Bruce Banner

Bruce Banner

Full name	Dr. Robert Bruce Banner
Alias	Hulk
Occupation	Physicist
Character creators	Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Portrayers (in film)	Eric Bana, Edward Norton, Mark Ruffalo
Place of Origin	Dayton, Ohio

Bruce Banner is a character created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962. Banner is the human alter ego of The Hulk. He is a renowned physicist who subjected himself to a gamma radiation experiment, which unleashes his alter-ego when he is overcome with anger. Dr. Bruce Banner lives a life caught between the soft-spoken scientist that he has always been and the uncontrollable green monster powered by rage.

In the comics, his girlfriend Betty Ross is seemingly the only person able to calm the Hulk back into Banner. He is often being pursued by his nemesis Thunderbolt Ross, who is Betty's father. Bruce is often on the run while trying to find a cure for his problem and keep calm as much as he can while at the same time battling super-villains.

Overview[]

Banner has been the Hulk's alter ego since the character's creation in 1962.
The Hulk is a facet of Bruce Banner's personality made manifest by gamma radiation.
Banner has seven Ph.D.s and expertise in the field of gamma radiation.
Commonly portrayed as a raging savage, the Hulk has been represented with other personalities based on Banner's fractured psyche, from a mindless, destructive force, to a brilliant warrior, or genius scientist in his own right.
Bruce Banner can’t control his transformation and neither controls the Hulk, as Hulk is a representation of his hatred, guilt, fear, and many other problems.
Perhaps ironically, the Hulk has arguably made more friends and allies than Bruce Banner, some of them have even grown close to him and formed lasting bonds.
Another gamma-powered being, Doc Samson, who was also a psychiatrist, attempted to treat Banner.
Banner becomes a fugitive from the U.S. military and Ross in particular, who wants to weaponize the Hulk process.
Perhaps the creepiest of Bruce’s Hulks was the brief manifestation of his guilt in Hulk form complete with boils and razor-sharp teeth.
Rebecca Banner (alongside Brian Banner) was among the people that return from the dead after what happened to the death realms. Brian in a form similar to Devil Hulk tried to kill her again only for the Hulk to save her and fight Brian Banner.

Personality[]

Banners personality usually fluctuates over time, considering that he leads a very strange life-style. Whether he likes it or not, Bruce has been influenced by the jade Giant countless times. At one point Banner even believed that the hulk was nothing more than a mindless monster. This didn't stop him from perusing happiness and for a time he did manage to be at peace with himself, but eventually, he was forced to technically commit suicide by giving his personality up to the incredible Hulk when he had realized that no matter how hard he tried, he could never really achieve happiness. This lead to the creation of The Mindless version of the green skin. ( nightmare played a huge role here). When Banner eventually came back his personality had changed drastically. Despite the fact that this was the time where a more sinister hulk had emerged (Joe Fixit), Banner still remained hopeful for the future. Banner, as a man of science, and as a man who had suffered a lot, believed that all of his pain had meaning, meaning that he would never stop resisting his urge to finely end it all. This was proven when Mercy, an alien who granted suicidal people death, had senses Banners depression and had attempted to kill him, believing that she was doing him a favor. Bruce however, stood his ground and didn't give in. This new attitude had allowed Bruce to confront the Hulk on many occasions, and had eventually given birth to a dynamic team where Hulk and Banner would work together.

Quite recently however, after rethinking his way of life, Bruce Banner came to the conclusion that the hulk is indestructible, meaning that he cannot be cured, therefore, he decided that it would be for the best if he stopped trying to rid himself of the jade giant and focus his energies on leaving a mark on the world with his intellect. Therefore, he joined shield with a much more confident and happy attitude. He still has episodes of anger, most notably when he is outclassed by other prominent scientists. It's possible that Bruce may have developed an inferiority complex due to the fact that he has been overshadowed by his alter ego for so long, which would explain his indignation when other egg-heads manage to stay one step ahead of him.

Powers and Abilities[]

Genius intellect
Master physicist, scientist and gamma radiation researcher, technician, resistance to hypnosis
Multilingualism

Evolution of Banner's Transformations into the Hulk[]

Stan Lee gave the Hulk's alter ego the alliterative name "Bruce Banner" because he found he had less difficulty remembering alliterative names. The Hulk was initially grey, but coloring problems led to the creature being made green. Bruce rushed

to aid the young man, and in pushing Rick into a trench, exposed himself to the rays of the gamma bomb.

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The result of this exposure would be to transform gentle Bruce Banner into the destructive monster known as The Incredible Hulk.

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In the comics, the fictionalized color of gamma radiation is green, so when Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk, his increased blood pressure is over-charging the radiation in his body, causing the energy to practically come out of his pores, turning his skin green. Scientist Bruce Banner’s life has been an arduous one from the day he was first exposed to gamma radiation to becoming the larger-than-life behemoth known as the Hulk. Over the years, the Hulk, a manifestation of different aspects of Bruce Banner’s persona, has taken on different forms, from rampaging beast to cunning grappler to measured scientist, with

many more iterations making themselves known. Scientist Bruce Banner’s inner turmoil transforms him into the mean, green rage machine called the Hulk. Banner’s transformations are usually triggered by adrenaline rushes when he becomes anxious, nervous, or angry, which lead to similar feelings in the Hulk. Normally, the scientist’s personality and intelligence give way to his alter-ego’s brutish mindset, creating what appears to be two different personas who seem to share only the singular desire to be left alone.

Bruce Banner’s intelligence has made him one of the world’s leading authorities on nuclear physics, as well as other related disciplines, but these qualities become submerged normally upon his transformation into the monstrous Hulk, who exists as a physical extension of his pent-up rage and mental imbalance.

Comics versions[]

"Earth-616"[]

Tony Stark & Banner in Indestructible Hulk Annual #1

Bruce Banner (Earth-616) from Indestructible Hulk Annual Vol 1 1

Dr. Derenik Zadian is giving an evening lecture at Oxford University. He tells the youths gathered that they were selected because they are the best and the brightest. However, he cautions them that there is a difference between being brilliant and being funded. He asks them if they want to be theoreticians being debated by professors after their deaths or do they want to be applying their ideas and changing the world in the present. Among the students attending this lecture are Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. The child of an abusive father, Bruce Banner grew up shy and introverted, yet a scientific genius. As a young man, thanks to his standout work in the field of nuclear physics, he attracted the attention of the U.S. Army who wanted to adapt his theories for weaponry. Banner resisted such notions, but failed attempts at landing steady work convinced him to accept a position at a federal nuclear research facility at a missile base in the New Mexico desert.

"Earth-31117"[]

Nazis developed advanced technology, conquered Earth. Decades later, Captain America of Earth-616 awoke within reviving body of his Earth-31117 counterpart, rallied underground movement to overthrow the Nazis. Cap awakes in a vastly different new world in 1964. Nazi Germany has won World War II and also conquered America. The Red Skull is the new Fuhrer of the Reich. Nazis, not the Avengers, retrieve Steve Rogers from the Atlantic and ferry him to the Skull in New Berlin. The Skull offers Cap a place n his new regime complete with lucrative compensation. However, Cap refuses and jumps from the window of a high rise building to escape the Red Skull and his minions. Cap and the Alternate World heroes defeat the Skull. In the final battle with the Red Skull, Steve Rogers is transported by Victor Von Doom's time machine back to the waters of the North Atlantic in 1964, to be recovered by the Avengers in our timeline. When trying to recreate Captain America's super soldier serum by using gamma rays, Banner was overexposed to the radiation, but rather than being killed by the gamma rays, he was instead mutated into the "strongest one there is", The (Incredible) Hulk. Steve (Steven Rogers) was present during a meeting in which Invisible Woman informed S.H.I.E.L.D. about the Infinity Gems she had been gathering along Thor, and the moment in which the mysterious Kang freed both Hulk and Reed Richards from the Triskelion, stole the Gems and formed along them and Quicksilver the Dark Ultimates. The Ultimates barely escaped, but Captain America decided to be left behind in order to stop the villains, although he was defeated. Dr. Bruce Banner was one of the most important American scientists employed in the rediscovery of the serum used to create the supersoldier, Captain America. Insecure and neurotic, in the hope of obtaining faster results, he tried an experimental version of the serum on himself, becoming Hulk; in this state, he devastated the port and killed more than 800 civilians before being stopped by the Ultimates.

"Earth-1610"[]

In the universe Ultimate Pete Wisdom, a former member of the British intelligence service, after offering himself as a guin

ea pig for a program aimed at replicating Tony Stark's intelligence with Banner's DNA, becomes the Ultimate version of the Chief and, to keep under control his transformation, he tries to steal Stark nanotechnology but he is killed by Hulk.

"Earth-7642": Cold War[]

United States Army (Earth-7642) Incredible Hulk vs — Double Lives

The Cold War was the continuing state of political conflict following World War Hulk. Throughout the comics, the Hulk is constantly pursued by the United States military, but they cannot control him or defeat him. The essays span from the first Hulk comic book in through 's World War Hulk storyline. There are influences from The Cold War in the Hulk comics.

World War Hulks[]

While in a fantasy world where Bruce killed the Hulk and the smart heroes joined the smart villains in a machine to help the world and where General Thunderbolt Ross is still alive, Bruce is visited by Doctor Doom who gives him a robot arm. Bruce Banner leaves a video for the heroes telling them how he planned all of these and to allow Skaar to kill him besides saving the civilians. Bruce then transforms into Hulk, fully controlling it, and goes back to Washington to battle Red Hulk. Banner's battle with Red Hulk gets them to the Intelligencia who manage to escape as their battle continues. Later, Banner and Captain Steve Rogers locks Red Hulk up and makes it clear that given his strength is second to that of the Hulk and his exceptional tactical expertise, they have plans for him.

RCO010 1467099658 (1) — hulk vs banner! issue #4 2011

The Hulk and Spider-Man: Murdermoon (1979)[]

The book begins with the Hulk fighting the US military in a desert but then cuts to Spider-Man intervening in a raid on a company doing research for NASA. That story takes Parker out to a US aircraft carrier. Meanwhile, Banner is reading a newspaper advertisement offering a potential treatment for his condition. He follows up on the ad but finds himself kidnapped by the villain and gets brainwashed to fight Spider-Man.

New Avengers[]

When Captain America attacks Black Widow with her shield, she catches it and tosses it at the Hulk, decapitating him from behind. However, from the time period Hulk was, his body suffered mutations that allowed his survival, by growing an additional head. Black Widow tries to perform the same move from before, but the Hulk is not caught off-guard like the last time, so he easily catches the shield and throws it back at a speed at which Black Widow can't catch, splitting her head in half.

"Earth-14325": Avengers[]

RCO133 1468658446 — Team Avengers (Earth-14325)

Bruce Banner is "cured" from the Hulk as he had been lobotomized and no longer has access to the emotional centers of his brain, thus he can't get angry and transform. During one fight, Wasp's device which controlled the Hulk was destroyed, causing him to revert to his human form. Banner joins the team in Avengers Vol. 5 #28. "Bruce Banner had already left the battle after the Wasp (Janet van Dyne), lost control over him and he turned back to his human form. After Wasp attempted to surrender, Hulk arrived and reignited the fight". This might be possible because this Wasp had a device which allowed her to control the Hulk.

RCO074 1468658446 — Janet van Dyne (alias Wasp)

Immortal Hulk[]

Immortal Hulk is the result of Bruce Banner and Hulk having been through different deaths and rebirths. Unlike the other Hulk incarnations, Immortal Hulk is content with waiting inside Bruce. If Bruce is injured by sunset, the Immortal Hulk will emerge with his transformation being limited to night-time. Bruce Banner’s death at the height of Civil War II and his return for a new ongoing series has sparked a dark road for the Hulk to go down, as Bruce finds an altogether smarter and crueler Hulk sharing his body. But it’s a problem that is starting to affect more than just Bruce.

Civil War II[]

For much of his comic book history, the ability to transform into the Hulk was more of a curse than a superpower for Bruce Banner. He is more Jekyll and Hyde than he is Clark Kent and Superman.

Reunion with Bruce[]

Betty later appeared at Bruce's funeral after he had been killed by Hawkeye. When Betty heard rumors that Bruce had returned to life, she didn't believe it as she assumed Bruce would have contacted her at some point. (Civil War ll)

Betty Ross saw something in Bruce Banner from the moment they met at the New Mexico missile base and, despite her father’s objections, tried to understand the shy scientist. The Hulk noticed Betty early in his existence, most likely due to Banner’s own interest in the young woman, and after she learned of their dual identity, she began to sympathize with their plight. Bruce and Betty eventually married, but their happiness was short-lived due to the tribulations of the Hulk, leading to a rocky road for their relationship.

"Earth-9722"[]

Elsewhere in the park, Janis recovers from the Wild Man's attack and is discovered by another gamma-spawned being who remembers her, but that she died in Maestro's future. When Janis asks who this new comer is, he tells her that he is the Hulk. (Incredible Hulk #450). Seemingly those of Earth-616's Hulk. He also seemed to have healing powers, as he healed a black eye he gave to Hulk (though this is debatable due to Hulk's healing factor). Janis Jones (deceased).

RCO023 w 1491812967 — Giant-Size Hulk (2006) Banner_War

"Earth-70105"[]

Meanwhile, lacking the guidance of a role model who taught him the value of responsibility as a result of Benjamin Parker's death, Peter Parker grows up to become a disaffected, trouble-making punk. At one point, Peter decides to sneak out of a field trip to a desert base and goes joyriding with friends in a stolen jeep. After the jeep breaks down, Peter goes off to find fuel, but accidentally wanders into a test site just as a gamma bomb is detonated. Soon after recovering from the explosion and returning home, Peter is confronted by the two friends, who accuse him of getting them into trouble. Peter becomes angry and turns into Hulk, destroying property around him. The Hulk is confronted by the police. Aunt May recognizes the Hulk as Peter and suffers a heart attack, which causes him to flee in distress.

Alternate Reality Versions[]

The Marvel Mangaverse is a series of comic books published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2002, with a sequel "New Mangaverse" released in late 2005 and early 2006. By 2005, Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 has given the numerical designation of "Marvel Mangaverse" as "Earth-2301". Bruce Banner, the Incredible Hulk, is considered by many to be the strongest hero on the face of the planet. Yet with every popular character there emerge alternate versions and iterations of said character: Zombie Hulk, Apes Hulk, Maestro, Hulk 2099, Old Man Logan Hulk, Aboriginal Hulk, Infernal Hulk, Nerd Hulk, Venom-Hulk, Tyrone Cash, Captain Universe Hulk, Skulk, Kluh, Ultimate Hulk and Lizard-Hulk.

Marvel Mangaverse Eternity Twilight Vol 1 1 page 2 Robert Bruce Banner Earth-2301 — Robert Bruce Banner (Earth-2301)

Gallery[]

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe[]

Portrayers:

The Hulk hates being referred to as Bruce Banner. In The Avengers (2012), Banner refers to him as the "Other Guy" multiple times, and it has been made clear that unlike in the comics and other adaptations, "Bruce" and "Hulk" do not feel love for the same person; if Bruce Banner likes Natasha, the Hulk does not. In Thor: Ragnarok, Hulk made it clear that he does not like the fact that Thor prefers Banner's presence over his.

In other media[]

Appears in The Incredible Hulk (1982), Spider Man and his Amazing Friends, The Incredible Hulk (1996), Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, Wolverine and the X-Men, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Marvel's Spider Man.

Banner does not appear in The Super Hero Squad Show. He is only mentioned as one of the scientists who are smarter than Egghead. The opening of the cartoon has a recurring joke that the Hulk takes a fragment of the sword of infinity and disappears and then when it reappears something happens to him. It's always something different in each episode. In one of them he becomes Bruce Banner.

The Ultimate Spider Man cartoons, Avengers Assemble, and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. have Banner trapped in the form of the Hulk since he first transformed. In an episode of the Hulk cartoon he appears when Betty wants to revert the Hulk to normal and he leaves, but he had to go back to being the Hulk to help the agents.

In Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Bruce can talk to the Hulk by creating a hallucination that he is in front of him talking to him. They made a deal with each other, whereby Hulk becomes a superhero (and eventually a member of the Avengers) and doesn't go back to being Banner except once a month. In "Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United", the Hulk doesn't like being reminded that he is Bruce Banner. When the Hulk made a smart comment Iron Man started mentioning Bruce saying it makes sense for the Hulk to have some intelligence, and the Hulk asked if he wants to be thrown down again.