Previously unseen concept art fromAvengers: Endgamehas recently been revealed, and I’m sad that the epicMCUcrossover event cut one brilliant moment that would have seen Bruce Banner’s Hulk team up with the Black Panther.Avengers: Endgame, one of my personal favorite MCU movies, marked the culmination of over a decade of live-action superhero adventures, and included some huge transformations for many veteran heroes. Few saw as many alterations as Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, however, who revealed hisSmart Hulk persona inEndgame.
I’ve loved seeingBruce Banner transform since his MCU debutin 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk. He has been an Avenger, unleashed his savage nature under the Scarlet Witch’s manipulation, fought as a gladiator on Sakaar, and battled Thanos' forces in the Hulkbuster armor.The Hulk has been at the center of some of the most memorable moments in the MCU, with one of the stand-outs, for me, being delivered in 2012’sThe Avengers, and this fantastic moment was almost made better inAvengers: Endgame.
The Hulk’s Original Leviathan Take-Down Was Almost Made Even Better In Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame Almost Repeated The Avengers' Best Hulk Moment
During a pivotal moment inThe Avengers,Bruce Banner joined the Battle of New York, claiming that he is"always angry,“and hastily transforming into the Hulk to take down a Leviathan with one punch. I’m glad this epic scene has persisted as one of the MCU’s most memorable moments, butAvengers: Endgamealmost made it even better. A storyboard featured in the newMarvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding book, showcasing art from Marvel Studios' Head of Visual Development, brings together the Hulk and T’Challa’s Black Panther during the Battle of Earth (viaX).
In Meinerding’s original plan, the Hulk would have punched Black Panther to charge up his suit with kinetic energy.T’Challa would have then used this energy to take down a Leviathan with one punch, exactly how the Hulk did back in the MCU’s Phase 1. I would have loved to have seen this moment play out inAvengers: Endgame, especially since this would have given the lateChadwick Boseman’s Black Panthera more substantive role inEndgame.This could have also brought another iconic Hulk moment into the MCU, which we’ve been sorely missing in recent years.
Why Didn’t The Hulk & Black Panther Team Up In Endgame?
The Hulk & Black Panther Weren’t The Focus Of Avengers: Endgame’s Final Battle
While the Hulk and Black Panther have been central heroes in the MCU since their respective debuts, neither were the focus of the finalbattle against Thanos inAvengers: Endgame. Of course, I would have loved for Bruce Banner and T’Challa to have more attention during the Battle of Earth, butheroes such as Steve Rogers' Captain America, Tony Stark’s Iron Man and Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel drew more focus. This meant that a team-up between the Hulk and Black Panther may have taken up too much time.
10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Avengers: Endgame 5 Years Later
It’s been 5 years since the Infinity Saga wrapped up with its penultimate project, Avengers: Endgame, but even this beloved movie caused some issues.
Future adventures for both the Hulk and Black Panther had been planned, meaning they would have had even more time to grow and develop, whileSteve Rogers and Tony Stark bid farewellto the MCU inAvengers: Endgame. It was a shame that Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther wouldn’t get this chance, but the idea that he would have continued inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forevermeant that this epicEndgamemoment perhaps wasn’t needed. Even so, I still have hope that Ryan Meinerding’s storyboard could still come to life.
How This Hulk & Black Panther Moment Could Still Happen In The MCU
Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner Could Still Team Up With A Black Panther
While it’s now impossible that this brilliantAvengers: Endgamescene could play out with Bruce Banner and T’Challa, I reckon it would be great to team-up the Hulk andShuri’s new Black Panther in the MCU’s future. Letitia Wright’s Shuri became the MCU’s new Black Panther in 2022’sWakanda Forever, taking over from her late brother, and I really hope she portrays the Wakandan hero for years to come.It would be great to see Shuri interact with some of the MCU’s veteran heroes, and the Hulk would be a fantastic option.
