Red Hulk’s debut in Captain America: Brave New World allows the MCU to finally adapt a story audiences have waited years for. The last time MCU viewers saw the angry Hulk was in Avengers: Infinity War before being attacked by Thanos. Shortly after, Bruce Banner learned how to combine his two personas into one, uniting brains and brawn. While Professor Hulk is a unique direction for the character, it’s disappointing that Hulk was essentially neutered by Marvel in Phases 4 and 5.
Many want to see the Hulk smash again, and that could happen soon, but with a different character. Harrison Ford’s Thunderbolt Ross will transform into Red Hulk in Captain America 4 and chances are he’ll be furious and Sam Wilson will need to stop. However, Sam will have a hard time stopping Red Hulk alone, which means he may need help from other MCU heroes. It’s unclear whether Red Hulk’s rampage will extend beyond Brave new worldbut the MCU could take this opportunity to adapt a version of World War Hulk.
Red Hulk is a better MCU candidate for World War Hulk
World War Hulk is one of the most legendary stories in Hulk comic book history. The 2007 story begins with Hulk and his pregnant wife being banished from Earth by the Illuminati. After the spaceship explodes and kills his wife, Hulk blames the Illuminati for his death and returns to Earth seeking revenge. However, their revenge goes beyond the Illuminati and threatens the Earth as a whole, leading to destruction and devastation that needs to be stopped.
World War Hulk It’s an excellent story because it shows the Avengers’ nightmares fully realized. What if Hulk’s rage was used for brutality rather than protection? Unfortunately, since Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk is no longer a rage machine, it no longer makes sense to adapt this storyline to his character. However, Red Hulk allows the MCU to tell a story where Hulk is furious and needs to be stopped by the Avengers. May not have the personal touch of World War Hulkbut it would be cool to see a project where a Hulk was the central villain.
Why Red Hulk’s World War Hulk Story Would Prevent a Weird MCU Hulk Change
The MCU’s Bruce Banner has complete control over his rage and strength. He’s incredibly relaxed and knows how to defeat the Hulk while maintaining his composure. Red Hulk prevents the MCU from quickly changing Bruce’s character arc while still giving audiences the MCU Hulk violence they want to see. However, there’s still a chance Banner could go Hulk out after his latest reveal.
She-Hulk ended with Hulk introducing his son, Skaar, who he recently met after a trip to space. The details of his son are unknown, but if you follow the comics, then Skaar was conceived during Hulk’s time on Sakaar. If something happens to Skaar, this could be the trigger that enrages Hulk again. Red Hulk is the MCU’s best chance at World War Hulk storyline, but it’s not impossible for Bruce to revert back to the green rage monster.