Why Captain America: Brave New World Must Avoid A 16-Year-Old MCU Trend
Brave New World offers a lot on its menu for Captain America. From handling Tiamut's appearance's aftermath to confronting the hideous Red Hulk and the brilliant but lethal Leader, Sam Wilson has work ahead of him. But one of the most fascinating questions about the movie is why Hulk isn't there. Given the shared thematic and narrative ties between Hulk and these antagonists, it seems like a lost chance to not have Hulk engaged in the story given the presence of major Hulk antagonists Red Hulk and the Leader.
Red Hulk and the Leader Must Fight Hulk from Brave New World by Surviving
Because Universal owns the movie distribution rights for the character, the MCU has limited use of Hulk. Although Hulk has starred in many MCU projects, this restriction has usually limited him to supporting parts. One excellent example of this is Brave New World, which features well-known Hulk villains absent of Hulk himself. Given that Hulk won't be around to face Red Hulk and The Leader, this begs the issue: what use introducing them? Red Hulk and the Leader should live, and that's the easy fix. The MCU can arrange a future confrontation between them and Hulk by keeping them alive, so enabling the Green Goliath to take front stage against his Gamma-powered enemies at last.
The Main Villains in the MCU Usually Die Too Soon
The MCU has a propensity to swiftly eradicate its antagonists. Over thirty projects spanning sixteen years have seen this trend in place. Although some villains have survived, the great majority have died—often before their potential could be fully realized. For the Hulk, who has a rich legacy of enemies in the comics the MCU has not yet explored, this trend presents a major issue. Red Hulk and the Leader's deaths in Captain America: Brave New World would be a great dishonor to the character of Hulk, particularly given his limited screen time resulting from the previously mentioned distribution rights concerns.
Comic book villains for the MCU's Hulk are already running scarce.
The MCU has already assigned several Hulk villains to other characters, so restricting the pool of possible antagonists for the monster. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, for instance, featured MODOK, a venerable Hulk opponent. Along with the trend of eradicating villains, this habit is quickly emptying the MCU's roster of appropriate enemies for Hulk. This makes the survival of Red Hulk and The Leader all the more crucial since it would create the exciting three-way conflict involving Hulk, Red Hulk, and the Leader in a future MCU installment possible.
President Ross's change into Red Hulk Might Start World War Hulk
President Ross's metamorphosis into Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World might inspire the MCU to adapt World War Hulk. A turning point in the comic book history of the Hulk, this plot sees Hulk return to Earth following exile in space seeking retribution on those who helped to cause his exile. Red Hulk's arrival in Captain America: Brave New World and the possibility for the Leader to survive could set the stage for a World War Hulk adaptation that would at last give Hulk the respect he deserves and offer a fitting ending to the continuous narrative of Hulk's relationship with his past rivals.
Brave New World Must Challenge Convention to Prevent a Hulk Insult, Captain America
The MCU clearly shows a fast killing off of its antagonists trend. Should this trend carry on in Captain America: Brave New World with the deaths of Red Hulk and the Leader, it would be a lost chance and a dishonor to the character of Hulk, who merits more than merely being a supporting actor in a universe where his enemies are routinely eradicated. The MCU can create a gripping future conflict for Hulk that would ultimately let him shine in his own right by bucking this trend and letting these antagonist live. It's time for the MCU to let Hulk's enemies live and let him face them in a way that fits his power and legacy, so giving him the respect and attention he so richly deserves.
