Previously unseen art of Avengers: Endgame was recently revealed, and I’m sad that the epic MCU crossover event missed out on one brilliant moment that would have seen Bruce Banner’s Hulk team up with the Black Panther. Avengers: EndgameOne of my personal favorite MCU movies, it marked the culmination of over a decade of live-action superhero adventures, and included some huge transformations for many veteran heroes. Few have seen as many alterations as Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, however, who revealed his Smart Hulk persona in End game.
I’ve loved seeing Bruce Banner transform since his MCU debut in 2008 The Incredible Hulk. He was an Avenger, unleashed his wild nature under the manipulation of the Scarlet Witch, fought as a gladiator on Sakaar, and battle Thanos’ forces in the Hulkbuster armor. The Hulk has been at the center of some of the most memorable moments in the MCUWith one of the stand-outs, for me, delivered in the 2012s The AvengersAnd this fantastic moment is almost made better in Avengers: Endgame.
The Hulk’s original Leviathan take-down was almost even better in Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame almost repeated the Avengers’ best Hulk moment
At a critical moment in The Avengers, Bruce Banner joined the battle of New York, claiming that he is “Always angry,” and hastily transformed into the Hulk to take down a Leviathan with one blow. I’m glad this epic scene remains one of the MCU’s most memorable moments, though Avengers: Endgame Almost made it even better. A storyboard featured in the new Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding book, featuring art from Marvel Studios’ head of visual development, brings together the Hulk and T’Challa’s Black Panther during the battle for Earth (via. X).
In Meinerding’s original design, the Hulk would have punched Black Panther to charge his suit with kinetic energy. T’Challa would then use the energy to take down a Leviathan with one punch, just like the Hulk did back in the MCU’s Phase 1. I would love to see that moment play out Avengers: EndgameEspecially since it would have given the late Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther a more substantive role in End game. It could also bring another iconic Hulk moment in the MCU, which we’ve been missing in recent years.
Why didn’t the Hulk and Black Panther team up in the end game?
The Hulk and Black Panther are not the focus of Avengers: Endgame’s final battle
Although the Hulk and Black Panther have been central heroes in the MCU since their respective debuts, and the focus of the final battle against Thanos. Avengers: Endgame. Of course, I would have loved for Bruce Banner and T’Challa to have more attention during the battle for Earth, but Heroes such as Steve Rogers’ Captain America, Tony Stark’s Iron Man and Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel drew more focus. This meant that a team-up between the Hulk and Black Panther might have taken too much time.
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Future adventures for both Hulk and Black Panther were planned, meaning they would have had even more time to grow and developWhile Steve Rogers and Tony Stark bid farewell to the MCU in Avengers: Endgame. It was a shame that Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther wouldn’t get the chance, but the idea that he would have continued in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Meant that this epic End game Moment perhaps is not needed. Even so, I still have hope that Ryan Meinerding’s storyboard can still come to life.
How the Hulk and Black Panther moment could still happen in the MCU
Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner could still team up with a Black Panther
While it’s now impossible that this jewel Avengers: Endgame Scene could play with Bruce Banner and T’Challa, I think it would be great to join the Hulk and Shuri’s new Black Panther in the future of the MCU. Letitia Wright’s Shuri became the new Black Panther of the MCU in 2022 Wakanda ForeverTaking over from her late brother, and I really hope she portrays the Wakandan hero for years to come. It would be great to see Shuri interact with some of the MCU’s veteran heroesAnd the Hulk would be a fantastic option.