The Avengers: What If The Abomination Had Been Recruited

https://screenrant.com/avengers-abomination-blonsky-recruit-mcu-what-if/

When it came time to begin assembling a team that would become the Avengers, Fury was not the only one who had a say in who would get a spot. The Avengers showed that the World Security Council has some say over SHIELD's activities, including picking the first Avengers roster. Choosing Captain America was a no-brainer, but even Tony Stark was deemed too big of a risk. However, that didn't stop the World Security Council from wanting Abomination on the roster.

During the Marvel One-Shot The Consultant, Phil Coulson reveals that the World Security Council wants Abomination on the Avengers. SHIELD locked him away in a top-secret cryo-cell inside the Vault after his defeat by Hulk's hands. Although SHIELD knows of Blonsky's deeper (and more evil) desires, the World Security Council saw a hero. They wanted to free him from SHIELD's clutches and make him one of the world's biggest heroes. Instead of this request being approved, Tony Stark was sent to the World Security Council to talk them out of the situation and get Ross to oppose the idea. But, if Tony had failed to do either, Abomination might very well have been on the team.

The World Security Council wouldn't be alone in viewing Blonsky as a hero, as he would undoubtedly share the same belief. The former British Royal Marine spent most of his life fighting bad guys, and he enjoyed it, maybe a little too much. Blonsky refused promotions to get out of the field so he could continue fighting on the front lines. As he said in The Incredible Hulk, someone with his mind and experience but in a younger, more powerful body would be quite a protector. That is the role Blonsky believes he fills once he begins getting enhancements. If he were asked to join a team of other enhanced or extremely skilled heroes, Blonsky would surely say yes.

Not only was Blonsky a hero in his eyes and others, but Hulk was still largely viewed as a villain prior to The Avengers. Thunderbolt Ross had a personal vendetta against him and the attack Culver University further framed Hulk as a threat. While Hulk was a rogue science experiment funded by America, the Abomination could be sold as an ally and an insurance policy in case Hulk ever returned. Coulson might have recommended Hulk for the Avengers, but not everyone shared his optimistic view of Hulk's potential. If most people in the MCU were convinced Abomination's battle in Harlem was only to try and defeat Hulk, then he'd be a much better selection to be on the team from a PR perspective.

Abomination would have no problem agreeing to be on the team, but what he would do as part of the Avengers is a different story. Blonsky repeatedly proved in The Incredible Hulk that he won't take orders from anyone after getting powers. He might play nice at first to get on the team, but when push comes to shove, it is difficult to imagine Abomination following the commands of Captain America or Iron Man in battle. Hulk managed to do his job during the Battle of New York and smash any Chitauri aliens in sight, but Abomination may have been even more reckless.

Instead of the Avengers having to fight a rampaging Hulk in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Abomination could've given them a test in their first get together. He could break from the battle plan in order to try and prove he's better than the other Avengers, and he'd likely know he's strong enough that they can't stop him and fight the Chitauri at the same time. Hulk was a bit of a wildcard during the Battle of New York, but Abomination might have become an even bigger one at the end of the day.

It is even possible, if not likely, that Abomination would completely turn on the Avengers and all of humanity. If the events of the Battle of New York played out somewhat similarly with Abomination, his eventual encounter with Loki could be a turning point. Loki tried to reason with Hulk as a mindless beast, but a different tactic could be taken with Abomination. The god of mischief would know everything he needs to know about Blonsky and could use his quest for power against the Avengers. Loki could seemingly convince Abomination to team-up with him to take down the Avengers and rule Earth together. Loki might even convince him to work for Thanos and conquer a planet of his own. For someone as power-hungry as Blonsky, the prospect of having so much control would likely be too big to pass up. This could even present the World Security Council with an added reason to send a nuke to New York to wipe out the mess they created.

In the event that Abomination was a member of the Avengers, Hulk's role in The Avengers would undoubtedly be different. There is a chance that he wouldn't be part of the movie at all, but that's a missed opportunity for Marvel. Changing the Hulk's role in The Avengers to align with Abomination's involvement isn't too difficult.