HULKMARU

Real Name: Presumably Hulkmaru

Identity/Class: Alternate Reality (Earth-42141) Yokai/Oni (presumably hidden race of magical origin)

Occupation: Forager;
    warrior as needed

Group Membership:  Oni, Yokai

Affiliations: Juju, Logan, Sai, Tsuki, villagers below the Kirasaki Mountains

Enemies: Venom (aka Orichi)
    formerly Tsuki and villagers below the Kirasaki Mountains

Known Relatives: Abominationon (son)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Kirasaki Mountains, Japan, Earth-42141

First Appearance: Demon Days: X-Men#1 (May, 2021)

Powers/Abilities: Hulkmaru is large and superhumanly strong and durable, although

    Wooden arm shields

History:
(Demon Days: X-Men#1 (fb) - BTS) -  Once upon a time, humans and Yokai (spirits of earth, air, fire, water, life and death) lived in peace. The mountain-dwelling, massive ogres known as Oni co-existed with humanity who dwelled in the villages. However, when the humans expanded their territory, cutting down forests and digging into the mountains, the Oni saw their lands vanished. Starving, the Oni raided the human villages for food; not appreciating that they had caused this, the humans considered the Oni to be marauding monsters and began to fight back.

(Demon Days: X-Men#1) - To feed himself and his starving son, the Oni Hulkmaru raided a nearby village. Hearing him, the local Tsuki confronted Hulkmaru with bow and arrow, and although her tiny arrows were harmless to him, Hulkmaru fled.

(Demon Days: X-Men#1 - BTS) - In exchange for a bed, the traveling mercenary Sai (along with her pet wolf, Logan) offered her sword in the village's service. Upon hearing of the raidings, Sai shared her experience that the Oni were wary but not aggressive and did not attack unless given a reason.

    Any further discussion was interrupted when a villager rushed in and announced that Orichi, the serpentine creature also known as Venom, had returned, devouring two villagers and reclaiming a local temple.

    The locals sought the aid of Juju, a jushi (sorceress who mixed magic and medicine), who noted how Orichi was beginning to bother her for coming right back after she kicked it out. She suggested that they ally with the Oni for a more permanent solution.

    Although some villagers objected, calling the Oni barbarians and monsters, Sai told them that she would deal with the Oni. Meanwhile, Juju gave Tsuki incendiary devices ("fireworks") to place around the temple Orichi was inhabiting.

(Demon Days: X-Men#1) - Appreciating as Sai wandered through the forest in search of him, Hulkmaru leapt down, warning "Smash," but Sai assured him that she was not there to fight. Although he initially refused to listen to her proposition, when his son came out and expressed his hunger, Hulkmaru explained that the Oni did not eat people or attack the villagers but were just hungry: "People take Oni tree, so Oni have to take people food." Sai told Hulkmaru that if he helped them against Orichi, she promised that the villagers would honor the Oni's boundaries.

(Demon Days: X-Men#1 (fb) - BTS) - Hulkmaru agreed to this.

(Demon Days: X-Men#1 - BTS) - After Tsuki had her people light up the fireworks around the temple, Juju found although Orichi had been pained, it had grown more powerful and to was able to resist her.

(Demon Days: X-Men#1) - Hulkmaru arrived and joined the fight, stopping Orichi from grabbing Tsuki and Logan.

    Orichi mocked Hulkmaru as a pet to humans and a disgrace to Yokai, but Hulkmaru grabbed Orichi's tongue and dragged it away from the temple, after which Tsuki and Logan attacked it further, although Logan lost his left eye in the assault.

    As continued fireworks and attacks weakened Orichi, Hulkmaru kept Orichi's tongue wrapped around a pole, and after Sai further slashed Orichi, Hulkmaru leapt high into the air before flying down to smash Orichi.

    Under the combined assault, Orichi apparently dissolved.

    After Juju stated that Orichi would not come back, Hulkmaru told Sai, "No forget." Sai assured him that the humans would respect the Oni's lands, and the village's priests and/or warriors bowed and thanked "Oni-San."

(Demon Days: X-Men#1 (fb) - BTS) - The humans kept their promise.

    For generations, humans stayed in their villages and oni in their mountains, living in peace.

   This profile was completed 04/17/2026, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25^th anniversary 's celebratory event.
   Thanks to Loki for recommending Hulkmaru to represent Demon Days/Demon Wars for the event.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Hulkmaru was based upon the legend of the Oni and

• HULK (Robert Bruce Banner) of Earth-616 - scientist, designed gamma bomb, mutated by explosion, dissociative identity disorder associated with abusive father--Incredible Hulk I#1
  
  he should be distinguished from
  
  
• MARU - agent of Fu Manchu, bald black man, extremely skilled warrior, later had pain sensation taken away--Master of Kung Fu I#80
• other "Hulkmaru" characters, groups, items, events, races or places...

Toddler-like, Hulkmaru's son was hungry, and Hulkmaru raided the nearby village to feed him and himself. When Sai met with Hulkmaru, his son approached her and noted their hunger. --Demon Days: X-Men#1 Note: Thanks to MarvellousLuke for pointing out Hulkmaru's son's name and that it was revealed in Demon Days: X-Men Director's Cut; he also pointed out that his features resembled Emil Blonsky's gamma-form somewhat.

First posted: 09/26/2026
Last updated: 06/17/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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