The Incredible Hulk Returns

Mercenary leader who engineers the kidnapping of Maggie Shaw and the seizure of the Transponder, posing as part of the police to manipulate the situation. He embodies ruthless pragmatism and willingness to exploit fear for a paycheck. His schemes propel the central conflict and the race to rescue Shaw.

A widow who becomes Banner’s romantic partner, she becomes collateral in the Transponder plot. Her captivity intensifies Banner’s resolve to find a cure, and she remains a test of Banner’s ability to protect loved ones without exposing them to danger.

A scientist at the Joshua-Lambert Institute secretly pursuing a cure for his gamma-induced transformation. He balances scientific ambition with moral caution, sabotages the Transponder when needed, and strives to shield others from potential harm while managing his dual identity.

Banner’s former student who becomes entangled with the Thor-bound hammer, seeking Banner’s guidance on severing their bond. He forms a conduit to Thor and plays a key role in bridging science and magic within the story.

The hammer-bound Norse god whose soul is housed within Blake’s hammer. Thor’s brash, otherworldly nature clashes with Banner’s scientific outlook, triggering confrontations that intensify the lab’s dangers before his eventual departure.

Banner’s gamma-powered alter ego, unleashed in moments of lab chaos and combat. The Hulk embodies raw strength and limited control, driving the action while forcing Banner to confront the consequences of his transformation.

Inside man connected to the mercenary operation, providing inside information that accelerates the kidnapping and the plot’s momentum. His loyalties are tested as events unfold and the stakes rise.

An executive at the institute who secretly aids the mercenary plan, acting as an internal conspirator whose betrayals drive the story toward a fatal climax.

A relentless journalist chasing Hulk and Thor sightings, whose obsession with sensational coverage mirrors the public’s gaze on the superhero conflict.