Summary
The characters inResident Evilhave always been a primary focus of the games. The characters drive the experience in aResident Evilgame, returning to the world of survival horror time and time again as each subsequent sequel demands it. They have become adored by fans over the years and frequently cross over into various other forms of media. Most of these beloved characters are the main protagonists or villains of a particular game. There is however one character who is an exception to that rule.
HUNK was first introduced in the originalResident Evil 2in an unlockable side mode calledThe 4th Survivor. HUNK became an instant fan favorite, allowing players to take control of an Umbrella operative for the first time in the series.The mystery surrounding HUNKonly grew as players wanted to learn more about the elusive character. Over the years, there have been small hints and reveals about his backstory, but it has overall remained shrouded in secrecy. Even after appearing in many games, HUNK has still not seen much use outside side modes and bonuses. It remains to be seen what the future of this character will be.
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HUNK’s Place In The Resident Evil Lore
HUNK is a character who initially didn’t have much information surrounding him. He was essentially just another Umbrella operative sent into Raccoon City to recover the G-Virus from William Birkin’s laboratory. As seen inthe opening cutscene for the originalResident Evil 2, all the other operatives are killed by Birkin, leaving only HUNK to do the job. InThe 4th Survivor,players retrieve the G-Virus sample from the Raccoon City sewers and proceed to escape the city as HUNK. This was a substantial side mode due to the fact that it revealed the G-Virus did not die with the destruction of Birkin’s lab at the end of the main story but was instead recovered by Umbrella.
At the end ofThe 4th Survivor, HUNK escapes and is called by his nickname, Mr. Death. There is an epilogue file in the originalResident Evil 3showing HUNK on a helicopterride out of the city. In this scene, it is revealed that HUNK is often the sole survivor of his missions. As he is cold and calculated, he always finds a way to survive. The character isn’t heard from again until a brief reference inResident Evil Code: Veronicawhen it is revealed he had been trained on Rockfort Island and recently completed deliveries of unknown materials for the main antagonist of the game.
AfterCode: Veronica, HUNK has not seen any canon story development substantial usage. HUNK does appear in many games as a playable character, but it is generally reserved for an unlockable mode such as The MercenariesorRE: Revelations’Raid Mode.The influence of HUNK is apparent, as the interest in the character definitely served as an inspiration for the spin-off tactical shooterUmbrella Corps. Some fans would be interested inseeing HUNK take on more of a story-driven rolein a futureREexperience, finally revealing more about the character’s backstory and giving him a bit of personality.
Though it may be interesting to see what lies beyond HUNK’s emotionless exterior, some fans would prefer the mystery stay intact. HUNK was a constant throughout eachResident Evilrelease, with fans always knowing he was out there but never getting to learn more. Perhaps the mystery is what made the character so enticing to begin with. And the fact that he looks pretty darn cool too. As it stands right now, there is no information aboutHUNK in the current timeline ofResident Evil. Only time will tell if the “Grim Reaper” makes a return to the spotlight.
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