5 Hulk Stories We’re Still Waiting to See in the MCU After Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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The new Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is coming to theaters on July 31, 2026. For years, Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner (the Hulk) hasn’t been used to his full potential in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, often serving as a source of humor while his story happened behind the scenes. The merging of Banner and Hulk in Avengers: Endgame seemed to end any dramatic possibilities for the character, and his role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law was mostly as a mentor. However, Spider-Man: Brand New Day appears to be changing that, as merchandise shows the Savage Hulk will be featured in scenes from the film, suggesting a return to a more prominent and powerful role.

The film Spider-Man: Brand New Day heavily focuses on characters experiencing unwanted physical transformations. Peter Parker (Tom Holland) seems to be losing control of his body, potentially developing organic web-shooters against his will. The introduction of a more primal Bruce Banner mirrors this, suggesting these changes are a significant plot point and not just a nod to fans. This version of the Hulk is powerful enough to accurately portray the character’s most challenging storylines from the comics, opening up new possibilities for Marvel Studios.

5) Planet Hulk

While Thor: Ragnarok took ideas from the 2006-2007 comic series Planet Hulk, it didn’t follow the story closely. The original comic tells the story of the Hulk being tricked into going to space and crashing on the brutal planet Sakaar. There, he’s enslaved but fights his way to becoming a powerful gladiator and eventually a king, forming alliances along the way. It also features a relationship with a character named Caiera and a revolution against a tyrannical ruler called the Red King—elements that Ragnarok left out to focus on Thor’s story. A true adaptation of Planet Hulk would allow the Hulk to be the central character in a story about being exiled, finding his place, and surviving, as the comic always intended.

4) Hulk vs. Thor: Banner of War

The five-issue comic series Hulk vs. Thor: Banner of War, released in April 2022 and written by Donny Cates, presents a compelling idea that the Marvel Cinematic Universe could utilize: Bruce Banner fully controlling the Hulk’s actions, making him an even more formidable opponent for Thor than ever before. With art by Martin Coccolo, the story follows both characters as they experience significant changes – Thor struggles with the responsibilities of being king, while Banner’s control turns the Hulk from a mindless force of anger into a calculated and powerful fighter. Given that the MCU has already established Thor as a major power, and portrays the Hulk’s loss of control as genuinely dangerous, a full-scale fight between them would be far more than just a quick encounter – it would be a truly epic battle.

3) Future Imperfect

The 1992-1993 comic series Future Imperfect, by Peter David and George Pérez, first introduced the Maestro, a truly memorable villain in the Hulk’s story. The Maestro is a future version of Bruce Banner who became incredibly powerful and corrupt after absorbing radiation from a nuclear apocalypse that wiped out most other heroes. He rules a city called Dystopia with an iron fist, and the story begins when a group of survivors travel through time using Doctor Doom’s machine to bring the present-day Hulk to fight his ultimate future self. What makes the Maestro so compelling is his intelligence and the fact that he genuinely believes his harsh actions are necessary to survive in a ruined world. Given that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is already exploring alternate timelines and different versions of characters, introducing the Maestro after Secret Wars would force Bruce Banner to confront a truly terrifying reflection of what he could become.

2) Immortal Hulk

Al Ewing and Joe Bennett’s critically acclaimed run of Immortal Hulk, which lasted 50 issues from 2018 to 2021, is considered a groundbreaking reimagining of the character and received three Eisner Award nominations. The series revolves around the idea that those exposed to gamma radiation, like the Hulk, can’t truly die. Whenever Bruce Banner is killed, the Hulk returns each night, making him a relentless and seemingly unstoppable force hunted by groups like the government, Alpha Flight, and the Avengers. Ewing crafted the story as a horror tale, blending body horror and psychological themes, while Bennett delivered some of Marvel’s most unsettling visual transformations. The series also explored the complex relationship between Banner and his multiple Hulk personalities – the Savage Hulk, the Devil Hulk, and Joe Fixit – portraying it as a case of dissociative identity disorder. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has played with different tones, it hasn’t yet delved into full-blown horror with one of its biggest characters, making the premise of Immortal Hulk a uniquely strong basis for a future Marvel Studios solo film.

1) World War Hulk

The story of Hulk has a lot of loose ends in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and none are bigger than the ‘World War Hulk’ storyline from 2007. This story arc centers on Hulk returning to Earth after a terrible tragedy: the death of his wife, Caiera, while on the planet Sakaar. Hulk believes the Illuminati – Iron Man, Reed Richards, Doctor Strange, and Black Bolt – are responsible. During this time, Hulk is at his most powerful, boosted by radiation from Sakaar and driven by a shared grief with Bruce Banner, which eliminates the internal struggle that usually holds him back. The MCU has already laid the groundwork for this adaptation with the ‘She-Hulk’ series, introducing Skaar, Hulk’s son who was born on Sakaar and is a key character in the comic book version of ‘World War Hulk’. Restoring Hulk to his most savage form, as seen in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, is the first step, and it sets the stage for the MCU to finally show a Hulk enraged enough to wage war against Earth’s heroes.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 31, 2026.

What Hulk story arc are you most excited to see brought to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-20 23:11