Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Incredible Hulk #18! Adamantium is one of the strongest metals in the Marvel Universe, capable, even, of piercing the Hulk’s nearly impenetrable skin. But, while it can certainly pierce Hulk’s skin, the Green Goliath can still overpower the metal when in a pinch – something that cannot be said about another metal. In fact, this new unbreakable metal renders the Hulk utterly powerless, without even a chance of out-muscling it.
In a preview for The Incredible Hulk #18 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein, and Danny Earls, the Hulk’s sidekick, Charlie, wakes up completely healed. Previously, Charlie was effectively killed, and her soul became trapped in a porcelain doll by a Hulk villain known as Frozen Charlotte. Since then, the Hulk has been trying to bring her back. In this issue, he’s finally successful – but there’s a major catch.
Last issue, Bruce Banner (within his and Hulk’s shared psyche) makes a deal with the Eldest while the Hulk (in his physical form) is battling the very same monster. The Eldest is trying to free the Mother of Horrors from her ancient prison, and she needs the Hulk to do it, as it was the One Below All who imprisoned the Mother of Horrors. Banner signed away the Hulk’s body to the Eldest in exchange for Charlie’s ‘resurrection’. Now, the Hulk is bound by a mystical metal that even his cosmically-strong muscles can’t break through: Uthl.
The Hulk Cannot Break Through the Chains of Uthl, But He CAN Overcome Adamantium
Hulk has Ripped Wolverine in Half & has Made His Skin as Strong as Adamantium
The Chains of Uthl are enchanted and effectively bonded to the Hulk after Bruce Banner signed away his flesh in exchange for Charlie’s life, meaning this new metal is one the Hulk could never hope to break. Because of that, Uthl has become a more dangerous metal to the Hulk than adamantium ever was.
While it’s true that adamantium can pierce the Hulk’s skin, the Green Goliath is far from powerless when faced against it. In Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk, the Hulk ripped Wolverine in half. It’s unclear if he broke the adamantium bonded to Logan’s spine, or if he merely split the vertebrae at a facet joint. But either way, Wolverine is the living embodiment of weaponized adamantium, and the Hulk incapacitated him in truly brutal fashion.
The Hulk also once made his skin about as strong as adamantium. In Future Imperfect, the Hulk is attacked by Maestro’s ‘Dogs O’War’, which had jaws strong enough to bite through adamantium. However, they couldn’t pierce the Hulk’s skin before he destroyed them, despite the robotic enemies having the Hulk’s throat in its jaws. That means the Hulk made his skin roughly as tough as adamantium, giving him the ability to destroy things even stronger than adamantium.
As previously mentioned, the Chains of Uthl are enchanted and bonded to the Hulk, and that’s why he can’t hope to break them. However, if the source of this magic is neutralized or destroyed (ie, the Eldest is defeated by someone else), or the Eldest herself lifts the curse, then the Hulk would assuredly be able to destroy the physical Chains of Uthl that bound him. In other words, magic is the reason this metal is unbreakable, but once that magic is gone, then Hulk is free to do what he does best and smash right through them.
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“You Lack the Strength to Harm Me”: Hulk Finally Meets an Enemy Who’s Immune to His Strength
The Hulk is one of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe, but he’s finally met someone he can’t smash, as one villain is immune to his strength.
But, as it stands, the Hulk is bound by metal that he cannot break through, which is a far cry from his experience with adamantium. Hulk has been able to make his skin as strong as adamantium to defeat villains that have the power to crush the metal, and he’s also defeated Wolverine on numerous occasions (including the most brutal victory of all in the Ultimate Universe). However, when it comes to the Chains of Uthl, Hulk is currently powerless, as it’s an all-new metal in Marvel Comics that’s stronger than his muscles.
The Incredible Hulk #18 by Marvel Comics is available October 23, 2024.
Hulk
The Hulk, a Marvel Comics superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, is physicist Bruce Banner transformed by gamma radiation. He morphs into a giant, green-skinned creature of immense strength and invulnerability when angered. Struggling with his transformations, Hulk allies with other heroes, battling villains while balancing his intellect with uncontrollable rage, making him a central figure in Marvel’s universe.