The Hulk's healing ability is, as far as I can tell, the strongest of any Marvel character to date. While it is extremely difficult to injure him in the first place, if it does occur any injury regardless of severity heals almost instantly. It's also been shown that the Hulk has some resistance to mystical energies, but could it overcome something like Vampirism, or Lycanthropy? His healing factor has a (vaguely) scientific explanation of a constant regeneration of his cells fueled by his Gamma rage, but it is often shown in comics that science can be trumped by magic (i.e. Superman's weakness to magical forces) Given that it would be nearly impossible for a regular vampire to even bite the Hulk even in a base, non-enraged state. I would think it possible for say Dracula or Lilith, or any of the top tier vamps to, given the right circumstances, bite and infect the Hulk. Has anything like this ever been shown before?
I am aware that the Hulk from the Marvel Zombies universe was infected, but I believe that was more of a scientific reason for the plague; I'm looking for a supernatural based ailment.
Answer
On the canon Marvel Earth-616, the answer would be yes, he would be immune to the infections used to spread the diseases of lycanthropy and vampirism.
- Both diseases were born of interactions with demonic beings, black magic and/or genetic engineering and alien intervention and passed either through a curse or by infection.
- The Hulk's regeneration and natural resistance to magic linked to his incredible regeneration should make him proof against either.
Wikipedia reference on vampirism in the Marvel Universe:
- The bite of a vampire transfers an unidentified enzyme found only within the saliva of a vampire into the bloodstream of the victim.
If a vampire drinks enough blood to cause a victim's death, this enzyme triggers a metabolic change within the victim's body, beginning with the production of a green liquid referred to as "ichor" into the bloodstream.
After roughly three days, enough of this liquid in the victim's body that it begins to course through the veins in the same way his or her blood once did.
- The victim then returns as a newborn vampire and is capable of all the basic capabilities of ordinary humans, with the exception of being able to have children, plus a number of supernatural abilities of strength, speed, agility, endurance, senses, immortality, and healing factor.
- However, if the victim retains sufficient blood to survive the vampire's attack, he or she begins to show signs of anemia because of the presence of the enzyme in his or her bloodstream.
From the Marvel Wiki: Werewolf by Night entry
- Following the Cataclysm, the Fortisquian colonizers from the planet Arcturus came to Earth to investigate the fate of the Savage Land, which had been created by the alien Nuwali for the enigmatic Beyonders. A trio of colonizers based in the Savage Land acted as humanity's Caretakers.
- Amongst many other activities, they created the modern incarnation of werewolves: combining advanced genetic re-engineering science with earthborn magic (apparently tapping into the Wolf-Demon's power), they bound the spirit and DNA of the captured wolf Windracer into a humanoid.
- This hybrid, later known as Greysire, spread this gift to humanity via scratches and bites, and then by heredity. The resultant race was known as brethren by wolves and werewolves by humanity, but the gift became a curse as man fell out of harmony with his primal self.
The Hulk's regenerative powers allow him to instantly throw off any kind of infection without thought or effort on his part. His resistance to magical forces is equal to his ability to repel almost any other kind of energy so the diseases having magical origins should have no bearing on their effectiveness.
Most references use wording similar to the following:
Regenerative Healing Factor: The Hulk is capable of regenerating damaged or destroyed areas of his body with far greater speed and efficiency than an ordinary human. Wounds that would be deadly to most other creatures take a short period time for the Hulk to recover. The Hulk's highly efficient physiology renders him immune to all known Earthly diseases.
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