17 Years Later, the MCU’s Most Intense Fight Just Got a Rematch

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The first phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe starts relatively small-scale before reaching its peak with The Avengers. Tony Stark’s initial major conflict arises with a former friend of his father, who wants to gain control of the company they both created. Justin Hammer follows a similar route, joining forces with Ivan Vanko in Iron Man 2 as both seek revenge against the main character. Even Thor, despite hailing from a magical realm in space, doesn’t get a truly grand battle; he’s grounded in New Mexico without his hammer, Mjolnir, for most of his first individual film.

Steve Rogers is in a slightly more advantageous position than his eventual teammates because he gets to stop the Red Skull from bombing major cities in Captain America: The First Avenger. But even though things escalate to the point where Cap is prepared to sacrifice himself, his showdown with the Red Skull isn’t the fiercest fight of Phase One. That title actually belongs to another MCU battle that recently got a sequel after almost twenty years.

Bruce Banner Meets His Match in The Incredible Hulk

In The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner simply wants to live a quiet, secluded life. Aware of his dangerous potential, he establishes a new existence in Brazil, hoping to avoid attention. However, his past eventually finds him, as Thunderbolt Ross begins to pursue him. This chase causes Banner significant stress, leading to uncontrollable transformations into the Hulk, who causes widespread destruction. Determined to capture the Hulk, Ross enlists the aid of Emil Blonsky, a highly skilled soldier with expertise in target capture. Their initial confrontation with the Hulk is unsuccessful, prompting Blonsky to search for a way to gain an advantage.

Following exposure to a sample of Bruce Banner’s blood obtained through Samuel Sterns, Emil Blonsky transforms into the Abomination and begins destroying Harlem. The Hulk confronts him, employing anything available – like chains and vehicles – to hinder the Abomination. The emerging hero must exert all his strength to prevent his adversary from causing widespread casualties, and ultimately succeeds. Although they haven’t clashed since the events of The Incredible Hulk, the MCU has now created a new reason for them to fight again.

Abomination Takes One More Swing at the Hulk in Marvel Zombies

Facing a zombie apocalypse as a superhero doesn’t seem so bad, considering zombies aren’t usually very strong. However, Marvel Zombies completely changes that idea by transforming many of the MCU’s heroes and villains into undead soldiers for Scarlet Witch. She aims to alter reality across the globe, but Bruce Banner is the one obstacle in her path. After T’Challa defeats Thanos and eliminates the Infinity Stones, a surge of energy risks destroying everything, and Banner absorbs it to prevent this. This creates the Infinity Hulk, and it takes Scarlet Witch some time to assemble a powerful enough force to confront him.

When Scarlet Witch reaches Hulk’s location, she immediately sends zombie Abomination to attack him. This is a clever strategy, as Abomination is one of the few beings-aside from Thanos-who has truly challenged Banner’s Hulk form. However, Blonsky doesn’t encounter the same Hulk he battled in Harlem. He’s met by the incredibly powerful Infinity Hulk, who defeats him instantly. Although it’s unfortunate that these two strong characters didn’t get a rematch, it wouldn’t have been believable for Abomination to stand a chance against the Marvel Zombies version of Hulk.

Marvel Zombies is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-09-29 23:15