The Hulk has taken on a variety of different personas in Marvel Comics, and while a few have been seen in the MCU, the others could debut very soon.
Marvel Comics demonstrated many different versions of Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk, but only a few of these have been seen in the live-action MCU. The Hulk debuted in Marvel Comics’ 1962 The Incredible Hulk #1, and quickly became one of the staples of the comics just as the character has done for Marvel Studios’ MCU. Edward Norton introduced Bruce Banner to the MCU in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, though he was recast for 2012’s The Avengers onwards, with Mark Ruffalo taking over the role that he has become synonymous with. Banner has seen extraordinary developments over his MCU tenure, but the character’s story isn’t over yet.
In The Incredible Hulk, Norton portrayed Bruce Banner’s Hulk alter ego as an uncontrollable monster that was fueled by rage. This changed in The Avengers, as Ruffalo’s Hulk was more cooperative, working with the Avengers to defeat Loki and his army. Since then, Avengers: Age of Ultron showed Banner forming a bond with Black Widow, Thor: Ragnarok displayed a gladiator Hulk on Sakaar, and Avengers: Infinity War saw the Hulk reluctant to emerge, causing Banner to combine his human and Hulk personas into Smart Hulk. While many versions of the Hulk have already been seen in the MCU, there are several from Marvel Comics who could still make themselves known.
Devil Hulk/Immortal Hulk
In the 2000s run of The Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 #13, Marvel Comics debuted one of Bruce Banner’s alternate personalities, known as the Devil Hulk. This version of the Hulk personifies Banner’s resentment at the way he is treated by the world, forming a villainous Hulk that constantly threatens to escape the confines of Banner’s mind. The Devil Hulk emerged again in 2018’s The Immortal Hulk #1, renaming himself the Immortal Hulk, and becoming the dominant personality in Banner’s body. The Immortal Hulk grants Banner eternal life, and even bonds with the Venom symbiote, but is a terrifying addition to Marvel Comics’ roster, focusing heavily on the body-horror of Banner’s transformations.
While there has been no sign of the Devil or Immortal Hulk debuting in the MCU, Marvel Studios has recently been putting emphasis on Banner’s journey as the Hulk, especially in projects such as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and the upcoming Captain America: New World Order. Banner has always struggled with how the world perceives him, shown brilliantly in Avengers: Age of Ultron as he rages through the streets of Johannesburg. This could rear its head again in the MCU’s future as the Immortal Hulk. With Spider-Man: No Way Home’s post-credits scene revealing a piece of Venom in the MCU, it’s possible that Banner could even become the symbiote’s host.
Maestro
Maestro was introduced to Marvel Comics in 1992’s The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1, which explored a dystopian alternate future timeline where the world had been ravaged by nuclear war. The heightened levels of radiation only made the Hulk stronger, turning him into Maestro. This version of the Hulk formed the Post-Apocalyptic Existence (PAX), a movement with the goal of wiping out the remaining division in humanity and implanting himself as the ruler of the world. Maestro became a staunch enemy to the Hulk when he enters the latter’s own timeline, instigating some epic battles between the pair, both physically and intellectually.
Maestro’s debut in the MCU would make complete sense in the Multiverse Saga, as this is a version of the Hulk from an alternate future timeline. Maestro’s first battle in Marvel Comics also sees him go head-to-head with Hercules, who was introduced during Thor: Love & Thunder’s post-credits scene. Maestro also has an intriguing connection to Sony’s Spider-Verse films, as he comes into contact with Miguel O’Hara, a.k.a. Spider-Man 2099, manipulating him into building a time machine, so this could make for a brilliant crossover between Sony and Marvel Studios. Maestro is also included in 2015’s Secret Wars event, so Phase 6’s Avengers: Secret Wars could see this Hulk’s debut.
Grey Hulk, A.K.A. Joe Fixit
Marvel Comics’ Grey Hulk was the version of Banner that embodied the moody teenager that Banner was never allowed to become, interestingly inspired by Stan Lee’s original coloring for the Hulk, though ink issues caused the Hulk to be green. Adopting the identity of Joe Fixit, the Hulk became a morally ambiguous (at best) enforcer for organized crime in Las Vegas. Regularly seen sporting dapper suits and enjoying the finer things in life, like money, women, and guns, Joe Fixit was a pretty hilarious version of the Hulk who even eventually was able to transform into his version of the Red Hulk.
Joe Fixit might seem like a ridiculous addition to the MCU, but this could be the perfect route for a version of Bruce Banner to take in the future. Banner combined his human and Hulk personas into Smart Hulk in Avengers: Endgame, which also had the side effect of limiting the Hulk’s power-set, and since Joe Fixit is a less powerful version of the Hulk, this is what the MCU’s Hulk could develop into. Should the Hulk be left off the new Avengers team in the MCU, he could turn to a life of petty crime, turning his back on the world that has always look down on him anyway. Enter Joe Fixit.
Kluh
Introduced in (and killed-off in) Marvel Comics’ 2011 run of Hulk Vol. 2 #30, Kluh was an intelligent version of the Grey Hulk who had been cloned by Xemnu, an alien being with a genius-level intellect. Xemnu planned to destroy the Hulk and replace him with Kluh, though this plan didn’t exactly pan out in the way Xemnu had hoped. During a battle with the Red Hulk, Kluh was combined with his enemy to form the Compound Hulk, an action that killed the cloned Hulk before he could get any real development in Marvel Comics.
Kluh’s short-lived career in Marvel Comics would make him perfect for a one-and-done story in the Hulk’s MCU future. Though distribution rights for the Hulk are tied up between Marvel Studios and Universal Pictures, there has been recent speculation that the rights will soon be reverting to the former production company, which would allow more solo Hulk projects to be developed. Kluh would be an excellent villain in one of these projects, especially since the Red Hulk is rumored to be appearing in Captain America: New World Order or Thunderbolts, since Harrison Ford has been recast as General Ross following William Hurt’s passing in 2022.
Guilt Hulk
On a much darker note, Guilt Hulk emerged in 1991’s The Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 #377 as the embodiment of Bruce Banner’s abusive father, Brian Banner, manifesting itself as Banner’s childhood memories. This version of the Hulk is grotesque, tormenting Banner from within his own mind, introduced as a looming creature covered in spikes that could breathe fire and torture Banner and other Hulks inside his mind. The MCU’s Bruce Banner has plenty of guilt due to his time before he had control of his abilities, so it’s very possible that the Guilt Hulk could be introduced as Banner’s constant tormentor.
Despite Bruce Banner being a staple of the MCU since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, not much is known about the character’s backstory or childhood. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law revealed that Banner actually has a huge family, as Jennifer Walters, a.k.a. She-Hulk, is his cousin, who regularly has large family dinners, which notably include the mysterious “Aunt Rebecca.” In Marvel Comics, Banner’s mother is named Rebecca, so this could be a tease at Banner’s mother and father being around in the MCU, and could hint at Brian Banner’s debut, which would surely bring about the introduction of the villainous Guilt Hulk.
Titan
Unveiled recently in Marvel Comics’ 2021 run of Hulk #6, the Titan is not to be confused with the Eternals of Titan or the Mad Titan, Thanos, but is rather a monstrous and malicious version of the Hulk. The Titan stands at 30 feet tall, has black skin, rock like spikes covering his body, and is introduced as a very deadly threat, easily ripping apart gamma-mutated beings and shooting enormous lasers from his eyes. The Titan’s introduction in the MCU would be outlandish and fantastical, but breathtaking nonetheless, especially since he has been described as what happens when the Hulk himself “Hulks Out”.
With the Hulk’s MCU storyline gaining a lot more traction in recent years, it’s possible that Marvel Studios could take Bruce Banner in any direction. This means that any number of Hulks could debut in the MCU’s future, especially if that rumored World War Hulk project actually happens. This would likely feature the World Breaker Hulk – not included on this list as he is just an angry version of the regular Hulk – which would be a terrifying but amazing addition to the MCU, and would finally give Bruce Banner the development and character study that he has always deserved as the MCU’s Hulk.
