Spider-Man: No Way Home may have ended on a grim note, with the entire world forgetting who Peter Parker is, but a new fan theory suggests at least one being in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is exempt from Doctor Strange’s spell: the Incredible Hulk.
The theory, by Redditor Apprehensive-Neat-68, draws inspiration from The Immortal Hulk: Great Power, by Tom Taylor and Jorge Molina. The 2020 Marvel Comics one-shot clarifies that, while Bruce Banner and virtually everyone else has forgotten Spider-Man is Peter Parker, because of his “One More Day” bargain with the demon Mephisto, the Hulk has not. “I don’t forget,” he emphasizes.
The MCU theory predicts Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will have a run-in with Hulk, who will be the only one who remembers the world as it was before Doctor Strange’s spell, because the monster is a separate entity from Bruce Banner.
It would be interesting if that angle were brought into the MCU, as its iteration of the Hulk has undergone many changes over the past 13-plus years. It’s entirely possible Hulk’s consciousness retained memories that Banner no longer has.
Of course, it’s worth noting that the current state of the Incredible Hulk isn’t entirely clear. In Avengers: Endgame, he had merged with Banner to form what’s widely referred to as “Professor Hulk.” But in the end-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Mark Ruffalo’s Banner was clearly a separate entity from the Hulk. And then there’s the brief tease for the upcoming Disney+ She-Hulk series, in which Banner and Professor Hulk both appear.
Of course, some fans point out that Peter Parker and the Hulk never actually met or interacted in the MCU, so it’s possible the Green Goliath — in any form — never knew Spider-Man’s identity to begin with. While that would appear to be the case, Holland’s Spider-Man is known for revealing his identity to virtually every hero with whom he interacts, from Captain Marvel to Doctor Strange. Therefore, it’s not impossible that they met off-screen and introduced themselves.
While the theory may not be airtight, as it’s unclear what level of separation Bruce Banner and the Hulk have in the current MCU, it’s somewhat comforting to think Peter may not be entirely alone in this strange new world, post-No Way Home. And given that Spider-Man and the Hulk will continue to be key players in the MCU, it’s likely this theory will be tested at some point.
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