TheHulk’sstrongest power is such an off-the-wall mutation, that he did not even know he had it. TheHulk is already one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes: super-strong and nearly impossible to kill. Yet,in 2007’sIncredible Hulk#77, the Jade Giant showed off a “new” power that has kept him alive more than once.
Peter David had a legendary, decade-plus run onThe Incredible Hulk.
Incredible Hulk#77 was written by Peter David and drawn by Lee Weeks. As Hulk changes back to Banner,he realizes his body has developed a gland capable of secreting a formula that allows him to breathe underwater.
Banner realizes this is how the Hulk was able to survive being underwater for long periods of time.
The Hulk Is One of Marvel’s Strongest Heroes, and Virtually Impossible to Kill
The True Extent of the Hulk’s Strength Has Never Been Tested
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby broke the mold when they created the Hulk in the early 1960s. One of the first wave of Marvel characters, the Hulk was a different kind of “hero,” in that he was a big, gray brute with a surly attitude who just wanted to be left alone.
Yet what was consistent from the start was the Hulk’s off-the-charts strength.
So much of what fanstake for granted about the Hulkwas not present in his earliest adventures. While the Hulk was initially gray, he quickly morphed into his trademark green skin. Anger was not what triggered his transformations at first either, instead changing when night fell. Yet what was consistent from the start was the Hulk’s off-the-charts strength.
Marvel has never conclusively determined how strong the Hulk is, and it remains a topic of debate among fans. The Hulk’s strength is tied to his anger, and it grows stronger the madder he gets. The Hulk is virtually hard to kill as well, thanks to his strength and superhuman endurance levels.
The Hulk’s Ability to Breathe Underwater Thanks to a Mysterious Gland Is Seemingly Out of Nowhere
The Hulk Has Apparently Possessed This Ability For Many Years
The Hulk’s abilities stem from his super-strength, which makes the mutation introduced inIncredible Hulk#77 so shocking. His body’s ability to make this gland has zero to do with his strength levels. The issue does not go into specifics on the origin of this power, but it too can be assumed to originate with his exposure to gamma radiation.
Although Banner was just realizing it at the moment, this mutation of his has saved his life numerous times in the past. Banner apparently never questioned why the Hulk was able to survive being submerged underwater for long periods of time. In a moment of lucidity, the answer came to him.
Future Hulk Creators Should Revisit This Unique Power
What Other Abilities Could the Hulk Be Hiding?
No other Hulk writer or artist since has capitalized on this revelation, and explored this unique ability of Banner’s further, ensuring it remains a curiosity in the character’s lore. His little-known, but extremely handy, mutation also leads to the question: does theHulkhave other abilities that not even he knows about?
