The Strongest Marvel Hero Needs a New TV Series (And There’s Decades of Stories)

He’s been called an uncontrollable monster, served as comic relief, and even turned into a professor among other popular heroes. But despite being one of Marvel’s most recognizable characters, he never truly got the spotlight he deserves in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s always slotted into someone else’s story or limited to roles that barely scratch the surface of what makes him great. Even when he shows up in major events, his personal struggles (like his intelligence, his rage, and his identity crisis) are barely explored. It’s almost bizarre that after so many years of superhero productions, Marvel’s strongest character is still treated as a side act. Yes, we’re talking about the Hulk.

The issue isn’t hard to spot: while lesser-known heroes have been given their own shows and solo movies while the Hulk has been stuck with cameos and supporting roles. The closest he came to leading was Thor: Ragnarok, but even then he was a sidekick in Thor’s movie. Since then, Marvel Studios seems to have abandoned the idea of using him as a central figure. Part of it is business, since Universal still holds distribution rights for solo films, but it’s also a creative decision that proves the studio never really knew what to do with him. And that’s unfair, considering he’s part of the first generation of Avengers—where every other member got their own projects, he was left adrift.

In the comics, there’s more than enough material to make him a full-on leading hero for years. Planet Hulk is one of the most beloved sagas, World War Hulk is pure spectacle, and The Immortal Hulk showed there’s still plenty of room to reinvent the character. The point is: there’s no shortage of stories and no shortage of potential—the only thing missing is the will. Any one of these arcs could fuel a show as impactful as Marvel’s biggest projects. And okay, maybe live-action isn’t the way to go anymore, since Universal unfortunately missed the timing years ago. But when it comes to animation, the story changes.

A new cartoon would make perfect sense because the format fits the character so well. It doesn’t rely on Mark Ruffalo, it avoids the rights mess, and it can deliver insane fights and wild concepts without blowing up a VFX budget. Back in the ’90s, the animated series The Incredible Hulk already proved how well this works, showing multiple versions of the character and exploring villains the movies have ignored completely. Sure, that show hasn’t aged perfectly, but it still stands as proof of how great the Hulk can be when he’s actually the focus.

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Besides, it would also be a chance to break the mold. It could focus entirely on him, without relying on guest stars to pull in viewers, and without the weight of carrying a massive event on its shoulders. Just him, his conflicts, and his world, exactly how it should have been from the start. If there’s one Marvel hero who doesn’t need the shadow of others to work, it’s this one. That’s the truth.

And let’s not forget his rogues’ gallery and supporting cast: The Leader, Abomination, General Ross, Betty Ross, even alternate versions of the Hulk—all of it has been sidelined or shoved into someone else’s story (like what happened with Captain America: Brave New World). An animated series could finally bring these names to the forefront, explore their conflicts, and make audiences feel like Hulk has his own corner of the Marvel universe. It’s crazy that none of this has been done with the same care the comics always had.

There’s also the legacy factor. With the MCU reinventing most of the original Avengers, this should be the perfect time to finally give Hulk the spotlight he never had. Why create a Hawkeye show just to set up Kate Bishop?Or give She-Hulk her own show while reducing Hulk to what feels like a cameo? Besides, he’s not just about smashing things. He’s about anger, identity, and the fight between reason and instinct. He’s packed with metaphors and dilemmas that any audience can connect to. So why waste him like this? A series that digs into those topics could be both relevant and unforgettable (especially because, despite some cartoon appearances since 2008, we haven’t seen a show that truly focuses on him).

The market has already proven there’s an audience for this. Harley Quinn and Invincible, for example, showed that adults will absolutely embrace animated superhero projects that don’t treat the genre like it’s only for kids. Hulk fits right into that trend, with room to show both the brutality and the emotional depth that define him. He was never meant to be the funny sidekick or the strong guy in someone else’s movie. Hulk has always represented something bigger, and it’s long past time Marvel remembered that.

There are no excuses left. If solo films are off the table because of rights or lack of interest, fine, but Marvel has to do more with him on streaming. An animated TV series wouldn’t be some consolation prize; it would be the perfect chance to finally prove why he’s called “the strongest there is.” We’re talking about a hero with decades of incredible stories, and Marvel has wasted him as a supporting player for far too long. Hulk needs his own show, and Marvel can’t keep ignoring it.

Do you agree it’s about time Hulk got a brand-new solo project? What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!