In the latest issue of Maestro, the issue of the Hulk's immortality is definitely settled as the origin of the most evil Hulk is explored.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Maestro #2, by Peter David, German Peralta, Jesus Aburtov, Dale Keown, Jason Keith and VC's Ariana Maher.

Since the title of Hulk's most recent solo started making the claim, Marvel stories seem to go out of their way to test the limits of Hulk's immortality. While many in the Marvel Universe claim immortality among their powersets history proves just how loosely the term can apply and it's always best for fans to be a little skeptical when characters make those claims. Despite that skepticism the Hulk has been building a pretty good case that he can't truly be killed, and the latest issue ofMaestrojust closed it.

With how uncertain claims of immortality can be it always helps to have a look into the future to see how well they hold up. When it comes to Marvel timelines even that can be a complicated process because of how reality branches off in different directions to create an entire multiverse of possibilities. Hulk first got a view of one of his possible paths in Peter David and George Perez's Hulk:Future Imperfectin 1992. At this time, the Hulk had all of his personalities fused into a single powerful, hyper-intelligent persona, and in the future he saw that power corrupt him in a post apocalyptic New York where he became known as the Maestro.

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The Maestro ruled as the despotic leader of the dystopia until the present day Hulk put a stop to him. That came only after a great amount of effort, as the Maestro proved himself every bit as strong and cunning as his past self. Thecoup de grace came when the Hulk laid a trap that sent the Maestro back in time to ground zero of the very gamma bomb that originally gave Hulk his powers, overloading the despot with radiation that completely disintegrated the villain. That certainly seemed to do the trick... but then the Maestro came back.

InIncredible Hulk #451 by Peter David, Mike Deodato Jr., and Glynis Oliver it turned out that the Maestro survived even complete disintegration, existing as a radioactive ghost beckoning Hulk toward him at all times. Even with a corporeal form the Maestro proved extremely resilient to injury as he survived acid, lasers, broken necks, and at one point the annihilation of most of reality. While many characters claim immortality it seems as though the case for Maestro's came with everythingexcept him making the claim. But that all changed with the latest issue of his mini.

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In casual conversation with Machine Man, also discovered to survive the nuclear apocalypse, the Hulk makes mention of his own immortality. It comes as the final nail in the coffin, and in fact accompanies a recognition of one of the biggest reasons it could previously be doubted that Maestro was immortal. After all, the Maestro certainly seems to age as his graying beard and frazzled demeanor indicates that his body does not just stay the same as time marches on. In the comic he recognizes that he looks bad, but apparently that is merely a cosmetic side effect.

Seeing the early days of the Maestro's formation and the originalFuture Imperfect story, it becomes evident that Maestro's only degradation is aesthetic. He fought evenly and at times bested his younger self in a match of muscles, and the message here is clear: nothing can kill the Hulk, and over time he's just going to keep getting stronger and stronger. If he ever goes the way of the Maestro, anyone standing in his way would have the fight of their lives on their hands, because he isn't going anywhere any time soon.

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The Hulk Really Is Immortal - and the Maestro Just Proved It - CBR - Comic Book Resources