Thanos and The Hulk, who is more formidable?
In the context of Marvel, there's a comprehensive theoretical framework for comparing combat abilities, but it also depends on each character's current state.
From the current perspective, Thanos doesn't possess the Infinity Gauntlet. The Dark Quadrant, his domain, is not at its peak of power.
He came without a spaceship, a war car, or even any subordinates, being utterly alone. Because he almost had a stroke from irritation during two previous confrontations, his tactical mindset is not completely clear. His fury has cost him part of his reason, which has considerably weakened his combat power.
But similarly, although The Hulk is renowned for his invincibility, and despite revealing an even more powerful origin story later, he has now vented some of his rage on various planets. Consequently, if the power of his rage is insufficient, his strength would decrease correspondingly.
To compare the strength of these two characters while both are not at the peak of their power is quite challenging. But one thing is undeniable; both of them are itching for a fight at this moment.
The transformed Hulk stands at about two meters and three, while Thanos is about two meters tall. When the two giants, one purple and one green, collided, the energy released from their bout made the cosmos shudder.
The two started fighting, and the remaining four appeared in a spot in the universe not far from there. Strange, squinting at the central battlefield asked, "What's going on? Who is The Hulk fighting with?"
At this point, the two in the field were evenly matched, with Thanos having a slight advantage. However, because he couldn't overpower The Hulk, The Hulk was getting angrier and angrier.
His anger serves as his stimulant. Every blocked attack would make him even angrier. Soon, Thanos discovered that the green creature in front of him was becoming stronger with every strike.
Shiller knew even better. Once The Hulk reaches the peak of his rage, he stabilizes in a state generally called The Green Scar. In this state, The Hulk is immensely strong. Against The Hulk, Thanos, who doesn't have the Infinity Gauntlet and didn't bring any subordinates or armies, could easily lose footing.
"Should we just stand here watching them fight?" Charles asked, his eyebrows creased. Stark shook his head and said, "There's no need to worry. Venom mentioned that the purple-skinned guy is an Eternal Titan, and it seems like he can take a beating."
"No, I'm worried about Banner. I'm afraid he's in danger." Charles peered out, his face full of concern.
"Patience, Professor. The Hulk rarely gets such a good punching bag. The more anger he vents, the more his emotions are released. That's beneficial for his mental state," said Shiller, nodding his head.
So, the four of them comfortably stationed themselves to watch the spectacle from afar.
Close combat always carries a kind of primitive and wild aesthetic that can elicit one's adrenaline. Although the confrontation between the two big guys lacks much technique, the direct hand-to-hand combat is very satisfying.
"It seems I should improve my Hulkbuster armor," said Stark, crossing his arms. "The more aggressive the attack, the more it provokes his anger, making him stronger. A head-on collision won't be a good choice."
"Trust me, you'll regret it if you insist on challenging him directly," Shiller patted his shoulder and said.
Just as he said this, Thanos hurled himself at The Hulk again, delivering an uppercut to the side of The Hulk's face. But The Hulk only slightly tilted his head to dodge the punch. Then he swung a left hook that sent Thanos flying.
His physical state was gradually approaching its peak. Thanos, who was in poor form, finally regained a bit of his senses. Why should he continue to confront this green behemoth head-on?
With this thought, he quickly created some distance intending to use long-range measures to restrain The Hulk. He extended a hand, concentrated energy in the palm, and let off an energy wave. It hit The Hulk, who was leaping mid-air, and flew him away.
"I'll do it. I'll go help him." said Stark. "The Hulk doesn't have any long-range abilities. He needs someone to help him with long-range restrain."
As he spoke, Venom took him into the field. Thanos, of course, held a grudge again Venom, for messing up his palace. Without any further consideration, he shifted his target and started focusing on confronting Stark.
The Hulk kept roaring, trying to fight Thanos, but was repelled every time. Because of his prolonged state of extreme emotions, his mental state began to decline, as did his strength.
Perhaps Hulk's consciousness began to weaken, and Bruce Banner's rational thinking gradually took over.
In the moment of the transition between the two identities, just when the green giant had not yet turned back into an ordinary person but was already under the control of Banner's consciousness, he caught a glimpse of the situation on the battlefield.
Unlike The Hulk, who had no battle strategies, Dr. Banner had superior intellect. He determined in a split second that the purple giant was his enemy and without The Hulk, Stark might be overwhelmed.
Perceiving that he was too far from his target, Banner-controlled Hulk promptly brought out a Halo.
He grabbed the Halo, swung his arm in a circular motion so fast that it was a blur. Using the last surge of The Hulk's massive strength, he flung the Halo out with a whoosh.
Just as The Hulk's figure slowly shrank, the Halo, carrying an unstoppable force and speed, sliced through the silent night sky.
At this moment, Thanos was focusing on battling Stark. Those tentacles at his back were a big nuisance, attacking from all angles, with hardly any defenseless areas. This made Thanos feel a bit at a loss about where to start.
The Venom had a considerable amount of energy stolen before. The quantity of the Symbiotic Factor was unimaginably large, almost replicating the terrifying black tide of the bat monster. On several occasions, its attacks nearly flipped Thanos off his feet.