A Big MCU Phase 4 Villain Twist Proves How Badly Marvel Failed Hulk

Summary

• The MCU hasn't fully explored Smart Hulk's transformation, which seems to have been successful simply because of Bruce Banner had enough time to find the right scientific experiment.
• Emil Blonsky achieved control over his Abomination persona through meditation and spirituality, making his transformation seem more earned than Smart Hulk's.
• The MCU can still explore the intricacies of Smart Hulk's new persona in a future title, providing more depth to Bruce Banner's transformation.

Phase 4 delivered a better Smart Hulk story with an unexpected MCU villain than it did with Mark Ruffalo's Hulk himself. After only a few appearances since the beginning of Hulk's MCU story, the traditional Savage Hulk merged with Bruce Banner to become the calm and intelligent Smart Hulk — a combination of both personas with Hulk's strength but Bruce Banner's consciousness. Smart Hulk's introduction in Avengers: Endgame came as a surprise after Hulk's defeat at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, as it seemed like the monster gave up and let Bruce Banner take the reins full-time.
Avengers: Endgame mentioned that Bruce Banner spent 18 months in a lab trying to merge himself with the Hulk through various experiments. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law confirmed this when Smart Hulk told Jennifer Walters about the creation of his lab in Mexico with Tony Stark's help. Apparently, the five years between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were very productive for Banner, as he also developed certain tools that help him study similar powerful Gamma monsters like She-Hulk. However, science is not the only way a human being can control their Gamma-powered counterpart in the MCU.
Your browser does not support the video tag. Bruce Banner And Emil Blonsky Both Grew To Control Their Monster Just a couple of years after Smart Hulk's first appearance in Avengers: Endgame, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law delivered another shocking twist with Abomination's MCU return, which revealed that Emil Blonsky went through a similar transformation to Smart Hulk after being captured at the end of The Incredible Hulk. Emil Blonsky's control over his Abomination persona had nothing to do with Bruce Banner, as the villain explained that he achieved it by meditating and delving into spirituality. The former villain can still use his Gamma power in battle, but Blonsky is always in control by sheer force of will alone.
Why Abomination's Change Works So Much Better Than Hulks Although the MCU doesn't show either process on screen, Abomination's drastic transformation in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is better established than Smart Hulk's off-screen change between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Emil Blonsky is shown to have made a conscious effort to take over the monster by wrestling with his own demons. Blonsky had to overcome his envy for Hulk's power and abilities, his thirst for power, and his subsequent resentment after being sent to prison in order to become one with the Abomination. While only acknowledged through dialog, Abomination's MCU character arc is enriched by his willingness to transform into a calm version of the monster.
Smart Hulk, on the other hand, only seems to be a product of Bruce Banner's scientific experiments, which seem to have happened out of boredom. Hulk's refusal to come out during Avengers: Infinity War isn't developed as a plot point afterward. Instead, Avengers: Endgame simply skips to the aftermath of Smart Hulk's successful transformation, with the hero enjoying a peaceful life as a superhero celebrity. There doesn't seem to be any effort or emotional struggle in Smart Hulk's change, therefore it seems as if Bruce Banner's long, grueling conflict with the Hulk never required anything more than the right scientific experiment or medical treatment.


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