Marvel finally delivers the MCU's World War Hulk after years of fan demands

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for What If…? Season 3

For what feels like years, Marvel fans have discussed the possibility of a World War Hulkwith rumors appearing almost like clockwork every time a “scooper” wants to earn delicious dollars on social media. The persistence of this speculation may well point to something concrete, with the latest rounds suggesting that 2025 Captain America: Brave New World will actively prepare Bruce Banner's first solo project in the MCU. But regardless of the legitimacy of anything posted by supposed insiders, it remains a hoax that we have never seen a World War Hulk live-action adaptation.

We already had an animation Planet Hulkand World War Hulk was adapted into an episode of Avengers montage in 2016, but the excited whispers surrounding the official MCU take on the popular Marvel Comics story have so far come to nothing. World War Hulk was set up subtly in the MCU, even though rights issues have so far prevented a solo Hulk movie from happening, but the MCU has now offered a surprising look at the story thanks to Marvel's final release in 2024.

What If Season 3 Reveals the MCU's Version of World War Hulk

Earth's Mightiest Heroes Fight a Vengeful Hulk in a Desperate Last Stand

The comic version of World War Hulk follows the events of Planet Hulk and the tragic death of Hulk's wife thanks to the explosion of the ship the Illuminati exiled him on. A more powerful Hulk swears revenge on the Illuminati and Earth's heroes, and wreaks havoc against waves of Earth's mightiest defenders, eliminating the New Avengers, Fantastic Four, U.S. Army, and Mighty Avengers with surprising ease.

THE MCU's approach to World War Hulk is a typically loose adaptationbut it's the closest we've ever come to Marvel Studios putting it on screen. There is a revenge plot, this time inspired by an attempt to destroy the Hulk, and the Avengers are defeated (with the MCU's Original Avengers dead, in a brutal twist), and the threat of a Hulk with greater powers and his army of allies. The invading Hulk in this case is the new Hulk villain, The Apex, who is created by Bruce Banner's own attempt to cure himself of the Hulk and destroy his alter ego.

This attempt separates the demonic Apex from Banner (who remains “infected” by the Hulk) and leads to a violent attack on Earth. The planet's heroes mount a defense aided by a battalion of new Hulkbuster armor built by Tony Stark, but Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Captain America are all killed in the first wave, before the Apex apparently retreats. ONE The second wave brings more of Apex's Gamma Beast army into the game, and the New Avengers step up with the help of a unified Mighty Avenger mech suit.

Victory only comes when Banner transforms into a Mega Hulk and defeats Apex himself. The specifics of the story are different, of course, but the pacing of the story is close enough to World War Hulk to scratch the itch of any Marvel fan who feels dissatisfied. And now it's even more disappointing that the MCU hasn't yet put the wheels in motion for a live-action version of the story.

The downside of what if…? The Hulk's World War story repeats a frustrating MCU Hulk trend

Seriously, just give us a real battle with the Avengers

Unfortunately, And if…? It doesn't show a real battle between Banner's Hulk and the Avengers, which was flirted with several times in the MCU, but always ended up not being delivered. The Avengers (2012) saw Hulk's rampage on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier; Avengers: Age of Ultron showed him fighting Iron Man in the Hulkbuster (but with the loophole of Hulk being under Scarlet Witch's control); and Thor: Ragnarok I saw him face Thor on Sakaar, but a full Avengers battle never materialized.

Rumors have long persisted that Hulk was supposed to be the villain of The Avengerswith The Incredible HulkTim Roth's post-credits scene sets up Abomination as a member of the team. It never came to light, and the Helicarrier's rampage was the closest we got, but the potential for Banner to fully defeat the Hulk and take on his teammates has remained compelling ever since. It's a real shame And if…? failed to adapt a purer version of the story, despite having free rein to do so.

It may not have been the best episode of And if…?but the opening of season 3 at least whet the appetite for a real World War Hulk adaptation in the future. Hopefully, Marvel will decide to return to the idea of ​​an upcoming Hulk movie in the MCU, especially now that the Hulks are once again part of the MCU's rogues gallery.