If the Hulk were in Captain America‘s debut show and movie in the MCU, I think it would have benefited both characters. Captain America’s MCU timeline spans two different characters: Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson. The latter first took the mantle in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier before truly solidifying his position as the Avengers’ new leader in the ending of Captain America: Brave New World. Where the Hulk is concerned, his MCU journey has been much different for external reasons rather than storytelling factors.
The Hulk’s many MCU movies only include one solo venture, with the rest of the character’s appearances coming in either The Avengers series or as supporting roles in other heroes’ standalone stories. Upcoming Marvel movies are set to include both characters once more, yet I cannot help but think that the two could have benefited one another in the past. Captain America: Brave New World was not overly beloved by audiences and critics alike, and criticisms of Hulk’s usage in the MCU have been prevalent. Therefore, I think Hulk’s appearance in Sam Wilson’s previous projects could only have been what both characters needed.
The Hulk Has Often Been Used To Improve Major MCU Heroes’ Stories
Hulk Has Usually Benefited Other MCU Heroes
Despite the criticism around Hulk’s usage primarily in other properties due to complications between Marvel and Universal over movie rights, there is no denying that he has helped to improve these stories. Hulk was a standout inclusion in The Avengers, for example, before going on to play important roles in that movie’s sequels. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Hulk played an active role in the development of the titular villain, which caused a big shift in Tony Stark’s MCU character, proving one way Bruce Banner improved Iron Man’s MCU story.
There is still some bitterness that Hulk has not received a more singular focus in the MCU up to this point, but there is no denying how he has often improved the stories of adjacent heroes…
After that, Hulk appeared in Thor: Ragnarok. Hulk was, again, a standout in this movie and helped Thor to shine in a way the MCU had not yet provided for the God of Thunder at that point. Hulk then improved the story of She-Hulk by providing Jennifer Walters with a much-needed perspective on what it is like to be a giant green rage monster. Overall, there is still some bitterness that Hulk has not received a more singular focus in the MCU up to this point, but there is no question about how he has often improved the stories of adjacent heroes and their character arcs.
Captain America’s Two Post-Endgame Stories Would Have Benefited From Hulk’s Inclusion
Sam & Bruce Have More In Common Than First Thought
With this in mind, I think including Hulk in Captain America’s two post-Endgame stories would have been a benefit to both characters. Although the stories of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World may have needed to lose some aspects to accommodate this, there are throughlines in both that tie Bruce Banner and Sam Wilson together. One is the Super Soldier Serum, which the MCU seems to forget ties intrinsically to Bruce Banner’s transition into the Hulk.
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A big aspect of Sam’s character arc was whether he could be Captain America without the Super Soldier Serum. Given his own experiences with this, Bruce could have helped Sam come to terms with the Serum having adverse effects, allowing the new Captain America to come into his own without those added powers. Where Hulk is concerned, Sam’s history as a counselor to war veterans – shown in Captain America: The Winter Soldier – could have allowed Bruce to open up, too, and get some healing words from his new Avengers leader.
Smart Hulk’s Story Means He Wouldn’t Overshadow Captain America
The Nature Of Smart Hulk Means He Wouldn’t Be Too Overbearing
Naturally, having Hulk in either of those Captain America stories could have led to the criticism that the former would overshadow the latter. That said, I do not think this would be the case. After all, Hulk is now Smart Hulk, devoid of the intense rage that used to make the character a much bigger, literally and figuratively, part of the MCU stories in which he was involved. Smart Hulk’s MCU story at the moment is fairly dialed down, given his lack of overall appearances since Endgame, before it undoubtedly ramps up again for Avengers: Doomsday.
Hulk’s acceptance of his past could also mean he would not have gotten involved in the Red Hulk fight, still allowing Captain America to defeat the overwhelming villain on his own.
On the contrary, Sam Wilson’s story is only getting bigger and more dynamic as it goes. Since Endgame, Sam has gone from Falcon to Captain America to reforming The Avengers, with the story of Avengers: Doomsday only set to capitalize on these aspects. For these reasons, Sam could still have remained the main focus of either story if Hulk had been involved, with Bruce appearing more as a confidant and calm ally than the raging Hulk monster we knew in the MCU’s Infinity Saga.
Tying The Hulk & Captain America’s Stories Together Makes Sense Given They Already Have Strong Links
Captain America: Brave New World Was A Testament To This
Aside from the Super Soldier Serum link that could have allowed Hulk to appear in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the two characters already have strong links to one another that could have rendered their team-up a success. Of course, they both have a history as Avengers, despite rarely being on the team at the same time. Beyond that, though, Captain America: Brave New World‘s cast rendered the film more of an Incredible Hulk sequel than anything else in the entire MCU.
The inclusion of characters like Thunderbolt Ross, Samuel Sterns/The Leader, and Betty Ross, who are all so connected to the Hulk, means it would only make sense for Sam to seek Bruce out for advice. Without Hulk involved, Captain America: Brave New World has a massive unanswered question hanging over it. Therefore, if Hulk were in the movie as someone whom Sam could talk to about the situation, it would have made a lot more sense, and the story’s strong Incredible Hulk connections would seem more natural.
Captain America Setting Up The Avengers Would Have Been Perfect To Tie Into Hulk’s Multiverse Saga Story
The Avengers Would Have Benefited From A Cap-Hulk Team-Up
The final reason why I think Hulk being in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World would have improved both characters’ journeys is linked to The Avengers. The latter film ended with Sam planning to reform the team, leading directly into Avengers: Doomsday. This makes a lot of sense, but it would have been an even stronger plot point if it involved Hulk. On a surface level, having Hulk be part of Sam’s plans to reform The Avengers is logical, given that the former is one of the longest-serving MCU heroes at this point.
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Moreover, the friendship that could have been built between Captain America and Hulk would have worked to involve other MCU heroes in either Avengers: Doomsday or the sequel story of Avengers: Secret Wars. One of the last times Hulk was seen in the MCU, he was in contact with heroes like Wong, Shang-Chi, and Captain Marvel. This would mean that Sam’s eventual reforming of The Avengers would have links to other MCU heroes if they were needed, thanks to the friendship Captain America formed with Hulk. Alas, it was not to be.
- First Appearance
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Captain America Comics
- Alias
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Steve Rogers, John Walker, Sam Wilson
- Alliance
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Avengers, Invaders, S.H.I.E.L.D., U.S. Army
- Race
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Human
- Franchise
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Marvel
