Published Jun 22, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
Robert Wood is a writer and editor based out of Cheshire, England. He is the author of 'The False Elephant: and 99 Other Unreasonably Short Stories' - 100 stories, each told in exactly 100 words.
Rob got into comics via Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man and the UK anthology 'The Mighty World of Marvel,' which was running Frank Miller's Daredevil, Classic Hulk and Contest of Champions II.
Prior to journalism, he worked in copywriting and copyedited for Oxford University Press. He is on X as @PinchTwigs and Instagram as roobwoodjourno.
Bruce Banner's Hulk is officially changing from his traditional green, switching colors in a major Marvel shake-up. But what does this transformation mean for his powers and unstoppable rage?
Across Hulk lore, there are multiple different colors of gamma mutate, from Thaddeus Ross' Red Hulk to Clayton Cortez's grey-skinned Weapon H. In fact, one person can even have several different colored gamma personas, which has long been the case for Bruce Banner in the comics.
Marvel just dropped evidence that Bruce Banner is about to undergo a shock rebirth, unleashing a Grey Hulk transformation to bring down a powerful enemy.
In recent comics, the demonic Eldest stole Bruce's gamma to become the Infernal Hulk. Without his powers, Bruce has tried to leave his superhero life behind, starting a new life as David Hamilton. However, with the Infernal Hulk destroying every hero who stands against him, Bruce is being dragged back into the Hulk life.
Recently, Marvel released solicit information for The Infernal Hulk #10, with Nic Klein's cover depicting a grey Hulk punching the comic's logo. The summary teases that Bruce is seeking a weapon that can defeat the Infernal Hulk, implying he'll regain the gamma that was stolen from him.
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Release Date: |
August 12, 2026 |
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Writer: |
Phillip Kennedy Johnson |
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Artists: |
Adam Gorham |
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Cover Artist: |
Nic Klein |
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BANNER VS. THE INFERNAL HULK? The heroes have lost their last chance to stop Infernal Hulk... except for Bruce Banner himself. As Hulk closes in on New York, Banner and Doctor Voodoo risk their lives and souls against a terrifying enemy. Failure will mean eternal enslavement and torment... but success could give them the only weapon that might bring victory against Infernal Hulk. Meanwhile, another secret weapon joins the fray... CHARLIE TIDWELL herself, the skinwalker LYCANA! |
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Traditionally, Bruce Banner has a specific grey Hulk persona known as Joe Fixit. This Hulk is weaker than the classic 'Savage Hulk' but far smarter, often wearing a suit as part of his classic gangster persona. Klein's art doesn't look like Joe Fixit's usual design, suggesting this may be a new form of Grey Hulk.
In The Incredible Hulk Volume 7, Eldest led Hulk into a trap, using the Abomination to forcibly separate Bruce Banner and Hulk on a mystic level. Bruce Banner traditionally acts as the generator of gamma energy, while Hulk's unique physiology turns gamma into strength. With their link broken, Bruce can no longer transform, and Hulk's strength is limited.
It's likely Bruce's transformation will somehow utilize the skull of the first Hulk Enkidu, which has been prominent in Infernal Hulk issues so far. Perhaps as an alternate source of gamma?
Sadly, once Eldest had possessed Hulk's body, the demon consumed the eldritch god known as Vinruviel, aka the Mother of Horrors, who first created gamma by wounding the One Above All. That cannibalistic act turned Eldest into the Infernal Hulk, including the power to transform others using the spirits of long-dead monsters.
Infernal Hulk's mission is to unleash a new "Age of Monsters," transforming heroes including the Avengers and Fantastic Four into terrifying kaiju by imbuing them with the spirits of long-dead monsters (as seen in a recent Comics Giveaway Day flashforward, above.)
It's all leading up to the Hulk War event in 2027, with Marvel recently announcing a series of 'March to Hulk War!' one-shots where the villain will take on iconic heroes including Wolverine, Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.
Can a Grey Hulk Beat the Infernal Hulk?
It's already apparent that only Bruce Banner can stop the Infernal Hulk, but it's very unclear how. The Grey Hulk form has its own specialties, but it lacks the strength to topple Eldest's new form, which already battled a herald of the One Above All and Iron Man at his strongest and won.
However, Bruce's Grey Hulk form may be able to absorb the gamma energy out of Infernal Hulk, reawakening the Savage Hulk and making this a fair fight. To do that, Bruce will need to get in close enough for long enough to reclaim his energy - and that's a mission a Grey Hulk is perfect for.
The Infernal Hulk #10 is coming August 12 from Marvel Comics.
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