Origin

Charlie came from a broken home in Estill County, Kentucky, where her single father was a drunk and an abuser. He was even responsible for a large burn on her face. One night, she was caught trying to run away using her late grandmother’s mustang. She tried running on foot, but her father caught up with her easily thanks to the car. Just as he tracked her down, a bright light from mercenaries trying to capture The Hulk caused him to lose control and smash into a tree. Charlie, a big fan of the Hulk, used this opportunity to get away from her dad and stick with Banner.

Creation

Charlie debuted in Incredible Hulk (2023) #1 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein

Major Story Arcs

Frozen Charlie

Charlie chose an especially bad time to hitch her wagon to The Hulk. As a creation of the One Below All, The Hulk is the prophesized Fractured Son. He is sought after by a being called the Eldest, who calls all monsters to her service. They plan to use his flesh as a key to an even more powerful being, The Mother of Horrors. Using Betty Ross as a messenger, she offered Bruce a young, healthy body for him to inhabit in exchange for the Hulk, but Bruce refused. Now, every monster at the Eldest's disposal is hot on his trail.

These same monsters found Charlie’s dad after the car accident and killed him, a murder for which Charlie was now wanted for questioning. The monsters even started targeting Charlie knowing how Hulk had taken a liking to her, including The Swamp Witch who teased her with her dead younger brother. She managed to evade all the monsters until she was separated from Hulk in New Orleans. Once alone, she was attacked by Frozen Charlotte, first of the Nephilim, who turns her victims into dolls.

After Hulk defeated Frozen Charlotte, he took Charlie’s doll and went looking for answers at the Strange Academy. Doctor Voodoo got Hulk in touch with Sumanguru, an imprisoned flesh-weaver who could create Charlie a new body but had no way of connecting her soul to it. He directed Hulk to Vegas for the power needed to do so, but The Eldest sprung a trap once he arrived. She made Banner a new offer: she would return Charlie to life in exchange for the Hulk’s body. Banner finally relented.

The Godskin

When Charlie awoke back in her original body, she was trapped in a faux hotel room. When Banner made his deal with The Eldest, they were in the Temple of Lycana, the original skinwalker. As such, her room was guarded by skinwalkers, who could not guarantee her safety beyond those walls. One of those guards was a young woman who had only been a skinwalker for a month. She wanted Hulk’s help escaping her pack, so she helped Charlie escape. Unfortunately, they were attacked. The young woman tried to fight them off but was no match for them. She bought Charlie enough time to hide in the Lycana throne room, where she started to pray to God for help.

Her prayers were heard by Lycana, who’s pelt (called a Godskin) was draped over the throne. She bonded to Charlie, turning her into a skinwalker. Still unsure of her powers, Charlie was captured and brought in front of the Eldest while she tortured Hulk. One of the skinwalkers transformed into her father, revealing himself to be the killer. This sent Charlie into a rage which activated her transformation into the larged winged wolf of Lycana. After dispatching the skinwalkers, Charlie turns on the Eldest, however, the Eldest is too much for her. This inspires Hulk to reach a strength level strong enough to break the “unbreakable pact” Banner had made with Eldest, allowing Hulk and Charlie to escape yet again.

Charlie was enjoying her new monster powers, when she was approached by werewolf, Jack Russell. He warned that the Vegas pack would be coming for her, since it was a tradition for Lycana's vessels to get one month with the godskin, feeding Lycana, and are then sacrificed to the pack. At night, Charlie was transforming into her Lycana form and attacking random people. She had no memory of these attacks but would find the evidence upon waking. She hid this from Hulk, but Banner witnessed it from the Hulkscape. Now that she was a monster, Banner was able to communicate with her from beyond. He advised her to seek out Doctor Strange in New York. Unfortunately, Strange was in Asgard, and the skinwalkers followed them to the city, forcing them back into the wilderness.

Powers & Abilities

The Godskin: While in possession of the Godskin, Charlie can transform into the form of Lycana, the original skinwalker, a winged wolf beast. In this form, she can fly, has sharped teeth and claws, and heightened senses for tracking prey.

• Human form: Charlie retains the enhanced strength of her Lycana form when she returns to her human form.
• Shape-shifting: Charlie is capable of shape-shifting into the people who are consumed in her Lycana form. This is done by shedding her human skin, which she needs to put on in order to return to her human form.
• Ethereal sense: As a monster, Charlie is able to pierce the veil and commune with certain dimensions, including the Hulkscape.