Captain America has always been the glue that holds the Avengers together, both in Marvel Comics and the MCU, as he generally gets along with everyone while also acting as the leader every Avenger could count on. However, it seems there’s one Avenger Captain America has always disliked – one who more recently made his debut in the MCU: Doc Green aka Professor Hulk.
In Nova Vol. 5 #23 by Gerry Duggan and David Baldeon, the entire world has gone to hell as a result of the Red Skull gaining the immensely powerful telepathic abilities formerly wielded by Professor X, thereby turning himself into Red Onslaught. Red Onslught’s rise threw the world into chaos, as every hero was twisted into the worst versions of themselves – including and especially the Hulk.
Only Captain America (along with Nova and Spider-Man) remained heroic. As Steve Rogers is debriefing Nova and Spider-Man on an ongoing situation regarding the rampaging Hulk, he not only confirms the nearly unfathomable threat the Hulk poses to the entire world in this state, but Rogers also reveals his true feelings for the Hulk that were secretly always beneath the surface. Captain America says that “Doc Green” – the merged form of Banner and Hulk – became a “vile monster”, followed up with an incredibly telling comment, “I didn’t like him before his morals were compromised”.
The version of Hulk in the current state of the MCU – confirmed in both Avengers: Endgame and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law – is the merged bodies/personalities of Hulk and Banner. While not specifically named in the MCU, this version of the Hulk is known in the comics as ‘Smart Hulk’, ‘Doc Green’, or ‘Professor Hulk’, depending on the storyline. Different names, but they all amount to the same version of the character – and Captain America said outright that he doesn’t like him.
Captain America doesn’t elaborate on why he dislikes Doc Green in this issue of Nova, but that fact alone has some interesting implications for the future of the MCU. If Steve Rogers does return to the franchise (even as Old Man Cap), fans shouldn’t be surprised if he suddenly starts treating his one-time friend, Bruce Banner, a bit more coldly, as Marvel Comics already confirmed that he just doesn’t like the ‘Doc Green’ version of the character (even if it’s not immediately clear why).
With ‘Smart Hulk’ being the main version of the character in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, fans were given a level of assurance that this is how the Hulk will be portrayed in the MCU going forward following his introduction in Avengers: Endgame. Plus, as confirmed in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Bruce Banner is still a prominent member of the Avengers. Therefore, it’s a good thing Steve Rogers is no longer leading the Avengers, as Bruce would have had to deal with a leader that inexplicably doesn’t like him.
While it’s possible Steve Rogers could come back in some capacity in the MCU, it’s more likely that his retirement will stick, meaning Sam Wilson will carry the mantle of Captain America in the MCU for the foreseeable future, including his potential leadership role on the Avengers. And that’s a good thing for the MCU’s Hulk, as Marvel Comics confirms that Steve Rogers’ Captain America secretly doesn’t like “Doc Green”.