10 Most Irritating Subplots In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

8. Samuel Sterns' Transformation - The Incredible Hulk

Samuel Sterns was the biologist who went by the codename "Mr Blue" when communicating with Bruce Banner and trying to help him find a cure for his gamma radiation poisoning. However, Sterns' scientific curiosity to examine the medical potential of Bruce's blood eventually gives way to super-soldier Emil Blonsky forcing Sterns to inject him with some of Banner's blood, causing Blonsky to mutate into the Hulk-like, ridged-back creature known as the Abomination. After transforming, Blonsky goes on a rampage, causing Sterns' lab to be destroyed: this results in some of Banner's blood coming into contact with a gash on Sterns' forehead, making it pulsate as the scene cuts away. Tim Blake Nelson is great in his brief role as the eccentric Sterns, but it's frustrating that Sterns is clearly transforming into the comic book villain known as Leader, and yet this thread is never returned to. Yes, the Marvel comic Fury's Big Week did show Sterns being arrested by Black Widow shortly thereafter, but is that really sufficient for what presumably was supposed to be a pretty important subplot? Instead, it just seems like a wasted opportunity, and the lack of a Hulk sequel is in large part to blame.