Endgame Detour

Before the release of Spider-Man Brand New Day in about a week, I wanted to do a quick MCU detour into Avengers: Endgame. The Russo Brothers are going to be putting in brand new scenes into the movie that will help it connect more to Dr. Doom’s story and Doomsday. I hope to do another quick detour into that when it comes out in December. This one involves Peter Parker’s professor, Bruce Banner. During She-Hulk (when he healed his ruined arm), the Shang-Chi post-credit scene and the Brand New Day trailer, Bruce was wearing some kind of gamma-inhibitor device. This apparently keeps him human and not Hulk Out, whether he’s smart or otherwise. Bruce is obviously not the only superhero in town anymore and is probably required by Damage Control to keep the device on. 

 

 

 

 Anyways, when Endgame was trying its best to make into the record books with its international box office, it re-released Endgame with a scene from the new Spider-Man Far From Home, a tribute to Stan Lee and a new scene from Endgame starring Smart Hulk. Its right before our heroes meet with Smart Hulk in a diner, where he’s eating a massive amount of pancakes and being awkward with Ant-Man in front of the Russo Brother’s kids. The audience is amazed that the Hulk is the size he is and green but now has Bruce Banner’s intellect: Smart Hulk or Professor Hulk, whatever you want to call him. They discuss time travel and its intricacies. 

 

But let’s get back to the missing action scene with Smart Hulk. It’s the Russo’s Die Hard moment but in New York. They have Reginald VelJohnson in it as a firefighter. Here’s the rest: 

 

 

From:

“This deleted scene opens on what should remind you of 1988's game-changing action classic Die Hard. An office building is on fire, and below, emergency crews struggle to save the few people left inside. Reginald VelJohnson — who plays LAPD Sergeant Al Powell in Die Hard – calls urgently for "more choppers" and in the sky we see something leap from one building to another, crushing walls as it goes. Eventually, the Hulk bursts from the building and lands on the ground near the emergency workers, with the endangered citizens safely cradled in the bowl of a satellite dish Hulk holds over his head. After setting the dish down and giving the crowd the same kind of casual, gracious wave you'd expect from Superman after saving a handful of civilians, the Hulk gets a call, presumably from Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). After picking up, Hulk walks offscreen, saying "Steve who?"

 

 This last line tells us this was meant to be an early scene — between the Avengers' first failed attempt to get Stark to help them figure out time travel and the hilarious scene in the diner when they all meet Professor Hulk. Ironically, as far the post-Snap Marvel Universe is concerned, he seems to be the only Avenger acting like an Avenger.

As it says, you get the impression that Hulk is the only super hero in town right now. Cap is a counselor, Nat is wallowing at the Avengers compound dealing with Hawkeye and space debris, Tony is retired with Pepper and Morgan, Thor is depressed and eating his feelings and the rest are going on with their lives. When the Russo kids talk to Hulk at the diner, you think Hulk is now famous as a hero and has a catchphrase, “Hulk Out.” Maybe even a Reed Richards-esque kids’ science show. He’s known by kids and therefore family friendly. They certainly wouldn’t ask for Savage Hulk’s autograph. For some reason, I imagine Hulk and his catchphrase on t-shirts, merchandise, memes, that kind of thing. I kinda want to make Shrinky-Dinks. I’m also reminded of the Ultimates concept art where Banner has a “Hulk Smash” tattoo.

There are also, of course, Hulk Fists. Deadpool talks about them in his interview with Happy Hogan post -Endgame. He, also of course, uses them during a sex act. I wonder when these came out in the 616 Universe? Was it right after The Battle of New York and the Avengers were The Heroes of New York, with Cap doing school PSA’s? A few years later, Hulk decimated a big chunk of Lagos in Nigeria and then disappeared for years across the galaxy. Public enemy number one, probably wanted for multiple crimes in Lagos. Out of sight, out of mind. He returned ahead of Thanos and took part in the Battle of Wakanda in the HulkBuster armor.

I wonder if he got a pardon after trying to save half the universe? He had to have become a citizen again before becoming the world’s only active Avenger. Was all forgotten years earlier, even before people found out that he was the hero who literally brought everybody back who Blipped? Or maybe there just wasn't enough Law Enforcement around to literally corral a Hulk.

 

 

 

I see Spider-Man Brand New Day on Saturday. I can't wait! In the movie, Bruce is apparently a professor at Empire State University (according to Peter's sweatshirt) teaching advanced physics or something -- way too complicated for me! From what I can gather from the trailers, Peter goes to Bruce Banner for help in containing his genetic makeup. At one point, Sadie Sink (still no idea who she is playing) takes over Bruce and Hulks Out. Savage Hulk comes out and buildings are destroyed.

I'll put up some kind of review later this weekend telling you what I think. They'll be a more comprehensive review like I usually do once the Blu-Ray comes out (probably November or December before Doomsday).