Marvel's Monstrous FIRST HULK Gets New Codename, Confirming His Link to Bruce Banner

Summary The Hulk's origin story is far more complex than previously believed, revealing a connection to an ancient monster known as the Fractured Son.

The new storyline in The Incredible Hulk #15 ties in perfectly with the lore established in The Immortal Hulk, expanding the Hulk's rich personal history.

Bruce Banner is not the original Hulk, but rather one in a long line of "Fractured Sons" chosen throughout history to fight an ancient evil.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Incredible Hulk #15!Just when Marvel Comics fans thought they knew everything there is to know about the Hulk - including his origin, his power level, and the source of his strength - they’re faced with yet another mystery surrounding Bruce Banner, one that is currently unfolding. Indeed, a new link has just been confirmed between Banner and the Marvel Universe’s First Hulk that was established with the codename assigned to this ancient monster, revealing the true nature of the Hulk’s official origin.

In a preview for The Incredible Hulk #15 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Danny Earls, the Eldest in her fortress in Las Vegas is speaking with another monster who wishes to know the grand plan for how the Mother of Horrors will make her return. The Eldest kindly explains that the Hulk is the key to resurrecting the Mother of Horrors, and he is on his way to Las Vegas as they speak.

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The Eldest also reveals that the Hulk isn’t the first of his kind that she has fought, recounting the conflict she had with the First Hulk, who the Eldest referred to as the Fractured Son. The Eldest says that the original Fractured Son also traveled to her fortress in the ancient past, meaning she’s more than prepared for the latest incarnation of her age-old enemy. With this reveal, fans are given invaluable insight into the true origin of the Hulk, one that goes far beyond Bruce Banner alone.

The Hulk is the Latest in a Long Line of “Fractured Sons” & Didn’t Originate with Bruce Banner

Throughout the Hulk’s Marvel Comics history up until this point, it was believed that Bruce Banner was the original Hulk, as his fractured psyche linked to the trauma of childhood abuse by the hand of his father became a physical manifestation upon the introduction of high amounts of gamma to his body. However, with this new storyline, it’s revealed that that was only half the story all along.

Bruce Banner was chosen by fate to carry a torch that was first lit centuries before his time. The original Fractured Son began a chain of Fractured Sons that would take up that mantle throughout history, with their cosmic purpose being to fight the ancient evil of the Eldest and the Mother of Horrors. The Fractured Son and the Hulk are one and the same, and while Bruce Banner claimed that title, he certainly didn’t create it.

Bruce Banner’s New Origin Ties-In Perfectly with Another Iconic Hulk Title

The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett

In The Immortal Hulk, it’s revealed that the source of the Hulk’s strength came from an otherworldly plane of existence called the Below-Place, making the Hulk something of an avatar for the One Below All (secretly the One Above All). Nothing else about the Hulk’s origin was altered aside from this clarification of his power source. But now, it seems the One Below All had avatars spanning thousands of years, all the way back to the first Fractured Son - which is an expansion of Hulk lore that perfectly bridges these two amazing storylines.

The Hulk is one of the most fascinating characters in the Marvel Universe, as the creative masterminds behind his books have consistently rejected the idea that he’s simply a two-dimensional ‘heavy hitter’ for the Avengers. And that creativity is paying off beautifully, as the Hulk’s personal lore has never been more rich, especially now that fans know the truth about the first Fractured Son, and his link to Bruce Banner.

The Incredible Hulk #15 by Marvel Comics is available August 7, 2024.

The Incredible Hulk #15 (2024) Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Artist: Danny Earls

Colorist: Matt Wilson

Letterer: Cory Petit

Cover Artist: Nic Klein