I Can’t Believe The MCU Just Perfectly Nailed The Hulk’s Story In Thunderbolts* Without Him Even Being So Much As Referenced

The handling of Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

has always been messy, but after seeing Thunderbolts*

, I’m convinced they can do his story justice. The Hulk was first introduced in the MCU in The Incredible Hulk, the second movie of the franchise’s run. However, due to complex legal rights to the character and a recasting of the тιтular star, Hulk’s story has been messier than most in the MCU.

When he appears again, Bruce Banner arrives in The Avengers played by Mark Ruffalo, and his entire past is never fully acknowledged or embraced. Since then, the Hulk has seen more screentime in team-up films, and glimpses of Banner’s history come into play, but for the most part, it’s ignored. And since Banner found a way to combine with his alter ego to become Smart Hulk, the character has become even less interesting in the MCU.

Sentry & The Hulk’s MCU Stories Are Very Similar

The Pair Have A Shared History In The Comics

However, after seeing how the MCU handles a character like Sentry in Thunderbolts*, I’m certain that they could do the Hulk’s story justice. Bob Reynolds is a troubled man who had a traumatic upbringing and a difficult life. However, when he was given a chance to overcome this struggle through potentially dangerous experiments, he jumped on it. This then unlocked incredible powers in Bob, who transformed into the hero Sentry, but it also unlocked a dark side, known as the Void.

Bruce Banner likewise had struggles in his past, which pushed him towards a pᴀssion for science, and an obsession with experimenting with gamma radiation. Eventually, this led to Bruce being caught in a terrible incident that infused his DNA with gamma radiation, and turned him into a super-powered being. However, it also took over his mind and body, as the Hulk persona unleashed the darkest parts of Banner to cause havoc.

Thunderbolts* Nailed The Kind Of Central Story I Wish The MCU Would Give The Hulk Today With Sentry

Hulk’s Story Has So Much More Potential In The MCU

While the story of Sentry is altered in Thunderbolts* compared to the comic storyline, they still managed to perfectly capture this inner conflict, the tragic backstory, and the struggle to contain their seemingly endless powers. And if I’m honest, that is a lot of what I want to see from the Hulk’s story too. Sure, Bruce Banner is now a much calmer and more controlled person in the MCU, but the most engaging parts of the story are behind him.

Bruce is meant to struggle. His history is rife with abuse and tragedy, and his inner conflict should continue to haunt him. By turning Bruce into a peaceful Smart Hulk with the mind of Bruce Banner and seemingly no aggression, it’s reduced the most important parts of his story to oblivion. Hulk’s story is similar to Sentry’s, and it doesn’t make sense that the MCU couldn’t address more of that on screen.

The MCU’s Handling Of Sentry Has Convinced Me There’s Hope Yet For The Hulk’s On-Screen Future

The Hulk Could Have Brighter Future In The MCU If Handled Correctly

Since the introduction of Smart Hulk in 2019s Avengers: Endgame, the character has been turned into something else entirely. However, as the Multiverse Saga comes to an end, it could be time to either see another Hulk variant with a greater inner conflict, have Earth-616s Bruce revert to a split in his personality, or even an adaptation of the World War Hulk storyline where Hulk goes berserk and wants to destroy the world.

All of these narratives would add a lot of color and flavor to the character in a way that is meaningful and interesting. It would also provide Mark Ruffalo with an opportunity to really explore a character that he has been playing for the best part of 15 years. But whatever is done, Hulk cannot continue to be the dull, mundane creature he has become. The MCU needs to take a look at the Thunderbolts* playbook and bring back the most important aspect of Hulk’s character, the internal conflict.