Hulk Hogan Once Fought Marvel (And Won)

From Andre the Giant to the Rock, Hulk Hogan has done battle between the ropes with some of the biggest names in the entertainment world. In doing so, he has become a brand unto himself, becoming recognized the world over for his in-ring work, movies, television shows, and more. While the Hulkster has undoubtedly enjoyed the incredible success professional wrestling has brought him, it has also landed him in some sticky situations. For instance, he had to go toe-to-toe with Marvel, but like so many of Hogan's opponents over the years, the comic book publisher went down for the count.

Hogan shared as much during an appearance on "This Past Weekend With Theo Von". Back in the mid-1980s when his wrestling career was taking off, Marvel Comics — the home of the Incredible Hulk since 1962 — took the then-WWF to court over the use of the Hulk Hogan name. "We get a call from Marvel Comics. 'You're infringing on our mark. Reasonably similar. We're going to sue you, put you in litigation,'" Hogan explained. The two parties then entered a monetary agreement where Hogan and the WWF paid Marvel one-tenth of 1% of what they made on the name. They kept using it, and Marvel retained licensing rights. 

That agreement stuck from 1985 to 2005, and when that 20-year period ended, Marvel took the renamed WWE and Hogan back to court. Unfortunately for Marvel, this move backfired. The publisher wound up owing WWE's Vince McMahon $35 million, but instead, it offered up the use of the Hulk Hogan name. Hogan took the deal for $750,000 and put this legal saga to bed.

As if this courtroom drama isn't enough to give Hogan a place in Marvel history, it's worth noting that he's actually appeared in Marvel comic books.

Unsurprisingly, even though they'd already begun what would become a string of courtroom meetings, Hulk Hogan's megastar status brought him to the pages of Marvel Comics back in the '80s. The first time he appears under the publisher's banner is during the story of "Iron Man" #227, which hit stands in October 1987. As the Armored Avenger does battle with the villainous Beetle, a crowd of celebrities, including such names as Donald Trump and Michael J. Fox, looks on in amazement. Among these famous names is none other than Hogan.

Three years later, in 1990, Hogan returns to the Marvel Comics world, and this time around, he's no mere onlooker. "Marvel Comics Presents" Vol. 1 #45 pits Hogan against Bruce Banner's hulking alter-ego, Mr. Fixit. Why are the two bruisers at odds? Funnily enough, they're in a fight for the right to use the Hulk name. In the end, Fixit gives Hogan and other wrestlers a lecture about using the names of superheroes as their ring names. Little did Fixit realize he couldn't take this case to court and have any hope of winning.

All of this is to say that Hulk Hogan and Marvel Comics have a complicated history. Hopefully, they won't have to return to court for the foreseeable future.