Avengers: Infinity War’s opening fight pits Thanos Vs Hulk, but while the big green guy didn’t come out well against the Mad Titan, which character is stronger? Prior to Infinity War, the MCU had been building to Thanos for years. The titan was on a relentless quest to unite all six Infinity Stones so he could wipe out half of all living creatures in the universe in order to restore balance.
For most of the MCU he was a shadowy threat, including a not very impressive speaking debut in Guardians Of The Galaxy. Still, he proved to be worth the hype in Avengers: Infinity War, managing to overcome the combined strength of Earth's mightiest heroes, and shockingly making good on his goal of wiping out half the universe. The movie’s opening scene proved he was no slouch when it came to combat either, when he easily beats The Hulk after the big green guy tries to ambush him.
Related: MCU Infinity Stones: Complete Guide To Locations, Powers & Future
MCU fans are used to see The Hulk punch his way out of any problem, so it was surprising to see him taken down so easily. This proved to be slightly controversial in the aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War’s release, with some fans feeling that in a Thanos Vs Hulk fight, the latter should have been a more formidable opponent.
While the two characters are obviously powerful fighters, Avengers: Infinity War co-directors Joe and Anthony Russo think Thanos is the most powerful of the two. The opening fight was intended to show he’s a near unbeatable force of nature, which he proved by easily beating The Avenger’s most powerful fighter. They also confirmed he beat The Hulk without the aid of the Infinity Gauntlet.
That’s not to say The Hulk couldn’t have beaten him, however. Even if Thanos is technically stronger, one of the problems with their brief battle is The Hulk mindlessly attacks, expecting to beat him with sheer brute force. Thanos is a skilled fighter, on the other hand, so he counters with precise moves and beats him. Had The Hulk used his head, maybe he could have found a way to take Thanos down. The Hulk essentially retreats after this and refuses to help Bruce Banner during the Wakanda battle. This isn’t because he’s afraid, however, he’s just sick of saving Banner's life.
Fans are hoping for a Thanos Vs Hulk rematch in Avengers: Endgame, which will prove who is the strongest. Mark Ruffalo revealed that instead of a solo Hulk movie, Thor: Ragnarok kicked off a three-movie arc for the character. In Ragnarok, The Hulk had taken over Banner’s body for two years, only for Banner to take back control. After being beaten in Infinity War, Hulk essentially hides for the rest of the movie, so it would make sense for Avengers: Endgame to finally show Banner and Hulk making peace with one another and working together to take Thanos down.
The Hulk's strength combined with Banner’s intelligence would make for an epic Thanos Vs Hulk rematch. There’s no shortage of characters who want to fight the Mad Titan in the next Avengers movie, but this is one grudge match fans would be very eager to see.