The Hulk: 5 Things That Still Don’t Make Sense About the Strongest Avenger in the MCU

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While Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his 2008 film, the Hulk is equally significant. Despite not getting a direct sequel since his 2008 movie, the Hulk has become a central figure in the MCU. As a key member of the Avengers and a pivotal character in bringing back half of humanity after the use of the Infinity Stones, the Hulk’s importance cannot be overstated. He’s a fan favorite, and his role in the MCU has continued to grow.

Even though The Hulk has become increasingly important in Marvel movies, some details just don’t quite make sense. It takes a leap of faith to accept a gamma-powered monster, and because the character is so popular across films, shows, and comics, plot holes have started to appear. While fans are excited to see The Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, these lingering questions from the past twenty years will likely remain on their minds.

5) What Happens to Banner/Hulk When the Other Is in Control?

When Bruce Banner and the Hulk share a body, one personality clearly dominates. We see this in Thor: Ragnarok when Hulk transforms back into Banner for the first time in two years. Banner describes being stuck inside Hulk’s body as feeling like being “locked in a trunk” while Hulk was in control, but he also suggests he was still somewhat aware of his surroundings, joking that being trapped for so long “made me a little weird!”

What happens to the Hulk when he’s not actively transforming? Is his anger fueled by being in this in-between state? The Avengers films have added layers to this question. The first movie showed Bruce Banner controlling his transformations, and Infinity War revealed the Hulk’s reluctance to appear against Thanos. This aspect of the Hulk remains unclear, and while it isn’t essential to explain, Marvel should probably address it.

4) How Strong Is He Really?

Similar to the comic books that started it all, the Hulk’s strength in the Marvel movies isn’t consistent. He’s only as powerful as the story requires at any given moment. We’ve seen this play out in impressive ways throughout the films, like when he took down a Leviathan during the battle of New York, accidentally destroyed a building in Johannesburg, and even fought the massive wolf Fenris all by himself.

The MCU has shown us many instances of The Hulk’s strength, but they don’t always feel equally impressive. There isn’t one definitive moment that truly showcases just how powerful he is. In the comics, Hulk performs incredible feats like catching a mountain or moving an island – even battling across multiple universes! The MCU hasn’t given us anything quite that spectacular, leaving fans wondering: what’s his actual limit?

3) What Did He Do During the Five-Year Gap?

A major turning point in Avengers: Endgame was the quick elimination of Thanos and the subsequent five-year time jump. This felt like a bold storytelling choice, significantly altering the characters’ lives and the state of the world. However, it’s become a considerable challenge for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as the uncertainty around who survived Thanos’s snap keeps resurfacing and causing complications in later movies.

One major change revealed after five years in Endgame is the merging of Hulk and Bruce Banner into a single being – possessing Banner’s intelligence and personality, but with the Hulk’s physical strength and green appearance. While the first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law attempted to explain this transformation, some inconsistencies remain, and the explanation doesn’t quite match up with the Hulk we see in Endgame. Therefore, even if the change makes narrative sense, more background information is needed to fully understand it.

2) Why Didn’t He Actually Do Anything During Infinity War?

The beginning of Avengers: Infinity War immediately establishes Thanos as the most powerful villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by showing him easily defeat the Hulk, which is a very embarrassing loss for the Hulk. This defeat sets the stage for the Hulk’s role throughout the film, but it also raises a big question: What if the Hulk had actually been able to make a difference in the battle? Even the animated What If…? series didn’t explore that possibility.

The movie actually created a clear path for this character to return, even showing Banner putting on the Hulkbuster armor during the battle for Wakanda and trying to bring the Hulk back. However, this scene was cut from Infinity War after test audiences didn’t respond well to it. Despite all the build-up, the moment never happened, and it’s another instance of the MCU removing a character who could have easily solved the heroes’ problems.

1) Who Is the Mother of His Child?

A major storyline that Marvel plans to explore in its Multiverse Saga was first hinted at in the finale of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. The show introduced Skaar, Hulk’s son, but hasn’t followed up on that development. We don’t know what role Skaar will play or when he’ll reappear. What we do know is that he was born while Hulk was on the planet Sakaar, before the events of Thor: Ragnarok.

We don’t know who Skaar’s mother is, or what he thinks of his father. It’s also unclear how powerful Skaar is compared to his dad, or even if he has a better hairstyle! So far, introducing Skaar feels random, like Marvel is just trying out ideas. Don’t expect these questions to be answered in Spider-Man: Brand New Day or Avengers: Doomsday.

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2026-05-05 16:43