Movies

Why the MCU’s Most Powerful Hulk Will Always Be Overlooked and Underappreciated

BBG News

As a follower, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment that one of the most electrifying portrayals of the Hulk might not get the recognition it deserves, being part of an MCU project that seems to be flying under the radar. Despite being the second major hero introduced by live-action MCU over a decade ago, the Hulk’s journey has been anything but smooth sailing.

In 2008, we saw him in “The Incredible Hulk,” with Edward Norton portraying Bruce Banner. However, he was later recast and Mark Ruffalo took over the role from 2012’s “The Avengers” onwards.

Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk is a staple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with numerous appearances and one of the few original Phase 1 characters still present. However, uncertainty surrounds his future in the franchise due to his absence on-screen since the 2022 release of She-Hulk, and as of now, there’s no confirmation about Avengers: Doomsday. Nevertheless, one of Ruffalo’s finest portrayals of Hulk can be found in a recent underrated production – he voiced Bruce Banner in season 3 of What If…? in 2024, and his dual roles as Hulk serve as a sort of redemption for the MCU’s previous handling of the character.

The MCU Hasn’t Shown Off A Lot Of The Hulk At His Full Strength

Hulk Was Majorly Sidelined In Avengers: Infinity War And Endgame

As a dedicated movie critic, I’ve noticed that despite the Hulk being an integral part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since its inception and a constant presence throughout the franchise’s illustrious history, his role has been significantly diminished. This is primarily because the character lacks solo projects, a factor attributed to Universal holding the distribution rights for any Hulk-centric project, not Marvel Studios. Initially, the Hulk was portrayed as an uncontrollable rage monster in the early MCU, gradually evolving into a more self-composed character within other projects’ supporting roles. Regrettably, since then, the Hulk has been taking a noticeable step back in the MCU.

The decline began during the time that the Hulk was out of action for the entirety of “Avengers: Infinity Wars”, as the Hulk character found it hard to emerge again following his humiliation at the hands of Thanos. Instead, Bruce Banner waged the battle in Wakanda while wearing the Hulkbuster suit. In “Avengers: Endgame”, Bruce Banner and the Hulk have combined into a new persona known as Smart Hulk. This worked well for some tasks, but in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bruce remains as Smart Hulk to this day. It’s unclear whether or not he will transform back into his original form, and the Smart Hulk persona may be limiting the full potential of both Bruce and the Hulk.

The Most Powerful Look We’ve Gotten At The Hulk Isn’t In The Main MCU Timeline

What If…? Introduced Two Powerful Hulks

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Mark Ruffalo’s live-action portrayal of Hulk was last seen in a supporting role during “She-Hulk,” but he lent his voice to the character again in season 3 of “What If…?” This animated series delves into scenarios that contradict the established MCU narrative, providing an opportunity to unveil a significantly stronger version of Hulk – one that fans have eagerly anticipated. In an attempt to banish the Hulk for good, Bruce Banner exposes himself to excessive gamma radiation, transforming into a formidable variant called “Apex,” reminiscent of a kaiju monster.

In this scenario, the Apex is incredibly powerful, forcing the Avengers to battle it while wearing mechanical suits. Yet, the Apex overpowers them regardless. When Sam Wilson’s team takes action, Sam seeks Bruce’s assistance. After living in seclusion since the emergence of the Apex, Bruce opts to detonate a gamma bomb, transforming into a Hulk-like creature called Mega Hulk. These representations of the Hulk are among the most exciting in the MCU, which is unfortunate because they don’t occur in the primary timeline.

The Apex possesses immense strength, compelling the Avengers to fight it while using mechanical armor. However, the Apex defeats them regardless. When Sam Wilson and his group intervene, Sam seeks Bruce’s aid. Secluded since the creation of the Apex, Bruce chooses to explode a gamma bomb, transforming into a Godzilla-like Hulk called Mega Hulk. These portrayals of the Hulk are among the most thrilling in the MCU, but regrettably, they don’t materialize in the main storyline.

What If…? Season 3 Provides A Great Look At Just How Powerful The Hulk Can Be On-Screen

Hulk’s Powers in What If…? Can Translate To Live-Action

Although “What If…?” is an animated show, it essentially raises the question of what more could be done with the Hulk character within the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). If Marvel were to make the wise choice and split Bruce Banner from his human and Hulk forms, they’d have a chance to explore new aspects for the hero instead of just having him solve problems by smashing things. The Apex and Mega Hulk possess extraordinary gamma-based powers that align with the essence of the original Hulk character.

The character known as Apex was capable of generating Gamma Monsters from his body, effectively building an army. Mega Hulk, however, is even stronger, effortlessly overpowering the Apex and claiming leadership of the army. This new version of Hulk, similar to Godzilla, can emit gamma energy through his breath. Adding such abilities to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) wouldn’t be too challenging, as all that would be required is for Bruce to expose himself to gamma radiation.

The animated series What If…? demonstrated that it could teach the main MCU Hulk a lesson in just one episode, and the live-action productions should consider this when portraying future versions of Hulk.

Read More

2025-05-24 21:48

Previous post Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon: What Is the Maximum Level
Next post Paul Reubens Breaks Silence on ‘Pedophile’ Rumors in Shocking Final Recording