When Did Hulkling First Appear In Marvel Comics?

When I picked up the recent issues, the first thing that hit me was how much Hulkling’s shapeshifting keeps stealing the show. He’s not just doing simple face-swaps anymore; I’ve seen him bulk up into massive, hulking forms that push his strength and durability into straight-up powerhouse territory. That size-shift is more than cosmetic — the panels show him taking hits that would flatten a normal Skrull or Kree and just shrugging them off, which reads like serious regeneration and superhuman stamina. Beyond the brute-force stuff, he still uses the classic Skrull/Kree hybrid tricks: forming armor pieces, creating blades or shields from his own body, and even reshaping limbs into wings for short bursts of flight. There are moments where he looks comfortably at home in space, so environmental resilience (vacuum survival, extreme temps) is on display too. If you liked his royalty arc in 'Empyre' and the more character-driven beats in 'Young Avengers', these issues feel like a mash-up of political weight and upgraded physical powers — he’s a fighter and a king in the same breath.

I still get a little giddy when I think about how messy and brilliant Hulkling's origin is. Growing up, Teddy Altman was just another kid on Earth with a knack for shape-shifting and a huge heart, but the comics slowly peeled back his backstory. It turns out his parents were a literal political power couple from opposite sides of a galactic war: his mother was a Skrull princess named Anelle and his father was the Kree hero Mar-Vell. That mixed blood is what made him such a unique figure — both the living symbol and the biological heir of a forced union meant to bridge two empires. The arc in 'Young Avengers' teases that heritage, but it’s really during the events that build up to and include 'Empyre' where everything clicks: Teddy’s lineage is publicly recognized and he’s thrust into the role of emperor of a new Kree-Skrull Alliance. I love how the story doesn’t just give him a crown for shock value; it wrestles with political legitimacy, identity, and duty. Plus, his relationship with Wiccan adds an emotional anchor — he’s not just a galactic ruler, he’s a person who found love and chose responsibility. It’s one of those character evolutions that feels earned, messy, and surprisingly heartwarming.

I've been hunting down Hulkling stories for years and my favorite way to read them is on Marvel Unlimited — their search and collections make it so easy to follow a character across eras. Start with the original 'Young Avengers' run (the 2005 series) to see his origin and chemistry with Wiccan, then move to 'The Children's Crusade' (the collected edition) which really digs into both of them emotionally, and finally read the Kieron Gillen 'Young Avengers' run and the 'Empyre' event where Hulkling takes center stage. If you prefer to own issues, Comixology (and the Kindle/Google Play stores) sell single issues and trade paperbacks. Your local library might have digital checkouts through Hoopla or physical trades like 'Young Avengers: The Collection' or 'Empyre' on the shelf — I once found a pristine 'Children's Crusade' TPB at a small branch and it felt like striking gold. For a comfortable binge: Marvel Unlimited for day-to-day reading, Comixology/ebooks for ownership, and library/brick-and-mortar shops for serendipitous finds.

Wiccan and Hulkling share a beautiful and complex relationship that really showcases the depth of superhero identities and bonds. As characters from the 'Young Avengers,' they're not just allies in battle but also partners in love and life. Their connection stems from a deep understanding of each other's powers and their struggles. Wiccan, with his reality-warping magic, often grapples with the immense responsibility that comes with his abilities. On the other side, Hulkling, a shapeshifter and warrior, navigates his own cultural heritage as a half-Kree, half-Skrull. Their differences make them stronger as a couple, allowing them to blend their unique perspectives and experiences. What I love most is how their relationship evolves over time. They start as friends who support one another during tough times, eventually stepping into a romantic relationship that feels genuine and poignant. Their adventures together are packed with excitement, from battling formidable foes to facing internal conflicts about their identities. Each story arc they journey through makes me root for their happiness even more. From navigating the challenges of being young heroes to addressing each other’s emotional needs, their bond is well-written, making their love story resonate with many, including me. It’s not just about superpowers; it’s about trust, love, and the challenges of being extraordinary in a world that doesn't always understand you.

On the page, Teddy Altman never reads like an ordinary kid — and that's because he's not ordinary. He gained his shape-shifting abilities through his Skrull heritage: Skrulls are a race of biological shapeshifters in the comics, able to rearrange their tissues to mimic other forms. Teddy is revealed to be a Kree–Skrull hybrid (the son of Mar-Vell and a Skrull princess), so he inherited that Skrull cellular flexibility. Because he's a hybrid, his powers don't behave exactly like a run-of-the-mill Skrull. The Kree side seems to amplify his durability, strength and ability to take on hulking, armored forms — which is why he can bulk up into a powerful green warrior rather than just swap faces. That mix is explored across stories like 'Young Avengers' and later the 'Empyre' event, where his dual lineage becomes central to who he is and what he can do. I love how writers used biology and family lore instead of a single gimmick: his shape-shifting feels organic, rooted in identity and history. If you want a starting point, flip through 'Young Avengers' and then 'Empyre' — you'll see the evolution of his abilities and why being part Skrull matters so much to Teddy.

There's a warm, canon romantic arc between Hulkling and Wiccan that Marvel has consistently kept in its main continuity: they've been partners since the early days of 'Young Avengers' and their relationship grows into something deeply committed. Wiccan (Billy Kaplan) is a powerful magic-user whose backstory ties into the legacy of chaos magic, and Hulkling (Teddy Altman) is an alien-shifting powerhouse with a royal destiny—together they balance each other in ways a lot of other couples in comics don't. Over the years Marvel moved them from teenage crushes to mature partners, with proposals, wars, and political drama woven into their storylines (think 'The Children's Crusade' and the big political events that touch the Kree/Skrull stuff). The company has treated their couplehood as fully canonical, and they've even taken the obvious step of formalizing their bond in later issues. As someone who discovered them in a dingy comic shop with two-dollar back issues and a stubborn love for found families, seeing that progression felt both earned and joyful.

My take on Hulkling's costume evolution has always felt like watching a friend grow up in public, and I love that. Early on, in the pages of 'Young Avengers', he mostly looked like a scrappy teen—hoodies, casual layers, a mix of streetwear and tentative superhero colors. Artists leaned into that awkward-teen charm: familiar clothes with splashes of green or subtle emblem work that hinted at something more than human. As the character matured, the outfits followed. The costumes shifted toward cleaner silhouettes, sleeker team uniforms, and then full-on regal armor when the story moved to his Kree–Skrull heritage. The 'Empyre' era really leans into ceremonial symbolism—ceremonial capes, segmented alien armor, crowns or headpieces that combine both cultures. You can see design choices that tell a story: protective plates for battle, blended iconography to show his dual lineage, and richer fabrics and metallics that read as political power. What I enjoy most is the way artists use color and texture to track his identity: softer, human tones when he’s Teddy at home; deeper greens, golds, and alien motifs when he’s leading armies. Cosplayers and fan art reflect that full arc, too—neat homemade hoodies alongside baroque, layered armor pieces—so his wardrobe feels alive and evolving with the narratives.

A standout arc featuring Wiccan must be ‘Young Avengers’ by Allan Heinberg. This storyline hits you right in the feels, exploring identity and the struggles of being a young hero. Wiccan, alongside his team, faces their own demons and external threats while navigating friendships and crushes, all with a sprinkle of teenage angst. The art is vibrant, complementing the dramatic stakes perfectly. You can just feel the power of magic coursing through Wiccan as he grapples with his reality and hidden potential. It takes us on an emotional rollercoaster when he confronts his mother, the Scarlet Witch, who’s a complex character herself. Her presence adds layers of depth and conflict, making the narrative feel rich and rewarding. On the other hand, if you want something that showcases Wiccan’s growth and challenges, ‘House of M’ influenced him heavily but didn’t focus solely on him. However, his character became pivotal in the aftermath—especially how it tied into plot lines concerning alternate realities and family dynamics. I think that one really impacted the Marvel universe, bringing in a plethora of consequences that echoed in subsequent stories. For Hulkling, ‘Kree/Skrull War’ brings together some intense cosmic fighting and highlights his identity struggles as a half-Kree, half-Skrull. Hulkling’s character development shines as he wrestles with loyalty and belonging, which is super relatable. Watching him come into his own during these arcs has made me appreciate him and his relationships with characters like Wiccan even more! It's like witnessing a friendship evolve amidst chaos, and you can’t help but root for them.