Right after the Hulk showed up in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, the green Avenger didn’t appear much in the MCU. However, three years later, he made a big return in Thor: Ragnarok. The Hulk had moved to the planet Sakaar, where he participated in the Grandmaster’s Contest of Champions.
Some fans were surprised to see him so far away from Earth, but this storyline was actually inspired by the comics. However, things played out very differently in the MCU than in the original Planet Hulk story. Let’s take a look at how the Hulk ended up on Sakaar in the comics, what happened after that, and how it compares to what was shown in the movie.
The Illuminati’s Plan Went Wrong
In the comics, it was the Marvel Illuminati who set the events of Planet Hulk into motion. The group, which included characters like Iron Man and Mister Fantastic, secretly made decisions and shaped events behind the scenes for years.
After the Hulk went on another destructive rampage, the Illuminati decided to send him far away from Earth, where he wouldn’t harm anyone anymore. Their plan was for him to be taken to a peaceful planet where he could live without causing trouble. However, the ship that was supposed to take him off Earth got knocked off course, and the Hulk ended up on the planet Sakaar.
The Hulk Left Earth
In the MCU, things were quite different. The Hulk flew off at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron in a quinjet because he didn’t want to be a danger to others or be used as a weapon. He chose to leave and fly into space. After traveling through several wormholes, his ship eventually landed on Sakaar, the Grandmaster’s planet. While there, he stayed in control of Banner for two years.
These events were very different from the comics, where other characters tricked the Hulk into leaving Earth. This made the Hulk more aware and heroic in the MCU. It also allowed for the Planet Hulk story to take place without ruining the Hulk’s relationship with Earth’s heroes.
In the comics, the Illuminati’s betrayal of the Hulk helped lead to World War Hulk. But in the MCU, there were no betrayals, and no friendships were broken. The events played out naturally without turning any of the beloved heroes against one another.
What Was He Doing In Sakaar?
While it’s possible, it seems unlikely that he was still fighting in the Contest of Champions as Smart Hulk — though it would be funny if that was his way of relaxing.
Maybe Sakaar held some key to his integration? The only thing Bruce has mentioned is that he spent “six months in a gamma-lab” during the Blip.
In any case, someone from Sakaar seemed to be trying to send Bruce a message in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 1, which prompted his return trip in episode 2. This could be one of many trips he has taken since Thor: Ragnarok.
There is also a strong chance that Bruce’s ongoing connection to Sakaar will be revealed through a rumored MCU adaptation of World War Hulk, either as a series or a movie. Fans will have to wait and see what more hints are in store for Bruce/Hulk as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law continues.