The best thing Marvel Comics ever did for theHulkwas giving him a supernatural upgrade that changed everything for Bruce Banner’s powerful alter ego. The Jade Giant has a long-spanning history of amazing fights and introspective journeys, but one modern series added something to the Hulk’s canon that redefined him for the better.
Marvel’sThe Immortal Hulk, a series that ran from mid-2018 to late 2021, followed Bruce after his death inCivil War II. The Hulk mysteriously returned to life, all because of a strange new phenomenon, the Green Door.Immortal Hulkdelved into the mysterybehind the Green Doorand ended up giving Hulk the most game-changing development he ever had.
The Green Door Opened Up a World of Horror for the Hulk
The Immortal Hulk Returned to Hulk’s Horrifying Roots and Expanded on Them
After Bruce was killed by Hawkeye inCivil War II, Bruce was mysteriously able to come back to life thanks to an enigmatic green door. Not only that, but a new Hulk persona, Devil Hulk, emerged at night every time the Hulk/Banner was resurrected. What begins asa new take on a Hulk story blossoms into a cosmic horror story.
The Green Door thatmakes itself known to Bruce and, eventually, other gamma-powered individuals, is actually a metaphysical barrier that bridges the lowest rung of the multiverse to the land of the living. For Bruce, the Green Door opened the same day he was caught in the explosion that bombarded him with gamma radiation and turned him into the Hulk.
The Green Door makes its first official appearance inAvengers #684!
But the Green Door wasn’t the gift that it appeared to be. This supernatural portal was also connected to the powerful ruler of the Below-Place, the One Below All, the One Above All’s destructive counterpart. Through the Green Door,the One Below All can influence the gamma mutates that pass through the Green Door, including the Hulk.
…the Green Door wasn’t the gift that it appeared to be.
The Immortal Hulkfollowed Bruce and his many Hulk personas, as well as their allies, as they navigate the twisted horror tale they find themselves in. Whilethe Green Door opened up a new world of possibility for the Hulk, it put him through one of the darkest and most compelling adventures of his entire life.
The Horror Approach to Hulk Has Always Been the Right Move
The Green Door and Its Mysteries Fit Right in with Hulk Lore
The story of Bruce Banner is not a pleasant one. He’s a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde, someone who has been tormented by a part of himself that he’s never been able to overcome or remove. That’s not even getting into the maelstrom of rage within him, which manifests as his green persona to lash out at the world.
But one can’t deny that the Hulk is also a superhero. He lives in a superhero world, he’s fought with the Avengers and he’s got a collection of supervillains. It’s easy to forget about just how scary things are for Bruce when he’s being used as a wrecking ball totake on threats like Doctor Doom or the Juggernaut.
…Immortal Hulkrecognized how Bruce and the Hulk thrive in horror elements.
That being said,Immortal Hulkrecognized how Bruce and the Hulk thrive in horror elements. But the series didn’t just make Hulk the star of a horror story, it introduced something into his canon that redefined what the Hulk was, where his power came from, and the sinister force that wanted to use the Hulk to destroy the Marvel Universe.
Hulk Creators are Learning the Right Lessons From Immortal Hulk
The Green Door and Other Horror Aspects are Sticking with Bruce Banner
The Immortal Hulkis over, but the good thing is that its influence is still being felt in books starring the Jade Giant. While the followingHulkseries went in a very different direction, it had a few Easter eggs regarding the Green Door and its effects on gamma mutates.
The currentIncredible Hulkseries similarly touched on the Green Door and its relationship to Enkidu, aka Tammuz, the first Hulk. This series also built on the One Below All’s lore by adding the Mother of Horrors, helping keep the Hulk’s horror elements alivelong afterTheImmortal Hulkcame to a close.
Admittedly, the Hulk is more than just horror. He’s a time-honored Avenger and an iconic Marvel hero. ButThe Immortal Hulkand its additions to Banner’s lore and history proved that the character truly thrives in a darker and scarier place. Just look at how well-receivedImmortal Hulkwas and how fans praise it as a modern classic.
…The Immortal Hulkand its additions to Banner’s lore and history proved that the character truly thrives in a darker and scarier place.
Admittedly, the Hulk is a pretty versatile hero. But Bruce Banner and his better half were never more interesting than when they discovered the secret that connected them to one of the darkest parts of the Marvel Universe. The Immortal Hulk wasn’t just a goodHulkstory, it was one of the best things to happen to him period.
