10 Most Essential Characters In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

By John K Kirk /

3. Hulk

Every super-hero team needs a fantastically strong guy, but the Hulk is more than just that. On a poetic level, the Hulk represents the intellectual struggle within human nature to subdue the id and overcome the worst of our nature. We are also reminded of Stan Lee€™s axiom: €˜with great power comes great responsibility€™. The metaphor of the Hulk is clearly obvious and ironically brings a degree of sophistication to the MCU with the words: €œHULK SMASH!€ Bruce Banner was tasked with the responsibility of duplicating the super-soldier serum that created Captain America. At the time of the assignment, Captain America was lost to the United States. Banner€™s work was based on mostly individual research and his own theoretical development. Instead, Banner created a gamma radiation-spawned monster that grew more powerful as its rage increased. The Hulk is not only a major asset to the Avengers, but also one of its greatest liabilities. His battle with the Chitauri and Loki displayed his uncontrollable rage and his unique status within the group. He can be a force for good, but also an unpredictable source of story development. At times, the Hulk can either be friend or foe and this unpredictable nature makes him an indispensable character for a plot twist that screenwriters would delight in adding for the audience€™s entertainment. However, he is also a character of surprisingly great depth as he reminds movie-goers that great power often has a great price and makes him a compelling one to watch.