10 Comic Book Characters Who Were Forced To Change Their Name

Bruce Banner's alter-ego wasn't the first Hulk... or the second... or the third! The mean green machine that we are all familiar with was actually the fourth Marvel character known as the Hulk.

The first one, now called Grutan, debuted in Strange Tales #75 in 1960, two years before the Jade Giant. In the story, a scientist called Albert Poole built a Mighty Hulk robot, which he hoped to pilot like a mech-suit. After entering the armor, he realised he forgot the key to the robot, trapping himself inside forever.

The second Hulk, now known as Xemnu the Living Titan, was a shaggy monster with vast strength and hypnotic powers. The third Hulk, now called Glop, was a gloopy monster who broke free from a movie screen.

Although Grutan and Glop only appeared in one issue, Xemnu has become a prominent character, especially in recent years. Not only did the hairy beast appear in the animated show, Hulk and the Agents of SMASH, Xemnu was a central villain in the Immortal Hulk series, which is considered one of the best Marvel stories of 2020.