‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ might have unwittingly created a huge continuity issue with one scene. The moment Peter Parker comes face-to-face with Hulk raises questions about what exactly Bruce Banner and Hulk remember after the events of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’.
Hulk Shouldn’t Know Spider-Man
Before the events of ‘No Way Home’, Bruce Banner was one of the only people who knew who Peter Parker was. But Hulk had never met Peter. In ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, Bruce was the one who was in control when he came to Earth, so Hulk didn’t have that encounter with Spider-Man.
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But then came ‘No Way Home’. Through Doctor Strange’s magic, the world had forgotten who Peter Parker was, even Bruce Banner. So, Bruce should no longer remember Peter as Spider-Man, either.
That’s why the ‘Brand New Day’ scene feels like a mess. This may be Hulk’s first real confrontation with Peter, as he is the one who is battling Spider-Man. But Peter treats Hulk as if he already knows him.
Peter Calling Him Bruce Makes It Even Stranger
The main problem is that Peter calls Hulk “Bruce” and refers to him as his friend when Hulk is in a completely different form. It’s an odd selection since Peter has never met Hulk before now. He was familiar with Bruce Banner, but not with the Hulk.
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But, of course, Marvel might have an explanation. The film could show that Hulk somehow had some memory of Bruce that was lost when he was under the spell. Or, Peter and Hulk might have met up behind the scenes between ‘No Way Home‘ and ‘Brand New Day’, or there may be context that hasn’t been shown yet.
It could also be a conscious play on the difference between Bruce and Hulk’s memories, a concept that Marvel has already explored. But, on the surface, it’s a pretty clear continuity issue. Until ‘Brand New Day’ gives us one, Peter’s “Bruce” Hulk seems like a detail that leaves more questions than answers.
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