Powers and abilities of the Hulk

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This is a listing of powers and abilities possessed by the Hulk, a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. The Hulk is a creation that per definition varies greatly in power from occasion to occasion. As with other comicbook characters, his powers are recurrently displayed at wildly different levels to fit story conveniences or the interpretation/unfamiliarity of the writer.

In some stories The Hulk has been shown capable of withstanding a ground zero nuclear explosion,[1] 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 [2]. In other stories, he has been shown to be significantly weaker, for example passing out from asphyxiation due to being strangled by an ordinary python,[3] or being beaten and knocked out in physical combat with Captain America [4] Regardless, the Hulk has overall been shown to grow vastly more powerful from his origins in the 60s.

Powers and abilities

Strength

File:Supporting a mountain and destroying Onslaught.jpg
The Hulk supporting a mountain/overpowering Onslaught and destroying his armor.

The Hulk possesses superhuman strength that grows directly proportional to his emotional state, particularly his anger, spawning the famous quotes: "The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets," "Hulk is the strongest one there is," and "The most powerful creature to ever walk the Earth."[5] In the Hulk's early days, his enraged strength, at a usual level, made him a match in combat with beings such as Thor[6] and Hercules.[7]

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".[8] In another story, he managed to shift the continental plates of a planet to keep it from collapsing.[9] When he lost control of his power at one point, he nearly destroyed the entire planet 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.[10] There are examples of the Leader[11] and Doc Samson[12] 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 as "with no finite element inside".[13] As of the events of World War Hulk, the writer Greg Pak described Hulk, as being at a level of physical power where "Hulk was stronger than any mortal -- and most immortals -- who ever walked the Earth[14] ... I don't think even Superman would stand a chance".[15]


Leaping

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,[16] and even jumping into a low-Earth orbit.[17]

Durability

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,[18] 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.[19]

File:Hulk heal.jpg
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.[20] 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.[21] His future "Maestro" incarnation proved capable of eventually reconstructing himself after being blown to powder.[22] Like his strength, his healing factor varies in proportion to his emotional state.[23]

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.[24] Additionally, he fought off the effects of being shrunk by Goom,[25] was quickly restored to normal by his healing factor after he was turned to stone by the Grey Gargoyle,[26] and he immediately tore free, completely unscathed, after having his limbs phased into solid concrete.[27] As a possible side effect, he has been shown as functionally immortal by human standards in terms of long lifespan.[28]

Speed and reflexes

Marvel Comics executive editor Tom Brevoort officially listed the Hulk as possessing super speed comparable with Thor or Spider-Man.[29] The Hulk has sufficiently fast reflexes and reaction time to match the Sentry in physical combat.[30]

Resistance to psionics

The Hulk has also demonstrated great resistance from psychic control such as assaults from Xemnu the Titan,[31] Cable,[32] Professor Phobos,[33] and Professor Xavier.[34]

In his earliest days, he proved vulnerable to the pre-Phoenix Jean Grey.[35]

Miscellaneous

  • In addition to these powers, the Hulk demonstrated the ability to "home in" on the desert base where he was empowered.[36] He also has the ability to see and hear spectres, such as the astral form of Doctor Strange.[37]
  • His powers have been stated and shown to increase after absorbing large amounts of radiation up to ground zero nuclear attacks.[38]
  • 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.[39]
  • He once used a ‘homing sense’ to locate Onslaught while burrowing underground.[43]
  • He has been stated to possess an undefined mystical connection, enabling him to work as an inter-dimensional nexus of reality,[44] and has acted as a sponge for dark magic, being immune to or empowered by its effects.[45]
  • Occasionally, the Hulk has performed feats that violate the laws of physics, even by comic book standards. Examples include keeping apart matter and anti-matter spheres,[47] changing direction in mid-jump, punching his way through a time-storm,[48] destroying a pocket universe, by clapping his hands to create a shock wave that reflected the Dark-Crawler's blasts,[49] sending concussive shockwaves, causing cataclysmic upheavals throughout a great number of multiversal planets, by the impact of his punches when within the 'Crossroads' nexus,[50] and holding a black hole's core with his arms to buy time for Namor, Doctor Strange and Silver Surfer to find a way out.[51]

As a footnote, like most comicbook strongmen, he also regularly completely violates most remotely reality-connected principles of leverage, momentum, and material strain tolerance.

References

  1. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #440 (April 1996)
  2. ^ Fantastic Four #435; World War Hulk #2
  3. ^ Incredible Hulk vol.1, #470, November 1998
  4. ^ Fallen Son: Spider-Man April 2007; Very rough scale comparison: Maximum human strength: 472.5 kg. Weight of the Earth: 6.0×10^24kg.
  5. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #111 (Dec. 2007)
  6. ^ Journey Into Mystery #112 (Jan. 1965)
  7. ^ Tales To Astonish, vol. 1, no. 79 ((May 1966)).
  8. ^ Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #4 (Aug. 1984)
  9. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #102 (Mars 2007)
  10. ^ World War Hulk #5; http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread/showthread.php?t=136412
  11. ^ Tales to Astonish #73 (Nov. 1965)
  12. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #228 (Oct. 1978)
  13. ^ Secret Wars vol 2. #8
  14. ^ Hulk, Skaar & Hercules
  15. ^ In the Wake of World War Hulk
  16. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #33 (Dec. 2001)
  17. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #254 (Dec. 1980)
  18. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #440 (April 1996); Fantastic Four #433
  19. ^ Fantastic Four #435; World War Hulk #2
  20. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #340 (Feb. 1988); Wolverine vol. 2, #145; The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #430
  21. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 1, #398 (Oct. 1992)
  22. ^ Hulk: Future Imperfect #2; The Incredible Hulk Vol.2, #451; The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #460
  23. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #394 (June 1994)
  24. ^ Incredible Hulk vol.2, #266
  25. ^ Incredible Hulk annual #5
  26. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol.2, #364
  27. ^ World War Hulk: X-Men #2
  28. ^ Incredible Hulk: The Last Titan
  29. ^ The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Hulk 2004 (August 2004)
  30. ^ World War Hulk #5
  31. ^ Defenders Vol.1, #12 (February 1974)
  32. ^ Cable Vol.1, #34
  33. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #259 (May 1981)
  34. ^ World War Hulk: X-Men #1
  35. ^ X-Men #66 (Mar. 1970)
  36. ^ The Incredible Hulk Vol.1 #314
  37. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #82
  38. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #105 (June 2007); The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #2; Fantastic Four #433; World War Hulk: X-Men #2
  39. ^ World War Hulk: X-Men #3
  40. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #77
  41. ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #90
  42. ^ World War Hulk: Prologue
  43. ^ The Incredible Hulk Vol.2 #445
  44. ^ The Incredible Hulk Vol.2 #453; The Incredible Hulk Vol.2 #450
  45. ^ The Incredible Hulk Vol.3 #82; The Darkness/Hulk #1
  46. ^ Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 #270
  47. ^ Marvel Team Up annual #2
  48. ^ Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #135
  49. ^ Incredible Hulk vol.2, #126
  50. ^ "Incredible Hulk vol.2, #305
  51. ^ Defenders vol.1, #3
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