What Key Hulk Storylines Never Made It Into the MCU?
Why Was Bruce Banner’s Childhood Trauma Never Explored?
In the comics, Bruce Banner’s anger originates from a dark past. Incredible Hulk #312 reveals that Bruce’s abusive father, Brian Banner, regularly lashed out at him and his mother. This trauma gave birth to the Hulk long before the gamma accident, with the creature symbolizing Bruce’s repressed pain.
The MCU, however, skips this emotional foundation. Apart from Bruce’s cryptic line in The Avengers — “I’m always angry” — audiences never learn why. Even a deleted Thor: Ragnarok scene referencing his father’s funeral sidesteps the true depth of his past.
Who Was the Hulk’s Forgotten Sidekick?
Rick Jones, Hulk’s original sidekick in Incredible Hulk #1, never appeared in the MCU beyond a brief Easter egg in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. In comics, Rick is the reason Bruce becomes the Hulk — his rescue attempt during a gamma bomb test triggers the fateful transformation.
Jones later connects to multiple Marvel heroes, including Captain America and Captain Marvel, even helping found the Avengers. His absence in the MCU removes a key emotional anchor from Hulk’s origin.
Did the MCU Ever Show the Gray Hulk or “Joe Fixit”?
Fans almost saw the gray Hulk in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but Marvel changed its mind late in production. The comic version, known as Joe Fixit, is a street-smart Las Vegas enforcer who operates at night and avoids unnecessary fights. Unlike the raging green Hulk, Fixit is cunning and morally ambiguous — a version yet to appear in live action.
What About Planet Hulk and World War Hulk?
Thor: Ragnarok borrowed elements from Planet Hulk by showing the gladiator arenas of Sakaar. Yet the comics tell a much larger story — Hulk leading a revolution and becoming a prophetic hero. Its sequel, World War Hulk, sees him return to Earth seeking vengeance after Sakaar’s destruction.
These two arcs remain among the most demanded stories for a standalone Hulk film, though rights issues have delayed Marvel from exploring them fully.
Could the Immortal or Mindless Hulk Ever Appear?
In later comics, the Hulk becomes truly immortal, reviving after every death. Another version, the “Mindless Hulk,” is pure rage — unstoppable even by the Avengers. Neither of these terrifying versions has been adapted for the screen, but they could redefine Hulk’s future in upcoming Multiverse projects.
While the MCU’s Hulk has evolved from monster to mentor, countless fascinating versions of the character still wait in the shadows of Marvel’s vast comic history.
