Back in April, I wrote how the Hulk was the worst character in The Avengers: Endgame, as writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and directors Joe and Anthony Russo, gave us a goofy Shrek version of the Big Guy than the smashing green brute we all know and love — and deserved.
Worth a mention is that the Hulk in Avengers: Endgame was nothing like the Professor Hulk from the comics (one of my favorites as well as Marvel Comics writer Peter David).
And what is particularly disappointing and troublesome is that Infinity War obviously set up a rematch between the Hulk and Thanos for Avengers: Endgame, as the Great Titan whipped the Green Goliath at the start of the movie, which then saw the Hulk seemingly go into hiding when he was needed most. The Russos did explain that the Hulk wasn’t afraid of Thanos, but that he wanted to teach Banner a lesson, as Banner only wants the Hulk around to save himself.
Infinity War set up Hulk vs Thanos rematch
So if that wasn’t setting up something big between Thanos and the Hulk in The Avengers: Endgame, I don’t know what was.
There is also the fact that Black Widow sacrificed her self, which got little reaction from the Hulk other than smashing his fist down. Right there was your opportunity to return to the raging Hulk, but the Russos and the writers apparently don’t understand the character at all. The writers said something about how they cut a scene involving Banner in a laboratory trying to merge him and the Hulk that would have taken too long. Huh? That’s nothing like the comics. The Hulk is born of gamma radiation and Banner’s emotions, as a different version of the Hulk represents different personalities of Banner. That is something the MCU and Kevin Feige have unfortunately forgotten, never knew about it or just didn’t care about, and that is a HUGE part of being the Hulk.
Hulk is embarrassing in Avengers: Endgame
Instead, we got some goofy dabbing Hulk that was a colossal embarrassment.
You’ll note that Spider-Man is Joe Russo’s favorite character, so of course, that character wasn’t butchered (too much). That sucks for Hulk fans.
What sucks, even more, is that The Avengers: Endgame concept art released at the recent D23 Expo shows a rematch between Thanos and the Hulk. The art features the Hulk uppercutting Thanos and apparently knocking him out. So we know they went so far as talking about it, and it might have been in a version of the script, but for whatever reason, they cut the scene. Again, hugely disappointing, guys.
At least we have She-Hulk now.
(via Reddit)
