Notice! This article contains spoilers for What If...? Season 3, Episode 1.
And if...?
is one of the most underrated shows on Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
and because of this, the MCU's most powerful Hulk variant will go unnoticed by many MCU fans. When the MCU began in 2008, no one could have expected the Iron Man film to inspire and lead directly into a franchise that would span over 30 films, multiple TV shows, and tens of billions of dollars. Until then, trilogies and franchise films were not unheard of, but the success and growth of the MCU was unprecedented in terms of scale and volume.
Since the end of the Infinity Saga, the MCU has made a conscious effort to expand into other media, with several TV shows and spin-offs that connect to the core MCU. However, one of the most MCU experimental programs are And if...?an animated series that explores alternate realities and timelines, with familiar heroes placed in unfamiliar situations. This show does amazing things, but due to the animated format and separation of the Sacred Timeline, it's not seen as essential for MCU fans.
The MCU has seen several variants of the Hulk
The MCU's Incredible Hulks
While And if...? certainly delves into the MCU variants, there have been several iterations of the Hulk, even in the main films. In 2008, The Incredible Hulk revealed the original MCU Hulkwith his counterpart, Bruce Banner, played by Edward Norton. This is technically the first version of the Hulk, and although Norton's Hulk story was rewritten in some aspects, it remains an MCU-adjacent film that included a cameo from Robert Downey Jr.
Then there's the difference between the furious Hulk, who crushes Asgardian gods like Loki, and the much more tempered Intelligent Hulk, who combines Banner's intelligence and restraint with Hulk's powerful body. Additionally, there are other Hulks in the MCU: Hulk's son Skaar, his cousin Jennifer Walter aka She-Hulk, Abomination, and Red Hulk, who is set to debut in Captain America: Brave New World. All things considered, the MCU wasn't shy about creating other Hulks.
What if Season 3 features the deadliest Hulk in MCU history
What if you saw the Hulk take an evolutionary leap
However, the Hulk is a character with infinite potential that has only been scratched in the main MCU films and shows. In the comics, the Hulk has had dozens of other iterations and now, And if...? delivered the most powerful version of the MCU hero. In And if...? Season 3, Episode 1, Bruce Banner attempts to extract the Hulk from his body via gamma radiation, but this causes him to separate into a powerful monster with no human consciousness to guide him, and a powerless Bruce.
Then, later in the episode, after this monster is seen wreaking havoc around the world and releasing other Hulk-like giants, Bruce uses a gamma bomb to irradiate himself and supercharge the Hulk genes in his body. This causes him to transform into a mega-Godzilla version of the Hulk which is as tall as skyscrapers, has a large tail, and spikes growing from its spine in a way that looks a lot like the Kaiju King himself. This version of the Hulk is spectacularly powerful and ridiculously good-looking.
Unfortunately, what if it is forgotten by many MCU fans
Not all parts of the MCU are seen as equal
Although this incredible version of the popular hero is so exciting and engaging, the fact that it appears in And if...? rather than a live-action film, it means it is sadly condemned as inferior to the films. The fan base may have strong opinions about the films that Marvel Studios releases, but throughout the Multiverse Saga, the TV shows have proven to be decidedly more divisive. And to top it off, the show's animated style means that many people will never give it a chance.
It's true that it shows how X-Men '97 had success with an animated TV show, but being a nostalgic throwback to a show that many MCU fans likely grew up watching, it had an edge. Although adult animated shows are growing in popularity with shows like Rick and MortyThere is still a perception that cartoons are for children. However, And if...? continues to win over new fans with consistently high ratings and imaginative concepts that prove it deserves to be seen, at least the coolest version of the Hulk seen to date.
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- Release date
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February 14, 2025
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- Release date
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July 25, 2025
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- Release date
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July 24, 2026