We've all been told, again and again, that The Hulk is the "strongest there is". But is that really true? After all, it's not like the Jolly Green Giant has never been defeated. And the record of his physical feats does still leave something to be desired when compared to a lot of other comic book characters, both heroes and villains. Sometimes his losses have been due to the shifting power levels inherent in comic book lore (The '60s Incredible Hulk doesn't hold a candle to the same character circa Planet Hulk, for example) and sometimes they're just the result of The Hulk being outsmarted, outmanoeuvred or outstrategized. After all, he's spent a good portion of his comic book career being a dumb brute. But there are some people in the world of comic books that, to this day, could beat the snot out of Bruce Banner's superhuman alter ego by sheer physical force. No telepaths or gods or reality shifters are allowed on this list (or at least they didn't get on it by relying on those powers alone). That would be way too easy. No, these are just the characters that could rip The Hulk a new one purely by the power of their own strength. Every one of them has proven themselves worthy either by taking on the Hulk in a straightforward match and coming out victorious or through proving themselves capable of feats so immense that even everybody's favourite giant, green rage monster couldn't top them.
Eric Day co-hosts the Murderville Podcast at www.welcometomurderville.com
Give it a listen. Five minutes. Maybe you'll dig it. Maybe you'll hate it. But at least you'll have tried something new.
