One famous Hulk is likely to make his first MCU appearance before Phase 6 concludes. Following Avengers: Endgame, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk has only made a supporting appearance in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and a small role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. With no confirmed return in Avengers: Doomsday, it's up for Spider-Man: Brand New Day to keep him relevant in the franchise.
In Marvel Comics, Bruce Banner doesn't only have to deal with his green, raging Gamma counterpart. Several aspects of Banner's psyche and personality take a body of their own as different Hulks. So far in the MCU, only one of these separate Hulks has been introduced, in the form of Bruce Banner's transformation, "Smart Hulk." Now, another Gamma monster may be on the way.
Gray Hulk Might Make His MCU Debut Soon
Hulk's Spider-Man: Brand New Day Action Scene Suggests Smart Hulk Is No More
Bruce Banner has achieved his goal of enjoying a peaceful life without "the other guy" arriving to destroy everything at any moment. However, Mark Ruffalo's Banner is set to play a significant role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day gives the original Hulk an opportunity to unleash his rage and ruin Banner's Smart Hulk experiment. Though, if Smart Hulk suddenly loses control, a different side of the Gamma monster could be awakened. Instead of the Green Goliath, a more sinister, devious Hulk could come out. The MCU could introduce Gray Hulk as a combination between Smart Hulk's intellect and the original Hulk's rage and strength.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day's introduction of Gray Hulk could set up a future Hulk arc where Bruce Banner deals with multiple separate alter egos, or one where Savage Hulk comes back with a vengeance. In Avengers: Secret Wars, either Gray Hulk or the original Hulk could inject more strength into the battle, something he failed to do in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
The MCU Must Avoid A Familiar Problem With Gray Hulk
Gray Hulk Should Be A Truly Separate Hulk
Marvel Comics' Professor Hulk was initially known as "Merged Hulk," so the MCU's Smart Hulk doesn't drift too far away from the source material. However, the comics' Professor Hulk quickly evolved into a separate character of his own, which the MCU ignores. With so much Hulk lore left out of the MCU, overlooking the concept of Bruce Banner's many Hulks would be a mistake.
If the MCU introduces him, Gray Hulk needs to add some variety as a separate individual. Gray Hulk has the potential to be an anti-hero, a full-fledged antagonist, or a recurring character who pops up in Madripoor under the nickname Joe Fixit. This is a great way to push Hulk's MCU story forward without walking back on his character arc.
