The Spider-Man films created through the partnership between Marvel and Sony stand out within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These movies have been both critical successes and huge box office hits, especially considering recent challenges within the broader MCU. A key to their success is how they connect Spider-Man with popular Marvel characters like Iron Man, Nick Fury, and Doctor Strange, integrating him seamlessly into the larger universe.
The upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day will continue the trend of exciting team-ups, and this time, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk will join Tom Holland’s Spider-Man – whether as an ally or an opponent remains to be seen. The two heroes have a long-standing relationship in the Marvel comics, famously meeting during a fight with the Sinister Six and even being calmed down by Spider-Man using a knock-knock joke! While details are scarce, this could be Marvel’s chance to finally develop the Hulk storyline fans have been hoping for.
Marvel Has Failed Badly With the Hulk
The Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t quite figured out how to best use the Hulk character. His story has felt fragmented, especially after the first Incredible Hulk movie required a new actor. Mark Ruffalo viewed Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame as a three-part arc for the Hulk, but many important parts of his development happened without being shown on screen. While Thor: Ragnarok borrowed elements from the popular “Planet Hulk” storyline, it focused more on Thor’s fight with Hela. It feels like we haven’t really seen a full, developed Hulk since Avengers: Infinity War.
The Hulk’s story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe became fragmented due to issues with who owned the rights to the character. Universal initially distributed the 2008 The Incredible Hulk movie, but when Disney bought Marvel in 2009, things became complicated. Disney, with its own distribution channels, didn’t want Marvel creating a film that would benefit a rival studio. This left the Hulk sidelined, appearing briefly in other movies but unable to get his own sequel.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Is a Chance To Fix the Hulk’s Problems
While most people remember the Hulk as a giant, green, and incredibly angry creature – as Tony Stark famously put it – that version of the character hasn’t been featured prominently since Avengers: Age of Ultron. Director Taika Waititi didn’t include him in Thor: Ragnarok, explaining he struggled to find a relatable side to “this bipolar, angry green beast.” The Russo brothers continued this trend in their Avengers films, ultimately transforming him into “Smart Hulk” in Avengers: Endgame. As a result, many of the Hulk’s most compelling stories remain untold.
A great example is the 2007 comic book event, “World War Hulk,” widely considered one of the best Hulk stories ever told. It featured a furious Hulk battling Earth’s heroes, showcasing just how incredibly powerful and dangerous he is. While the story doesn’t focus heavily on complex characters, that wasn’t the goal. The Hulk believes he’s the strongest being alive, and this event was the ultimate test of that claim. It’s a shame Thor wasn’t available for his own showdown with the Hulk, as he returned too late to participate.
The comic book storyline “Planet Hulk” – which served as inspiration for the movie Thor: Ragnarok – led directly into “World War Hulk.” While Thor: Ragnarok strayed from that path, fans of the comics have long hoped to see “World War Hulk” adapted to the screen. To make that happen, the Hulk needs to be a major focus of a movie first – not just part of a larger team, but at least a prominent co-lead – so his situation can be dramatically changed. Marvel’s best opportunity to set this up is with Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
It’s Time for an Iconic Superhero Versus Match
As a critic, I’m really excited about the potential of Spider-Man: Brand New Day to deliver a truly classic showdown. We’ve seen Spider-Man and the Hulk clash in the comics for years, and their dynamic is just inherently fun. Spidey often gets a little cocky, quickly realizing he can’t actually beat the Hulk. But what really makes this matchup interesting is Peter Parker’s heart. He genuinely cares about Bruce Banner, the man inside the monster, as we saw in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #3, where he’d rather fail a test than risk turning Banner in. It’s that compassion that elevates this beyond just another superhero brawl.
However, this exciting potential only works if Marvel brings back the original version of the Hulk. If they don’t, the story risks repeating past mistakes, presenting a Hulk that fans don’t connect with and weakening the impact of any interactions. If Marvel gets this right and returns to the classic Hulk, a “World War Hulk” movie could realistically happen. Hopefully, Marvel will seize this opportunity.
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2025-11-26 00:42