For a character known for anger, violence, and strength, the Hulk‘s new comic series is about as peaceful as they come. In Hulk: Smash Everything, Marvel gives Hulk a new direction, one that feels less like a final battle and more like a personal goodbye.
And it’s a better fit for him than any smashy finale.
Hulk Saves The World, Then Leaves It Behind Without Looking Back
The Hulk has always been a smash-run-and-hide kind of guy. However, this time, he wants to be alone more than ever. In a radical twist, he literally digs a hole in the Earth, heading to its very centre to find complete isolation.
It’s a move that nearly destroys the world. He causes devastating earthquakes around the world, bringing humanity to the brink of extinction.
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It really does seem like Hulk has gone too far. And to make it even more disturbing, he doesn’t care. However, Bruce Banner is still in there. And that humanity returns, just in time.
With a newfound source of power deep inside the Earth, Hulk saves the planet from destruction. It’s not a heroic act. It’s reluctant heroism, and that’s what works.
Hulk’s Ending Proves Peace Was Always His Real Fight
Rather than return to a standing ovation, Hulk flees. The world believes he died saving it, but he’s really gone to the cold, lonely Antarctic. No spotlight. No team. No expectations. Just silence. There’s something about that which is fitting.
Hulk didn’t want to be a hero. He wanted to be alone, away from the world, away from himself. And this time, he finally gets it. But don’t think this is the last we’ll see of him.
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Marvel has already laid the groundwork. In the wake of One World Under Doom, the gamma madness continues. Hulk is set to return in Avengers: Armageddon, where greater threats and a fight with the Red Hulk await.
So, no, it’s not a final farewell. It’s more of a break, a time where Hulk isn’t in battle, on the run, or causing damage. And for a character like him, that might be the biggest win.
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