Not all Marvel heroes can have a happy ending – and unfortunately, I think that's definitely the case with the Hulk. It seems that in every future that I see, Bruce Banner's legacy is doomed by being the Hulk. He doesn't make the world better, or truly help anyone, all he leaves for the future is the rage of the Hulk, and I honestly can't think of anything more tragic.

The Ultimates #8 – written by Deniz Camp, with art by Juan Frigeri – was another story that really drove home for me how grim Hulk's fate is, seemingly across the majority of the Marvel Multiverse. In the issue, the time-displaced Guardians of the Galaxy from the 61st century recount the destruction of their future, and readers get a glimpse of a planet populated by ten billion descendents of the Hulk.

Though they try to prevent the annihilation of the universe, the Hulks fail, and this is just one example of the characters' penchant for sad endings.

Marvel's Ultimate Universe Is Just The Latest Timeline In Which The Hulk Suffers A Sad End

The Ultimates #8 – Written By Deniz Camp; Art By Juan Frigeri; Color By Federico Blee; Lettering By Travis Lanham.

To me, as a reader, the destruction of Planet Hulk, covered fleetingly in the issue, felt like an extension of Bruce Banner's perennial tragic character endpoint, as his descendents are obliterated in an attempted, but ultimately failed heroic act. Though only visited in ing in The Ultimates #8, the implication is pretty bleak, I think. This planet was home to over a billion descendants of Bruce Banner, all of them versions of the Hulk. That's a chilling legacy to leave behind in its own right.

This made me think of the other Hulk stories, including perhaps the worst of all, the iconic Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. This story took place in a twisted future where all the villains of the world together to defeat their corresponding heroes. While the Avengers might have stood a chance against this overwhelming threat, they were at a disadvantage due to the fact the Hulk ed the villains.

With the heroes dead and nothing but his land to enjoy, the Hulk started a sexual relationship with She-Hulk ,and created an entire brood known as the Hulk Gang. These inbred Hulks roamed the countryside, causing destruction and death to anyone they came across. It was a truly horrific future and one that eventually ended with Wolverine murdering the Hulk after his Hulk Gang slaughtered Wolverine's family. It was definitely one of the most twisted versions of the Hulk, and it's something I immediately thought of when I saw this Planet Hulk with so many descendants of Bruce Banner.

The One Below All Is Hulk's Darkest Possible Future

Perhaps the most twisted version of the Hulk's future and legacy that I have read was featured in Immortal Hulk, written by Al Ewing. In this storyline, the Hulk battles against The One Below All. While Hulk manages to overcome The One Below All in mainstream Marvel timeline, readers were also privy to a dark future where the Hulk succumbed to The One Below All's influence. This results in Hulk being the last living thing in the Marvel Universe, which led to him moving into the next iteration of the universe and becoming a Galactus-like being.

I'm honestly saddened that such an iconic character is trapped in a cycle of downer endings across the Multiverse.

In this final fate, the Hulk was left to wander the cosmos, obliterating any planet he comes across. Bruce Banner studied gamma radiation to try and help people. He ultimately wanted to make the world a better place, but because of his experiments, it seems that all he leaves in the future is the Hulk. It'll either be the Hulk Gang, Planet Hulk, or being the very last living thing in the universe. None of these are particularly happy endings, and I'm honestly saddened that such an iconic character is trapped in a cycle of downer endings across the Multiverse.

The Hulk Seems Doomed To A Dark Future

To me, it doesn't seem like the Hulk will ever be given a happy ending in a Marvel story, and I honestly think it's incredibly unfair. Banner wanted to overcome his abusive childhood and use his brilliance to help the world is instead doomed to leave behind a legacy of destruction. Because of the Hulk, Bruce Banner will never be ed for anything else. He'll always be known as the man who brought some of the most destructive beings into the Universe. No matter how far into the future, Bruce Banner will never escape the shadow of the Hulk.

The Ultimates #8 is available now from Marvel Comics!