Hulk vs. Wolverine is a thrilling animated film that brings together two of Marvel’s most iconic characters in an explosive showdown. Released in 2009, this film is part of the Hulk Vs. double feature, which also includes Hulk Vs. Thor. The story is based on the classic comic book encounter between the Hulk and Wolverine, first depicted in The Incredible Hulk #181, where Wolverine made his debut.

The plot kicks off with the Canadian government sending Wolverine to track down and neutralize the Hulk, who is rampaging through the Canadian wilderness. Wolverine, known for his adamantium claws and rapid healing factor, is more than a match for most foes, but the Hulk’s sheer strength and rage present a formidable challenge. As the two titans clash, they are captured by the Weapon X program, a shadowy organization with its own sinister agenda. This leads to a series of intense battles involving other Weapon X operatives, including Sabretooth, Deadpool, Omega Red, and Lady Deathstrike.

The film delves into the complex relationship between Wolverine and the Hulk, highlighting their mutual respect and animosity. Wolverine’s gritty determination contrasts sharply with the Hulk’s raw power, making their encounters both brutal and compelling. The animation style is dynamic and vivid, capturing the ferocity of their battles and the emotional depth of their characters.

Hulk vs. Wolverine exists within the broader Marvel Animated Universe, which includes other notable films and series including Wolverine and the X-Men. The seventh episode of that show, Wolverine vs. Hulk is a direct sequel to this movie. This universe allows for rich storytelling and character development, providing fans with deeper insights into their favourite heroes and villains. The film’s success lies in its faithful adaptation of the source material and its ability to bring the intense rivalry between Hulk and Wolverine to life on screen. For fans of Marvel’s animated offerings, Hulk Vs. Wolverine is a must-watch, delivering action, drama, and a deeper understanding of these legendary characters.

Wolverine wakes up in a crater in the mountains, dazed and confused. He hears a distant roar. Suddenly, the Hulk leaps over a cliff and lands in front of him, roaring in his face.

Four hours earlier Department H had sent Wolverine to track down a mysterious beast, known by the US Military as the Hulk, who was rampaging across the Canadian wilderness. Surveying the damage in a destroyed town, Wolverine noticed a toxic scent mixed with gunpowder.

He went further into the wilderness to continue tracking the creature. After a few hours, Wolverine found a scrawny man crying by a small lake. Initially asking if he had seen the creature, Wolverine began to violently interrogate him upon realizing he had the same toxic scent as the creature that destroyed the town. Ignoring warnings, Wolverine continued until the man, revealed to be Dr. Bruce Banner, transformed into the Hulk and sent Wolverine flying to the edge of a cliff.

Now… The two seem evenly matched and fight until they are both shot with tranquilizers by Team X (Deadpool, Omega Red, Lady Deathstrike and Sabretooth). As Wolverine succumbs to the sedative, Deadpool gloats.

While he’s dreaming, Logan remembers being abducted by Weapon X and having his skeleton bonded with adamantium under Professor Thornton’s orders. They even tested his combat skills on a bear. Wolverine escaped by killing the soldiers and severing Thornton’s right hand.

Sabretooth wakes Wolverine in a Weapon X facility where Professor Thornton, now with a clawed prosthetic hand, greets him. They had been tracking the Hulk for weeks. They reveal Bruce Banner turned into the Hulk because they attacked him, and while his battle caused massive damage, the Hulk tried to save as many innocent bystanders as possible. Professor Thornton plans to erase Banner’s personality and use the Hulk as a weapon, just like Wolverine, whose memory will be erased again. Thornton tells Lady Deathstrike not to kill Wolverine, but Sabretooth slashes Thornton in the back as they both try to kill Logan. Wolverine fights off the two Team X members and frees Banner.

Needing more power, Wolverine tells Banner to turn into the Hulk, but Banner needs stress or anger to transform and wouldn’t do it deliberately, even if he could. Bruce also mentions he might have been drugged to prevent changing. Wolverine stabs him with his claws, trying to make him bleed out the sedative and force the transformation.

While Banner lies in a puddle of his own blood, Wolverine battles the entire Team X team and is eventually caught by one of Omega Red’s tentacles and electrocuted. Banner finally turns into the Hulk and punches Sabretooth so hard he sends him flying out of the facility, then takes out the other Team X members one by one. The Hulk starts destroying the base, ripping out the main power generators. Wolverine eggs the Hulk on, only for the Hulk to swing a generator at him, causing the base to explode. Wolverine is sent flying and lands next to Sabretooth. He stands up and watches the base burn until the Hulk jumps out and lands in front of him. Wolverine is eager to finish what they started, and they lunge at each other…

Later, Deadpool is shown to have survived the facility’s destruction and expresses relief at being alive, only to be crushed by the Hulk jumping away, presumably having defeated Wolverine. Wade, in a great deal of pain, weakly complains.

Wolverine’s first line is his famous catchphrase: “I’m the best there is at what I do. And what I do isn’t very nice” from Wolverine #1.

The costume Wolverine is wearing is his short-lived costume between his first appearance in Incredible Hulk #181 and Giant-Size X-Men #1.

The opening credits show images related to the origins of both the stars: the gamma bomb from Incredible Hulk #1 and the Weapon X tank.

The wolf approaching Wolverine when he drinks from the river is the same as the cover of Wolverine Origins #1 .

Hulk uses several of his comic book catchphrases when pounding Wolverine: “Hulk smash Little Man!”

Professor Thorton, Dr. Abraham Cornelius and Carol Hines are seen in Logan’s flashbacks to the Weapon X experiments. The flashback scenes are all from that story arc, originally printed in Marvel Comics Presents #72-84. Other scenes adapted include the project testing Logan against the bear, his claws popping for the first time (also seen in multiple media adaptions) and his escape (also seen in X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men Origins: Wolverine).

Omega Red asks Wade if he ever shuts up, the same as Logan did in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Sabretooth appears in his nineties costume. He appears in the Wolverine and the X-Men, episode Past Discretion, which picks up several threads from this movie.

Deathstrike is usually obsessed with her family’s honour and is not usually associated with the Weapon X Project. Neither is Omega Red.

The Professor’s plan to make the Hulk part of the Weapon X Program is like the experiment Weapon Plus created in the comic books, the aptly named Weapon H, a mix of Hulk and Wolverine.

Wolverine stabs Banner to ensure his transformation into the Hulk in a moment of peril. He punches him in Wolverine vs. Hulk to do the same thing, except it’s to irritate Fury for his duplicity.

In Wolverine #175, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike and Omega Red team up in an elaborate plan to lure Wolverine into a trap. They manage that part, but fail to work together long enough, and Sabretooth betrays the other two.

Deadpool jumps on Hulk’s shoulders at one point, very similar to the cover of Deadpool #4. He has fought the Hulk many times: notably in Deadpool (Vol.4) #38-39.