Monsters and humanity: How What If…? reimagines Hulk as a kaiju king

What do gamma ray monsters and roaring titans have in common? In the very first episode of the third and final season of What If...?, Marvel ends up crowning the Hulk as king of the monsters. Yes, similar to Kong. And like Godzilla (or Gojira, the Titan's original name)—King of Monsters.

Wait, what? How? Let's dig into this, withut further ado.

In an alternate Marvel universe, where radiation produces giants and emotions fuel destruction, presented by Marvel in the final season of What If...?, this version of the Hulk does not step into kaiju territory. It stomps with all its grandeur, majesty and fury. With all the ferocity of Godzilla and the primal powers of Kong.

What makes a monster? Hulk's humanity beneath the monstrous façade

But what makes a monster more than just teeth and claws? The dread and fascination with power, chaos, and supremacy are echoed in Hulk's transition into a towering monster. What If…? borrows from the legacy of cinematic monsters and tokusatsu classics to reframe the Hulk as a creature both terrifying and deeply human.

In this version, Hulk's transformation into something so similar to a kaiju (let's call him Hulkzilla from now on) represents both devastation and the possibility of redemption, much like Godzilla. The character's transformation raises the question of whether human frailty and sheer power are compatible, as it muddies the lines between hero and monster.

Reflecting Bruce Banner's fears, this inner conflict gives emotional depth to Hulk's journey to Mega Hulk. Examining how his destructive inclinations are fueled by pain and loneliness, his monstrous shape becomes a symbol for buried emotions. The very foundation for the story is one based on tragedy and spectacle.

The use of kaiju tropes in What If...? takes Hulk's transformation to a whole new level. He becomes a powerful figure of reckoning as a result. This parallels his own troubles and larger issues of disorder and harmony. His ordeal reflects the universal human desire to contain and master things that are beyond our control.

The series challenges the audience to consider what it means to be heroic through its examination of Hulk's hideous side. Which is more effective: learning to rein in detrimental habits or accepting and embracing them? Under his kaiju form, Hulk reflects the inner struggle of humans as they contemplate the dual nature of power: its creative and destructive potential.

In addition to forcing Hulk to reevaluate who he is, the transformation makes one wonder what role humans play in a world when forces beyond our control are shaping our reality. Standing tall over urban centers, he serves as a sobering reminder of our own frailty and the fine line that separates us from becoming either a guardian or a destroyer. Doing so makes Hulk a promise and a warning, making us face the question of how to appropriately use power.

After undergoing such a transformation, Hulk personifies both savage terror and therapeutic relief. His usual killing sprees make people think about the worst fears they have: the prospect of total ruin and the certainty that they will have to rebuild. And what about his Hulkzilla version? Hulk explores perseverance and the power of rebirth through his new monstrous form.

This Hulk transformation explores areas usually linked with natural calamities, calling into doubt the veracity of traditional superhero tales. In addition to the more visible bodily alterations, the character's legendary significance is further developed during his transformation into a kaiju-like being. He is a living testimonial to the force of nature to bring out both chaos and harmony, just like the fabled giants he depicts. Hulk signifies the dichotomy of life and death.

The story is haunted by the psychological toll of such a change. The human aspects of Bruce Banner's character, including his intellect, relationships, and inner conflicts, take on additional depths as Hulk grows to meet Godzilla's size (and power). This take on monster legends stands out from the crowd because of the unusual tension it produces by pitting human awareness against kaiju strength.

Gamma-born titans: Hulk and Godzilla's radioactive rage

They were experiments first, before they became legends. Hulk and Godzilla both emerged from the ashes of human desire. Godzilla, from nuclear fire and Hulk, from gamma rays. Their transformation into both defenders and destroyers exemplifies the unbridled power of science gone wrong; these figures inspire both dread and wonder.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters gave us Burning Godzilla, a glowing, apocalyptic titan fueled by raw energy. The Hulkzilla in What If…? follows a similar path, absorbing gamma radiation until he's less man, more force of nature. A walking mushroom cloud with fists.

Because of their radioactive roots, they are associated with contemporary fears of control and technology. As symbols for nuclear dread and ecological collapse, these two individuals represent the repercussions of pushing limits. These stories serve as a cautioanry tale against overstepping nature's boundaries.

In contrast to Godzilla, who arises in reaction to destruction on the outside, Hulkzilla is a reflection of the anarchy within. With gamma radiation being portrayed as both a blessing and a curse, his transformation encapsulates the ambivalence of human feelings. He is a force defined by both his background (his story/pas) plus his choices(how he chooses to live his life), and this mirrors Godzilla's transformation—from destructive force to savior.

As these comparisons demonstrate, power possesses the duality of corrupting and redeeming abilities. Both titans are merciless with their destructive power, forcing people to confront their own dependence on forces beyond their control. Their narratives deftly tackle the theme of surviving nuclear destruction, illuminating how tragedy frequently gives rise to change.

The creatures' dualism serves to further illustrate how they reflect human nature. Whether seen as destroyers or protectors, they reflect our ability to shape the world around us, for better or worse. It raises the question: Can true power ever exist without consequence?

The connection between Hulk and Godzilla reveals deeper anxieties about science and evolution. Both reflect the unexpected results of human ambition and show the frailty of equilibrium in a society that is always stretching boundaries. These tales serve as a reminder that sometimes advancement comes with too high a cost, and forces outside of our complete control will push us to consider and reconsider what we once took for granted.

Beyond their horrible beginnings, Godzilla and Hulk both become living images of paradox: monsters who fear but also defend, destroy but save. Their trajectories challenge the observer to contemplate if such personalities are saviors or cautionary tales since they highlight the awkward cohabitation of chaos and order inside nature itself.

Big Guy, bigger fears: Language as a bridge between monsters and humanity

Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff using "Big Guy" as a nickname for Hulk links these enormous personalities in a surprisingly close manner. When one of the scientists in Godzilla: King of Monsters refer to Godzilla as "Big Guy," he is replicating Tony and Natasha, therefore creating a language link between these two terrifying forces. This common language ("cute" monikers) points to a human effort to tame the wild, to find comfort in the face of unbounded force.

Given the timing, the analogy becomes even more important: although Godzilla (1954) predates Hulk's comic premiere (1962) by eight years, both came amid an era of atomic dread. The name reminds us that although with their horrible appearance, these animals have complex interactions with people. This language link humanizes these giants so that their tremendous power may be more approachable while never lowering of their capacity for destruction. And we do have Godzilla and Hulk crossing over stories? Yes, we do!

These language echoes represent common ground since they show how often monster stories examine humanity's relationship with power, therefore showing their relevance. Whether it's scientists calling Godzilla or Avengers calling Hulk "Big Guy," the drive to humanize these forces of nature exposes our need to connect even in the most terrible of situations.

Unleashing the storm: the rise of Burning Godzilla

Few moments in kaiju history are as visually striking as Burning Godzilla's transformation in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Pulsating with nuclear energy, his glowing dorsal plates and fiery aura signal an unstoppable force on the verge of detonation. This is more than simply raw strength; it is a living disaster that embodies the wrath of nature.

Using gamma radiation as a weapon and a warning, Hulkzilla reflects this level of intensity. He is a force on the brink of redemption and catastrophe, much like Godzilla in his Burning Godzilla form. We are left to wonder if the titans' transformation signifies rebirth or the end of everything, as they both encapsulate the wonder and fear of unbridled power.

Rising from the ashes: Titans of destruction and rebirth

Apocalyptic imagery is borrowed by the visual language that surrounds these changes. Like walking infernos, the titans' radiance signals both doom and rebirth. Their very existence tantalizes the divine, casting them in a dual role as rescuers and arbiters of human destiny.

Sam's diplomatic approach to Hulk in his sanctuary echoes the most successful interactions with Kong. Moments when humans set aside their need for dominance and instead seek understanding. This methodology validates both titans' need for space and respect, acknowledging that their retreat from civilization isn't merely about isolation, but about preserving something essential about their nature that the modern world threatens to destroy.

These sequences do more than dazzle. They force the audience to reckon with the spectacle of destruction. Through fire and fury, both Hulkzilla and Burning Godzilla embody a primal struggle for survival, showing us that even chaos can lead to rebirth if harnessed carefully. Add to this the primal force of Kong and we have a similar scene in this episode of What If...? as we have in Godzilla vs. Kong.

These titans' emergence from the ashes evokes old tales of creation and disaster. They harken back to stories of celestial beings who molded our planet with blazing inferno and other violent means, serving as a sobering reminder that change is constant and that adaptation is often the only way to survive.