Summary
- The Ultimates introduces a new Hulk who transforms from giant monster to baby. "He ripped his own mother apart in a tantrum."
- 'Monster Island' has been subjected to gamma radiation by Director Banner, mutating innocent people.
- She-Hulk's "army of Hulks" have been subjected to constant pain by the Ultimate Universe's Bruce Banner.
Warning: contains spoilers for The Ultimates #3!Marvel just introduced a twisted new gamma radiation has created many of Marvel's strongest and most monstrous characters, often with major differences in how their bodies react to the eldritch energy source. However, Marvel's new Ultimate Universe just took things even further, revealing an island full of Hulks who suffer every day because of their 'powers.'
In The Ultimates #3, Tony Stark, Thor and Sif visit 'Monster Island.' This is an island within the Pacific Proving Grounds where the inhabitants have been mutated by the government's testing of gamma bombs. The team initially encounter several giant lizards and carnivorous plants turned monstrous by gamma, before being attacked by a giganitc Hulk with razor-sharp claws - one who can shrug off a direct strike from Mjolnir and send Thor flying.
The team then meet the new She-Hulk, Lejori Joena Zakaria, who is able to calm the new Hulk. She sings him a lullaby, causing him to transform back into his human form as a baby. She explains that gamma radiation has given the child the ability to turn into a gigantic Hulk, leading to lethal 'tantrums' when under stress. She-Hulk reveals the child is named Abram, and that because of his powers, "He ripped his own mother apart in a tantrum." The idea of a child being given a Hulk form against their will and accidentally slaughtering their family is a chilling introduction to what being a 'Hulk' means in Marvel's new Ultimate continuity.
The Ultimates #3 |
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Every Version of Red Hulk in Marvel Lore (Ranked Weakest to Strongest)
Red Hulk is one of Marvel's most powerful characters, but since his 2008 introduction, there are many more versions than just General Ross.
Marvel's New Hulk Is a Literal Baby
Gamma Testing Has Created an Entire Island of Hulks
Marvel's new Ultimate Universe takes place in a timeline that has been warped from its original form. The genius villain known as the Maker studied Marvel's main timeline, then traveled to another reality where he could reshape events to leave himself as the unquestioned ruler of the world. Currently, the Maker is trapped in a time prison, giving the Ultimates just two years to dismantle his regime before he returns. To do that, they need allies all over the world, hence reaching out to She-Hulk and what they hoped would be an army of combat-ready Hulks.
Sadly, that's not what they find. The issue reveals that 'Director Banner' - one of Maker's henchmen in this universe - deliberately subjected innocent people to gamma radiation, studying its effects on them and the island's flora and fauna. She-Hulk reveals that while some rare individuals are given increased strength by the radiation, most suffer from random mutations. She introduces several 'Hulks' who live in constant pain, including one girl who is only a skeleton and circulatory system, explaining, "The most gentle breeze is agony. For her, life is pain." Ultimately, She-Hulk does agree to help the Ultimates fight the Maker, but only if Tony can find a way to remove the radiation from the island.
Marvel Finally Debuts a Canon Orange Hulk (Created by the Infinity Stones)
After years of teasing, Marvel fans finally get an Orange Hulk, as the Infinity Stones' unpredictable power changes the game yet again.
This nation of Hulks is a reference to real life weapons testing carried out by the United States in the Pacific Proving Grounds. Indeed, the 'Castle Gamma' bomb mentioned in the comic is seemingly a reference to the real-life Castle Bravo Bomb - the largest nuclear device ever detonated by the US. This testing created a zone of radiation that persists today, with corresponding illnesses and cancers in those who live nearby. Marvel promised that its new Ultimate Universe would deal with real world issues relevant to the modern day, and this new society of Hulks delivers in the darkest way possible.
The New Hulk Reveals Ultimate Bruce Banner's Full Evil
The Legendary Hulk Is Performing Gamma Experiments on Innocents
The reveal of what happened to the inhabitants of 'Monster Island' (and the scientists sent to study them, who were also unknowingly part of the testing) shows just how monstrous this universe's version of Bruce Banner's Hulk actually is. Previously, the Legendary Hulk was introduced as the Maker's right-hand man - a key member of the Maker's Council (who run the world in his name) and the leader of a cult-like religion known as the Children of Eternal Light. This version of Bruce used meditation and intense psychological intervention to gain control of his monstrous form, however the result is a Hulk who is more monstrous than anything fans have seen in the mainstream.
The new reveal of Hulk's gamma testing comes at the perfect time, as the Ultimates #6 will see the full team assemble for the first time to bring him down. Since the Maker was locked away, the Hulk has become the first among equals on the Maker's council, hounding the Ultimates and framing them for a devastating attack on New York. The Ultimates has been using a novel publishing schedule where each monthly issue corresponds to a month in the world of the story, building to the Maker's return. In this way, Marvel is seemingly setting up the Legendary Hulk as the big bad of the the Ultimates' first year.
The Ultimates #6 |
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Release Date: |
November 16 |
Writer: |
Deniz Camp |
Artists: |
Juan Frigeri |
Cover Artist: |
Dike Ruan |
Ultimates assemble to take down the Hulk! The entire roster of the Ultimates unites for the first time in this high octane, climactic conclusion of the first arc! Iron Lad has a plan to defeat the Hulk, the most powerful and imposing member of the Maker’s Council - but has he gotten his team in over their heads? |
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When the Maker warped the timeline, he did so by preventing the origins of most of Marvel's heroes, however he considered the invention of the gamma bomb too pivotal to mess with. Instead, he has corrupted Bruce Banner to the core, turning him into one of the most loathsome villains in Marvel history.
Hulk vs Thor Rematch Settles the Strongest Avenger with a Fight to the Death
Hulk and Thor have had plenty of fights in Marvel history, but this time they're actually trying to kill each in a battle for the ages.
Hulk Has Always Been a Child
Marvel's Original Hulk Is a Kid, He Just Doesn't Look Like It
As shocking as it is to see a literal baby become a vicious Hulk, the idea is very in-keeping with mainline Hulk lore. Al Ewing and Joe Bennett's Immortal Hulk recently confirmed that Bruce Banner's Savage Hulk persona - the classic version of the character all Marvel fans are familiar with - is literally a child. When Bruce Banner was irradiated with gamma, it gave existing alternate personas within his mind the ability to physically manifest. In the case of the Savage Hulk, the Green Goliath is actually a persona Bruce developed in childhood - one he would send out to soak up his father's beatings in his place.
Not only does the Hulk have the emotional maturity of a child, but almost his entire existence is being sent out to take beatings on Bruce's behalf, never quite able to understand why everyone wants to hurt him or why he has to constantly suffer for someone else. Immortal Hulk rightly treated this as chilling horror, but the Ultimate Universe has realized it on an even larger scale. None of the people of 'Monster Island' had any say about what was done to them, but all of them are still living with the consequences - including Abram, who will one day grow up to learn that he killed his mother in a childhood tantrum.
DAWN OF DECAY Unites Hulk & Groot Against the Grossest Marvel Zombies Yet
Hulk and Groot are the last heroes standing in a Marvel Zombies apocalypse that has turned the Avengers & X-Men into terrifying plant-based undead.
The Ultimates isn't pulling any punches in showing what a world ruled by the Maker's amoral regime looks like, as experiments on children yield horrifying results with a gamma spin. As the Ultimate Universe comes up on its first year, fans couldn't want to see the Legendary Hulk brought down any more than they do now, as Tony's ragtag team continue to prepare for the fight of their lives, now with She-Hulk by their side.
The Ultimates #3 is coming August 14 from Marvel Comics.
