All of The Hulk’s Successors, Ranked

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The Hulk is renowned as one of the strongest beings in existence. Ever since an accident involving a gamma bomb transformed Dr. Bruce Banner’s anger into incredible power, the Hulk has been both a hero and a villain. Often, the Hulk’s story is about a troubled man struggling to find his place in a world that fears him. This idea of carrying on a powerful legacy is common among superheroes. Today, we’re going to explore the Hulk’s legacy by ranking all the characters who have taken on his power. It’s tricky to define who truly qualifies as a successor, though, given how many people—heroes, villains, and even ordinary citizens—have transformed into Hulk-like figures over the years.

Let’s start by clarifying what we mean by the ‘Hulk’s successor.’ Over the years, the Hulk has taken on many forms, so any character who follows him needs to share some of those qualities. They could be a hero struggling with a difficult fate, or a destructive monster, but they should still connect to the Hulk’s overall story. These characters either had a period where they were the only Hulk around, or were set up to take over the mantle after Bruce Banner. Now that we’ve established that, let’s dive into ranking the various characters who have filled the Hulk’s role.

6) Red Hulk

As a huge movie fan, I’ve always found Thunderbolt Ross a fascinating character, especially his connection to the Hulk. He started as one of the Hulk’s oldest enemies, but it’s ironic how he ended up becoming what he hated – a powerful, rage-fueled being himself! Driven by his obsession to stop the Hulk, he became the Red Hulk, and for a while, he was the main Hulk after Bruce Banner went to prison. It’s a really cool parallel to Bruce – both are driven by intense rage that comes from feeling powerless. But where Bruce constantly struggles to control his anger and avoid hurting anyone, Ross is willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means sacrificing others. That’s why, as compelling as he is, I can’t put him above Bruce. They’ve both been the Hulk, but Ross’s transformation doesn’t create a separate monster; it just unleashes his own, unrestrained self.

5) Hulk 2099

John Eisenhart was a tough Hollywood lawyer tasked with negotiating with a Hulk-worshipping cult known as the Knights of Banner. Their actions led to a gamma bomb explosion that turned him into a unique version of the Hulk – one with extra features like fangs and claws. While a more extreme Hulk transformation sounded exciting, John proved to be a surprisingly dull character. He didn’t make much of an impact, and his own comic book series was canceled after only ten issues. Honestly, it would have been more compelling if someone connected to the Knights of Banner had become the Hulk instead, but even that might not have saved this unremarkable take on the character.

4) Skaar

I’ve been following Skaar’s story for a while now, and it’s fascinating. He’s the son of Hulk, born when Hulk was rampaging through space, trying to conquer worlds. Everyone thought Skaar died with his mother, but he actually survived! As he grew up, he decided he wanted to finish what his father started – take over the world. He definitely inherited Hulk’s ambition and thirst for revenge, but what’s really interesting is that he also seems to carry a lot of Bruce Banner’s baggage about his own father. It’s like they’re reflections of each other, both constantly trying to figure out where the anger comes from and why they struggle to connect. He’s a powerful heir, maybe even a great one, but he’s never quite been the same as the Hulk himself.

3) Eldest

The Eldest is the firstborn of the Mother of Horrors, the incredibly powerful being responsible for creating all monsters. Recently, in the Infernal Hulk comic series, the Eldest separated Bruce Banner from the Hulk and took over his body. Now, the Eldest is the Hulk, and remains the strongest monster in existence. This new direction for the Hulk is exciting, and demonstrates how the Eldest truly captures the character’s potential as a global threat. This version of the Hulk has no conscience or empathy – he’s purely monstrous, and effectively conveys fear and horror. The Hulk has always existed on the edge of being human versus being a monster, and this successor proves just how dangerous unchecked rage can be without a guiding human spirit.

2) Amadeus Cho

Amadeus Cho briefly became the Hulk after absorbing Bruce Banner’s gamma radiation, but with a key difference: he remained intelligent while transformed. This period was similar to when Bruce Banner had full control of the Hulk, often considered a high point in the character’s history. Amadeus was a skilled and controlled Hulk, but his adventures didn’t resonate as strongly as Bruce’s, largely because he didn’t struggle to master his powers. While Amadeus was fun and engaging, he lacked the raw, emotional intensity that defines the angriest versions of the Hulk.

1) Rick Jones

Rick is deeply connected to the Hulk’s story – he’s the one Bruce Banner originally saved, and they’ve been close friends ever since. In fact, Rick even briefly became the Hulk himself! He’s played many roles throughout the Marvel Universe, including Bucky and Captain Marvel, but his connection to the Hulk remains unique. He transformed into his own gamma-powered being as A-Bomb and truly understands what it means to be the Hulk, both as the monster and as an observer. Because of this, he’s always been a loyal friend to Bruce and, in my opinion, the most fitting person to potentially take over as the Hulk in the future.

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2026-05-05 00:15