Almost two decades after The Incredible Hulk, and despite having a sizeable rogues gallery, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk has a long list of comic book villains he hasn’t faced. Universal’s ownership of Hulk’s movie distribution rights limits Marvel Studios from fully developing Hulk. To this day, Hulk’s enemies have been Avengers-centric as a result.

Marvel Studios hasn’t placed too much focus on the heroes’ classic comic book battles. Spider-Man’s most iconic enemies come from a different universe, Iron Man never fought the Mandarin, and Captain America and Thor barely got the chance to face off against Red Skull and Gorr the God Butcher. Yet, Hulk takes this problem to another level.

10

Doc Samson

Dr. Leonard Samson is one of the few Gamma mutates to retain his full intelligence and human appearance from his first dose of Gamma energy. Doc Samson has become an ally to Bruce Banner, but he has also gone toe-to-toe with the Hulk. Due to his brilliant intellect and Hulk-level strength, Doc Samson occasionally outsmarts and overpowers the Green Goliath.

Ty Burrell’s Leonard Samson made his MCU debut in The Incredible Hulk, where he appeared as Betty Ross’ boyfriend. Betty rekindled her love with Banner, apparently leading Samson to resent the Hulk. Since then, Burrell’s Doc Samson has yet to return. At this point, there are various ways Doc Samson could become a Gamma mutate if he were to set his sights on matching the Hulk’s power.

9

Bi-Beast

Bi-Beast has yet to appear for the first time in the MCU. However, the robotic monster made a fleeting cameo in Thor: Ragnarok, in the form of a statue on the Grandmaster’s tower, next to one of Ares, one of Beta Ray Bill, and one of Man-Thing. This detail suggests Bi-Beast is one of many previous winners of the Contest of Champions.

It’s possible that Bi-Beast is the champion Hulk had to beat in order to become the Grandmaster’s new favorite between the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Thor: Ragnarok. Still, Ruffalo’s Hulk has never fought Bi-Beast on screen. Given that Bi-Beast is an android, Hulk can easily meet a new version of the villain in the future.

8

Hercules

Five years after Ares’ face made a cameo alongside Bi-Beast in Thor: Ragnarok, Hercules made his MCU debut in Thor: Love and Thunder‘s post-credits scene. This tease suggests Brett Goldstein’s Hercules will be Thor 5‘s main antagonist, but it could also set up a battle with a different hero, or perhaps even Hercules joining the Avengers. In the comics, Hercules has fought both Thor and Hulk multiple times.

Hercules is one of the few Marvel characters who can stop or at least slow down a rampaging Hulk. If Bruce Banner’s Savage Hulk persona returns with a vengeance, Hercules could help the Avengers restrain him. Otherwise, Hulk’s return to Sakaar could put him on Hercules’ path, leading to a planet-shattering confrontation.

7

Absorbing Man

The Absorbing Man is one of Hulk’s most memorable enemies, and one of the few non-Gamma villains who can be considered Hulk villains first and foremost. Despite his comic book roots, Absorbing Man has only appeared in Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. Given that Agents of SHIELD has yet to be canonized, Crusher Creel may not be able to meet Hulk for a while.

On the other hand, Daredevil established Crusher Creel as a boxing opponent who once battled Matt Murdock’s father. Daredevil: Born Again has integrated most of Daredevil and Netflix’s shows into the MCU, meaning that Daredevil‘s references are technically part of the MCU proper. Eventually, Earth-616’s version of Absorbing Man could show up to fight Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk.

6

Red Hulk

The Incredible Hulk depicted Thaddeus Ross as Bruce Banner’s archnemesis, just like in the comics. But after the Harlem incident, Ross became an Avengers antagonist in Captain America: Civil War and a Captain America villain in Captain America: Brave New World. Despite their long history together, Ross and Banner have limited shared screentime.

Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk transformation took seventeen years to become a reality. After Captain America: Brave New World, it’s only logical for a Hulk vs Red Hulk to happen sooner or later. Ross’ frustration over becoming the one thing he hates the most would reach its highest point while fighting the monster he always wanted to take down.

5

The Leader

Samuel Sterns a.k.a. the Leader is arguably Hulk’s most dangerous recurring enemy in the source material. Sterns’ exposure to Gamma energy mutated his brain and intellect rather than his physical strength. Like Thaddeus Ross, Samuel Sterns considers it a personal obsession to terrorize and kill the Hulk, and he crafts a neverending list of plans to achieve it.

Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns remained completely absent from the MCU since The Incredible Hulk. Captain America: Brave New World revealed that Sterns has been the Leader since then, but also that Ross kept him locked to take advantage of the Leader’s intellect. Now that Samuel Sterns is no longer behind bars, he could try to capture and dissect the Hulk.

4

Juggernaut

The Juggernaut is mostly known as an X-Men antagonist, having appeared in adaptations like X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men: The Last Stand, and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 2. In the comics, however, Juggernaut is a mystically powered villain who faces off against mutants just as often as he challenges other heroes like Spider-Man and the Hulk. Juggernaut’s fights with the Hulk are Marvel’s perfect example of “unstoppable force v s. unmovable object”.

Juggernaut officially became an MCU character in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, where an alternate-universe version of Cain Marko served as Cᴀssandra Nova’s henchmen. When the X-Men meet the Avengers in Avengers: Doomsday, or once the MCU’s X-Men reboot restarts the franchise, Juggernaut could finally fight other heroes not strictly related to mutants.

3

Namor

Namor is another Marvel powerhouse who works both as a hero and a villain. In the comics, Namor is a recurring enemy of the Fantastic Four and Black Panther, but also an ally to the X-Men and a member of the Invaders. While he’s the only Illuminati to reject the idea of banishing the Hulk in Planet Hulk, Namor has also held his own against the Jade Giant.

Tenoch Huerta’s Namor is set to return in Avengers: Doomsday, where he might join forces with the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and the X-Men to defend the Earth against Doctor Doom. After that, Namor’s motivations may clash with his fellow heroes, turning him into a villain once again. With Hulk potentially reverting to his savage form, Namor could be one of the heroes who could contain him.

2

The Thing

Although Ben Grimm is far from being a villain, the Thing has repeatedly come to blows with the Hulk in Marvel Comics. The Thing is often the go-to superhero when the Hulk loses control on Earth. Not only is the Thing extremely strong, but he’s also durable enough to withstand Hulk’s might without long-term repercussions.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps finally introduces Marvel’s First Family in the MCU. After they meet the Avengers in Avengers: Doomsday, Earth-838’s Fantastic Four may move permanently to Earth-616. When that happens, fans will finally be able to see the Human Torch team up with Spider-Man, Reed Richards ʙuтт heads with Namor, and the Thing to exchange punches with the Hulk.

1

Wolverine

Wolverine may be the face of the X-Men, but he was originally a Hulk villain. Wolverine’s debut fight with the Hulk from The Incredible Hulk #180 was referenced in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, which also recreated Incredible Hulk #340’s iconic cover. Yet, the MCU has yet to feature a full-fledged Hulk vs. Wolverine battle on the big screen.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s Hulk cameo could be the first taste of a bigger battle. Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars could pit Hulk against the X-Men, and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine could be the one who stops the Gamma monster. Otherwise, the MCU’s rebooted Wolverine could make his debut fighting the Hulk after Avengers: Secret Wars.