Marvel's Universe - Spoiler Warning!!

It was hinted before Ironman's release that from this point on, Marvel Studios was going to show hints that each of their individual franchises are actually part of a bigger universe. Little did we know what was actually meant by that.

If you stayed past the credits in Ironman, you were given a hint of what was to come. Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. was introduce to Tony Stark, who was given a talk about something known as The Avenger Initiative. Bam! End scene. Fans were left both excited and wanting more, specifically if they were actually going to go through with what was done in the comics.

I just watched Hulk tonight, after figuring out the employee loop hole in order to see movies for free on Opening Weekend, and this trend continues in Hulk. Even though this is Bruce Banner's story, Tony Stark is everywhere to be found. Nearly every military-grade equipment that has some kind of close-up shot has the Stark Industry logo on it.

To make it even more clear that the Marvel Universe is solidifying all their movies into one from here on out, another Avengers stinger is added to Hulk. One I called after Ironman, but this stinger wasn't one I expected. It continues the talk with certain people about The Avenger Initiative, but it does it in a way that gets you excited even more than the first teaser at the end of Ironman.

Now, to add another layer to this, as well as set up a Captain America movie, the plot of Hulk revolves around not only what happened to Bruce Banner but the reason for his experimentation to begin with. They make reference to a pre-WWII project where the intent was to make a super soldier. Banner was on the bio-engineering side of the project when it got picked back up and wasn't told a damn thing about its intent until about the time where the film picks up. When that bomb is dropped, you find out that this formula has been kept on ice (thanks to Stark Industries). They use it in order to level out the playing field with Hulk, but it has some side effects.

This has me wondering about how Captain America will be introduced now. The evidence is all there; they are going to make a Captain America movie. But if the super solider formula has nasty side effects, and the fact that a good amount of it has been kept on ice, then what is going to happen to the actual guy that ends up being Captain America? That's the real draw now. It isn't so much the "Is Marvel Studios going to pull an Ultimate Alliance Movie?" teaser for me anymore. It's how big and inner-connected is Captain America going to be with all these links between franchises?

There are no other Marvel Studio movies coming out this year to my knowledge, so we will just have to wait and see what comes down the tubes. One thing is for certain, those that pay attention will be watching those coming attractions like a hawk.