By Zach Johnson
Ever since Bruce Banner first transformed into The Hulk in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, he’s made smashing impacts on some of the biggest villains—and heroes!—in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (It’s not always easy to tell who’s who when you’re angry all the time!) In celebration of The Incredible Hulk making its long-awaited Disney+ debut today, we’ve rounded up five of the so-called Strongest Avenger’s most memorable fights in the MCU.
5. The Hulk vs. Abomination (The Incredible Hulk, 2008)
Perhaps the only person angrier than The Hulk is Abomination (Tim Roth). After he wreaks havoc in Harlem, it’s up to The Hulk to stop him. “Any last words?” Abomination bellows, swinging a metal chain in the air. Pounding his firsts into the ground, The Hulk replies, “Hulk... smash!” This turns the ground into rubble, giving him the upper hand. But after an appeal from Betty Ross (Liv Tyler), he elects to spare Abomination’s life.
4. The Hulk vs. Loki (Marvel’s The Avengers, 2012)
The Battle of New York is one of epic proportions—and for the newly formed Avengers, it proves just how mighty they really are. After taking down countless members of the Chitauri army, The Hulk sets his sights on the “puny god” they serve, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). He tosses him around like a rag doll, leaving him to contemplate his total and utter failure.
3. The Hulk vs. Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War, 2018)
No one can shake The Hulk’s confidence quite like the Mad Titan (Josh Brolin). Having just acquired the Power Stone from Xandar, Thanos intercepts the spaceship carrying Asgard’s survivors—and easily overpowers The Hulk, to Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki’s surprise.
2. The Hulk vs. Hulkbuster (Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2015)
Leave it to Bruce and Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Disney Legend Robert Downey Jr.) to think two steps ahead. Aware that The Hulk could cause a major catastrophe at a moment’s notice—as he does in Johannesburg—Iron Man deploys the Mark XLIV Iron Man Armor to restrain and contain The Hulk. Easier said than done, of course, since he won’t “go to sleep.”
1. The Hulk vs. Thor (Thor: Ragnarok, 2017)
After Thor crash-lands on Sakaar, the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) forces him to compete in the Contest of Champions. To Thor’s surprise, his opponent is none other than The Hulk—“a friend from work.” But it quickly becomes apparent that The Hulk isn’t going to take it easy on him. In fact, it isn’t until the Grandmaster intervenes that the fight comes to an end.
