Thor’s Devious Plan to Defeat the Hulk Revealed in 2024

As founding members of the Avengers, Hulk and Thor have a long-standing history of conflicts. However, 2024 introduced a chilling twist in their relationship when Thor disclosed his capability to kill the Green Goliath at will. Although Thor may not match Hulk’s brute strength, he has established a contingency plan for the unlikely event that the Hulk must be subdued.

Unveiling of a Lethal Strategy in Avengers: Twilight

This startling revelation came to light in 2024’s Avengers: Twilight, created by the combined efforts of Chip Zdarsky, Daniel Acuña, Cory Petit, and Joe Caramagna. Within the storyline, Hulk succumbs to the Red Skull’s corruption, who manipulates Ultron’s advanced technology to transform him into a formidable weapon. The Hulk’s rampage devastates multiple nations through gamma warfare, leading the Red Skull to unleash him against the Avengers, ultimately culminating in an intense confrontation with Thor.

In a harrowing moment, as innocents fall victim to Hulk’s destruction and Bruce Banner pleads with Thor to intervene, the God of Thunder activates his lethal strategy. He forcefully punches Hulk into the ocean and then places Mjolnir atop his chest. The ‘worthy’ enchantment prevents Hulk from lifting the legendary hammer, resulting in his drowning.

Thor Kills Hulk: The Drowning Technique

Thor’s Perspective on His Lethal Decision

Thor vs Hulk in Avengers Twilight — Illustration by Robert Wood (Inspired by Alex Ross)

Avengers: Twilight is set in a speculative future where public trust in the Avengers has waned. The team is disbanded, allowing the Red Skull to infiltrate the US government using Tony Stark’s son, James, as leverage to access advanced technology. An aging Captain America emerges from retirement for one last mission, gathering a new team of Avengers that includes Thor, a more seasoned Ms. Marvel, and a new Hawkeye, ultimately winning James over to their side. Unfortunately, the Hulk, heavily manipulated by Ultron and the Red Skull, is beyond redemption.

In earlier narratives, Hulk has demonstrated a few unique vulnerabilities, such as during a notable crossover with Batman, who utilized a clever tactic to exploit Hulk’s need for oxygen.

A silver lining emerges, though, as Bruce Banner wakes in Asgard alongside Tony Stark, who also perished in this saga. Thor offers this as a form of atonement, allowing Bruce to find solace after enduring years of being a living weapon against his will.

Does Drowning the Hulk Guarantee Success?

Exploring the Complexities of Marvel Lore

The question of whether Hulk could drown showcases the complexities of Marvel’s storytelling. Officially, Hulk requires oxygen, yet he can hold his breath for extended periods. Historical instances confirm his vulnerability; in Fantastic Four #166, the team neutralizes Hulk by depleting his oxygen supply. Reed Richards’ efforts to replicate that victory later encountered a twist, as Hulk turned the tables on him.

Remarkably, Batman once defeated Hulk by using knockout gas, leading Hulk to inhale and lose critical breath. This illustrates that while Hulk can go without oxygen for days, his need for it becomes desperate in dire situations, such as when being submerged underwater.

Interestingly, Hulk has occasionally demonstrated a potential ability to breathe underwater. In The Incredible Hulk #77, for instance, Hulk’s adaptive evolution grants him a new organ allowing him to breathe in aquatic environments, although this ability remains infrequent in subsequent narratives.

Thor’s Tactical Approach: Effectiveness and Limitations

Hulk’s Numerous Evasive Strategies

Insights from Al Ewing and Joe Bennett’s Immortal Hulk series delve into the mystical dimensions of gamma radiation, revealing that Hulk’s abilities derive from both magic and his psychological makeup. The storyline aligns with the notion that since Bruce Banner secretly wished to perish during Twilight, Hulk’s innate survival instincts were not at play.

In a later comic, Hulk deliberately tears Mjolnir through his body to escape Thor’s attack, a severe injury that he nevertheless manages to recover from. By the time of this encounter, Bruce Banner has reclaimed control over Hulk, indicating that this drastic action likely didn’t cross the Green Goliath’s mind.

In summary, while Thor’s tactic of drowning Hulk with Mjolnir serves as a creative method to immobilize him, the overarching theme of Avengers: Twilight portrays a Hulk who is deeply troubled and seeking liberation from his dark circumstances. Thor’s tactical plan, though effective, raises important questions about Hulk’s various methods of evading death.

Discover the full story of these fateful events in Avengers: Twilight, currently available from Marvel Comics.

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