Is Hulk So Underpowered in The MCU?

When I was a kid, I loved watching Hulk in cartoons and comics. He was the ultimate powerhouse – unstoppable and always ready to smash anything in his way.

So, when I started watching the MCU, I expected to see that same Hulk, but something felt different.

He wasn’t dominating every fight, and sometimes, he even lost. It left me questioning why the Hulk we see on screen feels so underpowered compared with the one in the comics.

1. Hulk Is Stuck in a Supporting Role

One big reason Hulk feels weaker in the MCU is that he doesn’t get much of the spotlight. After The Incredible Hulk in 2008, Marvel didn’t make another solo movie for him.

It’s not because they didn’t want to – Universal Pictures owns the distribution rights to standalone Hulk films.

This means Marvel can’t fully use him as the star of his own story. Instead, Hulk mostly appears in team movies or as a side character, like in Thor: Ragnarok.

This supporting role limits his development. The focus is often on the “Big 3” of the MCU – Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America.

Hulk ends up being used to boost their stories instead of showing his true strength. So when it seems like Hulk is underpowered, part of it is that his potential hasn’t been fully explored.

2. Power Scaling Keeps the Story Interesting

The MCU likes to keep things balanced. If Hulk were as strong as in the comics, where he’s held up a planet or smashed through dimensions, the battles would be over too quickly.

Imagine if Hulk could just crush every villain in seconds – it wouldn’t leave much room for suspense or teamwork.

In the MCU, power levels are adjusted to keep the stakes high. Thor, Captain Marvel, and others also get toned down, while weaker characters like Captain America get a little boost.

This makes fights feel fair and ensures the story isn’t all about one person solving everything. Hulk still has incredible strength, but it’s carefully limited to keep the tension alive.

3. Hulk Is Used as a Benchmark

Here’s where things get tricky. Hulk often serves as a “benchmark” in the MCU – a way to show how strong a villain or hero is by having them defeat him.

This storytelling trope, called the “Worf Effect,” comes from Star Trek. Worf, a tough warrior, would often lose to new enemies to show how powerful they were.

The MCU does the same with Hulk. In Infinity War, Thanos beats him in a brutal hand-to-hand fight.

Hulk goes all out, but Thanos counters with skill and strength, even without using the Power Stone – to establish Thanos as a nearly unbeatable foe.

Other examples include his fight with Iron Man in the Hulkbuster suit during Age of Ultron.

Hulk dominates most of the battle, but Tony Stark only wins by using a sucker punch after Wanda’s spell leaves Hulk dazed.

These moments aren’t about Hulk failing; they’re about moving the story forward and making the villains look more threatening.

4. Hulk’s Evolution and Strength in the MCU

Hulk’s character in the MCU has changed a lot, especially with the introduction of Smart Hulk in Endgame.

This version of Hulk combines Bruce Banner’s intelligence with Hulk’s strength, which is a major shift from the angry, unstoppable monster we saw earlier.

While Smart Hulk is powerful, he’s less focused on raw aggression, which can make him feel less dominant.

In Age of Ultron, Wanda’s spell leaves him confused and upset, which makes him vulnerable during his fight with Iron Man.

But let’s not forget Hulk’s impressive moments in the MCU. He holds up the entire Avengers compound after it collapses in Endgame, a feat requiring immense strength.

He also snaps with the Infinity Gauntlet, which seriously injures even the strongest beings.

In Ragnarok, he takes down Fenris, the massive wolf, and goes toe-to-toe with Thor, holding his own until Thor powers up.

Is Hulk Really Underpowered?

Hulk might feel weaker than his comic counterpart, but he’s far from underpowered. His role in the MCU isn’t just about strength – it’s to balance and storytelling.

He’s scaled down to keep the fights interesting, used as a benchmark to highlight villains, and evolves emotionally and intellectually as the movies progress.

Even though he doesn’t always win, Hulk has had plenty of memorable feats.

His losses often serve a bigger purpose, showing us how dangerous the villains are or pushing other heroes forward.

So while the MCU’s Hulk might not always smash, he’s still one of the most fascinating and powerful characters on the screen.