stature and strength greater than that of the Hulk! One of the minds possesses vast intelligence while the other mind is more simple and base, providing the raw emotion and power needed to physically battle the Hulk. With this combination of sheer force and maniacal machinations, the Bi-Beast is a deadly foe not only to the Hulk but to anyone brave enough to oppose him.
In his first confrontation with the Hulk, Bi-Beast kidnapped Betty, one mind being in love with her. The Hulk followed and battled the Bi-Beast to a standstill. It wasn't until the intervention of the evil M.O.D.O.K. that the Bi-Beast was defeated. But not for long. Bi-Beast returned, taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. and using their helicarriers against the Hulk. The Bi-Beast has returned again and again to menace the Hulk, She-Hulk, the Defenders, and many more of Marvel's heroes and he remains one of the most formidable forces on Earth.
#10
THE RINGMASTER AND THE CIRCUS OF CRIME
First appearing in The Incredible Hulk #3 in September 1962, Maynard Tibolbt became the Ringmaster of the Circus of Crime.
Through the use of a hypnotic disc upon his ringmaster’s hat, Maynard
would place the audience under a hypnotic stasis and the rest of the
circus performers would rob the crowd blind. Then Ringmaster would
mind-wipe the audience of any memory of being robbed and the circus
would pack up and move on to the next unsuspecting town.
The Ringmaster makes the list in honor of being one of the Hulk’s
earliest villains. Tiboldt hypnotized the Hulk and forced the green
goliath into the service of the circus. With the help of Rick Jones,
Hulk was able to break free from Ringmaster’s mind control and thwart
the Circus of Crime. Not exclusive to the Hulk, the Ringmaster has had
encounters with many heroes narrowly succeeding more than once against
the likes of Spider-Man, Daredevil, and even the Avengers. The Ringmaster and his circus always seem to come back around to the Hulk, pitting him against the seductive Princess Python or even a mind-controlled Dragon Man!
#9
ZZZAX ~ THE LIVING DYNAMO
First appearing in The Incredible Hulk #166 in August 1973, Zzzax
is a being of pure energy. Created during an electrical explosion
inside an atomic reactor, Zzzax possesses the ability to absorb and
channel all forms of electrical current. Zzzax can even absorb the
electric synapses firing in human brains, temporarily taking on the
personalities of its victims.
Zzzax is a unique villain in Hulk’s rogues gallery as one of the few
enemies Hulk cannot physically touch or pummel with his fists. Zzzax has
repeatedly battled the Hulk over the years, one of his more notable
encounters being where he absorbed General Ross‘ mind,
combining Ross’ unyielding desire to destroy the Hulk with Zzzax’s nigh
unlimited power. Zzzax makes the list for the unique threat he presents
to the Hulk and for returning numerous times with electrify terror!
#8
THE U-FOES
First appearing in The Incredible Hulk #254 in December of 1980, a group of four individuals attempted to recreate the accident that created the Fantastic Four. They flew into the same cosmic radiation and were transformed into the U-Foes! Vector – possessing the power to manipulate vectors and repel matter. Vapor – possesses the power to transform her body into a fog-like form capable of assuming the properties of any type of gas. X-Ray – possesses the ability to manipulate energy radiations of all kinds and project them as attacks. Ironclad – possesses a metallic hide, the ability to manipulate his body’s density, and Hulk level strength.
Together these four comprise the U-Foes, four of Hulk’s deadliest
enemies! Technically there are four of them and while they can function
on their own they are primarily a unit. The U-Foes have come very close
to killing the Hulk on multiple occasions. X-Ray once channeled gamma
negative rays siphoning off all of the Hulk’s power. Vector even
repelled the flesh from Professor Hulk’s bones. They’ve fought several
heroes other than the Hulk but have plagued Dr. Banner more often than
any other hero.
#7
TYRANNUS
First appearing in The Incredible Hulk #5 in January 1963, Romulus Augustulus was the last emperor of Rome before the fall of the empire. Exiled to the cavernous depths of Subterranea, it was there that he discovered the well feeding the Fountain of Youth. Drinking the water Tyrannus became immortal. Also in Subterranea he discovered the advanced technologies of the Deviants.
With dreams of creating the ultimate empire on Earth, Tyrannus has
returned to the surface time and time again attempting to conquer the
world.
One of the Hulk’s earliest enemies, Tyrannus has battled against the
Hulk and other Marvel heroes again and again. Intelligent, immortal, and
a lust for conquest only a Roman could possess. Tyrannus once took over
the golden city of El Dorado, and using the technologies therein became
a being of pure energy. Tyrannus at one time found himself merged with
Hulk’s other enemy the Abomination. Perhaps the most devastating blow the tyrant has ever dealt to the Hulk was the seduction of Betty Ross. Tyrannus makes the list for attacking Hulk on multiple levels over and over again.
#6
THE WENDIGO
First appearing in The Incredible Hulk #162 in April 1973, the entity known as the Wendigo
is a spirit roaming the Canadian wilderness. When a human cannibalizes
another this spirit possesses the human and transforms them into the
man-eating beast men call THE WENDIGO! Possessing greater strength, stamina, and durability than even the Hulk
and an insatiable appetite for human flesh, the Wendigo is a terrifying
monster the likes of which few who see it survive to tell the tale.
The Hulk is one of the few who can tackle the Wendigo alone and even then he sometimes needs help from Wolverine or Captain Marvel (Genis Vell)
to get the job done. If anyone ever had doubts as to whether the Hulk
was a hero or a monster, one look at the Wendigo and you’d have your
answer. A classic Hulk villain steeped in actual Native American myth,
the Wendigo is one of Hulk’s most formidable foes. The Wendigo curse was even transferred to the Hulk at one time creating a hybrid Hulk/Wendigo monster!
#5
THE MAESTRO
First Appearing in The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1 in December 1992, the Maestro
is the Hulk from one possible future-timeline. Still possessing
Banner’s intellect and the merged green Hulk/gray Hulk body, this future
version of himself is a Hulk completely corrupt with power. The heroes
have been defeated and the world has been reduced to a wasteland. Only
one city remains, Dystopia, and the Maestro rules it with an iron fist.
Bruce has long feared what would happen if the Hulk’s rage ever went
out of control. Ironically it wouldn’t be the rage but the power
combined with Banner’s intelligence that would turn the Hulk into that
which he always feared. Freedom fighters from the Maestro’s dark future
traveled back in time to retrieve the only one capable of defeating the
tyrant, the Hulk from the present. Facing the Maestro shook Banner to
his core and the possibility of the Maestro surfacing in the future
helps keep Banner and Hulk on the straight and narrow path of the hero. The Maestro is one of the Hulk’s greatest enemies.
#4
GENERAL "THUNDERBOLT" ROSS
First appearing in The Incredible Hulk #1 in May 1962, General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross
was there at the Hulk’s birth and partially responsible. General Ross
was head of the Gamma Bomb project that resulted in the Hulk’s creation.
A military man, the General has an unyielding desire to safeguard the
United States from all threats foreign and domestic. With unlimited
government resources at his disposal, General Ross has proven to be one
of the Hulk’s most tenacious enemies.
Not only does the General battle the Hulk with his military forces,
but he also disapproves of Bruce Banner’s relationship with Betty, the
general’s daughter. Combating both Bruce and the Hulk, Thunderbolt Ross
has stooped to lows he’d never thought he’d make, allying himself with
vile villains such as M.O.D.O.K. and the Abomination,
attempting to gundown Banner outright, and even so low as to become the
very thing he hates, a crimson hued Hulk himself. Though not an actual
villainous person, Ross has been an antagonist to the Hulk since the
very beginning.
#3
THE ABOMINATION
First appearing in Tales to Astonish #90 in April 1967, Emil Blonsky
was a Russian operative spying on General Ross’ military projects.
Discovering a gamma powered machine, Blonsky exposed himself to far more
gamma radiation than had created the Hulk. This transformed Blonsky
into a hideous monster with twice the strength of the Hulk, but unlike
the Hulk Blonsky retained his intelligence but could never revert back
to his human form. Blonsky became known as the Abomination, one of the strongest beings on Earth.
In their first encounter the Abomination easily overpowered the Hulk,
going so far as to beat the Hulk to death. Kidnapping Betty and
leaving, General Ross was forced to revive Hulk through means of
defibrillation. Using one of Banner’s gamma siphons, General Ross and
Hulk were able to significantly reduce Abomination’s strength to that of
the Hulk’s. The Abomination is a long time enemy of the Hulk and, like
Wendigo and Xemnu, one of the few beings on the planet who can go toe to
toe with the Hulk in sheer brute force. The Abomination was responsible
for the death of Betty and has been one of the few enemies to have
bested the Hulk on more than one occasion.
#2
THE LEADER
First appearing in Tales to Astonish #62 in December 1964, Samuel Sterns
was exposed to gamma radiation just as Banner had been. The gamma rays
however had a quite different effect. Instead of receiving brute
strength, the gamma rays enhanced Sterns’ mind to super-genius levels.
Using his newly acquired intelligence for personal means, the Hulk just
happened to be present at a time when Sterns, now calling himself the Leader,
was stealing parts for a machine he was building. This was the first of
many setbacks the Hulk would cause the Leader. After numerous setbacks
the Leader refocused his efforts on finding a way to rid the world of
the Hulk once and for all.
The Leader is truly the opposite force to the Hulk in every way,
perfectly exemplifying the word “nemesis.” Sending wave after wave of
his creations to battle the Hulk, robotic war-machines or rubbery pink
humanoids, the Leader used his intelligence rather than brute force to
battle the Hulk and at times it was Banner who was forced to battle the
Leader in a game of wits rather than strength. Perhaps the Leader’s
greatest triumph was during the Ground Zero saga where he
detonated a gamma bomb that seemingly atomized the Hulk and transformed a
small town populace into gamma mutates. A super-villain mastermind, the
Leader has defeated the Hulk numerous times and has solidified his
place has Hulk’s greatest enemy.
#1
BRIAN BANNER ~ THE MONSTER
First explored by legendary Hulk scribe Bill Mantlo in Incredible Hulk #267 and later in the critical origin story from Incredible Hulk #312, Brian Banner was a chemical engineer who experienced a gamma ray accident at the lab. He was safely behind a glass wall when the gamma rays exploded in his face, but he was convinced the gamma rays had effected him on a cellular level. When Bruce was born Brian was convinced the gamma rays in his cells had created a monster - his son. Brian's mind was unhinged. He abused Bruce both verbally and physically, calling him a monster and beat Bruce's mother regularly. When Bruce was still in single digits he and his mother were about to leave Brian for good when Bruce's father caught them. Brian beat his wife to death in front of Bruce.
I know. I just said that THE LEADER was the Hulk's greatest enemy and nemesis. And he is in the traditional sense. But if there is one figure who has had the biggest hand in creating and defining the Hulk and Bruce Banner's lives more than any other it is his father, Brian Banner. Bruce and the Hulk are split personalities resulting from abuse and trauma suffered as a child, incurred by Brian. Bruce's greatest fear is the monster within and that monster, in truth, is the memory of his father. Brian's ghost has haunted Bruce all his life and is reason why Bruce is a good person, wishing to be nothing like his father.
There you have it, the top ten (twelve) enemies of the Hulk, in my opinion. The Abomination is my personal favorite Hulk villain on the list followed closely by The Leader. The Hulk has many more rogues in his gallery, honorable mentions including the Absorbing Man, Armageddon, the Harpy, Trauma, Madman, the Riot Squad, Wildman, the
Red King, the Galaxy Master, the Glob, Mr. Hyde and more!
I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to comment below and list your top ten Hulk villains or at the very least your favorite Hulk villains.
And for more top ten lists check out the lists below!
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