After 37 Years, X-Men Unveils Ultimate Form of Iconic Mutant Hero

Published Sep 25, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT

Robert Wood is a writer and editor based out of Cheshire, England. He is the author of 'The False Elephant: and 99 Other Unreasonably Short Stories' - 100 stories, each told in exactly 100 words.

Rob got into comics via Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man and the UK anthology 'The Mighty World of Marvel,' which was running Frank Miller's Daredevil, Classic Hulk and Contest of Champions II.

Prior to journalism, he worked in copywriting and copyedited for Oxford University Press. He is on X as @PinchTwigs and Instagram as roobwoodjourno.

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An iconic X-Men character just assumed their terrifying ultimate form, combining a godlike new appearance with a disturbing codename change. Here's how it happened, and what this beloved mutant hero looks like now.

In recent comics, Bruce Banner has been replaced as Marvel's Hulk, with the demonic Eldest stealing his powers to become the Infernal Hulk. Eldest's mission is to begin a new Age of Monsters, and he wants Marvel's mutants on his side when he does.

While the X-Men have so far turned down Infernal Hulk's invitation to join his army, he's forcibly gathered some mutants to the cause, including Multiple Man and Glob Herman. Now, a much bigger name joins the Infernal Hulk's side...

X-Men's Jubilee Becomes 'The Angler'

In this week's Infernal Hulk vs. Wolverine #1 - from Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Jonas Scharf, Alex Guimarães and Cory Petit - Wolverine and Jubilee attempt to take out the Infernal Hulk with a targeted assassination. Tragically, the Infernal Hulk instead gets ahold of Jubilee, transforming her into a powerful new form.

The Infernal Hulk is able to forcibly possess others with the spirits of long-dead monsters, and Jubilee finds herself possessed by something called the Angler. Usually capable of throwing 'fireworks,' Jubilee is transformed into a being of pure light with a whole ecosystem inside her.

When Wolverine is briefly subsumed into Jubilee's light, he finds himself preyed upon by fish-like energy manifestations as she boasts, "I brought you here to eat your mind." Jubilee now essentially holds an entire predatory dimension inside her, with the Angler showing loyalty to the Infernal Hulk.

Infernal Hulk Begins Building His Monster Avengers

Fans knew that the Infernal Hulk would start corrupting heroes thanks to the flashforward depicted in Amazing Spider-Man 1000/Queen in Black CGD 2026 #1. That story showed heroes including Spider-Man, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four transformed into kaiju, with a few Spider-Heroes left to protect New York's remaining humans.

Following Infernal Hulk vs. Wolverine, fans now know that the pink energy being shown in that preview was Jubilee, with future one-shots including Infernal Hulk vs. The Avengers and Infernal Hulk vs. The Fantastic Four sure to gradually build up this group.

Thankfully, the issue also sees Wolverine unite with Captain Marvel and Nick Fury Sr., beginning to build a resistance movement against the oncoming Age of Monsters. That conflict will form the backbone of the Hulk War event, which is coming early 2027.

Jubilee Is Central To The X-Men Franchise Again

For the last few decades, Jubilee has been an afterthought in X-Men lore, however the franchise's new era has catapulted her back into the spotlight. Jubilee is currently starring in Uncanny X-Men and Tomb of Apocalypse, while also appearing in specials The Hellfire Murder and Deadly Reunion, the latter of which introduced her superhero cousin Eason Cheung, aka Agent Decibel.

Now, it seems Jubilee will also be one of the Infernal Hulk's chief enforcers, as her transformation into the Angler makes her deadlier than ever. Marvel has often teased that Jubilee's powers have hidden depths, but no-one expected her to become a pocket universe of living light.

Custom image by Brian Colucci

No-one expected 2026 to be a big year for Jubilee fans, but that's exactly what it's become, with multiple outings, starring roles alongside Wolverine and now a god-tier villain arc. Fans have only just begun to see what Jubilee can do as the Angler, but turning her into a trippy predatory made of light is a fascinating twist on the X-Men's iconic mall brat.

Infernal Hulk vs. Wolverine #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.