What If…? Finale’s Future Hulk Variant, Explained

As a lifelong Marvel fan and someone who has witnessed the evolution of the Hulk from his humble beginnings to the complex character he is today, I find myself utterly captivated by the latest incarnation of the Jade Giant in the “What If…?” series finale. The idea of the Hulk as a dictator of Dystopia and the Sorcerer Supreme is not only intriguing but also a testament to the limitless potential of the Marvel Universe.

The Maestro, an older, gray-bearded version of the Hulk, has always been one of my favorite alternate universe versions of the character. The story of his rise to power in a post-apocalyptic world and his struggle with his former friend Rick Jones is a gripping tale that showcases the Hulk’s potential for both good and evil.

The way Marvel has seamlessly integrated this character into the “What If…?” series, along with other mashups like Weapon Infinity, Shang-Chi Star-Lord, and the X-Men’s Jubilee as the Silver Surfer, is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the Marvel writers. It’s always exciting to see how they push the boundaries of what we thought was possible in the Marvel Universe.

To top it off, I can’t help but chuckle at the irony of the Hulk, who is often portrayed as an unstoppable force, being sent back in time by his past self to prevent his own creation. Now that’s a joke straight out of the Marvel playbook!

As a longtime Marvel fan with years of comic book reading under my belt, I’ve always been captivated by the Hulk’s incredible strength and complex personality. The latest developments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have only served to deepen my fascination for this iconic character. In the animated series “What If…?”, we get a tantalizing glimpse into alternate realities where the Hulk faces off against various formidable foes, from rogue Hank Pym to zombified Avengers and even the Mech Avengers.

These stories explore what happens when the line between hero and villain becomes blurred, and the consequences of the Hulk’s uncontrollable rage are pushed to their limits. As a fan who has grown up with the Hulk, I find these explorations both thrilling and thought-provoking. They remind me that even our favorite superheroes have their flaws and limitations, and that the choices they make can have far-reaching consequences.

I eagerly await each new episode of “What If…?” to see what fresh challenges the Hulk will face in these alternate realities. The show has already proven itself to be a worthy addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.

Imagine if, instead, the Hulk ruled over Dystopia as a dictator? And envision the scenario where the Hulk mastered the mystic arts and became the Sorcerer Supreme? The final episode of the What If…? series hinted at such a combination in its closing moments, offering glimpses into various alternate realities within the Marvel multiverse. Among these possibilities were unique combinations like Weapon Infinity (Wolverine/Thanos), Shang-Chi as Star-Lord, and Jubilee transformed into the Silver Surfer, Galactus’ herald.

In the world of comics, the elderly, bearded version of the Hulk is called Maestro: a crazed variant of the Hulk from a potential future where Earth has been decimated by a global nuclear conflict. However, Bruce Banner – the one who became Hulk after being exposed to gamma radiation from a gamma bomb explosion – managed to survive and eventually took control over this post-apocalyptic world.

First appearing in “Hulk: Future Imperfect” #1 (1992), penned by renowned Incredible Hulk writer Peter David, the Maestro emerged as a character who combined the intellect of Bruce Banner with the strength of the Hulk. Empowered by nuclear radiation that transformed much of the planet into desolate wastelands, he reigned supreme in Dystopia as there were no other superheroes left powerful enough to challenge him, since most had perished earlier.

In a later timeline, an aged Rick Jones traveled 90 years into the future using Doctor Doom’s time machine and brought the intellectually-enhanced Professor Hulk (Banner’s green-skinned counterpart) from the present. This action unveiled that the Maestro, the final superhero, was actually the future Hulk. Over the years, Rick amassed artifacts from Marvel’s golden age such as Iron Man’s suits, Captain America’s shield, and Thor’s hammer, which were part of his impressive collection.

Mastermind tried to crush a rebellion led by his former comrade Rick, who headed the resistance group being pursued by Mastermind’s Gravity Police and their robotic troops known as the Dogs of War. In response, Maestro confronted “weakling” Banner for a fight that concluded with Maestro breaking his previous self’s neck. As Hulk recuperated from his wounds, Maestro revealed that this alternate reality came about when Rick’s gang dragged Hulk into the future; in this version, Maestro is an unchecked Hulk, without the influence of Bruce Banner.

Following Maestro’s fatal attack on Rick, who was pinned to pieces by fragments of Wolverine’s indestructible skeleton, the Hulk clashed with Maestro again. This time, the Hulk brandished Captain America’s shield in combat. “I am merely the culmination of natural selection,” Maestro asserted to the Hulk. “The strong prevail. I am the strongest. I live on.” As Maestro proclaimed himself as the future, the Hulk corrected him: “You are but a footnote – history.

Hulk tricked Maestro into stepping into Doom’s time travel device and transported him back to the original location of the G-bomb explosion, which was a barren desert testing site from way back in the past.

Although Maestro appeared to be annihilated in the same gamma bomb explosion that transformed Bruce Banner into the Hulk, the malevolent Hulk later resurfaced. This was during the time when God Emperor Doom, utilizing the cosmic might of the Beyonders, constructed the composite planet Battleworld during the 2015 Secret Wars storyline.

All episodes of Marvel’s What If…? are now streaming on Disney+.

2024-12-30 23:13

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