Marvel Is Finally Fixing The Incredible Hulk (It Only Took 14 Years!)

Warning! SPOILERS for She-Hulk: Attorney at LawThanks to new details provided by She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the events of The Incredible Hulk finally have been successfully reframed and even improved in the MCU. Over the last 14 years since The Incredible Hulk's release in 2008, various elements, characters, and events have been referenced in subsequent projects, culminating in Bruce Banner's cousin Jennifer Walters agreeing to represent Emil Blonsky's Abomination, who offers quite the compelling argument for his release from prison. As such, The Incredible Hulk feels like a much stronger film now than when it first came out over a decade ago.

In She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 2, Jennifer Walters is given a new job at GLK&H, a major firm looking to have the She-Hulk head their new superhuman law division. Agreeing to take the job, Walters' first case is to represent none other than Emil Blonsky who's seeking parole. Having been imprisoned ever since his battle with the Hulk in Harlem, Blonsky appears remorseful for his actions while also making the case that he was simply following orders, having volunteered to take the twisted gamma version of the Super-Soldier Serum developed by the US government, who turned him into the Abomination in the first place.

While Blonsky isn't completely blameless, the argument he makes is compelling enough to convince Jennifer to help him seek redemption. Likewise, this episode of She-Hulk helps reframe his character in new light he wasn't really given in The Incredible Hulk. While the episode also references the Hulk's recasting from Edward Norton to Mark Ruffalo, it's not the first time the MCU has worked to improve the second film in the Infinity Saga. It's actually been an ongoing process that can be seen across multiple projects over the last 14 years.

Abomination's Story In She-Hulk Reframes The Incredible Hulk

While Emil Blonsky was depicted as an outright villain in The Incredible Hulk, he's now more dimensional and sympathetic thanks to She-Hulk. While the other shoe could certainly drop, it does seem as though the Abomination is genuinely looking to turn over the new leaf, that's if She-Hulk can get him released. Likewise, There's still more story that needs to be revealed (like how he got involved in underground fighting rings with Wong, as seen in Shang-Chi). However, the fact that Abomination has now been featured in two MCU projects beyond The Incredible Hulk is rather impressive, giving the character new life and the opportunity to expand on elements that weren't explored in his first appearance.

Abomination isn't the only character from The Incredible Hulk who's been reframed by the MCU. General "Thunderbolt" Ross (played by the late William Hurt) was featured in future projects eight years later with Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Black Widow. There was even an animated episode of What If...? that looked back at the events of The Incredible Hulk with Ruffalo's Banner replacing Norton's, making it feel even more connected to the MCU than when the film was first released. While much of The Incredible Hulk's problems have to do with the MCU still trying to create a plan and find its footing in its early stages, it will be exciting to see how She-Hulk: Attorney at Law continues Marvel's ongoing work of improving and reframing the film 14 years later.