Numerous iconic Hulk scenes were depicted years previously in The Incredible Hulk animated series. The Hulk is one of Marvel’s most beloved and destructive characters, with his live-action film appearances showcasing some of his most thrilling moments. However, many of these cinematic highlights actually have their roots in The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series. From the Hulk’s relentless battles against the military to his clashes with Marvel’s mightiest heroes, the animated series laid the groundwork for several key moments that would be immortalized on the big screen.
When the MCU timeline fully embraced the Hulk, audiences had already seen many of his most famous story beats play out in animation. The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series, which ran from 1996 to 1997, provided a deep dive into Bruce Banner’s struggles with his monstrous alter ego. The series featured a serialized narrative that explored themes of idenтιтy, control, and the consequences of unchecked power, mirroring some of the same arcs later seen in films like The Incredible Hulk (2008), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
10
Hulk Flees And Fights The Military
Hulk (2003), The Incredible Hulk (2008), & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 1 “Darkness And Light”
One of the most persistent themes in Hulk’s history is his status as a fugitive, constantly pursued by General Thunderbolt Ross and the U.S. military. This was a recurring element throughout The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series, most notably in the three-part opening narrative, “Darkness and Light,” where Bruce Banner is relentlessly hunted by Ross. The show captured the tragedy of Banner’s existence, portraying his attempts to evade capture while grappling with his uncontrollable transformations.
Decades later, The Incredible Hulk (2008) and Hulk (2003) would bring this dynamic to live-action, featuring intense chase sequences and military showdowns. Scenes of Hulk taking down helicopters and tanks in the animated series closely resemble the spectacle seen when Hulk battles the army in the dessert in Hulk. While The Incredible Hulk proffers a comparable depiction of Banner’s life on the run and being confronted by the military.
9
Hulk Battles The Mighty Thor
The Avengers, Thor: Ragnarok, & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 9 “Mortal Bounds”
The Hulk and Thor’s rivalry has been a fan-favorite element of Marvel storytelling for decades, and it was first brought to animation in the episode “Mortal Bounds.” In this classic showdown, Thor teams up with Hulk to stop the Gargoyle, but a misunderstanding leads to a battle of raw strength versus divine might. The fight showcases Hulk’s relentless fury and Thor’s godly power, foreshadowing their epic confrontations in live-action.
This animated brawl was later echoed in The Avengers (2012), where Hulk and Thor trade blows aboard the Helicarrier. It was later fully realized in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) when the two warriors clash in the Grandmaster’s gladiator arena. The animated version of their fight was remarkably similar in execution, proving that The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series was ahead of the curve in delivering some of Marvel’s most thrilling matchups.
8
Hulk Clashes With Iron Man
Avengers: Age Of Ultron & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 4 “Helping Hand Iron Fist”
Another iconic battle that predates the MCU’s depiction is Hulk’s fight against Iron Man in the episode “Helping Hands, Iron Fist.” This episode features a unique twist – Hulk suffers from amnesia and doesn’t recognize his old friend Tony Stark. This forces Iron Man to battle him in an attempt to calm him down.
The battle features an all-out clash between Stark’s high-tech weaponry and Hulk’s brute strength, a dynamic that would later be revisited in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). In that film, Iron Man dons the Hulkbuster armor to take down a mind-controlled Hulk in Johannesburg, creating one of the most visually stunning fight sequences in the MCU. While the stakes were higher in Age of Ultron, the animated series laid the foundation for the idea of a conflicted Iron Man being forced to subdue his green-skinned ally in a dramatic showdown.
7
Bruce Banner Dons The Hulkbuster Armor
Avengers: Infinity War & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episodes 11-13 “Darkness And Light”
One of the most unexpected moments in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) was Bruce Banner piloting the Hulkbuster armor after being unable to transform into the Hulk. However, this concept was actually introduced decades earlier in The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series. In the three-part episode “Darkness and Light,” Bruce Banner and the Hulk are separated into two distinct beings.
When the Hulk goes on a rampage without Banner’s influence, Bruce is forced to don a prototype Hulkbuster suit to stop his alter ego. This idea was incredibly ahead of its time, as it demonstrated Banner’s scientific ingenuity and willingness to do whatever it takes to control the monster inside him. While the circumstances were different in Infinity War, the core concept of Banner stepping into a mechanical suit to compensate for his lack of transformation originated in animation, making it yet another moment where the show beat the movies to the punch.
6
Hulk’s Brutal Fight With Abomination
The Incredible Hulk (2008) And The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 1-3 “Return Of The Best”
One of the most anticipated battles in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk was Hulk’s brutal clash with Abomination. However, viewers of The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series had already seen this intense rivalry play out years earlier. Throughout the animated series, Hulk and Abomination were constantly at odds, with their most thrilling battle occurring in the three-part episode “Return of the Beast.”
In this narrative, Emil Blonsky, already transformed into Abomination and working wiht the Leader, engages in a destructive duel with Hulk, causing mᴀss destruction and showcasing both characters’ raw power. Just like in the movie, their battles are personal, with Blonsky holding deep resentment toward Hulk. While the live-action version delivered cinematic spectacle, The Incredible Hulk animated series had already captured the core of their feud through its high-stakes confrontations and emotional tension through numerous brutal bouts.
5
Bruce Banner and Hulk Reconcile
Avengers: Endgame & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episodes 11-13 “Darkness And Light”
One of the most defining moments in Avengers: Endgame is Bruce Banner’s reconciliation with Hulk, leading to the emergence of Smart Hulk. However, The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series explored this theme long before the MCU. In “Darkness and Light,” Bruce Banner attempts to suppress the Hulk after they’ve been separated but ultimately realizes that they must coexist. Banner reaches an understanding with his alter ego, leading to a reunification of their personalities.
This mirrors the transformation of Smart Hulk in Endgame, where Banner explains how he spent time in a lab working to merge both sides of himself. The animated series took a more psychological approach, exemplifying Banner’s conflict and ultimate acceptance of his dual existence. While the MCU version presents this reconciliation as an accomplishment of science, the animated series portrayed it as an emotional and mental breakthrough.
4
Hulk’s Blood Creates She-Hulk
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 7 “Doomed”
In She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Jennifer Walters receives her powers when Bruce Banner’s gamma-irradiated blood enters her system after a car accident. This pivotal moment is directly mirrored by a similar event in The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series. In the episode “Doomed,” Jennifer Walters suffers life-threatening injuries, forcing Bruce to give her a blood transfusion. The result is the birth of She-Hulk, a powerful, green-skinned heroine with superhuman strength.
In both versions, Bruce feels a sense of responsibility for Jennifer’s transformation, yet she embraces her new idenтιтy with confidence. This leads to Jen ᴀssuming her own heroic persona and joining Hulk permanently throughout The Incredible Hulk season 2. While She-Hulk: Attorney at Law modernized this origin, the animated series had already introduced audience to Jennifer’s transformation decades earlier, proving how ahead of its time the show was in adapting Hulk’s lore.
3
Hulk Confronts Major Glenn Talbot
Hulk (2003) & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 5 “Innocent Blood”
Major Glenn Talbot has always been a thorn in Bruce Banner’s side, serving as General Ross’ right-hand man and a relentless pursuer of the Hulk. His role in Hulk (2003) is particularly memorable, especially in the tense corridor scene where he confronts Banner. However, his antagonism was already well established in The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series, most notably in the episode “Innocent Blood,” in which he similarly wields an experimental weapon against the Jade Giant.
Throughout the animated series, Talbot is portrayed as an obsessive soldier determined to capture Hulk, mirroring his live-action counterpart’s persistence. His interactions with Banner are filled with hostility, often reflecting the military’s broader fear of Hulk’s uncontrollable power. While the Hulk (2003) version gave Talbot a more cinematic and villainous flair, the animated series had already laid the foundation for his character’s deep-seated rivalry with Bruce Banner and his unwavering loyalty to Ross.
2
Hulk Forms A Brief And Uneasy Partnership With General Ross
The Incredible Hulk (2008) & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 10 “And The Wind Cries… Wendigo”
One of the most surprising moments in The Incredible Hulk (2008) occurs when General Ross, usually Hulk’s greatest enemy, realizes he needs the green behemoth’s help to stop Abomination. This temporary alliance mirrors an earlier team-up from The Incredible Hulk the animated series. In “And the Wind Cries… Wendigo,” Betty Ross is kidnapped by Wendigo, forcing Hulk and General Ross to set aside their differences and work together to save her.
The episode highlights their mutual disdain yet shared goal, reflecting the uneasy partnership seen in the live-action film. While both versions see Ross reluctantly working with Hulk, the animated series dives deeper into the general’s internal conflict. He despises Hulk but also recognizes that he is sometimes the only force capable of stopping greater threats. This recurring theme in Hulk’s history shows how even his worst enemies sometimes have to rely on his strength.
1
Samuel Sterns Is Exposed To Gamma And Becomes The Leader
The Incredible Hulk (2008) & The Incredible Hulk Season 1, Episode 1 “The Return Of The Beast”
In The Incredible Hulk (2008), Dr. Samuel Sterns is exposed to Bruce Banner’s gamma-irradiated blood, causing his forehead to mutate, instigating his transformation into the Leader. In The Incredible Hulk animated series, Sterns’ origin is even more dramatic. In the animated series, Sterns begins as a factory worker who falls into a vat of gamma radiation, drastically altering his physiology and increasing his intelligence.
Sterns soon adopts the idenтιтy of the Leader, becoming one of Hulk’s most formidable adversaries and regularly scheming to gain the behemoth’s strength. While the show fully explores his transformation, the live-action film only teases it before he reappears in Captain America: Brave New World. Interestingly, a subsequent episode changes this slightly to radioactive waste spilling on him. Nevertheless, the animated series, once again, was ahead of its time in adapting classic Hulk events.
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