With 60 years and a whole lot of smashing, the mythos and lore behind the Incredible Hulk get bigger and meaner with each new comic. The Incredible Hulk was introduced to audiences in March 1962 when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gave the character his first comic book issue. Since then, the green and mean threat has had quite the adventures, as well as a few interesting color changes.
Not all Hulks are green, and even the most iconic of the Hulks, Bruce Banner, does not always stay in his bold green color. There have been many different Hulks in the comic books, with some being vastly different colors. This is thanks to the infinite creativity and weirdness that can exist within Marvel Comics.
7 Green
The most famous of the Hulk colors can be explained by the often depicted rendition of radiation. In comics and cartoons, green often represents radioactivity, and considering Bruce Banner was infected with harmful gamma radiation, he becomes a gigantic green monster who knows nothing but rage and smashing. Bruce Banner is by far the most famous of the Hulks, but is only one of many to harbor the green color.
This bold green has been worn by the Incredible Hulk, and famously his cousin, Jennifer Walters. Jennifer Walters became She-Hulk after a blood transfusion from Bruce, and debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Disney Plus’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Green is the most iconic Hulk color, and it’s best to keep away from any theoretical physicists that begin to change color.
6 Gray
In the original depiction of the Hulk, Stan Lee wanted him to be gray. However, due to ink problems, the Hulk became green. To fix this issue, Gray Hulk was introduced as the original Hulk when Bruce Banner was first hit by the Gamma Bomb, but further uses irradiated him to a not-so-healthy green. In Marvel Comics, Gray Hulk has a story of his own to tell.
Gray Hulk was given his alias as “Joe Fixit”, a morally gray (pardon the pun) Las Vegas enforcer. This Gray Hulk could converse and drive cars, exhibiting a better intelligence than the green Hulk. Gray Hulk was just one of many pieces of the puzzle for Bruce Banner’s troubled mind, but gray certainly indicates a higher intellect than the savagery of green.
5 Red
To combat that the savagery exhibited by the Hulk, there was an idea, a creation of something equally terrifying, but with a higher level of control. Enter Red Hulk, the Hulk form of none other than Hulk’s greatest adversary (and father-in-law), General Thunderbolt Ross. This Red Hulk was created through the combination of both gamma radiation and cosmic rays, creating a threatening red appearance.
Red Hulks have been seen in both Thaddeus Ross and Betty Ross. It’s a far contrast from that of the original green Hulk, but remains equally powerful. Red Hulks seem to have their wits about them, and get to keep their intellect along with their great brawn.
4 Orange
Although Orange Hulk has not appeared in the mainline Marvel Universe of 616, he does exist as one of the characters for Earth-295. Orange Hulk has a lack of intelligence, as seen in his very fractured speech.
Orange is the color that represents the sun’s radiation, as Orange Hulk describes himself as “Solar Hulk,” clearly stating how his power comes from the sun’s rays. Unlike the other Hulks, Orange Hulk seems more villainous. He attacked the last human settlement after the X-Men fell, and protected the Apocalypse ship in Manhattan.
3 Blue
Comics are the home to all sorts of weirdness. In 2006, Marvel housed the comic series Captain Universe: Incredible Hulk. This five-part series showed the Hulk bonding with the Uni-Power, a manifestation of the powers of the sentient universe itself. Whoever bonds with the Uni-Power earns the title of Captain Universe.
After becoming Captain Universe, the Hulk was perhaps the most powerful he could ever be, and ever will be. The blue color from the Hulk is explained through his temporary bond with the Uni-Power. As a cosmic-powered entity, Blue Hulk is unstoppable. Thankfully, he is rather heroic.
2 Brown
There are few characters in the Marvel Universe that have had a rougher life than Bruce Banner. As well as having his life stripped from him, and forced into solitude so no one can be harmed as the Hulk, he also had a fractured childhood after he was abused by his father, and his mother beaten to death by the same man. To help himself cope, Bruce Banner created the Devil Hulk, a manifestation in his mind that would comfort and protect him from the abuse he endured from his father.
Devil Hulk exists as a Protector Alter, and cares deeply for Bruce Banner and his wellbeing. Devil Hulk is portrayed in a muddy brown color and shows just how dangerous the inners of Bruce Banner’s mind can be, since this manifestation is greatly dangerous and smart.
1 Black
If there is one thing scarier than an enraged Hulk, then it’s an enraged Hulk’s Hulk. This Hulk was seen recently in Marvel Comics, and is as vicious as he is evil-minded. Named Kluh, this black hulk is distinguished from the other Hulks and is ruled by his hatred, seen in the harsh black skin and glowing red scars.
Since this is the only depiction of a black Hulk, there may be a black Hulk in all of the Hulks, a darker emergence. However, considering the complexity of Bruce Banner’s alter-egos, it may just be his. Kluh can decimate other heroes with ease and has sharp claws.