It feels like Spider-Man: Brand New Day just released like it was yesterday, but in reality, it’s been two weeks already. With movie theaters popping off with new releases and making money like it’s no one’s business, it was only a matter of time before I went to see the new film — even though it feels like it took me forever.
While there were some things that were already spoiled for me — like a certain character’s big debut in the MCU — there was one thing that I hadn’t been spoiled for. And the moment it happened in the theater, I was grinning like a little kid from ear to ear. That, my friends, has to do with the talented Mark Ruffalo and how it finally felt like the Hulk was back.
That Hulk design is a masterpiece in Brand New Day
Let me preface this by saying that I didn’t know there was such a thing as a savage Hulk. In the grand scheme of all things comic book-related, it makes sense, considering the whole point of Hulk is that he’s a big green monster that smashes things really well. Of course there’s an even angrier, stronger version of him.
But good God, I just fell in love with this design.
Honestly, I was a little wary when I watched the first Brand New Day trailer and saw Mark Ruffalo there. I love the actor, and he’s done a good job portraying Bruce Banner throughout the last fourteen years. But it feels like his character specifically has been sidelined in a lot of recent Marvel projects in favor of the calmer version of the Hulk—the one that somehow lives in harmony with Banner and sort of makes the Hulk look like him.
At first, that was a nice little trick. I’m sure fans of all kinds were interested. But when it was like that during the latest Avengers films, and it felt like we lost the Hulk that we all fell in love with back in 2012, and even more so in Avengers: Age of Ultron, it became tiring. I didn’t want to see his Ruffalo-fied version of him anymore.
Seeing him as a physics and quantum mechanics professor makes sense, which lines up with Peter seeing him, but when I saw that Hulk design, I was giggling like crazy. It absolutely made my night.
This version of the Hulk was genuinely terrifying, had me on the edge of my seat, and was so giant that it felt like I was standing in Peter’s place, looking up at him. He was terrified. And then the callback of Hulk just smashing Peter around like he was a rag doll, just like he did to Loki in The Avengers—I was gagged. I couldn’t help it. I can’t go back to how it once was. This makes me want a Hulk movie. And I never wanted one before.
Please, please keep this Hulk design, Marvel
Look, maybe Hulk doesn’t need to be as big as this all the time. But this specific design, to me, was even better than the one in The Avengers and Age of Ultron. When people think of the Hulk, this is exactly what they think of.
With Banner’s inhibitor destroyed, it does make me wonder how future Avengers films might play out. He won't be in Avengers: Doomsday, but that doesn't mean future films won't have him. But I really don’t want another 2+ hour movie where we see big, green Ruffalo. I want his amazing acting as the Hulk. We have come such a long way since 2012’s version, and this version shows that Marvel can truly make a comic-accurate version. Why not just stick with this?
The way he was infused into the plot was great too. There wasn’t too much, just enough to help Peter’s story along, which is how all MCU cast additions should be done. But that’s beside the point. We are here to focus on that design, and yes, I am vouching for it going forward.
I think it would be a waste to create this phenomenal design and then just let it revert to what it once was. Marvel fans have grown tired of these changes and want authentic, good stories with strong visuals. This gave us both. Please keep him. I love him.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is still in theaters right now, so go and see it again just for the fun of it.
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