“One of the Most Powerful Creatures on Earth”: Hulk Shakes Up Marvel’s Power Rankings by Debuting a God-Tier New Rival

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Incredible Hulk #20! When Marvel Comics fans think of one of the most powerful creatures on Earth in regard to Hulk lore, their minds assuredly go to the Hulk himself, as he is, indeed, one of the strongest beings alive. However, Marvel is introducing a new Hulk villain who seems to be far more powerful than the Hulk, and infinitely more terrifying. Not only that, but this new god-tier villain may be shaking up Marvel’s entire power rankings, and even Hulk lore itself.

Marvel Comics’ solicitation for The Incredible Hulk #20 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Danny Earls offers readers a first-look at the main cover art (by artist Nic Klein) and the official synopsis for this upcoming issue.

WOLVES AT THE DOOR! In the aftermath of Banner and Charlie’s dramatic escape from Las Vegas, they’re back on the road and lying low… or so Banner thinks. But as Charlie goes off at night to revel in the newfound power she doesn’t understand, she’s found by WEREWOLF BY NIGHT, who warns her about the consequences of what she’s done… and what she’s becoming. Meanwhile, HULK is hunted down by one of those consequences: one of the oldest, most powerful creatures on Earth, the immortal wolf-demon VÂRCOLAC!

The Incredible Hulk #20 comes after the Hulk finally faces off against the Eldest, who nearly succeeded in using the Hulk’s gamma powers to unleash the Mother of Horrors from her mystical prison. Hulk faced the Eldest to save his friend, Charlie, whose spirit had been trapped in a figurine. Hulk almost loses himself to the Eldest to save Charlie’s life, but as this solicitation reveals, his sacrifice pays off. However, now there’s the matter of a new horrific monster to deal with, one who seems particularly interested in Charlie: the immortal wolf-demon Vârcolac.

Vârcolac is an Ancient Monster of Untold Power, Making them a Dangerous Opponent

Now that the Hulk and Charlie have escaped the Eldest’s clutches in The Incredible Hulk #20, they are trying to lie low when they encounter Werewolf By Night, who is seemingly after them for the same reason Vârcolac is. As explained in The Incredible Hulk #17, Charlie was only freed from her imprisonment after her human form was recreated by Skinwalkers, using pieces of cursed flesh they’ve stolen over the centuries. That means Charlie now has the animal shapeshifting power of a Skinwalker – or a werewolf.

Vârcolac seems to be interested in Charlie because of her newfound curse, as is Werewolf By Night, but for entirely different reasons. Perhaps Vârcolac seeks to lay claim to Charlie now that she’s a monster within the werewolf family. And maybe Werewolf By Night wants to help Charlie understand and control this curse, which could lead to an interesting change in Hulk’s current lore, as well as an epic battle between a new opponent of untold power.

The Hulk Might Be Losing His Sidekick to Werewolf By Night

Charlie has Animal Shapeshifting Powers, & May Need to be Trained by Jack Russell

Charlie has been Hulk’s sidekick since the start of this story, but if Jack Russell offers her guidance in how to traverse life as a werewolf (or Skinwalker), then it would make sense that she’d go with him rather than stay with Hulk. That would obviously mean Hulk would be losing his sidekick, but it also means that this Hulk run could be opening the door for an all-new Werewolf By Night story dealing with the same monsters Hulk is fighting, allowing Charlie to grow into more than just a sidekick, but a lethal monster hunter in her own right.

While Charlie’s future is still up in the air, the biggest takeaway is that she and Hulk will be facing Vârcolac, who’s described as an immortal wolf-demon, implying god-tier levels of power that the Hulk may have never faced before. Vârcolac could, indeed, shake up Marvel’s power rankings, though fans have no way of knowing exactly how until the issue is released. Until then, fans can only speculate on things they do know surrounding Vârcolac’s debut, including Werewolf By Night’s role in the story, and potentially major changes to Hulk’s current lore.

The Incredible Hulk #20 by Marvel Comics is available December 11, 2024.