The New Orange Hulk's 1 weakness changes the original Hulk's relationship with Bruce Banner

Summary

• Multitude and Orange Hulk's unique relationship changes the relationship dynamic of the original Hulk and Bruce Banner.
• The Orange Hulk's existence depends on Multitude's constant focus, making it vulnerable to attacks on its host.
• Despite his weaknesses, the Orange Hulk has the potential to surpass the original Hulk by mastering the power of the Soul Stone.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Wolverine Annual 2024 #1! Nature HulkHis relationship with Bruce Banner has been heavily explored in Marvel Comics lore, as the two are known to exist in a shared psyche and can only inhabit one personality's physical body while the other's mind is effectively stasis. And now the nature of that relationship has been completely changed in Marvel's all-new Orange Hulk, and it's actually the source of his greatest weakness.

In Wolverine Annual 2024 #1 by Ezra Clayton Daniels and Yıldıray Chinar, Wolverine sets out to visit the grave of someone who meant so much to him. On his journey, Wolverine encounters two bearers of the Infinity Stones, Multitude and Apex, who control the Soul Stone and the Power Stone respectively. Believing that Wolverine is also a Stone Bearer, Apex attacks the X-Men because he wants to use the Stone that Wolverine believes he has to make himself stronger. The crowd is shocked by Apex's actions and jumps to Wolverine's defense.

Using the Soul Stone, Multitude imagines an orange-powered copy of the Hulk and uses its power to battle the Power Stone. While Orange Hulk puts up a pretty good fight, especially against someone with cosmic powers, Apex Multitude knows how its power works. The Synthezoid has to maintain constant focus while channeling the Orange Hulk, so all Apex had to do was grab the Multitude and pull it out of the way – and just like that, the Orange Hulk blinked away.

Multitude and Orange Hulk Should Work Together Hulk and Banner Shouldn't

While it's impossible for the Hulk and Bruce Banner to exist at the same time (at least in the physical plane of the Marvel Universe), this is the cornerstone of the multiplicity and Orange Hulk connection. The Orange Hulk cannot exist without the Multitude standing by his side, focusing on preserving his existence through the Soul Stone. What's worse is that the Orange Hulk is not only dependent on this weak “host”, but can also be defeated if his enemy targets the Multitude instead.

When the Hulk takes control of his and Bruce's shared body, at least he won't have to worry about his opponent attacking Banner, as Bruce is safely contained within their brains for the duration. Orange Hulk, unfortunately, doesn't have that luxury. The Multitude is the source of the Orange Hulk's existence, as Bruce Banner was for the original Hulk, but the difference is that the Multitude is also the Orange Hulk's greatest weakness – effectively changing the original duo's bond.

Despite this weakness, Orange Hulk still has the potential to massively overpower the Hulk.

Although the Multiplicity and Orange Hulk have to work side by side, revealing a major weakness, this version of the Mightiest Avenger still has the potential to surpass the original. The Orange Hulk is not exactly a 'Hulk' in the more traditional sense, but rather a cosmic energy copy of the original created by the Soul Stone using some of the original Hulk's essence. This means that the Orange Hulk is not just a character, but a small part of a vast range of potential forms from all over the universe, equipped with a piece of reality itself.

If ever there was a time when the Orange Hulk faced off against the original, this is it Wolverine Annual the comic proves that the original will definitely win because all he has to do is take the Multitude out of the fight and the Orange Hulk will simply disappear. However, once Multitude gains control of the Soul Stone, it's safe to say that the original Hulk won't stand a chance. But by then, it's clear that Orange Hulk's one weakness puts him at a huge disadvantage and alters the original. HulkRelationship with Bruce Banner.

Wolverine Annual 2024 #1 Available now by Marvel Comics.