Summary

• Avengers #9 brings the Hammer of Nul back into Marvel Comics canon, a god-tier weapon that even the Hulk is afraid of.
• The Hammer of Nul was originally summoned by the Serpent during Fear Itself, corrupting the Hulk during that crossover event.
• The true form of Nul, a violent evil, justifies the Hulk's fear, making its return that much more terrifying for Thor and the Avengers.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Avengers #9! While Mjolnir, the hammer of Hulk is afraid of. Some of these other god-tier weapons first appeared during a previous Marvel Comics event that saw the greatest Asgardian evils nearly destroy Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. And now, one of them is back to finish the job.

In Avengers #9 by Jed MacKay and Francisco Mortarino, the Avengers are facing the Twilight Court, which is a group of fake heroes created through gene-splicing and other artificial means by the villainous Myrddin. One of these ‘heroes’ is named Galehaut, who was created through the splicing of Asgardian DNA with her own, making her the team’s resident ‘god’. Not only does Galehaut have godly genes, but also a god-tier weapon: the Hammer of Nul.

The Hammer of Nul appears in this comic when Thor criticizes Galehaut for being a ‘false god’, saying that not only is she just a pale imitation of a true Asgardian, but that she is, “empty-handed, without so much as a hammer”. As if his criticism was meant to tee-up this reveal perfectly, Galehaut snidely replies, “worry you not… I have a hammer”, at which point she calls upon the Hammer of Nul, and swiftly lays the hammer down.

What Is The Hammer of Nul? Hulk’s Fear Itself Weapon Explained

Fear Itself #1 by Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen

The Hammer of Nul is a mystical war hammer - one of seven - that was summoned by the Serpent during Marvel Comics’ Fear Itself event. The purpose of these war hammers was to awaken the ‘Worthy’, which were Earth’s most fearsome warriors. One of these ‘Worthy’ was none other than the Hulk, who found the Hammer of Nul upon hearing its call.

Another name for the Hammer of Nul is the Breaker of Worlds, as those who wield its power are granted the strength to crush entire planets, all while the hammer corrupts their spirits, driving them to crave nothing but destruction. Hulk was an obvious choice for this particular war hammer, as he holds the strength to destroy worlds without Asgardian mysticism, and he’s quite literally fueled by rage. However, Nul proved to be too intimidating even for someone as powerful as the Hulk, and the Green Goliath actually came to fear it.

Nul’s True Form Confirms Why the Hulk is Right to Fear It

The Defenders #3 by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson

After the Hulk separates himself from the Hammer of Nul, he destroys it, hoping to rid its evil from the face of the universe. Unfortunately, by doing so, the Hulk released the true spirit of Nul, which manifested into a hellish beast that ran amok in The Defenders. The true form of the violent evil that had its hold over the Hulk in Fear Itself absolutely justifies why the Hulk would want every trace of it destroyed, as he feared not only being possessed again, but the corruption it would bring upon another wielder.

In the end, the manifestation of Nul was destroyed, and Hulk’s fears could seemingly be laid to rest - at least, until now. Avengers #9 brings back something that the Hulk destroyed, and the Defenders seemingly finished off, and even Thor is confused as to how Galehaut got ahold of it after such a previously thorough elimination. Regardless of how it’s back, the fact remains that an Avengers-level villain has access to a weapon that even the Hulk is afraid of, meaning everyone else - Thor included - should be fearful as well.

Avengers #9 by Marvel Comics is available now.