Avengers: Infinity War left a lot of dangling questions. Among the most important: where was the Hulk? The big green guy all but abandoned Bruce Banner in the battle against Thanos. Was his absence just build-up for an Endgame triumph? It’s a good bet that he’ll be back in the big Infinity Saga finale, which makes us ask one big question: could a vengeful Hulk actually put Thanos to bed permanently? Here’s all the ways we think that might happen.
One of the most defining elements of the Hulk is that the mean green brute is strong. Really, really strong. There are so many layers of pure, unadulterated muscle that it has always been a primary trait over the decades, whether it be on the printed page, television set, or cinematic universe. After all, the Hulk’s the best there is at what he does, and what he does is, well…
At this point, everyone knows that if you hit Hulk hard, you’re only going to be hit back harder. Of course, this natural ability to “muscle up” makes Hulk a prime choice to use in any kind of one-on-one showdown. If Hulk starts smashing, you can bet there’s a fair chance that Thanos’ demise might occur under those two giant green fists. But, of course, the question that naturally arises from that statement is whether he’ll start smashing in the first place.
The biggest mystery about the Hulk when it comes to Infinity War is just where he was during the whole ordeal. When push came to shove, with the universe at stake, Hulk was a non-starter. He had a peek around, took a few lumps from Thanos, and called it quits quicker than anyone else in the film. Of course, that doesn’t mean Hulk was really done. Anyone who watches that opening scene can pretty quickly see that the Jade Giant wasn’t quite in character. He looks dazed, confused, and half-committed.
It turns out, according to the Russos themselves, Hulk wasn’t so much scared by the confrontation as genuinely angry about it. Director Joe Russo stated plainly on the commentary track:
“People have speculated on whether there was some fear on the Hulk’s part about having to face Thanos again but I think ultimately, what it is, is that he’s tired of playing hero to Bruce Banner.”
And after two years spent in control on Sakaar, can you blame him? Regardless, if Hulk’s going to stop Thanos, he’s going to need to get over his hurt feelings and take the reins once again.
Of course, Hulk’s absence actually plays nicely into his chances of dealing the final blow to the Mad Titan. As of the end of Infinity War, Thanos sees the Hulk as nothing more than a passing annoyance. His attention in Endgame will probably be more focused on characters like Thor, who already stabbed him in the chest, and Captain Marvel, who’s been confirmed to be the most powerful superhero in the MCU. Keep watching the video to see the ways Hulk could kill Thanos!
#Hulk #Thanos #MCU #Endgame
Pure strength | 0:22
Coming out to play | 1:12
The unpredictable | 2:05
Embarrassment | 2:43
Exponential anger | 3:13
Wielding a Gauntlet | 3:51
Professor Hulk | 4:27
Time traveling therapy | 5:07
The biggest distraction ever | 5:53
Stepping aside | 6:57
World Breaker Hulk | 7:42
Take an interest | 8:23