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Welcome to the main discussion thread for the Marvel Cinematic Universe! This pinned post is here to establish some basic guidelines. All of the Media Forum rules still apply.

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    Original post 
Since Thor and now Captain America came out this year, I wanted to get what Tropers thought of the concept and execution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general. Personally I love the idea and wonder why this idea hasn't been seriously tried before. It sorta seems to me like the DCAU in movie form (And well, ummm, with Marvel), and really 'gets' the comic book feel of a shared universe while not being completely alienating.

Edited by Mrph1 on Jul 29th 2024 at 3:09:00 PM

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#125826: Mar 8th 2021 at 9:15:09 AM

The thing about Bruce/Natasha is that it doesn't have set up because it starts and ends in Age of Ultron.

Doylistically, its built out of Black Widow being the one sent to retrieve Bruce at the beginning of Avengers and in-universe her interest in him builds off-screen on all these missions that the Avengers have totally been on together up to the point where she's the go-to to calm the Hulk (although as Ragnarok shows, Thor at least thinks it should work for anyone).

They don't really get together until that party that gets Ultron'd. And they kind of rush into it considering how hectic everything is. Not to mention Natasha dumped her life story for anyone to read when she helped take down SHIELD. She's in a position to be trying new things.

And in the end, the relationship just doesn't pan out beyond some wistful 'could we make this a thing' musings. Bruce wants to run away from it all (which he does do) but when push comes to shove, Natasha can't abandon the Avengers or the mission.

As a tragedy of a relationship that never really had a chance to work, it could have worked as a subplot. The writing around it was not great. But it wasn't supposed to be a starcrossed lovers fateful true love thing. It was Natasha going 'i'm going to try to date not spies' and Bruce going 'oh no someone is showing interest in me'

And ironically, the fact that it never got off the ground has made them both more messed up than if they'd actually made a go out of it and it didn't work out.

But yeah. It wasn't written particularly well, partially because it had to share oxygen with a bunch of other stuff, but I see what the core idea was.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#125827: Mar 8th 2021 at 9:28:20 AM

Its main job was a reason for Bruce to feel sad so the Hulk could run away in time for Civil War. Then it got entangled in a bunch of misogyny.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#125828: Mar 8th 2021 at 9:30:27 AM

Should have gone with blasting Hulk off in a rocket

to the Moon or somewhere

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#125829: Mar 8th 2021 at 9:31:01 AM

The hulk running away sad thing was also sharing time with him smashing up that city but multiple reasons makes it work better probably

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
#125830: Mar 8th 2021 at 9:39:03 AM

At the very least, Hulk choosing to go away on his own didn't result in the myriad of trust issues shooting him into space did.

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#125831: Mar 8th 2021 at 9:46:15 AM

The MCU heroes don’t need to look like more of dicks either

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HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#125832: Mar 8th 2021 at 10:38:40 AM

Yes. That's very true.

Honestly, a lot of Planet Hulk and World War Hulk could have been averted if they'd just talked to Bruce about it.

There's an entire What If? about him actually landing on the planet they intended to send him to and actually finding peace.

I'm never gonna be happy with comics wanting to drag their heroes so far through the mud that the dirt and grime is just permanently caked on.

One Strip! One Strip!
Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#125833: Mar 8th 2021 at 10:41:22 AM

And Planet Hulk itself ends on a peaceful note if not for "oh btw the ship you came on will suddenly explode k thanks bye".

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#125834: Mar 8th 2021 at 10:41:46 AM

I'd be down for a twist on the usual Hulk dynamic, where Ross is after Bruce and trying to justify containing him, but Bruce has been Tony the Tiger for the last five years so Ross has to go after his reputation.

Yadda yadda Leader, yadda yadda Red Hulk, etc.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#125835: Mar 8th 2021 at 10:42:09 AM

What if we shot Hulk into the Sun?

I need to test this hypothesis

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#125836: Mar 8th 2021 at 10:50:01 AM

Has anyone in the Marvel Universe ever tried turning everyone on the planet into Hulks?

While there are many ways that could go wrong, you can see how, if everyone has his colossal strength, then no one's in particular danger from it.

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#125837: Mar 8th 2021 at 10:52:10 AM

That was a plot in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, though the Leader capped it off with a rousing round of mind control as well.

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#125838: Mar 8th 2021 at 10:53:56 AM

There was also a section of Battleworld in Recent Secret Wars that was Oops All Hulks

It was called Greenland

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
ClancyGardener life is a state of mind from 53 miles west of Venus Since: Jun, 2020 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
#125839: Mar 8th 2021 at 10:57:59 AM

[up][up][up] Well, even disregarding the fact that property damage would likely be as much as a problem, and the psychological effects of being turned into a green muscle monster, gamma rays affect everyone differently in the Marvel Universe. Some people get super strength, some people get enhanced intelligence, some people get energy-manipulation, and most people just get radiation sickness and die.

And even if everyone specifically got the Hulk's powers, not everyone would have his level of strength. She-Hulk and Abomination for example don't have Bruce's severe psychological baggage and thus can't get stronger as they get angrier. So in all probability, a world of Hulks would likely have a massive level of inequality.

Edited by ClancyGardener on Mar 8th 2021 at 10:58:17 AM

Trope Editor (he/him)
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#125840: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:27:12 AM

And Planet Hulk itself ends on a peaceful note if not for "oh btw the ship you came on will suddenly explode k thanks bye".

Why in the world did they make the ship to transport Hulk powerful enough to wipe out all life on a planet if it explodes? Wasn't the whole point to send him to a peaceful paradise?

VengefulBale Bishie Gijinka Meta Knight from Nowhere Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Bishie Gijinka Meta Knight
#125841: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:28:01 AM

[up] Because comic writers can't let their characters be happy and must add a way to yank their well-earned happy endings

Prettiest Meta Knight Gijinka, ngl
Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#125842: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:43:40 AM

Because the Hulk can't ever get anything without losing it eventually.

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
#125843: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:47:36 AM

[up]The perils of characters being around forever. At least in the MCU so far, retirements are looking to stick.

HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#125844: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:47:40 AM

We got World War Hulk out of it, I'm happy.

Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#125845: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:50:20 AM

Really? I think WWH sucked majorly, especially in comparison to Planet Hulk.

The Art alone.....ugh.

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#125846: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:51:51 AM

At least got Reed and Tony beaten up for their last misdeeds.

Wake me up at your own risk.
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#125847: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:52:30 AM

Reed could stand to be beaten up for his misdeeds more often.

Tony is a bit of a punching bag lately, where lately has been like a decade.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#125848: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:53:07 AM

I loved WWH, I thought it was a pretty great spectacle story.

The opening fight against Black Bolt was already pretty good:

"I'm not here for a whisper. I want to hear you scream!"

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#125849: Mar 8th 2021 at 11:56:58 AM

Alas, it had to be retconned into being a Skrull

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#125850: Mar 8th 2021 at 12:36:08 PM

Wasn't there also a World War Hulks (yes, that's plural) event not too long ago as well?

One Strip! One Strip!

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