When it comes to raw power, very few can match the sheer might of the Hulk. He often calls himself the strongest there is, and there really is no disputing that. He can practically go toe to toe with any other marvel character in a physical fight. His opponents typically have to trick him or pull a deus ex machina in order to just survive.
The Hulk is a awesome character to watch or read. He typically doesn’t employ a whole lot of problem solving, his critical thinking normally follows the path of his most famous quote “Hulk Smash”. That is one of the major appeals of him as a character. He is a unthinking, unfeeling, unstoppable rage machine which means he’s is the biggest player in any fight he participates in.
This same thing, however, makes for a tough movie character. Because he is virtually unbeatable, its hard to be emotionally invested in fights where he literally cannot die or where he can’t get hurt. It also kind of hurts his case that his villains are not the strongest or most memorable. The most famous is Abomination, which just just basically a scalier, uglier, evil version of the Hulk. The way that he has been used in the recent Marvel movies is the best way to handle his character. He is best used in a ensemble, as the heavy weight of the team because he doesn’t contain a whole lot of character but packs a hell of a punch.
However people don’t just enjoy him because he is a massive green wrecking ball, but because of the character and substance that he has within. Everyones favorite part of the Hulk is the incredible Jekyll and Hyde aspect that plays between Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Bruce is portrayed as mild mannered, normal scientist that is always struggling with his green demon. Sometimes their interactions are shown in almost a symbiotic relationship while at other times they go out of their ways to actively destroy each other in order to rid themselves of their other half. The man trying to keep the savage at bay and the lengths that he goes to in order to do it.
Another reason why the Hulk is such a compelling character, is how the rest of the superhero and super villain communities see them. Villains want to avoid fights with him at all costs, and heroes are constantly afraid that one day he might lose control and go wild, killing and destroying everyone. There is a entire storyline where a community of superheroes become so afraid at one point that they put hulk on a rocket ship and shoot him off into space in order to save the earth. This eventually ends up backfiring and Hulk comes back to the planet, fights and declares war on the entire planet. This fear and uneasiness is very visible in almost every interaction the Hulk has with other comic book characters.
The Hulk is the embodiment of all of our surpassed rage and unbridled emotion, and when released, there is nothing on earth that can hope to stop him.
The Hulk is also one of my favorite super heroes. The most recent Marvel movies were all well written and acted. The one thing I don’t like about the Hulk is his impulsiveness. I know that characteristic is a key part of who he is and what makes him the Hulk but it is his biggest weakness. He struggles to control his powers which puts him at a disadvantage sometimes. Sometimes he turns into the Hulk when does want to and sometimes he turns into the Hulk when he does not. He was able to control his powers in some of the later movies but prior to that control was a serious dilemma.
I also think the Hulk is not always viewed as a “good” super hero. In comparison to a super hero like Spider-Man the hulk is always on the run and misunderstood by the general public. Not all people love Spider-Man but he is favored than the Hulk. The Hulk never really “saves the day” like other super heroes. I feel like the Hulk’s enemies are the US government and forces created by the U.S. government. He is viewed as a villain that has super hero capabilities.
Lastly, I think another weakness he has is his desire to chase and seek love. Throughout the Hulk’s movies often times what determined his actions was his love involving his girlfriend. The only time the Hulk showed any type of compassion was when his girlfriend was around. Regardless if he was in his human or green form he always recognized and adjusted his behavior based of what she asked for. He also would at all costs protect her even if it meant giving up his own life. However, the Hulk is like many superheroes with his life quest. Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman all had love interests.