Despite being widely perceived as underused, Bruce Banner and the Hulk have experienced some incredibly sad scenes in the MCU. Hulk was one of the first characters introduced in the MCU, starring in The Incredible Hulk in 2008. Since then, Hulk has only starred in Avengers movies and played a secondary role to others, like Thor and his cousin, Jennifer Walters. 25y4a

While Bruce Banner has been part of the MCU for almost two decades, Marvel Studios has yet to tap into the darkest parts of Hulk's comic book lore. Hulk was one of the first Marvel characters to gain mainstream recognition, thanks to The Incredible Hulk TV series and films from the 1970s and '80s starring Lou Ferrigno. Decades before the MCU made characters like Iron Man and Thor household names, Hulk had already become a cultural icon. The Jade Giant also headlined one of Marvel's earliest big-budget theatrical films in the early 2000s, helping pave the way for the modern era of superhero cinema.

Hulk's story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a little scattered, but I'm glad Marvel discarded one part of his arc that was set up early on. Hulk is one of the original Avengers in the MCU, and while Mark Ruffalo made his debut in that 2012 movie, the character was introduced earlier in 2008, just a short time after Iron Man came out. But despite appearing so early on, Hulk's story got lost in the background of the MCU.

A new era of the Marvel Universe just launched thanks to a single word from the Incredible Hulk. For months, fans have been waiting for the release of Imperial #1 - a story that promised to usher in an ambitious new status quo for Marvel's galaxy. Now, it's here, and the issue ends with the most impactful word the Hulk could have spoken.

The Hulk is one of Marvel’s most iconic and enduring characters, and, as a result, has turned up in some surprising non-superhero television series over the years. While most know him from comic books, animated series, and major blockbusters, the Jade Giant has smashed his way into some hilariously unexpected places. Whether he’s parodying himself, being used for comedic effect, or popping up as a surprise in entirely non-superhero settings, the Hulk has a legacy of cameos that go way beyond the Marvel Universe.

While most associate the Hulk with actors like Lou Ferrigno, Edward Norton, or Mark Ruffalo, the character has actually been portrayed by a surprising number of other performers – often in unexpected or comedic settings. The Hulk is one of Marvel’s most recognizable characters in pop culture: a green-skinned, rage-fueled powerhouse who has appeared in comics, cartoons, TV shows, blockbuster movies, and the MCU timeline. However, he has also appeared in some other surprising projects, played by some unexpected famous faces.

The Hulk's story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has had its ups and downs, but there are a lot of things that could have been very different. Hulk may be one of the most popular characters from Marvel Comics, and one of the first heroes in their lineup to see success in TV and film, but the MCU has had a lot of challenges in establishing their version of the Green Goliath. However, Mark Ruffalo's performance and the CGI from the MCU have largely been praised as some of the best iterations for the hero to date.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Red Hulk #5!Iron Man has created countless Hulk Busters, some strong enough to take down gods, but Marvel just unveiled a Hulk Buster that is so gruesome and ruthless that Iron Man wouldn’t dare to imagine it. While Tony Stark has always had a distinct way of engineering armor to fight the Hulk, Marvel’s latest method of taking down Red Hulk redefined the meaning of “Hulk Buster” in the most brutal way.

Warning: Spoilers for Imperial #1!Hiro-Kala, the son of theHulk, is officially dead, and the potential perpetrator of his demise could have massive implications for the Marvel Universe. The death of Hulk's forgotten son had been teased previously in previews for Marvel's next big galactic event, but now, with the release of Imperial's first issue, Hiro-Kala's death has officially been confirmed in Marvel's main continuity, setting off an intergalactic murder mystery.

Name the heroes who might be worthy of wielding Thor's hammer Mjolnir, and Hulk will appear near the bottom of the list. However, I honestly believe that when you look at the conditions that make someone 'worthy,' Bruce Banner's other half should be able to pick up the enchanted weapon whenever he wants.