Fans Outraged: A Shocking Comparison of the Hulk from 2012 to 2024

The Incredible Hulk, released in 2008 alongside Iron Man, was the second film in what would eventually become the MCU. However, it doesn’t quite hold the same prestige as other MCU films, making it one of the more contentious entries in the franchise.

Several factors contribute to this perception. While the MCU is gradually revisiting and reevaluating the film’s place within its current canon, the most significant issue—the proverbial “elephant in the room”—is the recasting of the Hulk.

Mark Ruffalo took over Edward Norton’s role, this marks the most notable recasting of a major character in the MCU. It’s also the only time a hero has been replaced.

Although this change led to various shifts, Marvel’s approach to the Hulk within the generally family-friendly framework has resulted in numerous challenges. Some are related to the character and others are tied to production issues. In this article, we will focus on the latter.

One of the major issues with the MCU’s portrayal of the Hulk is the CGI. As you may know, the character has undergone numerous visual changes, most of which have “tamed” him, turning him into a more child-friendly figure—something he fundamentally is not.

The Hulk is meant to be a menacing and unpredictable presence, but the MCU has softened him to avoid scaring younger audiences. While this approach may be understandable, it has led to various production challenges. As one fan pointed out on X, the CGI quality has noticeably declined, as evidenced by this image from 2012:

The differences are striking, and it’s clear that the 2012 version of the character bears little resemblance to the current portrayal. Fans are understandably frustrated about this, as reflected in the comments:

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