Epic Heroes: The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk, though a fictional character, is a hero to many people of all ages. The Hulk and his alter ego, Bruce Banner, are polar opposites. Though The Hulk and Bruce Banner are this way, occasionally glimmers of Bruce’s personality shine through in the way that The Hulk behaves. The Hulk relates to many mythological characters. He most greatly relates to Hercules. The Hulk also relates to Perseus in several ways, but there are also many differences between the two as well. The Hulk and Bruce Banner are complex characters that can relate to many epic heroes like Beowulf, book characters like Gene from A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, and every day average people. The Incredible Hulk and the character Gene are very similar in the way that they are both impulsive in many of their actions. In The Incredible Hulk comic, The Hulk asks his wife Betty to go away with him to the mountains so they can finally be

Hercules has been this way since he was born, whereas The Hulk developed this power later in his life. “The infant Hercules was unusually strong and fearless, however, and he strangled the snakes before they could strangle him” (A+E Networks). This is referring to the story of when Hercules mother put two snakes in his crib to kill him because she was jealous and did not want him to become king. Hercules overcame the attack and killed the snakes. This is super human strength because no baby, or even most adults can fight off two snakes successfully. The Hulk also demonstrates super strength. “The Hulk has been known to cover hundreds of miles in a single bound and once leaped almost into orbit around the Earth” (Marvel). This is one example of how strong The Hulk can be even while doing simple tasks such as running to a new place. Hercules and the Hulk are defined by their super human strength. It is a major part of who they both