Everyone Wants to Know Who Can Beat the Hulk, But Marvel Already Gave Us the Answer

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The Hulk is widely regarded as one of the most powerful characters in the MarvelUniverse, but not even the Green Goliath is invincible. From cosmic forces to magic, the Hulk’s vulnerabilities have been explored many times, showing that even the mightiest of heroes can be defeated with some creativity. Marvel has provided plenty of answers to the question of who can take down the Hulk, and these foes often go beyond simply overpowering him.

In Incredible Hulk: The End, written by Peter David and illustrated by Dale Keown, the Hulk faces an unusual fate with an enemy few saw coming. Afte3r all, The Hulk is being relentlessly consumed by radioactive cockroaches, which sounds pretty awful. Plagued with so many tiny enemies, this endless torment mirrors Hulk’s emotional and psychological battles, particularly his constant pursuit by General Ross.

While the Hulk is known for his immense strength, his true vulnerabilities often lie in forces he cannot simply smash away. It is hard to ignore how these bloodthirsty cockroaches serve as a metaphor for the unedning emotional strain Hulk endures. The Marvel comic knows this well as its panels directly reflect this trying parallel. The moment highlights how the Hulk’s greatest weaknesses aren’t physical but emotional and psychological.

The Hulk Is Also Weak to Gods and Magic

Divine Powers Pose a Unique Threat to The Hulk

While Hulk can overpower many foes with his might, gods and magic users represent a unique threat to the legend. For instance, Zeus’ powers allow him to bend reality itself, and magic can completely nullify the Hulk’s strength and healing abilities. Against these powers, even the Hulk’s seemingly limitless strength becomes irrelevant. We see the perfect example of this in The Incredible Hulks #622, written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Paul Pelletier, when the Hulk attempts to challenge the god himself.

Despite the Hulk’s immense strength, Zeus easily overwhelms him with the “All-Power,” which not only makes him stronger than the Hulk, but also allows him to manipulate reality itself. When Zeus is on Olympus, Hulk’s strength is no match for the King of the Gods. When you combine the raw power of a god like Zeus with the unpredictable nature of magic, Hulk becomes extremely vulnerable. As mighty as the Hulk is, he cannot stand up to beings whose power transcends physical strength.

Hulk’s vulnerability to magic is a weakness that has been exploited numerous times and continues to be one of his greatest vulnerabilities. The Incredible Hulk #12, written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and illustrated by Nic Klein, shows the Hulk defeat at the hands of Doctor Voodoo. The villain magically reverts Hulk back to Bruce with a flick of his wrist, easy as that. Magic bypasses Hulk’s physical defense entirely, despite Hulk’s immense strength and durability, making him an easy target for sorcerers.

The Hulk’s Growing Weakness to Cosmic Power

Cosmic Rays and Energy Manipulation Can Overwhelm Hulk’s Abilities

Another way Hulk has been taken down is through cosmic energy, as seen in The Immortal Hulk #44, written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Joe Bennett. The villain X-Ray has the ability to emit any form of radiation, including cosmic rays. In their fight, his blasts reduced Hulk to a skeleton, and that’s something even the Hulk’s healing factor couldn’t immediately overcome. While he can regenerate from nearly any injury, this type of cosmic radiation attacks can temporarily incapacitate the Hulk on a biological level, showing the limits of his powers when faced with such an overwhelming energy.

Like with magic, cosmic forces can stop Banner in his tracks. Perhaps the greatest example of this weakness comes through Power Cosmic. In The Incredible Hulk #250, written by Bill Mantlo and illustrated by Sal Buscema, the Hulk faces off against the Silver Surfer who is wielding the Power Cosmic. In this battle, the Silver Surfer strips the Hulk of his gamma-powered strength, rendering him momentarily powerless. This moment shows that cosmic energy manipulation can dwarf even the Hulk’s unmatched physical power.

Though these cosmic powers temporarily defeated the Hulk, it’s important to note that his connection to the Below-Place, through the mystical Green Door, grants him the ability to return to life. Still, even though Hulk’s regenerative powers allow him to come back from near-death experiences, that doesn’t negate the fact that cosmic forces can effectively subdue him. This vulnerability highlights that even the most formidable villains wielding cosmic energy can defeat him if they strike with precision.

The Hulk’s Biggest Weakness Is Himself

Hulk’s Rage is A Double-Edged Sword

While the Hulk’s physical power is nearly unparalleled, his mind is different. While his rage allows him to access near-limitless strength, it also means that calming the Hulk down is one of the most effective ways to subdue him. In A+X #7, written by Zeb Wells and illustrated by Dale Keown, the Avengers discover that they can calm the Hulk down with soothing images, such as pictures of puppies, effectively “powering him down” and reverting him back to Bruce Banner. The fact that his own emotional state can be manipulated and used against him is a surprising and significant weakness.

Even when Hulk’s rage can be calmed, it highlights the paradox of his existence: his power is directly tied to his emotional state. This makes the Hulk vulnerable to anyone who can exploit his emotions, whether through technology, magic, or mental manipulation. As the Avengers have learned time and again, this tactic can be a surprisingly effective way to put the Hulk down without engaging him in physical combat.

In many ways, Hulk’s struggles with his emotions reflect his internal battle for control, showing that no matter how strong he becomes, his greatest enemy may be himself. This constant tension between power and vulnerability is what keeps Hulk’s stories intriguing, and leaves readers wondering whether the next challenge will come from an external force or his own internal struggles. Despite his seemingly limitless strength, The Hulk is a character defined not only by his physical abilities but also by the psychological complexities that make him so compelling.

Even With His Weaknesses, Hulk Is Still The Strongest There is

Just Because He Can Be Defeated Doesn’t Mean He Will Be

While the Hulk’s nearly unbeatable physical strength has solidified his status as one of the toughest characters in the Marvel Universe, it’s clear that his true complexities come from within. His emotional instability, deeply tied to his incredible rage, is both a source of immense power and a significant weakness. Though the Hulk is vulnerable to manipulation through mental tactics, cosmic forces, and magic, his raw strength and determination still make him one of the most formidable fighters around. Even with these vulnerabilities, the Hulk remains a character who can rise from any defeat, making him one of the strongest and most complex heroes in Marvel’s roster.

Incredible Hulk: The End and other issues are available now.

“}]] Hulk’s power is unmatched, but he can be taken down.  Read More