The Hulk Family Is Expanding All Thanks to a Marvel God

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Incredible Hulk #19! The Hulk is and has always been an absolute powerhouse in Marvel Comics canon, but he’s far from the only one. Over the years, the ‘Hulk Family’ consisting of a number of gamma-mutates has been growing at a consistent rate. From She-Hulk and Harpy to Doc Sampson and Brawn, there’s no shortage of Hulk Family members in the Marvel Universe. And now, one more has been added, though not because of gamma mutation, but thanks to an ancient god (actually, two).

The Incredible Hulk #19 (Legacy #800) is a giant-sized collection of original Hulk Family stories. “Foul-Weather Friends” (by Greg Pak and Lan Medina) is a team-up comic with Hulk and Amadeus Cho, “Night Eternal” (by Torunn Grønbekk and Lynne Yoshii) is all about She-Hulk, and “Prisons” (by Benjamin Percy and Geoff Shaw) is a Red Hulk solo story. But it’s the first tale titled “City of Idols” (by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein, and Danny Earls) that’s the real standout, as that one introduces the new member of Hulk’s family: Charlie Tidwell aka Lycana.

While fans were introduced to Charlie back in this run’s first issue, it wasn’t until this issue that she actually became an official Hulk Family member. Before, Charlie was Hulk’s self-proclaimed sidekick who ran away from an abusive home to follow Hulk on his mission to kill every eldritch monster that was trying to kill him. But now, Charlie is able to actually contribute something to the team, as this issue confirms that she is the latest vessel of the God of the Skinwalkers, Lycana. But, interestingly enough, there’s also another god Charlie can thank for her newfound power: Thor.

Thor Created the Lycana ‘Godskin’ that Made Charlie an Official Hulk Family Member

“The Remembrances of Eldest: Lycana, First of the Skinwalkers” – The Incredible Hulk #19

The “City of Idols” story ended with a full page dedicated to explaining the history of Lycana, and how the Godskin was created. Lycana is the offspring of Eldest, one of many monsters that populated the Earth at the dawn of human existence. But unlike her brothers and sisters, Lycana had a special ability: she could take the form of anything or anyone she consumed. Lycana plagued the lives of early humans, so much so that Asgard had to intervene – specifically, the God of Thunder himself, Thor.

Thor killed Lycana, leaving her body to rot on the Earth after he claimed victory. Lycana was then found by a tribe of humans who were desperate for food, and they consumed her flesh and wore her pelt, not knowing the eldritch horrors they had just stumbled across. Rather than punishing them, however, Lycana granted them her power, and chose the one who wore her pelt as her host. Lycana’s skin was her tether to the world, and became known as the Godskin. In The Incredible Hulk #19, someone else wore Lycana’s Godskin, and became her new host: Charlie Tidwell.

What’s Next for Charlie as the New Host of Lycana?

How Long Will Charlie Be a Member of the Hulk Family?

Charlie uses the power of Lycana against Eldest and the other monsters attacking Hulk before running away with the Green Goliath in “City of Idols”. That rescue cemented Charlie as a Hulk Family member – but how long will that last? Charlie’s able to control her Lycana form for now, but this is the God of the Skinwalkers who exists through human hosts, Lycana isn’t a slave to those hosts. How long before Charlie just becomes another empty shell Lycana used to inhabit? And how long before she goes from being a member of Hulk’s family to a blood-thirsty Hulk villain?

While Charlie’s future as the host of the Skinwalker God remains to be seen, she has a handle on her newfound power for now, and she’s using it as a powerful ally of the Hulk. More than that, Charlie has become a member of the Hulk Family right alongside She-Hulk, Harpy, and the rest – and she has two Marvel gods to thank for that: Lycana and Thor.

The Incredible Hulk #19 by Marvel Comics is available now.