Hulk’s Greatest Threat EVER is a Leveled-Up MCU Villain

Given the Hulk’s power set, his villains tend to either match his strength or Banner’s intellect. His two most well known foes reflect this with Abomination and the Leader showing how the Hulk and Bruce’s greatest assets can be used for evil. These foes often challenge Hulk in surprising ways, but it is always assumed that no one in the Marvel universe can outmatch the Hulk. One villain that has challenged Hulk with unique powers is the villain Absorbing Man, and he’s never been more powerful. In The Immortal Hulk #36 the Absorbing Man doesn’t just absorb gamma radiation, he becomes it.

Absorbing Man is a character whose roots extend deep into the Marvel Universe. First debuting as a Thor villain all the way back in 1965, Carl Creel gained the ability to absorb the powers of any material he touched after drinking a potion. Creel’s powers combined with his signature ball and chain weapon make him a powerful fighter. Despite his the strength of his powers, Creel has typically used his powers for relatively small crimes like bank robbery. His lack of ambition outside of simple robberies has often left writers room to make him more of an anti-hero when teaming up with heroes like Black Bolt. It’s this morally complex dimension of the character that is explored by writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennet in the pages of Immortal Hulk.

The series sees a down on his luck Creel accepting a pardon in exchange for bringing the Hulk down. His journey throughout the series led him to gaining the Hulk’s strength, turning red, being ripped in half, getting possessed by the Marvel Universe’s ultimate evil, and finally joining a team named Gamma Flight. In issue 36, Gamma Flight finds Hulk immediately after he accidentally destroyed a small town. A melancholic Hulk is ambushed by the team. Using the Hulk’s own strength against him, Creel manages to subdue the Hulk. But if there’s one thing the Hulk doesn’t like, it’s being restrained. Hulk frees himself by ripping Absorbing Man’s arm straight off his body.

A half dead Absorbing Man lays amidst the Hulk’s destruction as he effortlessly defeats the other members of Gamma Flight including Creel’s wife, Titania. Then Creel realizes exactly what he can turn into to defeat the Hulk. With glowing eyes, Absorbing Man becomes a monster made of air, dust, and most deadly of all, gamma radiation. A colossal Creel looks down upon the Hulk and proclaims “I can be gamma,” ending the issue.

Absorbing Man becoming a massive cloud of gamma radiation leaves readers to wonder how Hulk can possibly win against an enemy he can’t punch or stomp. Whether Banner’s intelligence or Hulk’s strength solves the problem, Immortal Hulk #36 shows that even a minor villain can become a major threat when pushed too far.

About The Author

Evan Mullicane
(362 Articles Published)

Evan D. Mullicane is an editor, critic, and author based out of California’s Bay Area. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from San Francisco State University in 2016. In his free time, he enjoys reading graphic novels and writing fantasy.

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