Up to this point in my analysis of the rogues galleries of Marvel heroes from the Silver Age, I always had an idea of who would turn out to be the most recurring villain.
The Hulk is far more difficult to predict: his series is either highly serialized or very episodic depending on the era, so villains either keep repeating or vary randomly
I have a hunch on who’s going to be #1, but no idea who else will be on the podium!
He also has a more complicated publishing life, and a less clear cutoff point than other heroes.
I’ve decided to stop right before the Mantlo run, which neatly allows me a cutoff of 1979.
For the purposes of this analysis, I will be looking at:
-His original six-issue series
-Tales To Astonish #60-101
-Incredible Hulk #102-244
-Incredible Hulk King Size Special #1
-Incredible Hulk Annual #5-8
Compared to the other lists, the Hulk fights a much wider range of enemies: spread across the 196 issues included in the analysis, I counted an incredible 73 entries. And that’s even cheating a bit by grouping a couple of them!
Those are way too many characters to talk about all of them individually, so I’ve decided to mix it up a little and let someone with a far more concise vocabulary do it.
Here’s the Top 15 most recurring Hulk villains, as analyzed by the Hulk himself.
#15: Kronak the Barbarian
Hulk wanted to fight Conan. Why is Hulk fighting dumb barbarian in 1976 when Marvel already has rights to Conan? Hulk smash copyright!
#14: one-shot heroes
Hulk strong enough to fight dumb heroes once.
Heroes like Skirt Man, Fish Man, Sword Lady, Blue Furry, Shouty Man…
…or Stingy Man, Stabby Man and Orange Furry…
…even if they are in teams like the Puny Four or the Defenders.
Hulk remembers team name because Hulk has membership card.
In Hulk’s other pants.
#13: one-shot villains
Hulk has 18 enemies smart enough to fight Hulk only once.
Funny Archeology Man gave Hulk a list of people Hulk does not remember smashing: Circus of Crime, Constrictor, Executioner, Hammer & Anvil, Loki, Puppet Master, Tiger Shark and Tinkerer.
Funny Archeology Man also recalls Hulk fighting a Locust. Hulk does not remember smashing bug.
Hulk remembers Gargoyle, first villain Hulk smashed.
Hulk fought crypto once. Hulk too smart to buy bitcoin.
Hulk also fought Banner’s wife once. Hulk likes her hair.
Hulk also fought Her when she was a him.
Not Him Adam Warlok, his sister.
Hulk very confused about cosmic lore.
Hulk also confused about Kang. But Hulk is not alone being confused by Kang.
Hulk also fought Funny Helmet Man and Toy Marketing Man.
And a Nazi. Heil Hulk!!!
#12: two-issue heroes
Hulk has smashed Naked Silver Man, the Avengers and Machine Man twice.
Hulk wanted a better name for Machine Man. Hulk needs a thesaurus.
#11: two-issue villains
Funny Archeology Man wants Hulk to mention Captain Barracuda, Cobalt Man, Collector, Dr. Zaxon, Enchantress, Galaxy Master, Hydra, Maha Yogi, Stranger and Evil Wizard Scientist Dictator Man.
Hulk only remembers Big Head Man…
…and Zzax.
Hulk cannot remember how to spell Zzax.
#10: three-issue villains
Hulk has smashed many people three times!
Funny Archeology Man says they are called Absorbing Man, Man-Beast, Missing Link, Gremlin, High Evolutionary, Mandarin, Maximus and Wendigo… Hulk does not care.
But Hulk cares about Psyklop. Hulk smashed him for taking away Jarella.
Funny Archeology Man says Man-Beast, Missing Link and Sandman really are called that and that Hulk did not name them.
They need a thesaurus.
Funny Archeology Man also grouped several time travelers that Hulk smashed, plus the Secret Empire and the Living Lightning Legion.
Hulk Hates Hallitteration!!!
#9: four-issue villains
Pretty Moon Lady and Mole Man now know better than attacking Hulk.
Doc Samson is Hulk’s therapist but Hulk smashed as many times as Bi-Beast, Boomerang and Goldbug.
#7: six-issue villains
Hulk has smashed Rhino, Chameleon and Tyrannus as many times as Hulk has smashed communist spies.
#6: the Corporation. Not “a” Corporation, “the” Corporation.
Hulk would have come up with a better name. And would have preferred smashing it less than seven times, Hulk was very bored.
#5: Abomination & abominable regular humans
Hulk has smashed Fish Face Man eight times, just as many as normal puny humans.
#4: miscellaneous monsters
Hulk has smashed monsters much uglier and weaker than Hulk ten times.
#3: who promoted this guy?
Hulk has fought puny soldiers 11 times, with General Ross giving orders. Hulk told Funny Archeology Man to count more times but he did not want to read again all of Hulk’s stories for a real count.
Hulk should smash him some day.
#2: if they target him, there’s no intelligent life out there
Why do aliens attack Hulk SEVENTEEN TIMES???
#1: if you’re so smart, why do you pick on the Hulk?
Hulk knew Big Forehead Man would be Hulk’s worst enemy. Hulk smashed him TWENTY-EIGHT times and Big Forehead Man keeps coming back!
Hulk thinks many of those rankings are superficial and would not hold up to a rigorous analysis.
Funny Archeology Man said it’s on purpose.
And people say Hulk is dumb.