Skaar

• Core Identity: Skaar is the powerful and conflicted son of the Hulk and the Shadow Queen Caiera the Oldstrong, born in the crucible of the war-torn planet Sakaar and forever torn between his savage heritage and his father's complicated legacy.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: As the “Son of Hulk,” Skaar embodies the brutal consequences of his father's exile. He is a warrior prince from another world, wielding not only Gamma-powered strength but also the planet-shaping Old Power inherited from his mother, forcing him to navigate a path between destruction and protection. planet_hulk.
• Primary Impact: Skaar's arrival on Earth served as a living, breathing reckoning for Bruce Banner, forcing him to confront the family he lost on Sakaar and his own capacity for fatherhood. This added an unprecedented layer of family drama and legacy to the Hulk's mythology. world_war_hulk.
• Key Incarnations: The comic and MCU versions are drastically different. In the Earth-616 comics, he is a savage warrior who grew to adolescence in a year, hardened by a brutal upbringing and seeking vengeance. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is introduced as a seemingly well-adjusted, intelligent young adult in a “Smart Hulk” form, with his entire tragic backstory omitted for his initial appearance.

Skaar's creation is intrinsically linked to the monumental success of the Planet Hulk storyline. He was conceived by writer Greg Pak, the architect of Hulk's Sakaaran saga, and legendary artist John Romita Jr.. The character first appeared in a cameo, gestating in a cocoon, in What If? Planet Hulk #1 (December 2007), a story that explored a happier potential outcome for the Hulk's family. His full, canonical debut occurred just a month later in the final pages of the epic event World War Hulk #5 (January 2008). This shocking reveal—that the Hulk had a surviving son who was now on Sakaar—served as a powerful cliffhanger, promising that the consequences of Hulk's time as the “Green Scar” were far from over. This led directly into his own ongoing series, Skaar: Son of Hulk, which launched in June 2008. The creation of Skaar was a natural narrative evolution, providing a living legacy for the Hulk's time as a king and a gladiator, and a powerful new character to explore themes of nature versus nurture, vengeance, and fatherhood within the Hulk mythos.

The origin of Skaar is a tale of two vastly different realities, one a sprawling epic of survival and rage, the other a mystery box introduction.

Skaar's origin is a tragedy forged in fire and betrayal. He was conceived on the planet Sakaar during the Hulk's reign as the “Green Scar.” His parents were the Hulk and his queen, Caiera the Oldstrong, a member of the planet's Shadow People who possessed the ancient planetary energy known as the Old Power. Their union promised a new era of peace and prosperity for the war-torn world. This hope was annihilated when the shuttle that brought the Hulk to Sakaar, placed there by the illuminati, inexplicably self-destructed. The resulting explosion devastated Sakaar's capital city and seemingly killed the pregnant Caiera in the Hulk's arms. Consumed by grief and believing the heroes of Earth were responsible, the Hulk and his warbound left Sakaar to wage his World War Hulk on Earth, unaware that his son had survived. Caiera, in her final moments, used her Old Power to encase her unborn child in a protective cocoon of hardened stone, which fell into a lake of fire. From this violent birth, Skaar emerged. The harsh, radioactive environment of post-apocalyptic Sakaar caused him to age rapidly, reaching the physical appearance of a pre-teen within a single year. He was forced to hunt, fight, and kill to survive in a savage world filled with monstrous creatures and warring factions. For a time, he was enslaved, but his burgeoning power eventually allowed him to break free. He was haunted by the spirit of his mother, Caiera, who attempted to guide him toward becoming a savior for their people. However, Skaar was filled with rage and a sense of abandonment, believing both his parents had left him to die. He rejected his mother's pleas for peace, seeking only strength and survival. He came into conflict with the brutal warlord Axeman Bone, becoming his sworn enemy. Skaar's unique parentage granted him a portion of his father's Gamma-fueled strength and his mother's connection to the Old Power. He was trained by the exiled Shadow People and a rogue Sakaaran priest to master this geokinetic force, learning to manipulate the very stone and magma of the planet. He learned that the planet-devourer galactus was approaching Sakaar. In a pivotal moment, Caiera's spirit presented him with a choice: use the full might of the Old Power to destroy Galactus (and Sakaar along with him), or lead his people off-world to safety. Skaar, in his first true act of heroism, chose to save his people, battling the Silver Surfer and ultimately convincing the herald to lead Galactus to a different, uninhabited world. This act solidified his role as the planet's protector and king, but he still yearned for answers about the father who had left him behind. He eventually used the refugee ships to travel across the cosmos, setting a course for Earth with a single, burning question: “Is he a king, or is he a killer?”

Skaar's introduction into the MCU (designated Earth-199999) is starkly different and shrouded in mystery. He made his debut in the final scene of the season one finale of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, titled “Whose Show Is This?”. During a chaotic family barbecue at the Walters' home, Bruce Banner makes a surprise appearance. He explains that he has been off-world on Sakaar “tying up some loose ends.” He then introduces his son, Skaar, who steps out from behind him. This version of Skaar appears to be a young adult, with a hairstyle similar to Sakaaran gladiators but dressed in modern Earth clothing. Critically, like his father in the MCU, he is in a stable, intelligent “Smart Hulk” form, capable of calm speech and a polite smile. This introduction intentionally skips his entire comic book origin. There is no mention of Caiera, the destruction of Sakaar, his rapid aging, or his violent upbringing. The implication is that during the Blip (the five years between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame), when Bruce Banner was integrating his two personas into Smart Hulk, he traveled back to Sakaar. It is assumed that he discovered he had a son, who had also aged at an accelerated rate due to Sakaar's unique temporal properties relative to space travel, and spent time with him before bringing him back to Earth. The reasons for this drastic adaptation are likely rooted in narrative efficiency. Introducing the full, tragic backstory of Planet Hulk and Caiera would require significant screen time and a dark tonal shift, which was unsuitable for the comedic nature of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Marvel Studios opted for a “soft launch,” introducing the character and his core relationship with Bruce, leaving the details of his past to be potentially explored in a future project, such as the rumored World War Hulk movie. This leaves many questions for fans: Who is his mother in the MCU? What was his life like on Sakaar? Does he possess the Old Power? As of his debut, the MCU's Skaar is more of a plot point and a character concept than a fully-fleshed-out individual.

Skaar is a powerhouse, a unique hybrid of raw Gamma might and ancient cosmic energy. His abilities and temperament reflect his brutal upbringing on a savage world.

• Hybrid Physiology: Skaar's primary power is his incredible superhuman strength, derived from his father's Gamma-mutated DNA. His strength is vast, allowing him to trade blows with beings like the Hulk, Juggernaut, and Hercules. While his base strength is immense, it's generally considered that he does not possess his father's potential for limitless strength fueled by rage. However, his strength is more than sufficient to place him in the highest tier of Earth's physical powerhouses.
• Superhuman Durability: He inherited the Hulk's near-invulnerability. He can withstand extreme physical trauma, high-caliber ballistics, falls from orbital heights, and immense concussive forces with little to no injury.
• Regenerative Healing Factor: Like his father, Skaar possesses a powerful healing factor that allows him to rapidly recover from injuries that would be fatal to most beings. This healing extends to regenerating damaged or destroyed tissues and organs.
• The Old Power (Geokinesis): Skaar's most unique ability, inherited from his mother, is the Old Power. This is a cosmic energy that allows him to tap into the tectonic and geological power of an entire planet.
  • Terrakinesis: He can manipulate earth and stone on a massive scale, causing earthquakes, raising mountains, and encasing enemies in rock.
  • Stone Form: He can transform his body into a form of organic, nigh-impenetrable stone, dramatically increasing his durability.
  • Lava/Magma Manipulation: He has demonstrated the ability to summon and control magma from a planet's core.
  • Life Sense: The Old Power grants him a form of planetary empathy, allowing him to sense life and geological features on a planetary scale.
• Rapid Aging: Due to his conception and birth on Sakaar, Skaar's body matured at an incredible rate, allowing him to reach physical maturity in just over a year. Once he reached this state, his aging appeared to normalize.
• Transformation Control: For most of his history, Skaar could willingly revert to the form of a human-looking boy. In this form, he possessed none of his powers. This was often used as a tactical retreat or a way to show trust, but also a significant vulnerability.

• Sakaaran Broadsword: Skaar typically wields a massive broadsword forged on Sakaar. It is incredibly durable, capable of withstanding the immense forces of his battles.
• Battle Armor: He is often depicted wearing armor reminiscent of the gladiators of Sakaar, providing additional protection.

Skaar's personality is a direct result of his brutal upbringing. He is primal, cunning, and deeply untrusting. Raised in a “kill or be killed” environment, he views violence as a primary tool for problem-solving. He is not mindlessly savage, however; he is a skilled tactician and hunter, capable of patience and strategy. Beneath his hardened exterior lies a deep-seated sense of abandonment and a desperate yearning for family and a place to belong. His initial quest to Earth was to determine if his father was a monster or a king, reflecting his own internal struggle with his identity. He has a warrior's code of honor, but it is one forged on a world far more brutal than Earth. Over time, under the tutelage of Bruce Banner, he learned to temper his rage and embrace the heroic potential within him, evolving from a vengeful son into a reluctant protector.

The MCU's Skaar is, based on his single appearance, a completely different individual from his comic book counterpart.

• Gamma Mutate Physiology: He is clearly a “Hulk,” possessing the characteristic green skin, muscular physique, and presumably, superhuman strength and durability on par with his father. He was able to casually rip the door off a car with no effort. The full extent of his powers and whether they are tied to his emotional state remains completely unknown.
• Transformation Control: He appears to exist in a permanent “Smart Hulk” state, similar to his father. He is lucid, intelligent, and in full control of his faculties. It is not known if he has a human form he can revert to.
• The Old Power: There has been absolutely no indication that the MCU version of Skaar possesses the Old Power. This signature ability from the comics appears to have been omitted, at least for his initial introduction.

The most striking difference is Skaar's personality. Where the comic version was a savage and brooding warrior, the MCU Skaar appears to be calm, well-mannered, and socially adjusted. He offered a friendly smile upon being introduced and seemed perfectly comfortable in a social setting. This suggests his upbringing on Sakaar was not the traumatic, solitary fight for survival seen in the comics. It's possible that in the MCU, he was raised in a stable community or even by his mother for a time before her potential demise. His demeanor mirrors his father's “Smart Hulk” persona, suggesting Bruce may have had a significant, positive influence on him during their time together on Sakaar.

• Bruce Banner / The Hulk: The central and most defining relationship of Skaar's life. It began with Skaar wanting to kill the father who abandoned him. Their first battle on Earth was a brutal affair that nearly leveled a military base. Banner eventually accepted his role as a father, taking Skaar under his wing and attempting to teach him what it means to be a hero, not just a monster. This difficult, often violent tutelage forged a genuine bond, with Skaar eventually coming to see Banner as the father he needed.
• Caiera the Oldstrong: Though she died at his birth, Caiera's spirit remained a guiding force for Skaar throughout his early life on Sakaar. She appeared to him as a spirit, pleading with him to become a savior rather than a destroyer. Her love and her legacy of the Old Power are the foundations of his potential for good, a constant counterpoint to the rage he inherited from his father.
• Ka-Zar & Shanna the She-Devil: After being depowered by his brother Hiro-Kala, Skaar found refuge in the Savage Land. He was taken in by Ka-Zar and his family, finding a sense of peace and purpose as a hunter and protector for their tribe. This period was crucial for his development, teaching him about community and life beyond constant warfare.
• Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk: In the comics, their interactions have been minimal. However, in the MCU, she is the first family member he is introduced to on Earth, making her his step-cousin. Their relationship is yet to be explored but is positioned as a key familial connection.

• Axeman Bone: A rival Sakaaran warlord and one of the first major threats Skaar faced. Axeman Bone represented the savage barbarism that Skaar had to overcome to become more than just a brute. Their conflict defined much of Skaar's early journey on his desolate homeworld.
• Hiro-Kala: Skaar's twin brother, who was believed to have been lost. Unlike Skaar, who inherited the Old Power, Hiro-Kala inherited the power of a “Shadow King” and was raised in slavery. He grew to despise his parents and sought to destroy the Old Power, which he saw as a corrupting force. His crusade led him into direct, tragic conflict with Skaar, a battle of brother against brother for the fate of a galaxy.
• Norman Osborn: During the Dark Reign saga, Norman Osborn manipulated Skaar's desire for a purpose and his rage against Banner. He recruited Skaar to be the “Hulk” for his government-sanctioned Dark Avengers team. Osborn constantly tested and provoked Skaar, using him as a weapon, but Skaar was secretly playing a longer game, acting as a double agent for Bruce Banner to help bring Osborn's regime down from the inside.

• Warbound: While not an official member in the same way as his father's original allies, Skaar fought alongside the Warbound on Sakaar and was seen as their prince. Characters like Korg and Miek view him as family.
• Dark Avengers: Skaar's most morally compromised affiliation. He served as Norman Osborn's Hulk, fighting against heroes and carrying out Osborn's agenda. However, this was a complex deception, as he was secretly working to undermine Osborn at Bruce Banner's behest.
• The Mighty Avengers: After Osborn's fall, Skaar briefly worked alongside Hank Pym's team of Avengers, showing his slow progression toward becoming a genuine hero.

This was Skaar's debut solo series, which chronicled his harrowing origins on the shattered planet of Sakaar. The story follows his rapid growth from a child emerging from a cocoon to a fearsome teenage warrior. It details his brutal fight for survival, his enslavement and eventual freedom, his bloody rivalry with Axeman Bone, and his training in the use of the Old Power. The entire arc is overseen by the spiritual guidance of his deceased mother, Caiera, who urges him to be a savior. The storyline culminates in his confrontation with the Silver Surfer and his decision to spare Sakaar from Galactus, establishing him as the planet's hero before he departs for Earth to find his father.

This storyline, occurring within Incredible Hulk, depicts Skaar's dramatic arrival on Earth. His landing immediately brings him into conflict with the U.S. military and heroes like the Fantastic Four and the Warbound. The central focus is his relentless hunt for the Hulk, leading to their first, cataclysmic father-son battle. Bruce Banner, at this time separated from the Hulk persona, allows the Savage Hulk to be unleashed to fight his son. The battle is a brutal, emotionally charged affair that showcases the raw power of both characters. It doesn't end with a clear victor but with a new status quo: Banner, realizing he cannot abandon his son, takes Skaar under his wing to train him, beginning one of the most unique and volatile father-son dynamics in the Marvel Universe.

During this massive event, Skaar played a critical role in the war against the super-villain think tank, the Intelligencia. Working under the direct guidance of a super-intelligent Bruce Banner, Skaar acted as a double agent, pretending to be a brutish monster while gathering crucial intel. This storyline was a major step in his character development, forcing him to use cunning and restraint over raw power. He worked alongside other Gamma-powered heroes like Red She-Hulk, A-Bomb, and his cousin She-Hulk. The event's climax revealed the existence of his long-lost brother, Hiro-Kala, and forced Skaar to make difficult choices that solidified his loyalty to his father and the heroes of Earth.

Set before the Fall of the Hulks, this period saw Skaar manipulated by the then-director of national security, Norman Osborn. Osborn recruited Skaar for his new team of “Dark Avengers,” promising him the one thing he wanted: a final showdown with the Hulk. Skaar served as Osborn's muscle, a blunt instrument of his corrupt regime. However, it was revealed that Skaar was never truly loyal to Osborn. He was communicating with a powerless Bruce Banner the entire time, serving as a deep-cover agent to help bring down Osborn's empire. His tenure on the team was a constant test of his morality, culminating in him helping the true Avengers defeat Osborn during the Siege of Asgard.

• Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999): As detailed previously, this is the most prominent alternate version of Skaar. He is a calm, intelligent “Smart Hulk” with an unknown origin story, representing a significant departure from the savage and vengeful warrior of the prime comic continuity.
• What If? Planet Hulk #1 (Earth-71149): This was Skaar's first-ever, non-canonical appearance. In this reality, the warp core on the shuttle never exploded. Hulk and Caiera ruled Sakaar together and raised Skaar and his twin brother peacefully. This idyllic life was shattered when Galactus arrived to consume the planet, forcing this happy family into a tragic final battle, offering a glimpse of the life that was stolen from the 616-Skaar.
• Secret Wars (2015) (Battleworld): In the patchwork reality of Battleworld, a version of Skaar existed in the domain of Greenland. This land was populated almost entirely by different types of Hulks, all ruled by the tyrannical Maestro. Skaar was a denizen of this brutal society, just one of many gamma-powered beings fighting for dominance under the Maestro's iron fist.
• Video Game Adaptations: Skaar has appeared in several Marvel video games, such as Marvel: Avengers Alliance and LEGO Marvel's Avengers. In these appearances, he is typically portrayed as a powerful brawler, often utilizing his sword and, in some cases, his Old Power abilities. These versions simplify his complex personality to fit his role as a playable combat-focused character.

• hulk
• caiera_the_oldsong
• planet_hulk
• world_war_hulk
• sakaar
• hiro-kala
• warbound

^{1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)}