As iconic as it was, I’m quite glad the Marvel Cinematic Universe changed aspects of The Incredible Hulk animated series while developing the Hulk. The Incredible Hulk series boasted classic villains, gritty aesthetics, and a tragic-yet-feral. However, looking back, I’ve come to appreciate how the MCU timeline has taken the Hulk in smarter, more emotionally complex directions.

The Incredible Hulk animated series embraced pulpy, monster-of-the-week storytelling. The MCU’s take has evolved over years into a layered exploration of idenтιтy, anger, control, and even humor. Though I’ll always have affection for the cartoon, especially its brooding tone and comic-book flair, I’m ultimately glad the MCU chose a different path.

9

I’m Glad Skaar Is In The MCU, Even If His Story Hasn’t Started Yet

Skaar Was Invented After The Incredible Hulk TAS

One thing the animated series never touched was Hulk’s role as a father – because Skaar hadn’t been created yet. Introduced in the comics after the animated show ended, Skaar is Hulk’s son from the “Planet Hulk” storyline. While the MCU only briefly teased him at the end of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, his mere presence is exciting.

The animated Hulk never truly changed; he remained a loner on the run. Yet Skaar hints at an MCU Hulk who might grow emotionally and build real relationships, even a family. This is not just a cool nod to Greg Pak’s legendary run.

It’s a sign the MCU is ready to explore Hulk in ways the cartoon never dared. If they do it right, Skaar could be the key to Hulk’s most meaningful story yet. It could expand Hulk’s narrative in a way the animated series never could.

8

The Hulk’s MCU Fights Look Far More Impressive Than The Animated Show

The Incredible Hulk TAS Struggled With Animation Quality

As fun as the animated series was, the fights always felt a little too tame or repeтιтive. Hulk smashed things, villains ran away, and the animation. While stylish, was limited by the era’s budget and technology. In the MCU, Hulk’s fights are cinematic events.

Whether it’s brawling with the Hulkbuster in Avengers: Age of Ultron or going toe-to-toe with Thor on Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok, the choreography and visual effects are jaw-dropping. The sense of weight and impact in each punch gives Hulk a physical presence the cartoon just couldn’t replicate.

Even smaller moments, like Smart Hulk snapping the Infinity Gauntlet, carry more spectacle than an entire animated episode. MCU Hulk might not fight as often as many want, but when he does, it’s unforgettable. These battles aren’t just about strength – they’re blockbusters.

7

The MCU Hulk’s Arc Is Better Than The Animated Show Version In More Ways Than One

The Animated Hulk Didn’t Evolve Much

The animated Hulk mostly operated in a loop: Banner runs, transforms, smashes, regrets, repeat. There was pathos, sure, but little progression. In contrast, the MCU has taken Hulk on a real character journey.

Audiences meet him as a fugitive in The Incredible Hulk. They watched him struggle for control in The Avengers. Eventually, viewers see him merge his dual idenтιтies into Smart Hulk by Avengers: Endgame. That kind of growth is rare in superhero storytelling.

The MCU treats Hulk as more than a walking tantrum; it gives him emotional arcs, philosophical dilemmas, and surprising maturity. Even his moments of failure (like refusing to come out in Avengers: Infinity War) serve his evolution. The animated show offered a more classic version of Hulk, but the MCU gave us a Hulk who actually changed.

6

The MCU Hulk Is More Integrated Into The Wider Marvel Universe

Animated Hulk Only Met A Handful Of Marvel Characters

In The Incredible Hulk animated series, Hulk mostly stayed in his own lane. Aside from a few cameos from characters like Iron Man or Thor, his world felt isolated. The MCU version, by contrast, is deeply woven into the fabric of the larger universe.

From forming the original Avengers team to collaborating with Tony Stark and Rocket Raccoon, Hulk is more than just a wildcard. Hulk is part of the engine that drives Marvel’s narrative forward. His relationship with Black Widow, while controversial for some, added unexpected vulnerability.

His science bromance with Tony Stark created Smart Hulk. His multiversal implications (with Skaar and Sakaar) suggest even bigger roles to come. This connectedness gives MCU Hulk more weight – he’s not just reacting to his own internal conflict but influencing the fate of the universe.

5

Mark Ruffalo Is The Best Bruce Banner/Hulk

The Animated Hulk Is A Close Second

Lou Ferrigno and the animated voice actors brought iconic rage to Hulk in The Incredible Hulk TAS, but Mark Ruffalo gives the character soul. His portrayal of Bruce Banner is quiet, nervous, and deeply human. He’s a man haunted not only by what he becomes but by the fear of who he truly is.

The animated version leaned heavily into Banner’s tragic suffering, but Ruffalo’s Banner finds nuance in guilt, humor, and self-deprecation. It’s this layered performance that makes moments like Hulk’s confrontation with the Ancient One in Endgame or his calm demeanor as Smart Hulk so compelling. He’s not just smashing or brooding; he’s thinking, evolving.

Ruffalo’s chemistry with other Avengers helps too. He’s funny without being clownish and intense without being melodramatic. Ruffalo made Hulk relatable, and no other actor has done it better.

4

The MCU Hulk Has Evolved Significantly

The MCU’s Hulk Isn’t Still On The Run

The animated Hulk was stuck in a state of emotional paralysis. Every episode reminded us that Banner couldn’t escape the monster, and there was little hope for resolution. The greatest change that came to his character was the emergence of Grey Hulk, which explored Hulk’s multiple personalities in a way the MCU never has.

Yet the MCU version shows Hulk’s transformation as more than physical. He begins as a man running from his alter ego and ends up accepting it as a part of himself. That evolution, culminating in Smart Hulk, might be divisive, but it’s undeniably bold. Hulk becomes a public figure, a mentor, even a scientist again.

While many want a return to Savage Hulk, this arc has given the character new storytelling potential. He’s not just a wrecking ball anymore, he’s a complex character making peace with himself. That’s a far cry from the animated status quo of eternal misery and destruction.

3

The MCU Has A More Nuanced Take On Control And Idenтιтy

The Animated Hulk Never Learned To Control His Transformations

The Incredible Hulk animated show depicted Hulk and Banner as distinct but oppositional forces. Banner was tortured and Hulk was a mindless beast: simple, tragic, but limited. The MCU embraces a deeper, more psychological angle.

Banner doesn’t just fear Hulk, he learns to live with him. The idea that the Hulk isn’t another person, but a part of Banner he’s spent years repressing, opens the door for rich internal conflict. This is exemplified in the memorable final scene in The Incredible Hulk (2008), where Ed Norton’s Hulk smiles at the camera mid-transformation.

This culminates with The Avengers, with the iconic, “I’m always angry” scene. Smart Hulk, for example, represents not just a power upgrade but an emotional synthesis: Banner choosing to integrate instead of suppressing it. The MCU leans into idenтιтy as a theme, not just a plot device, and Hulk’s arc benefits greatly.

2

The MCU Hulk Is Genuinely Funny

Animated Hulk Has Very Little Personality

The animated Incredible Hulk was all tortured fury and anguished screams. While this suited the tone, it didn’t leave much room for levity. The MCU version, especially post-Ragnarok, embraces humor in a way that never undermines the character. Whether it’s Bruce awkwardly handling selfies with kids or Hulk meekly smashing a car in Endgame, these moments give Hulk personality.

Even during fights, there’s an undercurrent of wit. When he tosses Loki around like a rag doll in The Avengers, is a great example. Yet importantly, the humor isn’t random, it’s character-based.

Bruce’s sarcasm and social awkwardness are rooted in his trauma and intellect. Hulk’s gruff, blunt nature leads to hilarious misinterpretations. This comedic touch has made him more relatable and lovable to general audiences – something the animated series never quite managed.

1

Bruce Banner’s Genius Is Highlighted In The MCU

The Animated Bruce Was A Scientist But Was Often Overshadowed

In The Incredible Hulk animated show, Banner’s intelligence was often overshadowed by Hulk’s brute strength. The science usually served as a means to an end; an excuse to reverse a mutation or explain some radiation. In the MCU, Banner’s genius is front and center.

He’s not just a lab guy; he’s one of the smartest people on Earth. From helping invent Ultron (questionable judgment aside) to designing the Quantum Time Travel machine in Endgame, Bruce is shown operating at a Tony Stark-level intellect. This elevates his role and adds depth to his struggle.

The MCU Bruce is not just fighting Hulk but trying to understand and control it scientifically. Moreover, he has scientific pursuits outside of his own plight. That blend of brain and brawn is something the animated show hinted at, but the MCU fully embraced, making this Hulk a more complete and respected hero.