How Does The Hulk Die In Marvel Comics?

The Hulk is arguably one of the strongest characters in the Marvel universe. He’s a powerful member of the Avengers and strongly woven into the mainstream of Marvel comics and movies. Recently Marvel even retconned his character to be immortal; thus finding a way to explain how he’s cheated death so many times in the comics. Regardless of his stipulated immortality, he can (and has) in fact still die.

Hulk has not always been a hero through and through. There have been multiple instances throughout different runs, timelines, and futures which have him painted the villain. In one of those such instances exists what is probably the most widely known example of his demise. Old Man Logan was a self-contained story arc which took place in an alternate future universe and centered around that universe’s version of an old Wolverine in a world where supervillains reigned supreme. One of those no-good supervillains was ole’ Bruce Banner himself. Unfortunately for him, this villainy would be his downfall.

The Wolverine: Old Man Logan comic was a gruesome one. Dark, twisted, and visually grotesque, it was not in any way a lighthearted story. The main villain throughout was an old Bruce Banner who had grown into villainy and shacked up with his own first cousin, Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk), to create a gang of hulks. The Hulk Gang eventually goes on to murder an aged Logan’s entire family, all in the hopes of getting Logan back into action so that the Hulk could have a viable hero to fight once again. But by committing this act, they in turn sealed their own fates. They relit the fire in Wolverine. Early on in the story he had sworn off killing anyone ever again, but after the Hulks made it personal by killing his family, he made it personal by killing all of them. After that, it was only a matter of time before Logan went head to head with his former green ally, only to end up getting swallowed whole by the old, giant monster. Too bad for Hulk, he didn’t really think through the implications of his meal, because not too after later, Logan ended up slicing his way out of the Hulk from the inside, thus killing him for good.

While that may the most famous instance of the Hulk dying in the comics, it is by no means the only one. He has died, or at least temporarily been killed, multiple times throughout Marvel comic history. One example was when Dr. Melinda Leucenstern shot and killed him (only to have him be revived at a later date). To add insult to injury, it was the Hulk’s former wife, Betty Ross, a.k.a. Red She-Hulk, who provided the intelligence they needed to take him down. Additionally, not too long ago the Hulk provided the means for his own death, even if being technically immortal meant that his demise would only be temporary. In a storyline in which he had separated himself from the Hulk, he provided Hawkeye with two arrows that he was to use if he saw any signs of Banner turning back into the Hulk. Lo and behold, not too long after, Hawkeye said he saw Banner’s eye flash green and sent the two arrows flying, thus killing the scientist where he stood.

Although Marvel retconned the Hulk to be immortal, it does not prohibit him from being able to die, or at least be killed. He can die, and has… many times, but it just doesn’t stick. At least, it hasn’t stuck so far. Though, to be fair, pretty much every major comic book character has died and been resurrected at some point. In recent comics, such as The Immortal She-Hulk, there seems to be some villainy in the works that could put his immortality at risk. Regardless of what’s to come, there’s no doubt that the Hulk isn’t immune to some seriously savage takedowns.

About The Author