Hulkbusters is the name of three fictional organizations appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. All three groups exist within Marvel's shared universe known as the Marvel Universe and are so-named for their attempts to battle the Hulk.

Hulkbusters
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
In-story information
Member(s)Craig Saunders, Jr.
Carolyn Parmenter
Samuel J. La Roquette
Armand Martel
Hideko Takata

Fictional history

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The U.S. military's Hulkbusters

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The original group called the Hulkbusters was a sizeable joint task force consisting of personnel from both the U.S. Army and Air Force, created to capture or destroy the Hulk. The headquarters for this operation was the Hulkbuster Base located in New Mexico, resembling a peace sign (also called Gamma Base), after it was damaged by the Hulk,[volume & issue needed] and General Thunderbolt Ross commanded them along with General John Ryker and Major Glenn Talbot. The U-Foes later destroyed the Hulkbuster Base.[1] After learning to retain his intelligence and personality while transformed, Bruce Banner is pardoned and the Hulkbusters disband.[2]

During this Hulkbusters operation, Clay Quartermain served as its S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison.

Originally, Gamma Base was Project Greenskin: Hulkbuster Base and it was the base for the Hulkbusters. The US Government shut it down and it was opened again for Bruce Banner's Project: Hulkbuster.[volume & issue needed] When that group broke up, it was shut down again.[volume & issue needed] Once again it was re-opened for the use of Operation: Zero Tolerance.[volume & issue needed]

Bruce Banner's Hulkbusters

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After the Hulk reverted to his bestial personality, he was captured by Doc Samson.[3] Samson persuaded the government to rebuild and finance Gamma Base. There, Samson managed to separate Banner and the Hulk into two distinct beings, although the Hulk was able to escape.[4] Banner was named the leader of this iteration of the Hulkbusters,[5] which first appeared in Incredible Hulk #317 (March 1986), and was created by John Byrne.[6]

Members of this group of Hulkbusters included:

  • Craig Saunders, Jr. – Demolition expert (later known as Redeemer)
  • Carolyn Parmenter – Marine scientist
  • Samuel J. La Roquette – Explorer (later known as Rock)
  • Armand Martel – Xenobiologist
  • Hideko Takata – Geophysics professor

Saunders and La Roquette later became Rock and Redeemer, a supervillain team who faced the Hulk on various occasions,[7][8][9] after much of Banner's HB team were killed.[10] Rock had an external hide made of deadly minerals which can be used to impale and grow in size. Redeemer had an exoskeletal suit with weapons like repulsor blasters, and rocket fuel. The Leader later recruited them into "New Freehold" along with the Riot Squad,[11] and they have not been seen since.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Hulkbusters

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S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Hulkbusters were formed to capture villains and implant them with nanotechnology to nullify their powers.[12] The team was led by Agent Clay Quartermain and members included Agent Cheesecake, Agent Crimson, and She-Hulk.

Other versions

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An alternate universe variant of the Hulkbusters from Earth-1610 appear in the Ultimate Marvel universe. These versions serve Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.[13]

In other media

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Television

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Video games

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Novels

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Craig Saunders Jr. and Samuel J. La Laroquette appear in the novelization of the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, written by Peter David. These versions are members of a military strike team sent to capture the Hulk and also appear unnamed in the film.

References

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  1. ^ Incredible Hulk #277 (Nov 1982)
  2. ^ Incredible Hulk #279 (Jan 1983)
  3. ^ Incredible Hulk #314 (Dec 1985)
  4. ^ Incredible Hulk #315 (Jan 1986)
  5. ^ Incredible Hulk #317
  6. ^ Incredible Hulk #317 (Mar 1986)
  7. ^ Incredible Hulk #345
  8. ^ Incredible Hulk #366
  9. ^ Incredible Hulk #398
  10. ^ Incredible Hulk #343
  11. ^ Incredible Hulk Vol 1 #462
  12. ^ Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 #106
  13. ^ Ultimate Spider-Man #100
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  • "Hulkbusters". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008.