Hulk was always supposed to be among the most powerful characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but recent details concerning Bruce’s Marvel path have me convinced that the MCU’s Hulk would not be able to win these fights that his comic counterpart was able to handle. Hulk’s turn as Smart Hulk in the MCU has transformed the character a lot, and in ways that have proved divisive among audiences. While the MCU’s current Hulk has his humanity and his brains, there is much of Savage Hulk’s fury that is dearly missed in the franchise.

Brute physical strength is not everything. The strongest and weakest Avengers alike have played important roles in the franchise. Sometimes strength is what is required, and other times it is more complicated than that. Still, incredible levels of power and strength have generally been important parts of the Hulk and his Marvel Comics stories. Looking back at these conflicts helps to show how important these parts of Hulk’s idenтιтy really are for the character’s stories.

10

Hulk Vs Skaar

Skaar Comes To Earth To Kill His Father

Skaar is Hulk’s son, and the two have faced off in the comics. Unsurprisingly, the Hulk has often appeared to be the more powerful of the duo in the comics in a conventional one-on-one fight, seemingly batting Skaar away with little trouble in the likes of Skaar: Son Of Hulk #12. That said, the comics also suggest Skaar can oppose his father in a way different to pure strength, thanks to his connection to The Old Power – an ability considered similar to Silver Surfer’s Power Cosmic, that is able to give Skaar abilities like control over earth and lava.

Taking all this into account, it seems Skaar would be a considerable threat for the MCU Hulk if the pair were to face off for whatever reason – most crucially because it seems very much unlikely that the more caring and violence-adverse Smart Hulk would want to do any kind of harm to his son, whereas the comic Hulk generally has far fewer issues with beating up his own child. Taking all this into account, it seems like Skaar would currently be able to beat his father in a fight if the circumstances for it arose.

9

Hulk Vs Sentry

Hulk Was Able To Defeat Sentry In World War Hulk #5

The MCU’s Sentry is already shown to be one of the most powerful characters in the franchise. In Thunderbolts*, Valentina pitched him as being more powerful than even the Avengers, and the comics attest to this idea. However, during World War Hulk, Sentry and Hulk fought, and the Hulk came out victorious. Using Sentry’s fear against himself, Hulk was able to overcome him in the comics with his incredible anger.

In the films, the MCU’s Hulk does not currently use his anger in the same way, suggesting he wouldn’t be able to tap into the upper echelons of his strength at this point in time. Smart Hulk does not embrace that fury, and instead searches for peace and serenity inside of himself, eschewing the strength of his anger. While the full extent of Sentry’s powers in the MCU has not yet been fully revealed, if he is anywhere even close to his comic counterpart – which Thunderbolts* suggest is the case – it doesn’t seem the MCU’s Hulk could defeat him at this point in time.

8

Hulk Vs Onslaught

Hulk’s Rage Was So Strong That His Punch Blew Up The Universe

In the comics, during a fight with the incredible psionic X-Men villain Onslaught – who is made from the joint subconsciousness of Professor X and Magneto – Banner’s presence was suppressed from Hulk’s mind. With this done, Hulk was able to embrace the fullest extent of his rage. Using this, he punched Onslaught with so much power that it destroyed Onslaught’s armor and reduced him instead to a being of “pure psionic energy“. In Hulk: Grand Design – Madness #1, this is explained as “Hulk hit Onslaught so hard he disintegrated“, though this does seem to tweak the events of the original story.

Hulk’s abilities, and especially his rage, are not nearly this powerful in the MCU. While Hulk is incredibly strong, it currently seems impossible for the Hulk to repress Banner to focus on his rage, or for anyone else to do that for him. Seeing Hulk take on a villain like Onslaught in the films, especially after the new X-Men MCU reboot takes place, would likely have to be presented in a very different way.

7

Hulk Vs Hercules

Hercules Is More Resilient To Cosmic Forces

While Hulk’s power in many Marvel stories is scaled to what is needed from the character, it seems clear that Hulk’s strength in the MCU has been toned down compared to many of the comics. This would appear to make a conflict between him and Hercules turn out poorly for him. After Hercules appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder, this iteration of the character would likely be able to beat the Hulk – or at least tie with him.

Marvel’s comic Hercules has squared up against the Hulk several times, and their bouts tend to fall either with no clear winner, or with the implication that Hulk won the fight. However, the examples that fall in this latter category tend to happen when the Hulk is at his most ruthless and most powerful – as is the case in World War Hulk, where Hulk is able to beat Hercules down because he doesn’t fight back. Given the MCU Hulk is depicted as far more compᴀssionate currently, it doesn’t seem he would be able to replicate these angles, thus making a draw at best seem the result for the hero right now in such a fight.

6

Hulk Vs Absorbing Man

Hulk’s Comic Book Powers Are Far Greater Than In The Films

While Hulk was able to defeat Absorbing Man in the comics, I’m not certain the MCU iteration of the hero would be capable of doing the same. Absorbing Man is a terrifying foe that is able to replicate the properties of things he comes into contact with. Using this ability, he would be able to absorb Hulk’s abilities, including his strength, and use them against him.

In the comics, Hulk was able to win this conflict because his powers would only grow stronger from his rage. Absorbing Man was not able to match the unlimited range of Hulk’s abilities, which allowed Hulk to defeat him. Hulk’s MCU abilities do not seem to grow so exponentially in response to others, as seen by Hulk’s shutting down in Avengers: Infinity War after discovering he could not beat Thanos. This would leave him likely unable to defeat Absorbing Man in the MCU.

5

Hulk Vs Doctor Strange

Magic Is Far Too Strong In The MCU

Hulk and Doctor Strange have fought in the comics on a handful of occasions. In World War Hulk, Strange believed that he could defeat Hulk with ease. However, Hulk was able to break Strange’s hands, cutting off his ability to wield magic. With this gone, Hulk was able to win against Strange. I do not see circumstances like this playing out in the MCU.

In the films, Hulk is not so violent and not so destructive, and is unlikely to take as vicious an approach even in his more berserk mode. However, what is more important in the MCU is that the powers of magic, and the abilities that Strange possesses, currently appear more oversized in power. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Strange was able to contain some of the greatest Marvel villains in magical cages with no issues whatsoever. I can’t imagine this Strange struggling to overcome, or at least subdue, the MCU’s Hulk.

4

Hulk Vs Juggernaut

Juggernaut’s Abilities Are Similar To Hulk’s

Juggernaut is one of the most incredible X-Men villains, and his powers are an excellent counterpoint to Hulk’s. Juggernaut’s momentum is practically unstoppable, and seeing him clash against the Hulk, whose strength grows to match his rage, seems like a recipe for an endless struggle. Fortunately, these clashes have found endings in the comics, with both Hulk and Juggernaut winning depending on the circumstances.

It would be dependent on what iteration of Juggernaut was used in the MCU, but it’s hard to imagine Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk being able to stand against a fully-powered Juggernaut. The villain’s force, powers, and momentum would continue to scale in his effort against Hulk. Meanwhile, Hulk’s powers have been shown to not be able to grow in perpetuity in the MCU, making a Juggernaut win more likely here.

3

Hulk Vs Wolverine

Sometimes The Bigger Hero Has To Win

While Hulk dwarfs Wolverine in size, Wolverine has actually gone on to become a much bigger hero for Marvel in the movie world. Initially brought in as a character for Hulk to fight against, Wolverine and Hulk’s powersets are strangely well-matched. Hulk grows stronger the angrier he gets, while Wolverine continues to get up, no matter how terrible of a beating he takes. This has led to different results in the comics, with Hulk occasionally defeating Wolverine.

However, in the films, Wolverine is a much more esteemed hero, and the extent of how much his powers can allow him to do the impossible are repeatedly underlined throughout both all the Fox X-Men movies and in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine. As such, it seems like both of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine iterations are angrier, more ferocious, and more dedicated to their violent cause. Hulk simply has little to offer in a match against Wolverine other than strength, and Wolverine’s ability to never truly lose that fight would seem to eventually lead to his victory, one way or another.

2

Hulk Vs Maestro Hulk

Maestro Represents The Most Terrifying Path For The Hulk

Maestro first entered the Marvel Universe in the 1990s, as a version of the Hulk from the future whose world went through incredible nuclear war. Steeped in violence and destruction, Maestro sees Bruce Banner’s intelligence merged with the fierce violence of the Savage Hulk. This combination is terrifying, and caused a great deal of trouble for Hulk in the comics, even if he was eventually able to defeat Maestro.

While Smart Hulk seems very much capable of tricking Maestro the way in which Professor Hulk does in their first proper comic brawl, this isn’t enough to actively fully defeat the character, since even blasting him with the nuclear radiation that makes Banner into the Hulk only deals with him for a little while. For the Hulk’s proper defeat of Maestro, the hero is able to beat Maestro not by recognizing him, but by Savage Hulk’s sheer force of will – and with Smart Hulk seemingly having pushed the Savage Hulk persona deep down, it doesn’t seem this kind of victory would be as obtainable right now.

1

Hulk Vs The Avengers

Hulk Could Not Defeat His Entire Team In The MCU

One of the earlier conflicts that arises between Hulk and the Avengers takes place in Avengers #3, which leads to a clash between these parties. Hulk aligns with Namor to take on Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man and others. This fight becomes heated, but Hulk is able to cause significant damage. As one of the strongest Avengers, he is able to hold on to the fight, and to find great advantage, so long as he is in his Hulk form.

While the Hulk is suggested and shown to be one of the stronger members of the Avengers over the years, the movies also address the idea that they can handle his outbursts, with Thor dealing with Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok through creative means, and the Hulkbuster giving Hulk a run for his money, suggesting the entire team could’ve dealt with him if necessary. While the newer team’s roster isn’t yet clear, it also seems they likely could do the same given Sam Wilson’s Captain America now has experience with pacifying raging Hulks in the form of his conflict with Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World.

Hulk

Created by

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

First Film

The Incredible Hulk Returns

Latest Film

Avengers: Endgame

First TV Show

The Incredible Hulk

Latest TV Show

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

Cast

Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno, Mark Ruffalo

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