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TheHulkis one of the most iconic characters in theMarvel Cinematic Universe , but many of his biggest mo have frustratingly come about off - screen . While characters like Iron Man and Captain America had well - developed arc with major turn point shown on screen , Hulk ’s report has often been pushed into the background , with the most important events often happen betweenthe MCU movies . This is specially exacerbating because Bruce Banner ’s development deserved more attention , making these omissions some of the most frustrating inthe MCU timeline .
Hulk ’s sidelining in the MCU is largely due to complicated character rights . While Marvel Studios can use the fictional character in ensemble films , Universal Pictures retains the dispersion rights to solo Hulk movies . This means Marvel has ward off dedicate an entire film to Bruce Banner ’s story , often limiting his reference development to supporting character in other zep ’ flick . The result was that key moments in Hulk ’s journeying encounter off - screen , leaving audiences to piece things together through exposition and throwaway tune . This clause ranks these events by how frustrating it is that they were n’t show .
10Hulk And Hawkeye Convince Ant-Man To Write A Book
Between Avengers: Endgame & Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania
InAnt - Man and the Wasp : Quantumania , Scott Lang reveals that both Bruce Banner and Clint Barton encouraged him to write his memoir , Look Out for the Little Guy . While this is a play detail , it ’s frustrating that the MCU skip over whatcould have been a heartfelt and hilarious scene . Seeing Hulk and Hawkeye – two of the original Avengers – bonding with Scott over his experience would have added deepness to their kinship .
Bruce ’s scientific mind could have helped Scott organise his idea , while Clint ’s teetotal humour could have led to some entertain back - and - forth . A moment like this could havealso reinforce the post - Endgamecamaraderiebetween the stay Avengers , show how they support one another in their new lives . Instead , this friendly relationship second is reduced to a unmarried line , leaving audiences to opine what could have been a keen fictional character fundamental interaction .
9Bruce Banner Moves Into Stark Tower
Between The Avengers And Avengers: Age Of Ultron
At the closing ofThe Avengers(2012 ) , Tony Stark offers Bruce Banner a place to outride , teasing a fun new dynamic between the two genius . ByAvengers : Age of Ultron , Bruce is already living and working in Stark Tower , with his research lab amply set up up . The transition from loner scientist to Tony ’s confide “ Science Bro ” happens only off - cover . A scene showing Bruce moving in and conform to the high-pitched - technical school lifestyle of Stark Tower could have been both humorous and meaningful .
With Hulk being repeatedly sideline in the MCU , some of his most iconic characters have n’t appear in the franchise , even though they ’d prosper
Tony ’s sarcastic personality jar with Bruce ’s reserved nature would have made for heavy dialog . More importantly , it would havesolidified their rise friendly relationship . give Bruce ’s struggle with self - acceptance , watching him discover a place where he truly belonged would have been a major moment in his arc . Instead , viewers are left to take on it all happened between moving picture .
8Bruce Banner And Natasha Romanoff Begin A Relationship
During Avengers: Age Of Ultron
One of the most unexpected development inAvengers : Age of Ultronwas the romance between Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff . While the film introduce them as a duet - in - the - making , there’sno apparatus for how their feelings develop . Unlike Tony and Pepper or Steve and Peggy , whose relationships work up over multiple films , Bruce and Natasha ’s romance seems to appear out of nowhere .
A scene showing the early stage of their bond — perhaps Natasha reaching out to Bruce afterThe Avengers – could have help sell their relationship . possibly she comforted him about his struggles or confided in him about her own past tense . Instead , the film expects audiences to accept their connexion without seeing how it formed . This made their romance feel forced , and its precipitous end inAge of Ultroneven more frustrating . Without proper buildup , it lacked the emotional weight it deserved .
7Black Widow Meets Smart Hulk
Deleted Scene In Avengers: Infinity War
BetweenAvengers : Infinity WarandAvengers : Endgame , Bruce Banner undergoes his bounteous transmutation yet – becoming Smart Hulk . However , this was in the beginning supposed to pass off inInfinity War , with a deleted scene depicting Bruce and Hulk reconciling and then Black Widow meet the newfangled Hulk on the Wakandan battlefield . The picture is a charming elaboration on their family relationship , bothelated and emotionalthat Banner has finally managed to master his affliction .
The Incredible Hulk enliven serial boasted a wealthiness of iconic villains perfect for the MCU after Red Hulk and the Leader ’s introductions .
The MCU choose to delete this scene , leaving a very dissatisfactory and abbreviated off - hand comment inEndgamein its stead . Natasha and Bruce had a complex relationship , and her first encounter with Smart Hulk could have been an incredibly emotional moment . Given that Natasha later sacrifices herself , this lacking view is even more frustrative because it robbed them of proper closure . alternatively , their force human relationship isleft to fizzle between movies .
6Bruce Banner Becomes The Hulk
Before The Incredible Hulk (2008)
One of the most thwarting omissions in the MCU is Bruce Banner ’s first shift into the Hulk . WhileThe Incredible Hulk(2008 ) provide brief flashback to the experimentation that peril Banner to gamma radioactivity , itnever to the full show the minute he became the monster . The prospect is a crucial part of his persona ’s origins , yet it is only referenced through a split montage during the opening credits .
Unlike Tony Stark ’s transmutation into Iron Man or Steve Rogers ’ tiptop - soldier summons , Bruce ’s polar moment is glossed over . Seeing Banner ’s horror as he first changes , his discombobulation as he lose dominance , and the rude death he causes would have been an unforgettable cinematic import . Instead , fans are allow for to imagine how it play out . Given the MCU ’s ability to craft powerful origin story , skipping over Hulk ’s actual universe remains one of its with child missed opportunities .
5Hulk Returns to Sakaar
During She-Hulk: Attorney At Law
She - Hulk : Attorney at Lawintroduces an unexpected subplot when Bruce Banner nonchalantly unveil he ’s travel back to Sakaar , the prizefighter planet he once call home . However , the series never explores what actually happened there . The next time we see Bruce , he returns with a scandalous revelation – he has a son , Skaar . Yet , how he discovered Skaar , who summoned him , andwhat conflicts he faced persist totally unexplored .
The Incredible Hulk animate serial publication delivered one of the most compelling Hulk adaptations ever , often besting the MCU in several indispensable ways .
Did the Hulk reunify with the Grandmaster ? Did he learn about his son immediately , or was it a battle ? Sakaar was an important part of Hulk ’s journey inThor : Ragnarok , and revisit it should have been a major instant in his arc . Instead , one of the most significant exploitation in Hulk ’s life materialise off - CRT screen . skitter this MCU story was a frustrating choicethat left watcher with more questions than result .
4Bruce Banner Creates the Hulk Inhibitor
Between Avengers: Endgame Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings
One of the strangest unanswered questions in the MCU is how Bruce Banner managed to revert to his human form afterAvengers : Endgame . InShang - Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , he appear as Bruce , with no mention of how he shift back . She - Hulklater reveals that he created a Hulk inhibitor , allowing him to shift between forms . However , the unconscious process of develop such a gimmick is never show .
Bruce built this gimmick to allow his arm to heal after he wielded the Infinity Stones , and it was destroyed in the gondola crash inShe - Hulk . Considering how much of Banner ’s conflict revolved around verify his transformations , at last achieving this breakthroughshould have been a major moment . rather , the interview is expected to accept it with no explanation . Seeing Banner ’s scientific whiz in action would have made for an splendid storyline , yet it remains another frustrating off - concealment event .
3Hulk Travels to Sakaar and Becomes the Grandmaster’s Champion
Between Avengers: Age Of Ultron And Thor: Ragnarok
Thor : Ragnarokintroduces Hulk as the Grandmaster ’s dear prizefighter , predominate the orbit for two years . However , the journeying that led him there is never shown . The last time audiences saw Hulk before this was inAvengers : Age of Ultron , where he fly off in a Quinjet . His journey to Sakaarand correct to life sentence without Bannerwhile on an alien world was skipped over entirely .
Some of the most iconic moment from the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been depicted year prior as part of Marvel ’s shared animise universe .
Hulk going fromconfused comer to celebrated championwould have been an unbelievable sequence . His arc in the MCU has often focus on his internal conflict , yet this was the first sentence he lived without Banner ’s interference . Seeing him originate comfortable with his young identity , form adhesion , and enjoy his freedom would have add profundity to his character reference . Instead , his rise to top executive on Sakaar remains one of the enceinte gap in the MCU ’s storytelling .
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore
2Hulk Fathers A Son
The Book of Revelation that Hulk has a son , Skaar , is one of the most baffling and frustrating off - screen door developing in the MCU . bring in inShe - Hulk , Skaar ’s existence is simply drop on the consultation with no circumstance . There has been no explanation of who his female parent is , or when he was conceived . It ’s implied that Skaar is the reason Hulk return to Sakaar , butthe detail around this are never confirmed .
These are monolithic questions that merit on - screenland answers . Instead , a plot line that could have explore Hulk ’s outgrowth , regrets , and duty is completely ignored . Fatherhoodshould have been a transformative moment for him , but instead , it ’s handled as a throwaway reveal . give how much emphasis the MCU places on legacy , skipping over this crucial chapter of Hulk ’s life is a miss opportunity that is still absolutely infuriating .
1Bruce Banner and Hulk Reconcile and Become Smart Hulk
Between Avengers: Infinity War And Avengers: Endgame
The most significant and thwarting character development depicted off - projection screen must be Bruce Banner merging his thinker and strength into Smart Hulk . After years of shinny with his dual identities , Bruce disclose inAvengers : Endgamethat he“put the brains and the brawn together,”but audience never see the process . While a blue-pencil view inInfinity Warhints at what it could have entailed , even this is disappointingly brief . In the comics , Bruce ’s legion identity issues are dispense with in incredibly novel ways , such as group therapy between numerous Hulks and Banner .
The Hulk has been notoriously squander in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , getting the iconic green goliath wrong in some essential way .
The musical theme of Bruce and Hulk working together to achieve balance is one of the most compelling aspects of his lineament spark , yet rather of an emotional journeying , audiences get a immediate explanation over breakfast . A movie or series show Bruce ’s experimentation , his interior difference of opinion , and the final breakthrough would have been incredible . Even this event was unawares - hold out before Hulk invented his inhibitor in time forShe - Hulk . It truly demonstrates how the MCU’sHulkis transformed depending on what the story demand , with the key events explaining this happening between motion-picture show .
Upcoming MCU Movies
