I. RESPECT
The Hulk's reputation is nothing less than, "The strongest there is." And few are more qualified than General Thunderbolt Ross to describe the Hulk's strength. "Those of you who do know me know that I'm not one for melodrama -- so you'll believe me when I tell you that the Hulk is arguably the most powerful -- and dangerous -- creature to ever walk the Earth!" From Rampaging Hulk #1:
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Army scientist, Dr. Zaxon describes Hulk's vast power as immeasurable. "I can hardly believe these readings! He's a veritable blast furnace of limitless organic energy! There is no way to even measure is strength!" From Tales to Astonish #78:
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Doc Sampson reinforces this with his own battery of tests, "There truly seems to be no limit to the Hulk's strength!" From Incredible Hulk #228:
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Even the mutated super-genius, Leader, realizes, "The tests are worthless! There's no way to measure his strength! There is nothing he cannot do! I cannot build a device powerful enough to test him with!" From Tales to Astonish #73:
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Henry Gyrich debriefs members of the Initiative and reveals that the Hulk is "The original omega level threat." From Avengers Initiative #5:
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Wolverine personally recounts, "It's like he hits ya so damn hard ya actually leave your own body. It's when ya come back that ya feel the pain. An' ya realize yer goin' toe-to-toe with a walkin' earthquake." From Wolverine Origins #28:
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Siryn compares the Hulk to Juggernaut and Deadpool retorts, "The Juggernaut? Compared to the Hulk?! You oughta lay off the glue for a while, babe... it's messing up your perceptions," from Deadpool #4:
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Unfortunately, recognition of the Hulk's power can lead to equal amounts of fear. Such is evident in Reed Richards' rationalization for banishing him, "Time and time again, your anger and power have threatened the entire planet. . . . But for your sake and ours, we're sending you away." From Incredible Hulk vol.2 #92:
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Even his perennial foe, Namor, understood the consequences as he warns the Illuminati of Hulk's inevitable wrath in New Avengers: Illuminati #1:
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That same fear led Tony Stark to specifically invent the power-inhibiting S.P.I.N. technology as revealed in Avengers Initiative #4 and the Superheavy Cell, "a liquid with programmable density" that would be like "dropping raw tonnage on their backs," as revealed in Fear Itself #7.3. But even Stark understands it would only hold him for a little while anyway:
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Nevertheless, his oldest friend, Rick Jones, has never lost faith in the hero inside the monster, even during his rampage in World War Hulk #4:
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And most of the Avengers hold a deep respect for Hulk, especially the big three: Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. From Incredible Hulk #277:
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Thor, in particular, reveals to the Hulk (possessed by Nul the Breaker of Worlds), "I cannot beat you. You know. And I never could." From Fear Itself #5:
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And Cap's remarks during Avengers Vs X-Men #11 say it all, "You know I respect you and your space and I would never come to you unless I was at the end of my rope. . . . I need more firepower. . . . I know you only fight a fight worth fighting. And I'm telling you this is one of those fights. If we lose this we lose everything. Will you help us? Please."
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The American public is also well-aware of the Hulk's power. "There is not a man or woman here who has not heard of the Incredible Hulk... who has not seen -- in newspapers, magazines, on national television news broadcasts -- the images of his power... his unmatched talent for sheer destruction." From Incredible Hulk vol.2 #2:
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The Hulk is famous internationally as well. The Crimson Dynamo remarks, "Though I have heard it said in awed whispers that not even Iron Man and his fellow Avengers have ever prevailed against the Hulk!" From Incredible Hulk #258:
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Hulk's reputation isn't even limited to Earth. Aliens across the cosmos like Kurrgo recognize the Hulk's power, noting him to be the "Earth's strongest creature." From Marvel Feature #11:
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The Skrulls respect Hulk as "the strongest mortal on Earth," from Incredible Hulk #419:
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The alien Toad Men refer to Hulk in awe, "It was a figure that had become legend -- a figure recognizable to any tad old enough to catch his own flies! The most feared creature in all of Toad-Man history -- the Incredible Hulk!" From Defenders vol.2 #8:
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Various villains have recognized the Hulk's power. Apocalypse takes great notice of the Hulk's energies as they "may give [him] power over the Celestials themselves." From Incredible Hulk #456:
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Upon defeat, the apparition of Loki tries to convince Professor Hulk to join him with more than a hint of fear in his voice, "With my puissance, and your potential... none could gainsay us. None could stop us. None could triumph over your might." From Tales to Astonish vol.2 #1:
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The Mad Titan Thanos famously shared such trepidation when faced with the assault of a Power Gem wielding Champion, "In many ways I assume this is what it would be like battling the Terran behemoth, the Hulk. A conflict I've sought to avoid over the years." From Thanos Quest #1:
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Interdimensional rulers like Nightmare also fear the unbridled power of the Hulk. "I have sought to attack [Dr. Strange] in manipulating the dreams of others... such as the brutish Hulk! That attempt was a dismal failure -- one I fear to try again!" From Strange Tales vol.2 #3:
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The All-Father Odin recognized Hulk's power as he watched Thor's first duel with him, "My son fights valiantly, as an immortal should... against a most awesome foe!! Never have I seen him so close to defeat! Never has he faced a mortal of such incomprehensible power!" From Journey Into Mystery #112:
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Even the impossibly powerful Celestials recognize the Hulk's power. Gamiel the Manipulator searched for (and found in Hulk), "evolution's crowning achievement -- the pinnacle of what your species will become..." From Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur #1:
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The most powerful entity in Marvel ever published, the Beyonder, famously commented, "You are nothing but raging power personified! An infinity of power -- with no finite element inside!" From Secret Wars II #2:
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