The Hulk’s Supporting Cast is Way More Important Than the Hero Himself (And I Can Prove It)

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Everyone agrees the Hulk is incredibly strong, but is he at his strongest when he’s alone? While he’s often seen as a solitary figure, the Hulk actually has a surprising number of important people in his life and stories. These characters don’t just add to the narrative—they’re essential to understanding who Bruce Banner and the Hulk truly are. The comic series The Immortal Hulk perfectly demonstrates just how much the people Banner cares about – or even fears – impact his journey.

Between 2018 and 2021, Marvel Comics released The Immortal Hulk, written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Joe Bennett. The series was highly praised for returning the Hulk to his horror origins and greatly enriching the character’s backstory. However, it wasn’t just a scary story about the Hulk; it was a story about his connections with the people he cared about – friends, helpers, and even those who opposed him. As Bruce Banner uncovered the terrifying truth about gamma radiation, readers learned just how important these relationships are to the Hulk’s overall story.

The Immortal Hulk Proves It’s About Much More Than Bruce Banner

I absolutely loved The Immortal Hulk! It starts with this really cool, unsettling idea: what if the gamma radiation that created the Hulk wasn’t just an accident, but something…evil? The first few issues explored what that would mean for Bruce and, of course, the Hulk. But it quickly grew into something much bigger. It started looking at how gamma radiation has affected everyone connected to Bruce – and honestly, at this point, that’s a lot of people! It’s a genuinely creepy and fascinating story.

As Hulk and Bruce Banner explore their identities across the cosmos, the story of The Immortal Hulk revisits characters from their past, revealing how they’ve been changed by gamma radiation. Betty Ross, previously Red She-Hulk and Harpy, transforms into a unique being called Red Harpy. Rick Jones is tragically turned into a monstrous new version of the Abomination, and later manipulated by the Leader. Meanwhile, Doc Samson reappears as a helper, but a mishap leads to him inhabiting Walter Langkowski’s body, becoming known as ‘Doc Sasquatch’.

Beyond the familiar villains Hulk has always fought, The Immortal Hulk introduces Jaqueline McGee, a Black reporter who has been tracking the Hulk for years. She eventually develops the ability to identify gamma-powered beings, but her true strength lies in her courage and integrity. Throughout the series, she’s one of the few people who challenges the Hulk and holds him responsible for what he does.

Hulk’s Greatest Story Would Have Been Nothing Without His Supporting Cast

As a horror fan, I think about what The Immortal Hulk really gets right, and it’s not just the scares. Ewing and Bennett could have told a Hulk horror story without characters like Jackie, Rick, or Betty Ross, but it wouldn’t have hit the same. The comic digs into the wreckage Bruce leaves in his wake – and I don’t just mean buildings! It’s the emotional toll his transformations take on the people who care about him. All his past failures, especially with Rick and his complicated relationship with Betty, come back to haunt him, literally. These emotional ‘sins’ manifest as these terrifying, powerful gamma-mutated creatures – they’re as destructive as the Hulk himself, and that’s what makes this series so compelling.

It’s tempting to portray the Hulk as a loner, someone who doesn’t form close relationships. However, The Immortal Hulk deliberately focused on the characters around him. The story revisited these supporting characters, honestly showed the difficulties of knowing Bruce Banner, and demonstrated how those experiences had deeply affected them. This cast adds significant depth to the narrative, and I doubt The Immortal Hulk would have been as impactful or successful without them and their personal challenges, as crafted by Ewing and Bennett.

Everyone loves Hulk for his incredible strength and epic battles. However, the recent success of The Immortal Hulk showed that the most compelling stories aren’t just about the Hulk himself. A great Hulk story also needs a strong supporting cast with characters who actively contribute to the plot. While it’s a high bar, hoping for another series like The Immortal Hulk, future Hulk comics can definitely benefit from focusing on the relationships and lives of the people around Bruce Banner.

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2025-11-05 03:40