10 Things From Hulk’s Marvel Movie Appearances That Have Aged Poorly

Over the years, Hulk has made an appearance in a lot of different Marvel projects, but not all of them have aged gracefully. Hulk is one of the most interesting comic book superheroes to ever be adapted for the big screen. A super-powered Jekyll and Hyde who is able to claim control of the shared body of Bruce Banner, and go smash. However, both in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
and long before, the screen versions of the character have had their flaws.

Just like other comic book heroes, there are elements of the character that are tough to adapt to the screen. The Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic are two other clear examples of heroes with powers that can either appear boring, or are too challenging to make appear realistic. However, the Hulk’s biggest issues with turning into a giant green rage monster have largely been resolved with the aid of advances in CGI. But there are plenty of other issues aside from getting the look exactly right that have started to age poorly since their initial appearance.

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Hulk Refusing To Fight Thanos In Avengers: Infinity War

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The Hulk’s absence from Avengers: Infinity War was sorely felt, though it made sense that the character was utterly humiliated after his defeat by Thanos at the top of the film. However, while this seemed to work in the story to some degree, further explanations about why the Hulk did not appear have since been offered up by the cast and crew. With the main actor tied to the character giving clear insight about why exactly Hulk stayed inside through the battle of Wakanda.

“It’s been amazing fun [being part of the MCU], and really challenging and always surprising, even to the point where we were shooting Infinity War, and Hulk was supposed to come busting out of the Hulkbuster [armor] at the end and we shot that, we shot it four times and it wasn’t working, and we realized — well, [directors the Russo Brothers] realized — that we couldn’t have Hulk save the day again, and we had to have Banner… lose. That was the kind of thing where it was in the script one way for two years, and then when we came to shoot it, we decided it would be better if Hulk didn’t show up, and Banner had to try to make friends with him to get him to show up.”

Mark Ruffalo discussed Hulk’s absence from Infinity War while at a comic con in 2023 (via CBR), and he revealed that the character was actually supposed to appear. However, due to a feeling that it would diminish other heroes, and look like he was simply showing up and saving the day again, they canned it. Unfortunately, that was the last moment where audiences could have seen the Hulk save the day like this, because in the next movie, the familiar Hulk was gone, and in its place stood the Smart Hulk.

9

Smart Hulk Has Been A Major Power Downgrade In The MCU

While Smart Hulk was something fans had speculated about for some time before Avengers: Endgame, the delivery of the character was not exactly what people expected. In the comics, when the Hulk and Banner combine to become a more intelligent and tactical version of the character, it still feels like elements of both characters remain in their personality. However, Smart Hulk in the MCU appears to be plain old Dr. Banner in the overpowered body of the Hulk.

While this could be interesting, Banner is way too reserved and peaceful to put the Hulk’s body to good use. When he tries to imitate the rage-fuelled Hulk while traveling back in time to the Battle of New York, he does a goofy, lackluster performance of pretending to be mad and smash. Later, in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, he only amps up his power when he gets jealous. There is still hope for Smart Hulk to put on a display of power, but six years on from Endgame, it doesn’t look likely to happen anytime soon.

8

Hulk’s Inconsistent Size In Hulk 2003

However, going back even further to a time before the MCU, the problems around the Hulk’s powers and appearance were even more controversial. In the 2003 Hulk movie, directed by Ang Lee and starring Eric Bana, the most intimidating and monstrous version of the Hulk to date was given a chance to shine. However, the movie did not spend any significant time on making sure the size and power levels of the characters remained consistent from one scene to the next. At times, the Hulk towered over human characters, and stood tall beside buildings, while in some other scenes, he is only taller than average humans by a couple of feet.

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This inconsistency was a major critical talking point of the film, which caused viewers to have strong feelings about the Hulk shrinking and growing. While some stories do see the Hulk grow with the aid of more gamma radiation, more intense anger, or other factors, the movie’s depiction appears to lack any sensible rules for how it characterizes the Hulk. Other than that, this Hulk remains the biggest and arguably one of the most powerful depictions ever presented on film or TV.

7

“Don’t Make Me Hungry”

In the 2008 MCU debut of the Hulk, the character and his counterpart, Bruce Banner, are significantly different to later versions in the MCU. This was down to The Incredible Hulk casting Edward Norton in the role of Banner, and the actor parting ways with the studio following the film’s release. And while it was a significant moment in the MCU’s history to have Norton star as one of the core members of the Avengers, there are elements of that 2008 movie that are better left in the past.

For instance, while Bruce is hiding out in South America, he gets into a confrontation with some colleagues, and in broken Spanish, Bruce informs the bullies that they shouldn’t make him “hungry.” Dr. Bruce Banner, the man with several PhDs, a genius-level intellect, and who would later be able to communicate in perfect Spanish in The Avengers. This isn’t to suggest that the character can’t be funny, or have jokes, but it made him look like an idiot, when Banner is meant to be one of the smartest men alive.

6

The Black Widow And Hulk Romance In The MCU

With the changes made to bring the Hulk into the MCU, despite Norton’s departure, some other alterations were made so that the character could integrate more fully with the team. For instance, the version of Banner presented in the MCU was far more calm and cool than the one seen in 2008. He appears to have a high level of control over his emotions, and is able to comfortably live a life away from the oversight and fear of the government, though he does spend his time in places where the U.S. military is not able to capture him.

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However, when Nick Fury wants to form the Avengers team to fight against the powerful Asgardian (technically Frost Giant) Loki, he sends Natasha Romanoff to recruit Banner. The pair appear to have some connection, which is occasionally hinted at or referenced in the subsequent Avengers movies, but that’s all that ever happens. Before a relationship can be fully explored, Black Widow sacrifices herself to save her friend Clint Barton, and that’s the end of the non-existent romance.

5

The MCU Ignoring Betty Ross For 17 Years

However, that speaks to an even bigger issue that arose from the MCU completely ignoring Banner’s first true love, Betty Ross. Yes, Norton left, and it wasn’t until 2016, eight years later, that General Ross returned to the MCU for Captain America: Civil War, but Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross has never even been mentioned again. Considering how Banner and Ross gravitated toward each other in the 2008 film, despite her having a new serious relationship, it’s odd that the character would just disappear.

There has been confirmation of the character returning, with Liv Tyler reprising the role, in Captain America: Brave New World, but there has been no further mention since the initial announcement in THR in 2023. And she remains absent from the trailers. But, that tracks with the fact that the character has been ignored all this time, so whether Banner and Betty will get a reunion in the MCU remains unclear.

4

The Bruce Banner Name Change In The Hulk TV Show

One of the most bizarre and egregious moments in the history of the Hulk adaptations comes from The Incredible Hulk TV show that aired from 1977 to 1982. The show came before the widespread use of CGI, which meant that it needed to get creative in how it portrayed the large and intimidating form of the Hulk. But, that wasn’t actually a problem, and the show manages to hold up incredibly well thanks to the striking figure of Lou Ferrigno who played the Hulk in live-action.

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The actual issue for the series came in a much more subtle and ridiculous way. The name of Dr. Banner was changed from Bruce to David. And the reason behind this change was cited by both Ferrigno and Stan Lee as being due to the CBS executives believing the name Bruce was “too gay.” Evidently, this is absurd, and frankly offensive. The show would have been better off sticking with Bruce and avoiding the legacy it now carries with it by renaming the hero of the show.

3

Hulk Keeps Getting Less Powerful With Each Appearance

Back to the movie versions of the character, it appears as though Hulk keeps getting less and less powerful in Marvel movies. In 2003, Hulk was able to bound over desserts, pull down multiple helicopters from the sky, and destroy literal buildings as he walked through walls and smashed anything that stood in his way. In 2008, Hulk manages to overpower the Abomination, and takes out some military vehicles, though decidedly fewer than in 2003, and confined to small battlegrounds where the Hulk tends to simply stay in place.

Then, in the MCU, Hulk had one of his more powerful outings in 2012s The Avengers when he smashed the god of mischief like a ragdoll, and punched out a gigantic alien. However, in Infinity War, the Hulk is brutally defeated by Thanos, and then once the character transforms into Smart Hulk, he appears to have a fraction of his former power. This trend has not been great for the hero, as he seems to get less powerful over time.

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Getting Sulky When She-Hulk Got Control Of Her Powers Quickly

Hulk has most recently been spotted in the MCU when his blood accidentally infects his cousin, Jennifer Walters, causing her to become the She-Hulk. After this happens, Jen seeks some guidance from her superhero cousin, and Bruce, having lived with the uncertainty and stress of hulking out for many years, is keen to support his cousin. However, in the scene when Hulk is set to train his cousin how to handle her powers, he gets visibly upset and grumpy when Jen makes quick progress.

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Yes, it may be frustrating for Banner, who has lived for years in fear of this power, before finally reaching a point where he and his alter-ego can work together in perfect unison. But that detail is important. Banner had years practicing how to control and manage his emotions. Having him get sulky as a joke may be slightly humorous, but it also erases years of progress and hard work from Banner.

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An Overwhelming Lack Of Backstory In The MCU

Finally, one of the most frustrating elements of the Hulk’s character in the MCU is his lack of a clear backstory. The 2008 movie is supposed to deliver some sort of context, but even the extent to which that movie remains canonical has to be disputed considering overt changes in the character. And in that movie, the origin of Bruce Banner’s Hulk powers is only briefly touched on, with the movie choosing to focus on a version of the character that is a few years into his journey as the Hulk.

In the comics, Banner’s history is integral to his character, with elements like the abuse he suffered by his father contributing to what makes him “always angry.” But the MCU lacks this depth because Banner hasn’t given any clear signs about his past. And now, after over a decade in the MCU and the evolution of the character into the Smart Hulk, further mysteries crop up, like the appearance of his son, Skaar. The Hulk remains a mystery, and until he gets a solo movie to flesh out the character further, he will likely stay that way.

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