Guide to Marvel's Vividly Colored Hulk Variants
Here's a refreshed take on the Hulk's colorful palette:
Helllooo, folks! You know the Green Giant, Mr. Incredible Hulk, right? But did you know he's flaunted more hues than a box of Crayolas? With Marvel's caper, Captain America: Brave New World, adding a splash of crimson to the jolly green substance in Thaddeus Ross's enraged adventure, we're diving into the rainbow of Hulks!
Brown
© Marvel Comics
Enter the Devil Hulk – an alter ego lurking in Bruce Banner's psyche. At times, a shadowy figure, he's the embodiment of Banner's negative traits and inner loathing, perpetually threatening to break through. In the narrative of Immortal Hulk (2018), the Devil Hulk resurfaced as the dominant personality post-Civil War II, marking a notable change in color.
First appearance: 2000
Reason for color: Unknown, although this monstrous, reptilian form is noticeably different from the traditional Hulk.
Blue
© Marvel Comics
Let's talk about Captain Universe! This god-like force has transformed countless hosts, including the Hulk, into super-personalities touting enhanced abilities. Yes, he went blue, but only for a little while. Rejoicing in his newfound strength, the Hulk labeled the blue phase as his strongest incarnation to date, although the power didn't last.
First appearance: 2005
Reason for color: Bonding with the astral-themed, otherworldly Enigma Force.
Orange
© Marvel Comics
In alternate realities, the Hulk has donned an orange hue! The Hulk of the Age of Apocalypse confessed to his radiant source, while the Sorcerer Supreme Hulk embodying Bruce Banner's exitually banished consciousness exiled himself to the fiery pits of eternal damnation, leaving behind an orange amalgamation.
First appearance: 2011
Reason for color: Exposure to solar radiation or cosmic banishment.
Purple
© Marvel Comics
Purple, you say? Now that's an exciting color! Bruce Banner was once possessed by a devilish Sorcerer Supreme, further exacerbating the tensions between the Hulk and the Banner persona. Banner wasn't the only one, however; Norman Osborn experimented with HAMMER technology to absorb all the Avengers' powers, culminating in a powerful purple Hulk with monstrous abilities.
First appearance: 1990
Reason for color: Demonic possession or clashing abilities.
Yellow
© Marvel Comics
Here's a brief flash of yellowness! In an alternate reality, AIM brainwashed Banner and forced him to act as their puppet, transforming him into the Hulk's yellow counterpart. Alas, this reality was a mere dream created by the mind of Steve Rogers.
First appearance: 2020
Reason for color: AIM brainwashing.
Silver
© Marvel Comics
The silvery shade of the Hulk! Galactus gifted his trusty heralds with the power cosmic, which made its way to beloved scientist, Bruce Banner. Between the green and cosmic glow, the Hulk emerged as a shiny, silver entity.
First appearance: 2025
Reason for color: The power cosmic.
Black
© Marvel Comics
There have been several Hulk impersonators adopting the alias of "Kluh." The fascinating phenomenon took place in two distinct eras, with each instigator driving the transformations that imbued the Hulk with a coat of inky blackness.
First appearance: 2014
Reason for color: Managing to anger the Hulk as much as it takes to trigger Banner's transformation.
White
© Marvel Comics
Another fantastical Hulk combo – white and green! This duo hilariously appeared in a Strange Tales issue as part of a squadron of rainbow Hulks, with the white Hulk becoming the talk of the town.
First appearance: 2009
Reason for color: A fun touch from some creative writing!
Skin Tone
© Marvel Comics
Not every Hulk species transforms into green. Doc Samson, Banner's former psychiatrist, experienced gamma radiation and emerged with strength and abilities similar to the Hulk but retained his normal skin color and green hair. Tyrone Cash, a friend of Banner, even managed to develop a Hulk serum that gave him the power of the green behemoth, ultimately dubbing him the true first Hulk.
First appearance: 1971 (Doc Samson), 2010 (Tyrone Cash)
Reason for color: Alternate gamma radiation and serum experimentation.
Gray
© Marvel Comics
The Hulk's entire existence started with a gray countenance! The grayscale choice was a deliberate decision made to distance the creature's monstrous form from any ethnic ties. Later, this persona evolved, combining with other Banner personas to eventually become Joe Fixit – a gray Hulk that introduced a sinister twist to the otherwise loyal Hulk.
First appearance: 1962
Reason for color: Comic book technology or psyche manipulation.
Red
© Marvel Comics
Get ready to meet the latest Hulk on the block! Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross turned into the red terror, thanks to a supersoldier experiment performed by Intelligencia, a criminal organization. On the other hand, the Red Hulk from Immortal Hulk exhibited similar heat-generating abilities, expelling it as an explosive blast.
First appearance: 2008
Reason for color: Scientific experimentation or M.O.D.O.K. mind-control.
Green
© Marvel Comics
A reminiscent masterpiece, the legendary Green Hulk. Bruce Banner’s transformation into the gamma-charged behemoth made him an icon, adorned in the lush green that has become synonymous with savagery and rage.
First appearance: 2000
Reason for color: Exposure to gamma radiation during an experiment.
Want more Marvel Universe superhero fun? Check out all the latest info on Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, plus the future releases of the DC Universe and everything you need to know about Doctor Who.
The future of technology might hold the key to reproducing the Hulk's various color transitions, as io9 reported, providing fans with a more immersive experience in the Marvel Universe.
Furthermore, recent advancements in bioengineering could potentially allow scientists to replicate the gamma radiation exposure, resulting in the creation of a real-life Hulk with varying skin colors, astounding both comic book enthusiasts and the general public.
