Spider-Man is Stronger Than Hulk, And Marvel Just Confirmed It

Warning: contains spoilers for Devil’s Reign: Spider-Man #1!

Marvel fans know that Spider-Man is a strong superhero, but the company has just confirmed that Peter Parker is strong enough to defeat the Incredible Hulk in a one-on-one brawl. Spider-Man often finds himself battling monsters and scientific abominations just as often as he battles human villains enhanced with technology such as Doctor Octopus. But Devil’s Reign: Spider-Man #1 proves that the webslinger is much stronger than he appears.

In the Devil’s Reign event, one of multiple events happening concurrently in 2022, the Kingpin Wilson Fisk uses the Purple Man’s power and his authority as Mayor of New York City to outlaw all superhero activity within the city limits. Immediately, the Thunderbolts are mobilized and begin apprehending the likes of Susan Storm, Reed Richards, and dozens more. Spider-Man is broken out of jail by the Thing and the Human Torch – and the only reason why the police aren’t aware of his real identity is because his face was beaten into an unrecognizable pulp.

Spider-Man tries to walk – not swing – home when he’s confronted by a Thunderbolt wielding a massive cannon. One blast from the device breaks his ribs and sends him right back into custody. It is only through luck that he manages to escape, kicking the Thunderbolt in the head for good measure. Back at Beyond Headquarters (where Ben Reilly, not Peter Parker, is funded as the new Spider-Man), the scientists analyze the canon; it was designed to fight the Hulk. “It kicks like a wrecking ball,” muses Reilly – and according to Beyond’s tests, it can smash a hole through steel.

If Spider-Man can survive a blast from a canon designed to take out the Incredible Hulk, its logical to assume he has similar durability (broken ribs notwithstanding, though they heal fast). Fans are well aware that both Peter Parker and Ben Reilly routinely pull their punches during fights; much like Superman, they’re terribly aware of their true strength and are one of the “no-kill” superheroes who would rather quit than break that rule. But in a fight with the Hulk, Spider-Man could theoretically let loose and perhaps even prevail.

Aside from Peter’s strength, he certainly has the speed and agility advantage over Bruce Banner’s monstrous form. The Hulk is not known for being an agile fighter, while Spider-Man easily swings from foe to foe (and while he technically isn’t fast enough to dodge bullets, his spider-sense allows him to get out of the line of fire before an enemy can pull the trigger). Spider-Man is a hero who doesn’t even know the limits of his own strength, and in that respect, he could be more than a match for the Hulk.