50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History

10. Hulk

(Write-up by FanSided CEO Adam Best)

Instead of whisking you away to Planet Hulk, or getting nostalgic about Lou Ferrigno’s body-painted biceps, let’s examine the Hulk’s importance to the super hero landscape. He’s only 10th on this list because, honestly, Bruce Banner/Hulk isn’t the greatest leading man. His solo movies flopped, and his old TV show is about as dated as anything that’s ever aired on television. When he plays by himself he’s predictable. He’s trying not to be angry. He’s angry. The beat goes on …

In a modern day context, however, imagine the Avengers, or even the Marvel Cinematic Universe, without the green gamma giant. Impossible. Without his presence, you have a bunch of calculable movie stars packed into tech and tights, sometimes tech n’ tights together. You know what the Hulk is? He’s the Ol’ Dirty Bastard of Marvel’s Wu-Tang Clan. He’s the bright green pair of socks that throw an interesting and unforeseen wrinkle into a sharp, yet conventional, suit-and-tie look. He’s the jalapeno in your breakfast scramble.

(Read More > 30 fun facts about the Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer)

You couldn’t make jalapenos the main ingredient in any meal. Really hard to pull off. But jalapenos will make almost any meal infinitely more exciting. Hulk is the same way. His somewhat unexpected battles with everyone from Hercules to The Thing to Sandman to Wolverine to even fellow Avengers (Thor and Iron Man) are among the most explosive in comic history.

The Hulk might not be the best super hero of all time, but he’s arguably the most exciting, even if mostly in smaller doses. For that he deserves his lofty spot in the top 10.

Next: No. 9: No evil shall escape his sight