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MCU fans would be shocked to know just how much stronger Hulk is in the comics compared to what he is in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bruce Banner’s alter ego in the movies tends to get demolished and often outmatched in the MCU franchise, most notably in Avengers: Infinity War, where Thanos destroys the Hulk, or in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, where the title character quickly appears to surpass her cousin.
The nerfing of the Hulk has quietly tarnished the Hulk’s reputation and eroded the good faith that MCU fans had in the character.
On the contrary, Marvel Comics makes a case for Hulk being the strongest hero in its universe. This has been the case since before the Hulk entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and even after his on-screen debut, more recent comics have worked hard to redeem the Hulk on-panel for some of the shortcomings he has suffered on-screen.
Hulk even finally beats Thanos in the comics. The difference between his comic book and movie presentations is like night and day, and analyzing his comic adventures emphasizes just how badly the movies have nerfed the Hulk.
The Hulk Was Nearly Unstoppable in the MCU, Until Thanos Broke Him
From Invincible Force to Smart Hulk, One Fight Changed Everything for Bruce Banner
Bruce Banner made his MCU debut with 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, the second movie released as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This, along with the first Avengers movie, showcases just how powerful this version of the Hulk was. He’s virtually impervious to any and everything thrown at him, ranging from bullets to tactile missiles, all while being shown to be strong enough to bulldoze through everything in his way. He proves he can go toe-to-toe with Thor. His only real challenges are the Abomination and the God of Thunder. Even then, he defeats the former despite Abomination being canonically stronger than him.
Even Thor: Ragnarök allowed Hulk to maintain the consistent power level he’s had since his debut. However, things took a swift turn following Avengers: Infinity War, which opens with Thanos beating up Hulk with ease. While it makes sense for the MCU to establish Thanos as a physical threat for the first time by having him destroy Marvel’s strongest hero without breaking a sweat, this one moment had severe ramifications for the Hulk that the MCU version still deals with today. Following Endgame’s time jump, the Hulk would develop a more pacifist persona as ‘Smart Hulk.’
The MCU Hulk Has Been Nerfed, and It All Comes Down to One Key Change
Why Smart Hulk Lacks the Savage Power That Once Defined Him
As Smart Hulk, the MCU hero has failed to showcase the levels of strength that his first couple of movie appearances merely hinted at. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the Hulk has become weaker since his live-action debut, but if there is one thing that the movie and comic versions have in common, it’s that their power levels are calculated by anger. It’s impossible to quantify the Hulk’s level of strength and power when that strength and power are constantly amplified depending on how angry the Hulk is.
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That’s why the character has been, for lack of a better phrase, nerfed on the big screen. Hulk onscreen has no reason to be angry, or at least reach his peak anger. MCU Hulk, even remaining in his monstrous state, remains calm and mild-mannered, especially following the revelation of him having a son. Hulk in The Incredible Hulk and The Avengers is at his most powerful because these movies showcase the Hulk at his most savage and untamed. By comparison, the Hulk of the comics is far less likely to hold back.
The Hulk’s Comic Debut Proves His Power Grows with Every Punch
How Anger Supercharges the Hulk, And Why the MCU Misses This Crucial Element
Compared to the Hulk’s first appearance in the MCU, his first appearance in the comics establishes the status quo for his power level and how that power increases. In the first few pages of The Incredible Hulk #1, the Hulk is seen smashing through a wall before tackling an army Humvee. In the same issue, just as the MCU Hulk is unfazed by bullets, the Hulk of the comics is oblivious to a gunshot at point-blank range. Once he realizes he’s been shot, he becomes stronger within an instant, lifting a man over his head and crushing the pistol with his bare hand.
The power boost at that moment comes from the Hulk’s anger. Theoretically, he is still using only a fraction of his full strength. Even something as simple as Bruce Banner lifting weights can be enough to trigger a transformation and a slight increase in power. However, once the Hulk is angry and surrounded by elements in his environment that continue to aggravate him, his power continues to grow. Even when he is losing a fight, the Hulk can gradually overpower his opponent through sheer willpower and emotion.
The MCU Hulk Is Just a Fraction of His Comic Book Self
Comics Show Hulk Lifting Mountains and Destroying Planets, So Why Is the MCU Holding Him Back?
MCU viewers have only gotten a glimpse of what the Hulk is truly capable of compared to his comic book counterpart. Some argue that this reflects how the MCU has softened the Hulk in recent years. Even at his most powerful on-screen, the MCU has only tapped into a fraction of the Hulk’s full potential. While the movies show the 8-foot-tall giant leaping thousands of feet in a single bound, the comics take his power much further.
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In the comics, the Hulk has lifted a 150-billion-ton mountain on his back, and in World War Hulk, he is shown to be capable of destroying the planet when angry enough. These examples refocus the attention on the MCU version of the Hulk and his apparent lack of motivation. When Hulk has a reason to fight or unleash his strength, he can reach unimaginable levels of power. However, it’s been years since the MCU Hulk has had a real reason to push himself. He now feels practically retired, while the Hulk in the comics continues to thrive.
The MCU Forgot How Powerful Hulk Really Is
While the Movies Nerfed Him, Marvel Comics Has Spent Years Restoring Hulk’s God-Tier Status
The nerfing of the Hulk has quietly tarnished the Hulk’s reputation and eroded the good faith that MCU fans had in the character. Numerous creative teams at Marvel have worked for a long time trying to restore that good faith back to the public. One notable example from recent memory is Al Ewing’s Immortal Hulk series, which establishes immortality as the Hulk’s most extreme superpower. The series highlights just how powerful the Hulk’s healing ability can be, something only somewhat alluded to in the MCU, mostly through a deleted scene.
A deleted scene in The Incredible Hulk shows Bruce Banner trying to end his life, only for him to transform into the Hulk and save both their lives by activating his healing factor. This is referenced in The Avengers and is what Bruce is talking about when he says, “I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spit it out.”
Several power upgrades for the Hulk have emerged over the past decade or so, and it’s no coincidence that most of these upgrades have emerged following Avengers: Infinity War. It’s no secret that following this movie, the MCU has portrayed the Hulk as one of the weaker members of The Avengers. Perhaps it’s merely a consequence of Hulk not having a movie or TV show spotlight of his own since The Incredible Hulk hit theaters. The MCU stopped reminding audiences of the Hulk’s power years ago, but the comics never stopped.
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