The movie fates have been up and down for Hulk, with changing actors, a combative split personality, and inconsistent powers. That makes him a rare case in the MCU, but it also means some of the hero’s most incredible comic book moments and events still haven’t been seen on film.
Some regrettable moments, like Thanos destroying Hulk may have been disappointing for fans, but if Hulk’s future movie appearances want to remind us why he’s still a Marvel heavyweight, these incredible Hulk moments from the comics would smash the big screen to pieces.
Hulk vs. Wolverine Still Hasn’t Happened in Full
They’ve Fought Several Times in the Comics
Deadpool & Wolverine viewers will remember a brief cameo from the Hulk, teasing a showdown with Wolverine by replicating the cover art for The Incredible Hulk #380. Onscreen, though, their fight remains unseen, meaning the MCU can still deliver what was promised.
While the cameo nature of this callout might suggest Marvel only wanted to provide a fun Easter Egg, it certainly piqued the interest moviegoers. So should Marvel ever want to actually deliver a Wolverine vs. Hulk fight, no one would be opposed to seeing them duke it out.
Hulk Turns His Gamma Energy Into Eye Beam Attacks
Hulk #5 by Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley
One fight that changed the status quo of Hulk’s powers takes place in a metaphysical engine room where, whilst confronting unspeakable horrors, he radiates Gamma radiation from his eyes. It’s not a power that he has been seen (or even known) to have outside this metaphysical realm.
This kind of sheer badassery is something that’s been missing from Hulk’s MCU run, with the green giant getting his backside handed to him more often than not. If fans want to be reminded why this behemoth wields so much more than rage, scenes like this would make a good start.
Hulk vs. Sentry Was A Fight For The Ages
World War Hulk #5 by Greg Pak and John Romita, Jr.
Sentry makes his MCU debut in Thunderbolts* (a.k.a. The New Avengers), opening the door for adapting key moments with ‘the man of a million suns.’ Among those is his complicated friendship with Hulk, which gets all the more complicated during the “World War Hulk” arc.
When Hulk starts using the planet as his coliseum, a reclusive Sentry is Earth’s only hope. In one of Marvel’s most violent match-ups, Hulk and Sentry tear each other to shreds in an evenly matched battle with the MCU’s newest Superman-level powerhouse.
Hulk’s Love, Betty Ross, Becomes The Red Harpy
Immortal Hulk #16 by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett
Originally appearing opposite Ed Norton in The Incredible Hulk (2008), the return of Liv Tyler’s ‘Betty Ross’ made the release of Captain America: Brave New World cause for celebration. But Betty’s story in the comics will still be more than fans expect.
While the introduction of the Red Hulk/Ross family tradition wasn’t what Marvel hoped, seeing Bruce Banner’s romantic interest transform into comic counterpart’s Red Harpy alter ego would still be a fantastic Hulk storyline for film.
Hulk Learns He Actually Is, Really, Immortal
Civil War II #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez
It’s a well-known fact that Hulk is almost impossible to kill. While that used to be the same in comics, Marvel eventually revealed the truth… by killing Hulk. During Civil War II, Bruce made Hawkeye agree to fire an arrow into his head specifically designed to kill, if he threatened to lose control.
At the time, even Bruce was convinced the method would work. But all it did was reveal Bruce was fully immortal, leading to a resurrection as The Immortal Hulk, singlehandedly revitalizing Hulk’s role in the comics. Is now the time, Marvel Studios?
Hulk Returns To His Most Brutal, ‘Savage’ Identity
Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett
Al Ewing’s run on The Immortal Hulk proved to be the ideal reboot, reshaping the character completely for a new generation. There are plenty of moments and storylines worth adapting from that series, but the best storyline to reboot Hulk for the MCU would be his conflict with Roxxon.
CEO Dario Agger’s onslaught of monsters is enough to transform the Devil Hulk back into Savage Hulk, something that the MCU could loosely adapt to transition Bruce Banner away from his Smart Hulk moniker. It’s the simplest way for the MCU to bring the Hulk back to his roots.
Bruce Banner Wars With The Personas in His Head
The Incredible Hulk #377 by Peter David and Dale Keown
One key component to Bruce Banner’s character in the comics is that the Hulk persona is a manifestation of not just Gamma radiation, but a split personality. Bruce has officially been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, often appearing physically in different Hulk ‘alters.’
The gray and green Hulks have a meeting of the minds within Bruce Banner’s brain in The Incredible Hulk #377, establishing the psychological workings of the Hulk as a character. It’s an important moment that adds complexity to the character, and is exactly what a movie depiction demands.
Hulk vs. Red Hulk Still Needs To Happen On Film
The Comic Rivals Go Multiple Rounds On the Panel
One of the most perplexing things for audiences going into Captain America: Brave New World was that although Red Hulk debuts, he never gets the chance to fight or so much as meet the Hulk. Canonically, Thunderbolt Ross and Bruce Banner are well familiar with each other, but they never squared off as Hulks onscreen.
On the bright side, that means this is still something that MCU fans can look forward to. Ross is still alive, and Banner is still the Hulk. The two are formidable adversaries in the comics, so it only makes sense to bring this Hulk vs. Red Hulk feud from the page to the screen officially.
Hulk Cements His Strength By Holding Up A Literal Mountain
Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars #4 by Jim Shooter, Bob Layton
It’s clear that the Hulk is strong, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe has yet to showcase exactly how strong the Hulk is. In the comics, one of the first barometers to his strength was watching him lift a mountain above his head, allowing his fellow heroes to escape.
Audiences love to see powerhouses in action, and even more so, they love to see heroes given the opportunity to actually be heroic by saving people. This moment knocks out two birds with one stone. Onscreen, it could go a long way in restoring good faith back into Hulk’s fanbase.
The Future Hulk Transforms Into The Maestro
The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1 by Peter David and George Pérez
If the current nature of Banner/Hulk is too difficult to adapt, and with Marvel Multiverse shenanigans on the way, then it could be time for a rebooted Hulk to inject some comic action. Not as Bruce… but as Maestro.
In the comics, Hulk becomes the tyrannical Maestro in a distant dystopian future. As the last superhero after succesfully killing off every hero and villain, Bruce dons the new title to become a supreme overlord. Unlike any version of the Hulk movie fans have seen before.
- First Appearance
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The Incredible Hulk (1962)
- Alias
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Robert Bruce Banner
- Alliance
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Avengers, Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Pantheon, Warbound, S.M.A.S.H., Secret Avengers
- Franchise
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Marvel
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