AceShowbiz - Bruce Banner has officially gained a permanent new Hulk identity, expanding the Green Goliath’s mythos after a 19-year wait. This latest Hulk form comes with its own codename and distinct role within the Hulk family, introducing fresh layers to the character's complex psyche.

In the recent comic issue The Infernal Hulk #4, crafted by Philip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein, Matt Wilson, and Cory Petit, Bruce Banner ventures into the Hulkscape—a mystical realm inhabited by all the Hulk incarnations ever influenced by the demonic entity known as the Eldest. While navigating this strange dimension, he encounters several of his former Hulk personalities: the iconic Savage Hulk, the gritty Joe Fixit, and the battle-hardened Green Scar from World War Hulk.

This journey confirms that the new long-haired Hulk, who harbors deep resentment toward Banner, is a completely separate persona. Past portrayals left ambiguity around the distinctiveness of some Hulk versions, but this issue makes it clear. When the new Hulk meets Joe Fixit, Joe reacts with surprise, saying, "This one, too? How many o' you jokers are there? Guess it makes sense. Banner went crazy way before us." This implies the new Hulk, dubbed The Fractured Son by the Eldest, may actually predate several of Banner’s known Hulk forms within his subconscious.

The last major addition to Banner's Hulk roster was the Green Scar from Planet Hulk, a gladiator king persona. Now, the lanky, hostile Hulk introduced in 2023 is confirmed as a permanent new player among the Hulk personalities.

The origin of The Fractured Son traces back to a storyline where Banner interfered with his own psyche, trapping Hulk deep within his subconscious and siphoning off the other self’s strength. Though this mental tampering was later reversed, the damage left a lasting impact. The Fractured Son despises Banner for this mistreatment and seeks to imprison him physically, refusing to simply emerge in moments of anger like other Hulks. Instead, this Hulk forces his way out, leading to grotesque and intense transformations.

Unlike the traditional Savage Hulk, The Fractured Son is less durable but compensates with extraordinary regenerative abilities. His body is highly malleable, capable of warping dramatically to heal injuries. Moreover, he appears more attuned to eldritch energies and has spent much of his existence combating monstrous threats, as he is a target of the Eldest’s sinister plans.

Notably, this Hulk is the only canonical version to have defeated Thanos, accomplishing the feat through ruthless, unconventional tactics. In terms of intellect, The Fractured Son possesses human-level speech and thought but lacks Bruce Banner’s scientific genius or personality traits seen in personas like Smart Hulk (also known as Doc Green).

The confirmation of The Fractured Son as an independent persona raises questions about his origins. Is he a byproduct of Banner’s psychological tampering, or an older, repressed identity finally resurfacing? All Hulk forms are linked to Banner’s childhood trauma, and this new persona may embody aspects of his self-loathing.

The Infernal Hulk series has significantly deepened Hulk lore by officially recognizing this new gamma transformation as a distinct character and a permanent addition to the Hulk mythos. Fans can explore this development further in The Infernal Hulk #4, currently available from Marvel Comics.

Bruce Banner’s Hulk has been a staple of Marvel since his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk (1962), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Over the decades, multiple Hulk personas have emerged, including the Savage Hulk, Joe Fixit, Green Scar, and Smart Hulk, each reflecting different facets of Banner’s fractured psyche.

This latest evolution with The Fractured Son marks a new chapter in the ongoing exploration of the Hulk’s identity, emphasizing the complexity and depth of Banner’s internal struggle and the many facets of his monstrous alter egos.