Marvel's Most Surprising Hulk Comes From The X-Men

Marvel's Most Surprising Hulk Comes From The X-Men, Not The Avengers

Marvel's Hulk within the rubble of a destroyed building

By Spencer Connolly Published 3 hours ago Spencer Connolly is a Comics journalist for ScreenRant and began writing for the site in 2020. Prior to writing for ScreenRant, Spencer worked as a photojournalist and local news producer. You can follow Spencer on Twitter: @TheSpencerVerse. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

The Hulk has always been a unique superhero, from his nightmarish powers to his complicated backstory. However, as unique as the Hulk is, the original character has nothing on the X-Men's version of him, which is primed for a comeback.

Behold The Power of The X-Men's 'Ice Hulk' Behemoth

Ice Hulk Fighting in Exceptional X-Men Training Comic

As revealed in Exceptional X-Men #12 by Eve L. Ewing and Federica Mancin, the members of the young mutant superhero team are training with their mentors, Emma Frost and Iceman. The Exceptional X-Men are an offshoot squad from the original X-Men team who are trying to find their own way in the post-Krakoa world, so they need all the training they can get. And Iceman doesn't hold back.

Iceman uses his mutant powers to not only engulf the Exceptional X-Men in a room of ice, thereby giving them much more challenging terrain in which to train, but he also does something pretty spectacular. Iceman creates a 'Hulk' made entirely of ice, which he can control remotely and uses to test the Exceptional X-Men's abilities.

X-Men is Potentially Teasing The Ice Hulk's Return To Canon

Ice Hulk in a crouched position.

While it may be a throwaway appearance for this issue, it's also technically the first incarnation of the dreaded Ice Hulk, known to X-Men readers of 2013's X-Men: Battle of the Atom. Ice Hulk hails from a potential future timeline in the Marvel multiverse (designated Earth-13729) and, just like the version seen in Exceptional X-Men #12, Ice Hulk is a creation of Iceman, but with one key difference: Ice Hulk is sentient.

The version of 'Ice Hulk' the Exceptional X-Men fought in this issue was no more sentient than a puppet, as Iceman had complete control over him during the training session. However, this issue could be setting the stage for the moment when Iceman does create a sentient Ice Hulk, leading to the return of a monstrous X-Men villain.

It's Time for a Hulk vs Ice Hulk Showdown

Hulk breaks a car in two in The Incredible Hulk comic cover

Ice Hulk is an established villain in Marvel Comics, and this issue of Exceptional X-Men sets the stage for his return. If Ice Hulk does make a comeback and becomes a plague in the Marvel Universe, then it would only make sense for the original Hulk to step in and take him down. Then, fans will finally get to see how this unique version of the Hulk compares to the original.

Only time will tell if the non-sentient version of 'Ice Hulk' shown in this X-Men comic will eventually become the villain fans know and love. However, what is clear is how unique this version of the Hulk truly is, and how exciting even the mere prospect of his return to Marvel Comics canon is as well.

Incredible Hulk Last Call Comic Art by Dave Keown

Hulk Created By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby First Appearance The Incredible Hulk (1962) Alias Robert Bruce Banner Alliance Avengers, Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Pantheon, Warbound, S.M.A.S.H., Secret Avengers Franchise Marvel

Expand Collapse

Comics
X-Men

Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Thread Sign in to your ScreenRant account

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.

Your comment has not been saved

Send confirmation email

This thread is open for discussion.

Be the first to post your thoughts.