The Incredible Hulkcame out 17 years ago as of 2025, and the movie remains one of the most controversial moments in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)’s history. Understandably, The Incredible Hulk was only the second movie to be released in the MCU, just a few months after Iron Man. However, aside from its post-credits scene, it felt like something entirely different.
But more than this,there were a lot of elements inThe Incredible Hulkthat just don’t add up looking back. If there was a plan for this character to join a cinematic universe, and be part of a larger team, then it would make sense to work towards that. But it never felt like that. And now, after being acknowledged as canon with multiple elements from the story returning to the MCU, it remains one of the most confusing moments in the MCU’s history.
10Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner Is Completely Different To Mark Ruffalo
Ruffalo’s Version Is Much Calmer
Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner inThe Incredible Hulk, and he does a fair job. The actor is clearly exceptionally talented, and by the time he appears in the movie, he already had two Oscar nominations under his belt. However, the way he portrays the character of Bruce is a stark contrast to Mark Ruffalo’s version in the MCU.
Edward Norton is anxious, twitchy, and constantly on guard. He fled to South America to evade capture, and while there, he uses his considerable intelligence to research his curse in secret, while working in a factory by day.Ruffalo’s version is calm, cheerful, and endlessly curious. He evades capture as well, but he also uses his knowledge to help people in need, rather than strictly hiding.
9Tony Stark’s Appearance In The Post-Credits Created Some Confusion
An Early Mistake In The Series
As mentioned briefly above, Tony Stark has a cameo in the post-credits scene ofThe Incredible Hulk. He meets with General Ross, and informs him that “we are putting a team together.” However,by the timeIron Man 2comes around, it’s clear that Stark has not been enlisted to the team, due to his challenging personality.
This makes the cameo pretty confusing, and one that has had to be bent and twisted to fit a narrative, but it’s clearly a mistake introduced too early in the series. Fortunately, things worked out, and when SHIELD needed to call in extra support, they upgraded Stark from a consultant to a fully-fledged member of the team, but this scene still makes very little sense for the MCU.
8Bruce Banner Should Know Not To Talk To Strangers Online
After All, He Is A Genius
While hiding out in South America, Bruce is in contact with a mysterious figure known as Mr. Blue. The two communicate online, and Bruce has been sending samples of his blood to him in order to try and get answers. However, clearly they didn’t know each other before, and Bruce is just placing trust in this mysterious figure.
He also decided to send his blood away; The thing that he is nervous could cause others to Hulk out, without much thought. SurelyBruce Banner, the genius, should know better than to communicate with strangers online, and to then send his blood out without much understanding of what will happen to it.
7Doc Samson Ended Up Being Wasted In The Incredible Hulk
Ty Burrell Never Appeared Again In The MCU
Leonard Samson isBetty Ross' new boyfriend inThe Incredible Hulk, who she met after Bruce ran away. The two make a cute couple, and with Ty Burrell, ofModern Familyfame, playing the part, it was exciting to look forward to how the character could appear in the future. And considering the comic book origins of Leonard Samson, it seemed like a sure thing that Burrell would be back.
Even when the MCU revisited characters from this early release inCaptain America: Brave New World, there is no reference to Leonard, or his connection to Betty Ross.
However, Ty Burrell never returned, andDoc Samson, the superhero who has strengths similar to the Hulk, never appeared. Even when the MCU revisited characters from this early release inCaptain America: Brave New World, there is no reference to Leonard, or his connection to Betty Ross.
6The Numerous Flashbacks Feel Clunky
These Scenes Don’t Add Anything New To The Film
In some ways, Universal, the studio behindThe Incredible Hulk, wanted this to be a kind of sequel to the 2003 movie by Ang Lee. However, in other ways, they wanted to establish a new story. What the film ends up with is a mismatched, clunky narrative that sees Norton’s Bruce undergo experiments that were shown in the original movie, and overcrowd the film in general.
The flashbacks are jarring, and retread old ground, while not adding anything new or compelling to the movie. And as a result, it just slows down the pace every time a blurry flashback comes on. Overall, the flashbacks could have been cut, and it likely would have made for a better, more streamlined Hulk story.
5Bruce Banner Is Terrified Of Losing Control, But By Avengers He Has Everything Under Control, Just A Few Years Later
Once Again, These Two Versions Are Extremely Different
Norton’s Banner is constantly fighting to stay in control. When he reconnects with Betty, and the two get hot and heavy, he stops them from proceeding to avoid his heart rate spiking. This constant monitoring and avoiding stimulation rules his life, and causes him to live as a recluse. However, just a few years later,Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Bannerappears to have complete control of his transformations.
Yes,The Avengersdoes show Banner turning into Hulk after manipulation by Loki and the Mind Stone, but in general,Banner seems to be able to withstand a lot more than Norton’s version ever could. And beyond that, as the final fight inThe Avengersplays out, Bruce arrives and shares his secret about keeping a cool head; “I’m always angry.” It just seems like a huge leap to see the character have such a huge transformation in such a short time, especially considering how closely he monitored things before.
4The CGI Looks So Much Worse Compared To The Rest Of The MCU
They Struggled To Make Edward Norton’s Face Work For The Green Giant
The MCU has made incredible advances with CGI over the years, with characters like the giant purple alien Thanos appearing photorealistic. However, even in the time that elapsed betweenThe Incredible HulkandThe Avengers, the design of Hulk dramatically changed. Looking back at the way the character appears in The Incredible Hulk,it seems so much less refined.
While the MCU was able to incorporate Mark Ruffalo’s physical appearance into their design, they struggled to make Edward Norton’s slim face work for the Green Giant. So, they created something much less true to life. The result was an odd-looking creation that appears janky and out of place in the live-action movie.
3The Romance With Betty Ross Went Nowhere
When Betty Ross Returns InBrave New World, There Is No Mention Of Her Relationship With Banner
While Betty Ross is generally seen as the ultimate romantic partner for Bruce Banner,the relationship between the two is underwhelming inThe Incredible Hulk. Sure, despite being engaged to a new guy, Betty chases Bruce, and the two can’t contain their passion, but as soon as they reignite their spark, it all fizzles out to nothing.
InThe Avengers,Bruce Banner develops a flame for Natasha Romanoff, and they explore that relationship briefly, but when Betty Ross returns inBrave New World, there is no mention or reference to any sort of connection between her and Bruce. Overall, it’s just deeply disappointing that this amounted to pretty much nothing.
2The Dark Broody Tone Of The Incredible Hulk Is Not In Keeping With The MCU
The MCU Films Employ Bright Colors, Humor, And A Sense Of Hope
After 36 theatrically released films, the MCU has developed a style and tone of voice that is generally consistent across the entire franchise. Yes, some movies dip into other subgenres, like espionage, horror, and heist, butoverall, the movies incorporate humor, bright colors, and hope.The Incredible Hulkdid not fit this toneor style in any way.
With it being the second release of the MCU, it can somewhat be forgiven, but the fact that it is just so starkly different is jarring from a point of view of someone trying to connect this universe together. The Incredible Hulk is supposed to be a piece of the puzzle, but its sharp, broody, and dark edges dont fit into the round, smoothy, and curvy puzzle that is the MCU.
1The Incredible Hulk Feels Like It Exists Somewhere Else In The Multiverse
Now, the MCU has established the concept of multiple realities, and variants in the MCU. WithSpider-Man: No Way Home, andDeadpool & Wolverine, it confirmed the relationship between the Fox Marvel movies, and the Sony Marvel movies, and several other projects. ButThe Incredible Hulkfeels like it’s a little beyond the palefor this kind of treatment.
Marvel should cut the losses with that old title, and acknowledge it’s an alternate reality, instead of chasing the dream thatThe Incredible Hulkever had a firm place in the MCU.
SinceCaptain America: Brave New Worldbrought several characters back, and moved the narrative from the 2008 movie forward, it seems like Marvel doubled down onThe Incredible Hulk’sposition in the timeline. But that only makes things more confusing for the MCU. Instead,Marvel should cut the losses with that old title, and acknowledge it’s an alternate reality, instead of chasing the dream thatThe Incredible Hulkever had a firm place in the MCU.
