The MCU Phase 4’s Most Polarizing Hero Introduction Finally Clicks
The controversial introduction of She-Hulk in MCU Phase 4 now makes perfect sense as her origin story is condensed, addressing the controversies surrounding her show and explaining the training period of She-Hulk and Hulk from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025
Summary
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law received both praise and criticism, with one major criticism being Jennifer Walters' quick mastery of her Hulk powers compared to Bruce Banner.
According to Marvel Studios' official timeline, it has been revealed that Jennifer underwent extensive training with Bruce from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025, shedding light on her training journey.
The personal challenges and anger management problems Bruce faced elucidate the reason behind his slower mastery of his Hulk abilities, thus making Jennifer's faster advancement more comprehensible when compared.
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law delves into Jennifer Walters' origin story, addressing a major criticism about the show. The Disney+ series introduces Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany), a lawyer and cousin of Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who acquires Bruce's Hulk powers through his gamma-irradiated DNA. She-Hulk follows Jennifer as she embraces her newfound abilities and demonstrates her ability to break the fourth wall.
Although She-Hulk enjoyed substantial success upon its Disney+ release, it also faced criticism for various aspects, including individual moments like She-Hulk's twerk dance scene with Megan Thee Stallion, as well as broader elements of the storyline. Among these criticisms was the portrayal of Jennifer's transformation and training as She-Hulk. However, recent information about the overall timeline of She-Hulk offers a fresh perspective on these training-related criticisms.
Why She-Hulk's Introduction Was So Controversial
She-Hulk's Show Controversies Explained
Although She-Hulk has faced criticism, some of it unfairly driven by sexism, a larger portion centers around Jennifer Walters' seemingly effortless mastery of her powers. It is worth acknowledging that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has placed greater emphasis on Bruce Banner's journey to control his Hulk transformation compared to Jennifer's. The core of "The Incredible Hulk" revolves around Bruce's struggle with anger, which he ultimately conquers in "The Avengers," famously stating, "I'm always angry."
Despite the apparent harmony formed between Banner and the Hulk, the two entities still experience internal friction before ultimately merging into Smart Hulk by Avengers: Endgame (although Bruce has since reverted from being Smart Hulk since Endgame). In contrast, She-Hulk's transformation into a Hulk seems relatively uncomplicated and effortless, with Jennifer narrating her story in a much shorter time frame and with fewer Hulk trials. However, the book Marvel Studios The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline sheds new light on the MCU's timeline and recontextualizes Jennifer's entire journey to becoming a Hulk on She-Hulk.
She-Hulk and Hulk Trained From Fall 2024 To Spring 2025
Marvel Studios' official timeline, The Marvel Cinematic Universe, discloses an intriguing detail about She-Hulk. Contrary to what the show implies, the timeline reveals that Jennifer's training with Bruce spanned from the fall of 2024 to the Spring of 2025, highlighting a much longer duration. This disclosure provides significant context to Jennifer's story and provides a more comprehensive depiction of her training in She-Hulk.
Why Jenn's Training Speed Makes Sense
Undeniably, one could argue that the compressed portrayal of Jennifer's training with Bruce in She-Hulk might be seen as a flaw in the storytelling, particularly if viewers have to rely on additional MCU material to fill in the gaps. Nevertheless, it is common for movies and TV shows to condense prolonged training periods into condensed yet triumphant montages. She-Hulk merely adheres to this convention when depicting Jennifer's Hulk training under Bruce.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I was thrilled to see the introduction of She-Hulk in Phase 4. However, I shared the concerns of many fans regarding the quick mastery of her Hulk powers compared to Bruce Banner. The criticism surrounding her show was valid, as it seemed to undermine the struggles that Bruce had faced in controlling his own Hulk abilities.
However, the recent revelation that Jennifer Walters underwent extensive training with Bruce from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025 has shed new light on her origin story. This information provides a much-needed context and explains why Jennifer was able to gain control of her powers more quickly than Bruce. It also highlights the personal challenges and anger management problems that Bruce faced, which contributed to his slower mastery of his Hulk abilities.
Overall, I believe that this new information helps to address the controversies surrounding She-Hulk's introduction in the MCU. It shows that the filmmakers put thought and effort into her character development and training, and it makes her journey more believable and relatable. I am excited to see how She-Hulk's story unfolds in future MCU projects and how she interacts with other characters, particularly Bruce Banner.
