Background

The Maestro
Aliases: Hulk, Joe Fixit, The Devil, Has Unusually Large Kidneys
Height: 7’6
Weight: 1150 lbs
Occupation: Tyrant, nuclear physicist (formerly), superhero (formerly)
First appearance: Hulk: Future Imperfect #1 (December 1992)

Backstory

“You're fighting against the inevitable, Hulk. I'm simply the final product of natural selection. The strong survive. I'm the strongest. I survived.”

Born to atomic physicist Brian Banner and his wife Rebecca, Robert Bruce Banner had an extremely troubled childhood. Though he was loved by his mother, Brian despised his son, believing Bruce was stealing Rebecca’s affection toward him. And when he witnessed the unnaturally high intelligence Bruce had, Brian became convinced his work in radiation had turned his son into some sort of mutant freak. After years of physically abusing Bruce, things would come to a head when Brian wound up murdering Rebecca in front of Bruce.

After his father was placed in a mental ward, Bruce would be placed in the care of his aunt Susan, and despite now being shown parental love, Bruce’s psyche was now irrevocably broken. His trauma at watching his mother’s death and his father’s abuse caused Bruce to develop Disassociative Identity Disorder, and the first of these personalities was a destructive being known as “the Hulk.”

As he grew up, the Hulk would take over Bruce’s body and begin constructing a bomb to blow up his high school. Though the bomb’s construction was poor and it failed in its goal, its sophisticated design had impressed the military, and Bruce was enlisted into the military by General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross to act as a nuclear physicist. Their goal? To create and test a highly radioactive gamma bomb.

Unfortunately, the test would go awry when Bruce noticed a teenage civilian in the testing site, and asked his assistant to delay the countdown. Being a Soviet spy, the assistant did nothing and watched as Bruce got the teenager, Rick Jones, to safety, only to be caught in the explosion. On that day, the radiation somehow changed Bruce’s body and transformed him into a gray (and later green) skinned monster: the physical incarnation of his imaginary friend: the Hulk.

The Hulk was a nigh-unstoppable monster, existing in a near constant state of rage and smashing everything around him. For years he was hounded by the military and supervillains who rivaled his gamma-radiated strength and brains. Whether it was the KGB agent Abomination, the super genius The Leader, or the big-headed cyborg MODOK, none of them could take him down.

But in the world of Earth 9002, the Hulk’s survival would be taken to the next level. As the superheroes and villains battled each other, the tensions between America and Moscow were pushed to their limit, and the world became consumed by nuclear war. It wasn’t the fault of an out of control superhero, a supervillain’s bid for power, or some unknowable cosmic force. Humanity itself had nearly destroyed the world.

The superheroes of Earth were dead, and its only survivor was the Hulk, having been kept in stasis by the privately funded think tank AIM. When his virtual reality prison finally broke down, the Hulk woke up to a world devastated by radiation. As he wandered the globe for survivors, he discovered New York had been remade into the city of Dystopia, ruled by a mysterious tyrant called the Maestro. And the Maestro was none other than the demigod Hercules, now driven mad and hungry for power.

But that wasn’t all. After a brief fight with Hercules, Hulk discovered his now elderly friend, Rick Jones. Rick had created a trophy room of memorabilia from the dead heroes and villains, but their reunion was bittersweet. His trip across America had left him disgusted with humanity, and he now believed the world needed an iron fist to rule it.

To overthrow the Maestro, Hulk used his intellect to create a series of drones called the Dogs of War, and after failing to take him head on, Hulk used a fellow AIM prisoner named Vapor to poison Hercules. And after using a freeze gun to destroy Vapor, Hulk took Hercules’ former title for his own: becoming the new Maestro.

For years, the Maestro would mercilessly rule over Dystopia, using his combination of brains and brawn to overcome his former allies and enemies turned political rivals. Whether it was the Pantheon, Namor, Doctor Doom, or his own cousin She-Hulk, anyone who opposed his reign was met with a swift defeat. In time Rick Jones and his underground rebellion were his only opposition, and when Rick discovered Doctor Doom’s time machine was still functional, he came up with a plan to finally get rid of the Maestro.

The Hulk from the past was brought to the future, but the Maestro welcomed this challenge, using his knowledge of Hulk’s abilities to dominate his past self and break his neck. As his counterpart slowly healed, the Maestro attempted to sway him to his side, but his attempts were in vain. When the Hulk fully healed, the two engaged in a rematch that dragged them down to Rick’s memorial room. But just when it seemed like he was about to kill the Hulk, the Hulk revealed he had a final trick up his sleeve: he had tricked the Maestro into stepping onto Doctor Doom’s time machine, and with the press of a button, the Maestro was sent back to the gamma bomb site that created the Hulk. The very thing that birthed one of the world’s greatest monsters caused the death of an even bigger one, and the threat of the Maestro was brought to an end…

Or so it would seem.

Persisting as a disembodied spirit, the Maestro spent years using his psychic connection to the Hulk to guide him back to the gamma bomb site. Each time the Hulk traveled there, the Maestro would siphon a small portion of his gamma energy, and after some time, he was resurrected! There was just one small problem: his body was weak and emaciated. He was then kidnapped by Asgardian trolls, who placed his soul into the Destroyer armor. Now possessing the ancient Asgardian armor, the Maestro attempted to get revenge on the Hulk, but because they shared the same DNA, the Hulk’s own soul was able to enter the Destroyer!

The two gamma giants would battle on the astral plane, struggling for dominance over the Destroyer. It would only end when the Hulk used the kickback from its disintegration beam to send the Destroyer off a nearby canyon, burying the Maestro and his captors in a landslide. This would seemingly be the end of the Maestro, but if the Marvel Handbooks are to be trusted, it’s only a matter of time before he returns.

Personality

Having lived for over a century and witnessing the devastation of nuclear war, the Maestro was slowly driven mad. Believing the war was inevitable because of mankind’s self-destructiveness, he grew disgusted by the humans of the past and even viewed his friends and wife as holding him back, making him weaker and holding back his potential. Now left to dwell in a toxic wasteland, he sees himself more than human and sees no point in caring about normal people, viewing them as sheep that should be ruled with an iron fist.

While he might seem like a merciless, power-hungry dictator, he isn’t entirely cruel. He’ll offer others the chance to join him willingly and will work with others who have similar goals, including superheroes and former enemies (though he won’t hesitate to betray them afterward). He’s even shown to still care for his subjects, like when he rewarded the survivalists with enough food to survive until the crops regrow as thanks for providing another harem girl.

The Maestro is extremely hedonistic, having been introduced sleeping with a harem of women. He prefers his women submissive and mindless, which is why he likes his harem girls over his long deceased wife Betty. He has no issue sharing them with others, and even arranged for the Hulk to be raped by his harem girls for his own amusement.

When he was still growing into a conqueror, he would often sic the Dogs of War on whoever refused to obey his orders or any insurgents that refused his rule. This short fuse never went away even years into his reign. He’s easily irritated, getting annoyed at people who only speak in exposition, and becomes furious when people disrespect him. Even children and his own partners aren’t safe, as he’ll direct his rage toward them over the most minor of provocations, like spitting in his face and insulting him or hitting him by accident.

Aside from his anger, the Maestro is incredibly stubborn. Despite losing everything, he refuses to die. In his eyes, with how many people have wanted him dead over the years, dying would be letting them win. Even though all of those people are long dead by now, he still refuses to let them get the last laugh, even from beyond the grave.

As a result of the power he’s gained as the Maestro, he can be somewhat arrogant at times, like when he tried to goad Hulk into shooting himself. He also has a morbid sense of humor, like when he joked to a paralyzed Hulk about being unable to get up.

Experience

Being a tyrant with one of the smartest minds in the universe, the Maestro is extremely crafty and intelligent. While it’s unknown how much of his life mirrors his mainline counterpart, he has at least experienced events up to Planet Hulk, meaning he’d have years of superheroics and adventuring under his belt.

But his most dangerous aspect is his intelligence. Maestro’s lived for over a century, and he’s used his brilliant mind to regularly trick others and discover hidden secrets. He’s created the Dogs of War, turned an attempt to trick him back onto Hulk and forced him to take a kick, deduced the Hulk’s arrival in his time created an alternate timeline, and realized Hulk was delaying his recovery and would try to sneak in his fortress.

It’s been said that anywhere his strength falls short, he’s able to out think his opponent, something he showed when he was overpowered by Hercules until he surrendered. He later returned and exploited Herc’s love of women by gifting him Vapor, who turned into arsenic and killed Hercules, then betrayed Vapor by freezing and shattering her. Or there’s the time he tricked Doctor Doom into entering an Alchemax electromagnet that removed his armor, leaving him vulnerable to a physical beating.

Arsenal

Dogs of War

A series of robot drones built by the Maestro. Their jaws are strong enough to crush Adamantium in 7.3 seconds.

Alchemax Freeze Gun

One of the Maestro’s lesser used guns. After discovering it in a dilapidated Alchemax building, he used it to freeze and shatter Vapor after she “killed” Hercules.

Anti-Maestro Gun

Created by the mutant Forge for the purpose of killing him, the Maestro would later use it for himself while battling the Hulk.

Spear

Briefly wielded against Giganto.

Destroyer Armor

Years after his body was destroyed and resurrected by the gamma bomb, the Maestro was taken in by Asgardian trolls who gifted him the Destroyer armor. After inserting his soul into it, the Maestro was able to take control of the armor. It’s bulletproof, can fire energy beams from its hands and visor, and is strong enough to beat up the Hulk.

Powers

Gamma Mutate Physiology

As a result of the gamma bomb that originally affected his body, the Maestro’s biology was altered, turning him into a green-skinned, bulletproof behemoth of muscle with strength, speed, and endurance far beyond that of an ordinary man. His strength grows in proportion to his anger, so the angrier he gets, the stronger he becomes. He’s said to be immune to all terrestrial diseases and possibly to aging.

His stamina is enhanced to let him fight for hours on end in peak conditioning, and is even more resistant to injuries and pain than the Hulk.

In addition to all of this, he can also absorb gamma radiation, having absorbed enough rads from the nuclear fallout to become stronger and more durable, letting him survive anything except a ground zero nuke. Even as a skeleton, he can absorb gamma radiation to gradually resurrect himself.

Extrasensory Perception

While the Marvel Handbooks state it’s unknown if he shares the ability to see astral forms/souls or the homing ability to the gamma site where he became Hulk, there’s no reason to assume he lacks these abilities. His soul is shown reacting to Hulk’s entering the Destroyer armor, and it was revealed he’s responsible for Hulk being able to find his way back to the game site, “using the same psychic knack that lets you see astral forms.”

Superhuman Leaping

Thanks to his massive leg muscles, the Maestro can leap long distances, letting him jump up an Alchemax skyscraper, cover 6 miles in a single bound, and cross the country in a matter of hours.

Thunderclap

By bringing his hands together, the Maestro can create a powerful shockwave to knock others back and disperse flames. While never shown, the Official Marvel Handbook says he can produce similar shockwaves with his feet.

Underwater Breathing

Through unknown means, the Maestro can somehow breathe and speak while underwater.

Regeneration

He could heal after his body was torn apart by gamma-radiated cockroaches and was able to reattach his severed hand with no problem. The Official Marvel Handbooks describe him as being able to regenerate body tissue (including internal organs) within seconds to minutes and say absorbing radiation over the years can aid in his healing from injuries.

Even when reduced to Bruce Banner, his body still healed from being shot in the head and heart, and Atalanta theorized he might be able to regenerate from being cut to pieces.

Resurrection

After his body was disintegrated by the gamma bomb, the Maestro’s soul used his psychic link to the Hulk to draw him back to the test site, letting him gradually absorb the Hulk’s gamma radiation over the course of several years to resurrect himself.

Resistances

Radiation:

Being around nuclear fallout only makes him stronger and more durable.

Extreme Heat:

While mistaking him for Johnny Storm, he was surprised when the Jim Hammond Human Torch's flames hurt him, implying he can normally shrug off attacks from Johnny’s flames. He even survived Jim’s Nova Flame, which has temperature comparable to the sun, and received little to no damage.

Extreme Cold:

He can survive the bottom of the ocean with no issue.

Acid and Energy Manipulation:

After his men were sprayed by acid that dissolves their flesh and muscle and shot to death by lasers, the Maestro proceeded to tank both with only cosmetic damage

Strength

Destroyer Armor

Speed

Durability

Destroyer Armor

Intelligence

Feats

Survived the nuclear war that ravaged most of Earth
Created the Dogs of War
Conquered Dystopia after dethroning the former Maestro, Hercules
Established the Post-Apocalyptic Existence
Teamed up with the Abomination to kill Namor and Doctor Doom
Defeated Shulk and the Abomination
Temporarily paralyzed the Hulk
Eventually resurrected after he was destroyed by the gamma bomb
Possessed the Destroyer armor and fought the Hulk a final time

Weaknesses

While he might be one of the most successful conquerors of his time, the Maestro has some very heavy flaws.

As stated in the Personality section, he’s somewhat arrogant and has a short fuse. He has sometimes flown into blind rages mid-combat, has no personal guards since he believes no one would attack him, purposefully walked into a trap since he didn't care about when he killed the Hulk, and mistakenly believed he could lift Mjolnir because of how much his strength had grown.

Despite his regeneration, he’s admitted even Hulks can’t heal from having their brains blown out. However, this is inconsistent, as a prequel comic depicted him showed otherwise and implied he could heal from worse. What is consistent are the statements and visual proof that breaking his neck will take him out of commission for some time, with Marvel’s handbook specifying that it can take several days (or sooner) to heal.

Similarly, knockout gas has been shown and stated to affect him. He can stave off the effects by holding his breath for a long time, though this is only temporary.

It’s been stated by other characters and the Maestro himself that being at ground zero of a nuclear explosion would be enough to kill him, and we later see proof of this at the end of the story. While he can eventually resurrect from this, the process takes years and he’ll be left in a weakened state.

He has no defenses against mind control, and attacks to his balls will hurt him the same as any other man.

And while the chances of it happening are extremely rare, he can revert back to the far more vulnerable state of Bruce Banner if he’s exposed to something from his past that surprises him, like an illusion of his mother.

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