Warning! This article contains spoilers for Gamma Flight #5
The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to adapt more and more Marvel Comics characters for the big screen, and whilemany of the transitions have been impressive, it is clear some characters are better adapted than others, as evidenced in the latest comic book appearance by the Hulk spin-off comic Gamma Flight proves Emil Blonsky is the MCU’s least comic-accurate character. While the live-action design of the Abomination in his MCU debut in The Incredible Hulk left much to be desired, the MCU made the look of the Abomination much more comic-accurate in his cameo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. And while the updated look is much appreciated, it’s the mindset and personality of the Abomination that the MCU just hasn’t gotten right.
In Gamma Flight #5 - written by Al Ewing and Crystal Frasier with art by Lan Medina and Antonio Fabela - the Abomination returns after his Immortal Hulk series. Much to the Abomination’s dismay, he isn’t fighting the Hulk in this issue, but a group of gamma-powered mutates who have proven to be Hulk’s allies in the past. While the Abomination usually gets his butt kicked by the Hulk, Emil proves to be a worthy challenge to the Strongest Avenger by absolutely wiping the floor with every member of Gamma Flight, proclaiming, “I fight the Hulk!”
The Abomination makes it clear that fighting the likes of Puck, Doc Samson, and Absorbing Man is well beneath him. When compared to the Hulk, the Abomination doesn’t feel like a serious threat, but when fans see him fighting weaker heroes than the Hulk, his impressive strength is on full display. While thinking he's too good for anyone but the Hulk is the Abomination’s mindset in the comics, it is clear he doesn’t feel that way in the MCU. Though he was introduced to movie fans as a rival for the Hulk, the Abomination’s latest appearance shows him fighting Wong in an underground gladiator ring, proving that he is less particular about who he's willing to face off against in the MCU.
While the latest appearance of the Abomination depicts the Abomination acting differently than his MCU counterpart, his physical appearance is more or less what fans saw on the big screen in Shang Chi, much more so than how he was depicted just a few Hulk issues prior. Throughout the Immortal Hulk series, the Abomination is reimagined in a horrifying way, losing the identity of Emil Blonsky and instead acts as a gamma-infused meat suit ready for anyone who dares wear it to wield the terrifying power of the Abomination. After one of Thaddeus Ross’ men puts the suit on to take out the Hulk, subsequently dying during the brawl, his essence becomes absorbed by the Abomination after his afterlife trip to the Below-Place. That death realigned Emil's soul with the Abomination’s body and gave life to what fans see in Gamma Flight, which is a more classic Abomination, abandoning his shocking Immortal Hulk redesign.
In discarding the reimagining of the Abomination in the Immortal Hulk, Marvel Comics reestablished the Abomination’s look as how fans originally knew him while making him a more intelligent villain than his previously brutish self. With the Abomination making a comeback in the MCU, returning the Abomination to his original look and making him a more dynamic character in the comics is a great way to better utilize the character. While both the comics and the movies version of the Abomination have a definite future in Marvel media, the character’s latest appearance proves the Abomination is the MCU’s least comic-accurate character.
