A Classic Spider-Man Villain Almost Killed the Hulk – CBR – Comic Book Resources

The following contains spoilers for Joe Fixit #5, on sale now from Marvel Comics.

One of the most intriguing debates in the Marvel Universe has always been if the Hulk can be killed. Many of Bruce Banner's foes tried time and time again but to no avail. Even in his human form, it was hard for Bruce Banner to hurt himself, with the Jade Giant inside protecting his very essence.

The movies and cartoons have touched on this as well, painting the Green Goliath as truly indestructible. Interestingly, Joe Fixit #5 (by Peter David, Yldray nar, Dee Cunniffe and VC's Ariana Maher) is now dissecting this very topic. And surprisingly, it's a classic Spider-Man enemy who pulls it off (albeit temporarily).

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In this Grey Hulk backstory from Joe's early years as a mob enforcer, he gets caught in the crossfire of a gangster civil war in Las Vegas. While Joe is simply trying to protect his casino, Kingpin sends goons after him as Spider-Man tries to keep the peace. Unfortunately, for Joe, Electro is one of Kingpin's thugs, and he has exactly what he needs to take him out.

By absorbing all the power from the Las Vegas Strip, he's able to stop Joe's heart. It leaves Spider-Man stunned, as he didn't think Joe could be felled like this. It's surprisingly quick and effective, but as the battle rolls on, Joe's healing factor kicks in. He's revived, and along with the Wall-Crawler, they take their enemies out. This might seem like a trivial moment, but it does speak to the nature of the Hulk and an important run that came years after this story.

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Al Ewing's Immortal Hulk dissected Hulk's powers on a more nuanced level, linking gamma to the mystical Green Door. In that run, Hulk couldn't die. It's why the Leader wanted to control Hulk, leading to the creation of the Titan Hulk. Joe was responsible for piloting Bruce's body during the daytime, admitting he knew more about death than he was letting on. The Grey Hulk is physically weaker than the others. This means he has to rely on his wits more, making him smarter and perhaps the most important Hulk.

Ultimately, Hulk's immortality it's still a tough code to crack, and one many villains also struggle to discern. That's why it's so ironic that Electro got the job done temporarily -- as it's a villain no one would ever expect to murder Joe. Still, with Bruce free of Titan Hulk (for now), should Joe return, there might be more secrets revealed from those early days. It might link to the many deaths over the years, and provide insight into if Hulk can someday pass on, without a puppet master or the Green Door still tethered to his soul.

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A Classic Spider-Man Villain Almost Killed the Hulk - CBR - Comic Book Resources