The She-Hulk finale has smashed out of the Fourth Wall and into our hearts. Expanding our understanding of the MCU and how it exists within the confines of the franchise we love, the action-packed episode is a total riot. But while there’s plenty to pick apart in the meta-sense, we’re here to break down a monumental new arrival in the MCU. A Hulk-sized new character has entered the scene, if you will.
So if you haven’t watched the season finale of She-Hulk, stop reading now. But if you have then come with us on a cosmic journey. Because officially, the MCU has introduced us to the Hulk’s son, Skaar. Here’s Skaar’s comic history and how he might fit into the world of Marvel going forward.
Does the Hulk’s Son Appear in the She-Hulk Finale?
Yes, indeed. That’s why we’re here to talk about the Hulk known as Skaar! Although there’s a fake-out moment when Jen shuts down the robot known as K.E.V.I.N., who wants to introduce a new character, we do indeed get to meet the MCU version of the Hulk’s son. In a very quick appearance, Bruce turns up at Jen’s family home. But he’s not alone. He quickly reveals the reason he went to Sakaar ( and the reason that Jen has Hulk powers at all). Turns out the Hulk has a son in the Marvel Cinematic Universe… Who knew? The family is incredibly excited as we meet the fully grown new Hulk. While this may shock MCU viewers, the Hulk having a son makes a lot of sense to comic readers.
Who is the Hulk’s Son, Skaar, in the Comics?
But just who is the Hulk’s mysterious son? In Marvel Comics, Skaar is the son of Hulk and a powerful being known as Caiera the Oldstrong. The pair met on Sakaar when Hulk was there during the events of Planet Hulk. Skaar’s mother is one of the Shadow People of Sakaar and also a rare wielder of the Old Power. Her powers gave her unlimited superhuman strength and connected her deeply to Sakaar, as she could physically channel the energy of her homeworld into her own superpowers. The Hulk’s son has a tragic origin, even though he has two of the most powerful parents in the universe. Skaar’s mother died when he was still in a cocoon growing, but he would see her again in spirit form. The pair was reunited when Skaar gained the Old Power and decided to destroy Sakaar instead of evacuating the planet before Galactus came to devour it. Eventually, his mother’s ghost exiled him to Earth.
It was there that he eventually met his father. The Hulk and his son clashed at first before growing closer. Since then, Skaar has gone on to be a part of many Marvel adventures. He’s been a double agent on the Dark Avengers, trained under his father, joined Luke Cage on the Thunderbolts, and grew into a hero in his own right.
What Does Skarr’s Appearance Mean for the Future of the MCU?
In an interview with Variety earlier this year, Mark Ruffalo spoke to the importance of Sakaar to Bruce’s story. “I don’t know. It certainly does suggest that. There has been some conversations about what happened in the two years where Hulk abandoned Banner and the Avengers [on Sakaar], and the emergence of Smart Hulk, which hasn’t ever fully been answered. I think maybe we’ve given four sentences to that time period since then. It’s really an interesting, exciting part of the Hulk story and Banner story.”
And as we see this episode, that importance really shines through. Not only because of the time Bruce spent there, but due to who he spent it with. After all, the Hulk came back with a son. Though we don’t know who Skaar’s mother is in the MCU, it’s likely we’ll find out soon.
Will the MCU Make a World War Hulk Movie?
The big question that many fans have, though, is whether or not Skaar’s arrival might lead to a World War Hulk movie. In that same Variety article, Ruffalo shared his thoughts. “I do think that the trip to Sakaar is a good place to start and what that means to the idea of what the fans have been asking for—this idea of Planet Hulk or World War Hulk or just the journey that Banner and Hulk have to make to come to peace with each other. That’s really interesting to me, and I do feel like there is some interest in exploring that down the line.”
Seeing as Skaar’s origin is intrinsically connected to World War Hulk, the arrival of the Hulk’s son on She-Hulk makes that feel even more likely. Planet Hulk has largely been adapted in Thor: Ragnarok. So perhaps Skaar and his daddy will get a movie or Disney+ TV series of their own adapting Greg Pak’s beloved Hulk-family follow-up. The other option is that like his comic book counterpart, Skaar could join the MCU’s version of the Dark Avengers. Either way the Hulk family just got bigger. Welcome to the MCU, son of Hulk.