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The Abomination is returning in the new Shang-Chi film, but he looks pretty different compared to his previous appearance in The Incredible Hulk.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is looking to be the perfect film to tie up loose ends left in Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only will the film be exploring the Ten Rings organization introduced in Iron Man, but it will also see the return of The Incredible Hulk villain, the Abomination. However, his newest appearance will see him looking much more accurate to his comic roots than ever before. But the question remains: why does he look so different?
In The Incredible Hulk, Emil Blonsky becomes the Abomination by mixing a secondhand Super Soldier Serum with Bruce Banner’s blood. The resulting metamorphosis did grant him immense strength but also mutated his body so he doubled in size and his bones protrude from various points. In the comics, Blonsky’s mutation gives him a nearly impenetrable hide but also gives him a fish-like appearance with fins in place of his ears. However, while the look is a welcome change, the reason behind it has been left largely a mystery for the time being.
According to Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton, he states, “I think Abomination got a bit of an upgrade… or we might call it an evolution going through time. I do really love the design that we landed on for that character.“ While it doesn’t explain why he looks the way he does, it does give some context. In the MCU, Blonsky’s whereabouts after The Incredible Hulk aren’t confirmed; the only hint was in Agents of SHIELD, where he was held in a cryo-prison in the far north. But with the series no longer considered canon, speculators are brought back to square one. That being said, another prison that could hold him is the Raft, the same prison where Zemo and Team Cap were held, which is hidden below the surface of the ocean.
Following the events of the Blip, if Blonsky survived, he eventually would have escaped. But being lost at sea means he would have to swim a long way to civilization. This could explain his fins and tougher exterior, assuming he did evolve as Cretton suggests. In escaping, he could’ve adapted to his aquatic environment. The tougher hide could’ve accommodated the pressures his body could’ve endured while underwater, should he have found himself submerged at some point for a long period of time.
Another unique factor that also ties in well with the comics is his change in size. When Blonsky first became the Abomination in the comics, he was still the size of an average human. However, he has grown in strength and stature over the years and has even dwarfed the Hulk in some iterations. This seems to be the case for Blonsky in the films, as he looks considerably larger in Shang-Chi. One reason for this could be his constant need to grow in power. Once free from incarceration, Blonsky could grow even more powerful through the Power Broker or any other power dealer, which could further mutate his appearance and make him stronger. That could explain why he looks the way he does when facing Wong.
The Abomination has gone through many changes over the years in terms of appearances. The same could be said for his film counterpart, who has undergone his own metamorphosis. For now, explanations are being held close to the chest, but it’s clear that whatever Blonsky went through has once again made him a viable threat in the MCU. This new appearance may also be the start of a new era for the character.
The Abomination returns in Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings, which arrives on Sept. 3 only in theaters. Tickets are on sale now.
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