Warning: Spoilers for Miles Morales: Spider-Man #33!Powerlift, the newest member of Marvel's Hulk family, arguably just delivered the best first punch in franchise history. In many ways, the Hulk continues to be the standard-bearer for super-strength in the Marvel Universe, and Powerlift's impressive debut as a hero shows that she is prepared to live up to what it means to be a Hulk, and then some.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #33, written by Cody Ziglar, with art by Marco Renna, features Spidey's therapist, Dr. Keisha Kwan, entering the fray by punching a god in the face. By the end of the issue, she transforms into her Hulk persona, Powerlift, for the first time, but even before she transforms, Kwan in her mere mortal form proves brave enough to strike Philomelus, the "Great Tiller of Earth and Soil."

As a human, Keisha barely leaves a mark on the deity, but after her transformation into Powerlift, she nearly cracks Philomelus's jaw in two.

Powerlift, Marvel's Newest HUlk, Lands What Might Be The Best First Punch In Marvel History, Making An Impact In Her Debut

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #33; Written By Cody Ziglar; Art By Marco Renna; Color By Bryan Valenza; Lettering By VC's Cory Petit

Ahead of Dr. Kwan's introduction as Marvel's newest Hulk, Spider-Man begins his newest arc called the "God War," in which Miles Morales is approached by Kwaku Anansi, a Spider-Totem God, who claims Miles as his champion against the god-touched Agent Gao, the Great War-Wind Zip Zephyr, and their benefactor, Ares. The gods challenge Spider-Man to "Agon", a competition of strength pitting two teams of five against each other. Miles, in a panic, unconsciously picks names at random, and among them is his therapist.

Little does Spidey know that his therapist harbors a Hulk inside her. Until now, readers had been none the wiser about Keisha's green ailment. In her official debut, Powerlift makes an emphatic statement, confirming that she can match a god in of strength and bring one to his knees in agony. The next issue of Miles Morales: Spider-Man will feature more of Powerlift in action, but as far as first impressions go, Powerlift packs an even more memorable first punch than most prominent Hulks before her, including the original.

Powerlift's First Punch Is Even More Of A Feat Of Strength Than The Original Hulk's

The Incredible Hulk #1; Written By Stan Lee; Art By Jack Kirby, Paul Reinman, And Art Simek

When Bruce Banner transformed into the Hulk for the first time in Incredible Hulk #1, he didn't punch a person, but punched through a wall. He then proceeded to charge a Humvee out of his way, one holding three soldiers. By the standards of 1962, this was an unbelievable, even awe-inspiring feat of seldom seen before in the comic book medium. In 2025, though, it's old hat for the Hulk. Rampaging from one building structure to the next and toppling every vehicle in his path has become Hulk's M.O.

A moment like this highlights how powerful he is within Hulk's first few pages, but when compared to Powerlift punching a literal god in her debut, it doesn't quite feel as massive.

Yes, in his debut story, this comic is the reason why such feats are so common for the Hulk today. Still, though, it's the bare-minimum way of showcasing Hulk's strength. A moment like this highlights how powerful he is within Hulk's first few pages, but when compared to Powerlift punching a literal god in her debut, it doesn't quite feel as massive. It should come as no question and no surprise that Powerlift leaves more of a lasting impression in her debut, compared to the original, as well as other subsequent Hulks.

Powerlift's Excellent Debut Puts Her At The Top Of The List For Hulk Introductions

Red Hulk And She-Hulk's First Appearances Feel Underwhelming By Comparison

When the Red Hulk debuted, both he and his first punch are obscured by the shadows. As seen in Hulk #1, written by Jeph Loeb, with art by Ed McGuinness, Red Hulk's first punch comes during a fight with the Abomination, one that Leonard Samson and She-Hulk are investigating. Leonard hypothesizes that the Abomination threw the first punch at this then-mystery figure, to which said figure responded with a bob and weave counter, catching Blonsky in the stomach. It's hard to be impressed when Abomination was already a punching bag who had lost all credibility due to his frequent losses.

As for She-Hulk, Jennifer Walters' first transformation comes in Savage She-Hulk #1, written by Stan Lee, with art by John Buscema and and Chic Stone. Jen mostly picks things up and tosses them. Her first strike comes from shoving a pedestrian out of her way, which is the equivalent to an army tank knocking over a traffic cone. It's a scary sight, sure, but it's not surprising, shocking, nor worth talking about. Powerlift's first appearance arguably stands as the best Hulk debut to date, and if not, she undoubtedly throws the best first punch ever seen in the franchise's lore.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #33 is available now from Marvel Comics.