Every Hulk in the MCU, Ranked By Power

The Hulk has been a key part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the beginning, but Bruce Banner isn’t the only one affected by gamma radiation. In *The Incredible Hulk*, scientist Bruce Banner turned into the Hulk after being exposed to gamma rays while trying to replicate the process that created Captain America. Since then, five other characters in live-action films and even more in animated series have also been transformed by gamma radiation, creating a variety of Hulk-like beings.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe features a growing number of Hulk-like characters, especially with the introduction of the multiverse. These characters are known for being incredibly strong and unpredictable, and Marvel Studios continues to add new versions of them. Here’s a ranking of all the Hulk variants in the MCU, from the weakest to the strongest.

12) Skaar

Skaar, the son of Bruce Banner from the planet Sakaar in Marvel comics, isn’t a weak character, but his strength hasn’t been demonstrated in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet. We first saw him briefly in the Disney+ series *She-Hulk: Attorney at Law*, played by Wil Deusner. He arrived on Earth and met Banner’s family, including his cousin Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk) and her partner, Matt Murdock. Although Skaar didn’t display any powers or speak, he appears to be a Hulk by nature, suggesting he has the potential to be incredibly strong.

While it’s not officially confirmed, there’s a chance Skaar will appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Mark Ruffalo is set to reprise his role as Bruce Banner in the upcoming *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* movie. Because of this, the *Spider-Man* sequel-directed by Destin Daniel Cretton-could potentially include references to Skaar or even feature him directly, establishing him as an important character in the MCU’s Hulk storyline.

11) Todd Phelps’ HulkKing

Currently, Skaar appears to be the weakest version of the Hulk we’ve seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Close behind him in terms of power is HulkKing, also from *She-Hulk: Attorney at Law*. The actor Jon Bass perfectly portrayed Todd Phelps as a resentful and irritating villain who created Intelligencia because he was jealous of powerful women like Jennifer Walters. Phelps tried to gain power by stealing Walters’ blood and injecting it into himself, transforming into HulkKing, but She-Hulk quickly changed his story, and he ended up in prison instead.

10) Happy Hogan’s Freak

Season 2 of *What If…?* featured a unique take on the Hulk: Tony Stark’s friend, Happy Hogan, accidentally received gamma-irradiated blood and turned into a purple, Hulk-like being called the Freak. While the comics originally showed Hogan transforming in an attempt to cure an illness, the show’s version happened during a chaotic Christmas attack on Avengers Tower. This version of the Freak was less powerful than other Hulks we’ve seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he was a welcome and entertaining addition to the series.

9) Emil Blonsky’s Abomination

As a big MCU fan, I always found the story of the Abomination fascinating. He was the second Hulk we saw, and the idea that Banner’s blood mixed with the super-soldier serum already in Emil Blonsky was a really cool origin story. Their first fight went down in Harlem, and that landed Blonsky in prison. We saw him pop up again, getting beaten by Wong in *Shang-Chi*, and then he even went toe-to-toe with the Hulk *again* in *She-Hulk: Attorney at Law* – though they kind of changed how much control he had over things. While he’s definitely a powerful character, it’s clear there have been other Hulks who are just stronger and smarter than he is.

8) Samuel Sterns’ Leader

Tim Blake Nelson first played Samuel Sterns in *The Incredible Hulk*, showcasing his exceptional intelligence. After being exposed to Bruce Banner’s blood, Sterns transformed into the Leader – a mutated, super-intelligent villain with the ability to predict probabilities. Nelson reprised the role after 17 years in *Captain America: Brave New World*, revealing the Leader as a behind-the-scenes manipulator of events within the MCU. From his base at Camp Echo One, he orchestrated key moments, including giving Thaddeus Ross gamma pills that ultimately created a new Hulk. While incredibly intelligent, the Leader isn’t physically strong.

7) Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk

It was fantastic to see Thaddeus Ross become the Red Hulk in *Captain America: Brave New World*, mirroring his comic book origins. Like the early days of Bruce Banner’s transformation, Ross’ Red Hulk was driven by intense anger and possessed immense power. He could generate heat and still demonstrated impressive jumping ability, fighting skills, and strategic thinking, even while hulked out. Harrison Ford delivered a compelling performance as this formidable villain, who is both physically stronger and more unpredictable than many previous iterations of the Hulk.

6) Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk

The Disney+ series *She-Hulk: Attorney at Law* focused on Jennifer Walters, played by Tatiana Maslany, who became She-Hulk after accidentally receiving gamma-irradiated blood from her cousin. Unlike other characters like Samuel Sterns and Thaddeus Ross, Jennifer quickly mastered her She-Hulk form and can even directly address the audience, giving her a unique power – the ability to change the narrative itself. While her future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is unclear, fans are hoping to see She-Hulk return and further showcase her incredible abilities.

5) Bruce Banner’s Hulk & What If…?’s Variants

It might seem odd that Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk isn’t ranked higher, especially considering how powerful he once was. Originally played by Edward Norton, the Hulk in *The Incredible Hulk* was incredibly strong – arguably unmatched. He famously defeated the Abomination in Harlem, battled Loki and the Chitauri in New York City, and even fought Iron Man in Johannesburg during *Avengers: Age of Ultron*. That was the last time we saw him fully transformed into his rage-fueled form. Lately, the focus has shifted more to Bruce Banner’s intelligence than the Hulk’s raw strength.

The Hulk is incredibly strong, capable of fighting powerful opponents like Loki, Iron Man, and Thor. While Thanos is stronger, the Hulk is resilient enough to survive the full force of the Infinity Stones. The Hulk seen in the *What If…* animated series generally has the same level of power, unless significantly altered. He’s proven his strength by defeating She-Hulk and would likely win against other MCU villains like Red Hulk (who Sam Wilson defeated) and the Leader. This makes him the most powerful version of the Hulk we’ve seen in live-action films.

4) Asgardian Hulk

The animated series *What If…?* hasn’t only shown us Hulks similar to the one in the movies, but it’s also introduced incredibly powerful versions. The season 2 finale revealed that Strange Supreme was capturing Hulks strong enough to destroy universes, intending to use them to rebuild his own destroyed world. One of these Hulks was a god-like combination of Hulk and Thor, equipped with Asgardian weapons and armor. This version would easily win against the Hulk we see in live-action films, but it’s unlikely we’ll ever see that happen.

3) Apex & Gamma Beasts

The latest season of *What If…?* introduced a universe where the Avengers fought a colossal, gamma-irradiated monster called the Apex using giant mech suits. The Apex created a horde of smaller Gamma Beasts, sparking a devastating war. The original Avengers, even with their powerful Hulkbuster armor, were defeated, and the new team of Avengers faced the same danger until a significantly stronger Hulk emerged to turn the tide. This Gamma War was a central conflict in this installment of *What If…?*.

2) Mega-Hulk

Following the events that created the Apex and ignited the Gamma War, Bruce Banner spent years in seclusion. When Sam Wilson asked for his assistance, Banner returned to action, intentionally exposing himself to radiation from an old atomic bomb. This dramatically increased his power and size, turning him into the Mega-Hulk. As the Mega-Hulk, he defeated the Apex, took command of the Gamma Beasts, and led them away, effectively ending the Gamma War. This made him the second most powerful Hulk seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, surpassed by only one other version.

1) Infinity Hulk

In the fifth episode of *What If…?* season 1, titled “What If… Zombies?!”, Bruce Banner arrived on Earth to warn the Avengers about Thanos, but discovered a world overrun by a Quantum Virus that had created millions of zombies. He teamed up with the remaining heroes to find the Mind Stone, hoping to use its power to cure the virus, and seemingly sacrificed himself in the process. The story continued in 2025 with *Marvel Zombies*, which revealed that Banner actually survived. After the Black Panther destroyed Thanos and the Infinity Stones-putting all of reality at risk-Banner traveled to Wakanda.

To save the universe from the Infinity Stones’ immense power, Bruce Banner merged with the Stones’ energy, becoming something beyond either his human form or the Hulk. This “Infinity Hulk” wielded the Stones’ power, making him one of the most powerful beings the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever seen. He effortlessly defeated Wanda Maximoff’s zombie army, quickly recovering from any damage. However, even he was overwhelmed by the combined might of the Queen of the Dead and Kamala Khan.

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2025-09-29 01:14