66 Years Later, Stan Lee's Original Hulk Is Way Darker Than Bruce Banner

Published Sep 11, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT

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66 years later, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original Hulk is far darker than Bruce Banner ever could be. One of the rocks upon which the modern Marvel Universe is built, the Hulk has smashed his way across the Earth and the multiverse since 1962. The Hulk has had several phases in his long career, including a few where he was the villain, such as the murderous Maestro in Peter David and George Perez’s Future Imperfect.

When the Hulk first exploded onto the scene, Marvel was just resuming the publication of superhero comics. Marvel, inspired by the success of DC’s Justice League, wanted a competitor book to go up against the sales juggernaut. In response, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gifted the world The Fantastic Four. It was an immediate success, and helped change the game in American comic books. At the same time, Marvel was also releasing a steady stream of romance, western, horror and science fiction titles, such as Journey Into Mystery and Amazing Adult Fantasy.

Marvel’s science fiction titles, which also included Tales to Astonish, Strange Tales and Tales of Suspense, featured a wide variety of giant monsters in the years shortly before the debut of Fantastic Four. Many of these creatures were the byproduct of atomic radiation, while others came from beyond Earth. In 1960, one of the alien warlords came to the planet, wreaking havoc under a very familiar name.

Stan Lee's First Hulk Was Much, Much Darker

Debuting in 1960’s Journey Into Mystery 62, and created by Lee and Kirby, Xemnu is an alien despot who was banished from his people. Possessing the power of hypnosis, Xemnu arrives on Earth, using his abilities to brainwash an unsuspecting population. Only one man knows the truth, and frantically tries to stop Xemnu. He is successful, and Xemnu flees Earth.

The story is, on the surface, typical Silver Age fare. The Silver Age of Comics coincided with the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union. The threat of “mutually assured destruction” hung over Earth, and Americans everywhere were afraid of infiltration by Soviet spies, who would sway public opinion towards communism. Xemnu’s first appearance taps into these anxieties.

What is most interesting about Xemnu’s debut is the title Lee and Kirby bestowed upon him: the Hulk. Indeed, the story is called “I Was a Slave of the Living Hulk.” However, Xemnu predates Bruce Banner by two years, but he was also largely forgotten by the time the Jade Giant debuted. Marvel took advantage of this fact, with Lee and Kirby christening Banner “the Hulk.” A new legend was born, but Xemnu would not be forgotten.

Xemnu Had a Shelf Life Beyond the Silver Age

Immortal Hulk Made the Best Use of Xemnu Ever

Despite being yet another in a long line of Marvel Silver Age monsters, later creators have seen the potential in Xemnu, reviving the villain for the modern era. Xemnu’s original title of “the Hulk” posed a problem, so he was renamed “the Titan,” and he has been referred to this way since. After his return to the Marvel Universe, Xemnu has clashed with the Defenders and She-Hulk. Most of Xemnu’s appearances at this point were being played for laughs, as he was seen mostly as a goofy relic of a bygone era.

However, during the seminal Immortal Hulk run, writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennett finally gave fans the most chilling depiction of Xemnu to date.

However, during the seminal Immortal Hulk run, writer Al Ewing and artist Joe Bennett finally gave fans the most chilling depiction of Xemnu to date. The Titan allied himself with Roxxon, creating a children’s show that was also hypnotizing the human race, turning them into subservient consumers. This story was a riff on Xemnu’s first appearance, but Ewing and Bennett ratched up the disturbing elements even further. Now, in addition to controlling people, Xemnu ate them, in both body and mind. Artist Bennett did not short fans on seeing the horrors Xemnu was perpetrating.

Will Xemnu Appear in the Marvel Universe Again?

Since Immortal Hulk, Xemnu has made sporadic appearances across the Marvel line, yet few stories have come close to topping Ewing and Bennett’s definitive take on the character. The duo took a “ridiculous” leftover from a simpler time and made him shine. Future writers and artists need to seize on Xemnu, as he is ripe with potential. While this particular Hulk may not have reached the same size audience as Bruce Banner, he is still a great character nonetheless, one who can stand with the best of Stan Lee's creations.