1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
THE DESIGN SCHOOL
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
NAME: Khoo Xin Yee
STUDENT ID NO: 0316180
FILMS SELECTED: Superhero Film ( The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine )
WORD COUNT: 960 words
ENGLISH 2 (ENGL 0205)
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: COMPARE – CONTRAST ESSAY
LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA
SUBMISSION DATE: 18th APRIL 2014

2. PRE-WRITING
 Thesis Statement:
“The Incredible Hulk” and “Wolverine”, the global action
blockbusters that went on to take in over 75 million at the
worldwide box office. They were both created by Marvel
Comics. Recently, these two well-known movies are the latest
in a long line of big-budget comic book adaptations to reach the
big screen. The major similarities that could be discussed
between these two movies are characters, races or species, the
role of allies and the family.
SUPERHERO FILM
(SIMILARITIES)
‘ The Incredible Hulk ’ ‘ X-Men Origins:
Wolverine ’
 Fictional Character
- The role of superhero in the
Marvel Comics.
- He is a gigantic, green,
irradiated, mutated
humanoid monster with
incredible strength and an
inability to control his rage.
 Fictional Character
- The role of superhero in the
Marvel Comics.
- He is a mutant with animal-
keen senses, enhanced
physical capabilities, three
retracting bone claws on
each hand and an
accelerated healing rate
capacity.

3.  Race/Species: Human
Mutant
- A genius scientist who,
because of exposure to
gamma radiation, transforms
into the Hulk when stressed,
enraged or excited.
- The Hulk possesses the
potential for astounding
levels of superhuman
strength, growing directly
proportional to his emotional
state.
 Race/Species: Human
Mutant
- A belligerent loner who
makes a living in cage
fights. He has lived for
fifteen years without
memory of who he is, apart
from his dog tags marked
"Wolverine" and an
adamantium-encased
skeleton (as well as
adamantium claws).
- He has enhanced, animal-
like senses, enabling him to
sense other people, and the
abilityof healing from
injuries.
 The story involves the
roles of Allies and
Villains/Enemies
- Allies. His cousin, Jennifer
Walters, becomes a
powerful ally as She-Hulk,
and his childhood friend Jim
Wilson often acts as his
sidekick.
- The role of villain is
Abomination. A Russian-
born officer from the United
Kingdom's Royal Marines
Commandos becomes the
monster called Abomination.
 The story involves the
roles of Allies and
Villains/Enemies
- Wolverine’s allies include
Professor X and fellow X-
Men, including Jubilee and
Nightcrawler.
- The role of villain is a
veteran female adversary,
named Deadly Viper.

4.  Family (One of their
family member was
killed)
- Hulk’s (Bruce Banner)
father, Brian was abusive to
him as a child. Bruce was
protected by his mother, and
his father accidentally killed
her by smacking her across
the face.
 Family (One of their
family member was
killed)
- Wolverine’s believed father,
John was killed by his actual
father, Thomas. Wolverine
killed him in revenge, and was
sent away by his mother and
grandfather. His mother then
killed herself.

5. Since the early days of Directors Cecil B. De Mille and Stephen Spielberg, the
blockbuster has caught the attention of various moviegoers all over the world.
Blockbusters are now a popular highlighted trait of the film industry. From “Jaws” (1975)
and “Star Wars” (George Lucas, 1977) to the latest “The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men
Origins: Wolverine”, blockbuster movies tends to score it out at the box office and draw
in record-breaking crowds. These films were chock full of celebrated actors such as
Edward Norton, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, as well as extreme action, suspense and
exceptional effects. Each of the aforementioned makes these films become the
blockbusters. Recently, “The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” have
become well-known movies and are up-to-date in a long line of big-budget comic book
versions to reach the big screen. There are some of the major similarities that can be
discussed and focused between the two films and they are characters, races or species,
the role of allies and the family.
I found that the most obvious similarity between these two movies are that they are
both fictional characters. For the film of “The Incredible Hulk”, the Hulk who was named
Banner is a superhero who acts in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a
huge, green, irradiated, mutated humanoid monster with remarkable strength but not
capable to control his anger and temper. Whereas, for the blockbuster of “ X-Men Origin:
Wolverine”, he is also a superhero who showed in Marvel Comics. Wolverine named
James, is a mutant with animal-keen senses, superior physical capabilities, three
retracting bone claws on each hand and an surprising healing rate capacity.
Why were Bruce and James transformed into the Hulk and Wolverine respectively?
What types of monster did they transformed into? They both transform into the a

6. similar type species, called “Human Mutant”. Both of them possess a genetic trait
called an X-gene that allows the mutation to naturally develop superhuman powers
and abilities. In Hulk’s part, he is indeed a genius scientist who, eventually transforms
into the Hulk which happened because he accidentally exposed himself to gamma
radiation. His transformation into the Hulk is often involuntary, usually happens when
he becomes angry, or it could be triggered using a gamma-ray device. The Hulk
possesses the potential for overwhelming levels of inhumane strength, growing
directly proportional to his emotional state. Similar to the Hulk, Wolverine is also
considered as part of human mutant species. Essentially, he is a tough, rugged and an
aggressive loner who makes a living in cage fights. He lived for fifteen years without
memory of who he is nor as he aged a single day, aside from his dog tags marked
“Wolverine”. His accelerated healing powers from abundant injuries are the reason
why it makes his age impossible to be determined. His skeleton and claws are
furthered reinforced with the virtually indestructible metal adamantium. The most
extraordinary power he possesses is his heighted agility and stamina, as well as
superhuman sight, smell and hearing.
Coincidentally, the stories of these two well-known movies involve the role of allies
and villains or enemies. The Hulk has many allies, especially in the superhero groups
in which he participates. His cousin, Jennifer Walters, becomes a powerful supporter
as She-Hulk, and his childhood friend Jim Wilson often acts as his sidekick. The role
of villain is Abomination. A Russian-born officer named Blonsky and later on he
became the monster called Abomination. The experiment mutates Blonsky into a
horrible creature with size and strength exceeding that of the Hulk. Unlike Hulk,

7. Abomination cannot return to normal Blonsky state. In the film of the “X-Men
Origins: Wolverine”, Wolverine’s allies include Professor X, he is the founder and the
mentor of X-Men, who is a well-respected man in the movie. Although he is
constrained to a wheelchair, he is a powerful mutant with massive telepathic abilities.
Besides that, his fellow X-Men are also his helpers, including Jubilee, who has gained
the powers of a vampire from her transformation through the bite of Xarus, son of
Dracula. “Nightcrawler” which possesses superhuman agility, the talent to teleport
across short or long distances and adhesive hands and feet. The role of villain is an
expert beautiful female opponent, Deadly Viper. She is a deadly rival for Wolverine.
'Poisonous' femme fatale Viper has a unimaginable power which is the downfall of the
Wolverine.
Last of all, these two films share common background where both of their families
were killed in the story. Hulk’s father whose name is Brian, behaved violently to him
as a child. Banner’s mother has protected him when he was younger but unfortunately
his father unintentionally killed his mother by smacking her across the face. Whereas,
James (Wolverine) believes his parents are John and Elizabeth Howlett, wealthy farm
owners, but his biological father is their groundskeeper, Thomas Logan. Thomas
killed John, and in response, James killed him with bone claw that emerged from the
back of his hands. His grandfather sends him away to a mining colony in Yukon, but
he left to live among the wolves after accidentally killing his childhood friend, Rose.
Although “The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” have similar
storyline which is has very unexpected twist of story and amazing special effects with
“fresh energy and stylistic polish”, they also have relatable areas, for instance, the

8. characters, races or species, the role of allies in the movie and the family. Much of the
aforementioned demonstrates the success of these two blockbusters. As the fantasy films,
“The Incredible Hulk” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” allows viewers to escape from
their own world and into the world of fantasy. For more than two hours, they are whisked
away to a world of heroes, villains and amazingly appealing technology, helped out by
state-of-the-art special effects and computer graphics. In this world, their mundane
problems no longer exist. In fact, the real world is no longer important nor does it exists
during the movie. Not to mention, such a film paints quite a creative portrait of the future,
particularly in terms of technology and scientific advancement.

9. References:
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/Destroyer14/news/?a=45790
http://www.educationalwriting.net/resource_center/Essays/Free/Compare_Contrast_Sam
ple.htm
Schedeen, J. (2009). Comics-to-Film. X-Men Origins Wolverine. Retrieved from April
13, 2014, from http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/02/comics-to-film-x-men-origins-
wolverine
www.comicbookresource.com
www.marvel.com/universe/Hulk_(Bruce_Banner)