She-Hulk: What’s Next For Abomination In The Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Before Tim Roth’s Abomination returns to the MCU in She-Hulk, join The Illuminerdi as we explore Emil Blonsky’s potential future in the franchise.

Abomination first appeared in Tales To Astonish #70 by Stan Lee and Gil Kane. Emil Blonsky was a soldier who was turned into a Hulk-like creature after being exposed to Gamma. The live-action Disney+ show She-Hulk is not the first time She-Hulk and Abomination have shared a TV screen. The supervillain was one of The Leader’s cronies in The Incredible Hulk animated series, which became The Incredible Hulk & She-Hulk for season two.

Video: Asher Freidberg

Tim Roth first played Emil Blonsky/Abomination in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, before returning to the role for 2021’s Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings. Roth will suit up as the traditionally villainous Hulk analogue in the upcoming Disney+ series, She-Hulk. Abomination had his design overhauled for his new appearances, with the character looking more green and comic-accurate in Shang-Chi than in The Incredible Hulk.

Benedict Wong’s character, Wong, set up an interesting new status quo for Abomination. When they fought in the Golden Daggers Club, Wong and Blonsky seemed to know each other, even chatting in the locker room. Wong even took the supervillain through a sling-ring portal, which may be referenced in She-Hulk. In a perfect world, we would see him continue to fight in underground brawls, taking on Marvel heroes and villains throughout the MCU pantheon.

SHE-HULK WILL FEATURE THE RETURN OF TIM ROTH

But what awaited Abomination on the other side of that portal? Was he being returned to “The Raft”, a supervillain prison? Lead to study the magical teachings of Kamar-Taj? Or perhaps Blonsky was just going to get drinks with an old friend.

When looking through the portal in the film, what seems to be a prison with impressive technology can be seen. This is speculative, and Wong and Abomination may have gone to an alternate setting. If that is truly a prison, it lends credence to “The Raft” theory. Captain America fans will remember the supermax detention center from Civil War. The Raft was also the last known location of Trish Walker of the Marvel Netflix series Jessica Jones. Walker becomes the supervillain “Hellcat” in the source material. Zemo, Hellcat, Abomination, and any number of beloved comic book characters might live in the MCU’s “Raft” right now.

SHE-HULK: IS ABOMINATION BEING HELD ON THE RAFT?

After the events of The Incredible Hulk, Blonsky was taken prisoner by SHIELD. Since the status of SHIELD in the MCU proper is unknown, and they turned out to be corrupted by Hydra after the capture of Blonsky, it is unlikely that SHIELD is working with Wong to rehabilitate Abomination, as cool as that would be.

How does General Thunderbolt Ross feel about Blonsky’s new life fighting wizards in underground cage matches? We can’t know for certain, but he may be encouraging Abomination to grow stronger. Ross is a master manipulator, always seeking to weaponize Gamma and Gamma Mutates. He has a working relationship with Blonsky historically, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t cooperate with one another in the present.

Another possibility is that Ross wants to recruit Abomination for a Thunderbolts team, a team which may already include US Agent and Black Widow II (Yelena Belova). Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ mysterious MCU character, Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, began assembling an unknown team of superhumans in Falcon And The Winter Soldier and the post-credit scene of Black Widow.

SHE-HULK: WHAT DOES THUNDERBOLT ROSS WANT WITH ABOMINATION?

Thunderbolt Ross could be preparing his own, living Hulkbuster for battle in She-Hulk, though Abomination’s story on the half-hour legal comedy could go quite differently. Jennifer Walters is a lawyer specializing in superhero law, so perhaps she comes into Blonsky’s world when he hires her for legal help. Imagine if Abomination’s arc in She-Hulk was a satirical look at the prison-industrial complex and it’s relation to the United States Government!

Tim Roth is an incredible actor who could really elevate She-Hulk if given a meaty, well-written role. Abomination made for a fine opponent in The Incredible Hulk, but he could be so much more in She-Hulk.