The son of Wolverine has been on fire lately in Marvel Comics, literally, combining the powers of his father and Ghost Rider to become the Hellverine; now, the latest issue of his ongoing series has revealed that Hellverine is immune to the infamous Hell Hulk's rage powers, in a battle of the damned.

Marvel’s preview pages for the Hellverine #7, written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Raffaele Ienco, feature a tense situation, as the people on board a cruise ship descend into madness, while below the waves, Hellverine tries to contain the demonic energy Hell Hulk is giving off.

Hell Hulk is known for being able to “[send] people into a mindless rage,” as the issue explains, yet, curiously, Hellverine finds himself unaffected, musing that he is apparently “immune to it,” which levels the playing field for their brawl as the issue progresses.

As Hellverine, Wolverine's Son Is Immune To Hell Hulk's Rage-Inducing Powers

Hellverine #7, Written By Benjamin Percy; At By Raffaele Ienco; Color By Bryan Valenza; Lettering By Travis Lanham

As Hellverine, also known as Akihiro, explains in the available pages for Hellverine #7, Hell Hulk is not targeting people with his rage-inducing abilities; rather, this energy is radiating off of him, impacting anyone within a certain radius. Except when the infernal duo are face-to-face, Hellverine is unaffected. "Maybe becomes of the devil in me," he muses, though the preview cuts off shortly thereafter, leaving readers to pick up the issue in search of further answers to what this means for both characters.

debuted in Hellverine #6. In other words, everything about the character is fresh lore being established on the spot, giving fans a reason to be on the edge of their seat for the rest of the issue, as much as the promise of a further escalation of the conflict between the two characters. Or, alternatively, perhaps Hellverine and Hell Hulk will develop some kind of understanding before the issue is over, though this is certainly the more wildcard possibility.

Hell Hulk's Rage Powers Invoke The "Berserker" Tendencies Of Hellverine's Father, Wolverine

A Dark Marvel Family Tradition Hellverine Is Trying To Thwart

For longtime Marvel fans, Hellverine’s immunity to Hell Hulk’s rage-inducing energy will stand out as especially noteworthy, given the fact that his father, Wolverine, is closely associated with a state of “berserker rage,” one in which he gives himself over to his animal nature and goes into a mindless killing frenzy. Immediately, the preview for Hellverine #7 has piqued fans’ curiosity, prompting them to speculate about what would happen if, and perhaps when, Wolverine himself goes up against the Hell Hulk. First, however, Hellverine must deal with the underworld’s Hulk himself.

Now, resurrected as the Hellverine, it seems that [Akihiro] has gained an odd sense of peace, albeit of the demonic variety.

At the same time, Hellverine's ability to withstand this energy, and keep his wits about him in spite of it, stands as a stark contrast to the lineage of anger that both Wolverine and his son struggle with. For much of his life, Akihiro was motivated by rage, and pain. He was only just in the process of a genuine redemption arc when it was brutally cut short by his murder at the hands of Sabretooth. Yet now, resurrected as the Hellverine, it seems that the character has gained an odd sense of peace, albeit of the demonic variety.

Hell Hulk Is A Dangerous New Addition To Marvel, But Hellverine Has What It Takes To Bring Him Down

Hell Hulk Embodies Hellverine's Struggle Against Rage Itself

Rage is a perennial theme of Wolverine stories, one that Hellverine and its protagonist, Akihiro, are deeply tied into. So, the appearance of a foe whose mere proximity causes uncontrollable rage is a noteworthy development, as is Hellverine’s seeming hellish inoculation against it. It is also a great hook for the latest issue of Hellverine, as fans will want to find out what happens to Wolverine’s son when he is confronted by the figurative and literal demons of his legacy in the Marvel Universe.

Hellverine #7 will be available June 4, 2025 from Marvel Comics.