The Incredible Hulk movie was good for the Abomination.  Prior to its release, not too many movie goers were familiar with the reptilian looking gamma gangsta. 

In a lot of ways, the Abomination’s looks had misled fans and movie goers because he seemed to be something born from water.  Greenish and reptilian-looking, in some drawings, his ears looked like gills kinda like the Creature from Black Lagoon.  But he’s not from the water.  Emil Blonsky became the Abomination from an exposure to gamma radiation, just like Dr. Banner. 

Even in the movie, Tim Roth’s character transformed into the Abomination from a series of exposure to the blue serum and gamma rays.  The process was very similar to the one that turned Ed Norton’s Banner to the Incredible Hulk.  Unlike the Hulk, however, Blonsky’s changes were stable and permanent.  He had no ability to resort back to human form, but he kept his human senses and intelligence.  Presumably, he also maintained his fighting skills and training as a Soviet spy.

The Abomination was one of the few Marvel villains who can outmuscle the Hulk.  He did so in the movie and in some comic book issues.  He’s actually stronger than the Hulk if the Hulk had just transformed from Dr. Bruce Banner.  Eventually, the Hulk will outlast the Abomination and everybody else the madder the Hulk gets.

Because of their similar origins, the Hulk and the Abomination are kindred spirits in a sense.  Except that one was always trying to kill the other.