History Characters / MarvelComicsBruceBanner

** Valkyrie: Sword-Girl; Angry Girl in ''Film/ThorRagnarok''

* EmergencyTransformation: ''Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads'' #3 reveals that Bruce actually did let him out once, in a desperate and absolutely last-minute bid to save himself from dying in the Valley of the Flame.

* {{Expy}}: Bruce Banner and Hulk began as expies of [[Literature/StrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]], respectively. Additionally, Stan Lee claims he was heavily inspired by ComicBook/TheThing, who was the most popular character in the ComicBook/FantasticFour--at that point, Ben Grimm would frequently switch back and forth between his two forms at a moment's notice, and generally came across as a violently raging TokenEvilTeammate rather than the loveable BoisterousBruiser he became.

* ArrogantGodVsRagingMonster: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] depending on what version of the Hulk is fighting. As Bruce Banner has DDI and many alters, each Hulk has different traits. Joe Fixit is WeakButSkilled compared to the other hulk as he's a cunning and dirty fighter, The Professor is a JackOfAllStats while [[GeniusBruiser retaining Bruce's intellect]], World Breaker Hulk is easily strong enough to best most gods but his power tends to be uncontrollable and dangerous to everyone around him, of course then there's... The Devil/Immortal Hulk. The Immortal Hulk is more like a god or a demon in that he has explicitly mystical qualities, has resurrective immortality, can be dismembered and still move his bits and pieces which will rejoin if free and close together, can see into souls and smell the lies on people, and is so strong he can crack Thor's skull and beat him with one punch. Then again it may not be a SubvertedTrope in the immortal Hulk's case as he is very intelligent and enjoys BreakThemByTalking along with being a SoftSpokenSadist to his enemies.

* DeathSeeker: On his worse days, Bruce has tried to take his own life, or get someone to take it for him. Small wonder, considering how badly he's suffered over the years.

* AntiHero: Varies wildly DependingOnTheWriter, anywhere from a pure hero to KnightInSourArmor, or PragmaticHero, with Greg Pak playing him as the last category. In his worst depictions, Bruce has put innocent people including his own son in harm's way for personal gain.

* DeathSeeker: On his worse days, Bruce has tried to take his own life, or get someone to take it for him.

* GoodIsNotNice: Good, yes. Nice? ... err... no. Even before the TraumaCongaLine of being stuck as the Hulk really kicked into high gear, Bruce wasn't a terribly friendly person. Still isn't. He can be cold, manipulative, and just plain jerky, even to his friends. Plus, there's that temper of his.

* TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior: Part of the reason Brian Banner justified his behavior toward little Bruce was that he acted ''way'' too smart for a little kid, and it scared the man.

* WorldsSmartestMan: He's certainly in the running. Since he's usually too busy being the Hulk though, he doesn't exactly have the luxury for self-improvement. Likewise, most of his competitors have easy access to some of the the most sophisticated technology known to man, whereas Bruce remains on the lamb. That being said, Bruce can still give them a run for their money in scientific knowledge, and he remains their superior in radiation expertise.

* BrainsVersusBrawn: The Hulk as Bruce Banner's SplitPersonality also qualifies since he is contrasted with Bruce Banner, who is an InsufferableGenius in the running for WorldsSmartestMan. You could say that all of the different personalities Banner has plays with this trope to some degree. Though all of them are, relative to the average person, far closer to Strength than Intelligence due to their shared SuperStrength and NighInvulnerability, some personalities (Merged Hulk, Grey Hulk) skew closer to the center of the spectrum, inheriting Banner's {{Book Smart}}s or developing {{Street Smart}}s, and others (Devil Hulk) lean even ''further'' into The Hulk's strength.

The Hulk's human alter-ego, and the "original" personality. A socially withdrawn and emotionally reserved- even repressed- physicist, Bruce Banner took part in the experimental detonation of a gamma bomb, only to end up exposed to the blast himself when he attempted to save Rick Jones, a teenager who'd driven onto the testing field. He survived, but the gamma radiation he was exposed to results in his ability to transform into a gigantic, powerful monster known as the Hulk. At present Bruce is one of the ten smartest people in the Marvel Universe, considered a colleague of such notable figures as [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]] and [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark.]] Though initially every bit the "milksop" General Ross thought he was, years of constant persecution and hiding have hardened him into an ActionSurvivor capable of holding his own in a fight even without turning green. Though the Hulk just wants to be left alone, Bruce has had many friends and allies pass through his life, though they never stay for long. Over the years he has been many things: a hero, a villain, a scientist, a madman, strong, weak, innocent, cruel, and more- but through it all one thing remains constant. No matter how hard he tries to fix his fragile psyche, or how close he comes to finding a cure, Bruce Banner will ''never'' be free of the raging monstrosity they call ''The Incredible Hulk.''

* AntiHero: Varies DependingOnTheWriter, anywhere from a pure hero to ClassicalAntiHero, KnightInSourArmor, or PragmaticHero, with Greg Pak playing him as the last category by lying to those close to him into getting his way. Not to mention putting innocent people including his own son in harm's way for his personal gain.

* BadassBookworm: Although there are plenty of people smarter than him, most famously [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Reed Richards]] and ComicBook/DoctorDoom, Banner ''is'' one of the most brilliant people on the planet, and in his primary area of expertise, radiation, he is totally unsurpassed on Earth, with even Dr. Doom admitting that he doesn't know as much as Banner does on the topic. When he sets his mind to it very little can get in Banner's way.
* BeneathNotice: Over the years, Bruce has developed a knack for sneaking into places, helped by the fact that he looks so ordinary most people wouldn't look at him twice. Combine that with his intelligence, and he can get in a surprising amount of places, including military bases that are actively hunting him (though not bothering to change the locks is on them).

* DependingOnTheWriter: While initially introduced as a fairly typical morally upstanding comic book protagonist, Banner's personality has become extremely prone to authorial intent and he can vary wildly from writer to writer. Some portray him as a likeable down on their luck guy, others as an arrogant but well meaning genius and still others as an insufferable man who is extremely unlikable if not out and out villainous.

* InsufferableGenius: Not the nicest scientist, even before he started living life on the run.

* WorldsSmartestMan: He's certainly in the running, but while he may not be the smartest in general terms, he is widely regarded as the greatest expert on radiation on Earth, even by the other people that make up the rest of the world's smartest list.

* BullyHunter: They ''really'' doesn't like them for obvious reasons... except for Joe Fixit who is one himself.

In the first issue of ''The Incredible Hulk'', the Hulk was smart, only came out at night, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness and was colored grey instead of green.]] Though this was changed the very next issue, the image of a Grey Hulk stuck around. Writer Allen Milgrom took advantage 24 years later and had the Grey Hulk return as [[RetCon the 'original' Hulk personality]] reemerging in a SplitPersonalityTakeover- but it wasn't until Creator/PeterDavid got a hold of him that he [[MyRealDaddy came into his own]] as a unique character. Under David's pen the Grey Hulk began as a musclebound ball of hostility most comfortable in a villainous role, but soon began turning into a more sympathetic and [[DeadpanSnarker far, far snarkier]] AntiHero. Eventually, after an incident that [[ShapeshifterModeLock rendered him unable to revert back to Banner,]] he moved to Las Vegas and took a job as a legbreaker for casino owner Michael Berengetti, who christened him Joe Fixit- a name he has used ever since. Weaker, crueler, but [[GuileHero far more cunning]] than the Savage Hulk, Joe represents those aspects of Bruce Banner's personality he'd rather not think about, often being compared to an [[TeensAreMonsters surly teenage boy on a power trip.]] Joe also holds the distinction of being the only Hulk to have managed to build a life for himself apart from Banner, gaining his own supporting cast and even a LoveInterest during his time in Las Vegas.

* HistoryWithCelebrity: According to [[HollywoodHacking world-class hacker,]] uh, Hack, Joe might be the father of [[Music/{{Madonna}} Madonna's]] baby- when he asks, Bruce Banner denies it outright. Joe, however, is notably quite evasive.

* TheUnfettered: He's one of the more amoral of Banner's alternate personas, and is not afraid to get his hands dirty and do quite heinous things if it means getting what he wants. That said, he still has a sense of honor and a shred of conscience, even if it is often despite himself.

* WeakButSkilled: Compared with the green Hulk, he has less strength, but more intelligence to give his fighting style more creativity or weapons.

* AppropriatedAppellation: He doesn't call himself the Immortal Hulk in-universe, taking his name instead from Thor saying the mortal world created something close to a god or devil when they created the Hulk - the [[CallBack Devil Hulk]].

--->'''Devil Hulk:''' Before any of the others, I was there...protecting you. I'll always be there to protect you.

* CompositeCharacter: Keeps the Savage Hulk's propensity to violence, but maintains the coldly-calculating TranquilFury personality of the Green Scar.

* SplitPersonalityTakeover: He seized control of Bruce's mindscape after the events of ''Civil War II'' and ''Secret Empire'', locking away the Mindless Hulk. It's made clear he might allow the others to take control, but only if he feels like it.

** Savage Hulk: KnightInSourArmor or PragmaticHero. Extremely noble, well-intended, loyal, heroic, constantly persecuted without understanding why, only wants to be loved and have friends, but cannot understand the society around him, protector of all oppressed peoples around the universe, will be inconsolable after watching ''Bambi'' or seeing a dead bunny, and strictly a force for good as long as somebody (like his former father figure Comicbook/DoctorStrange, or own, as opposed to Banner's, "greatest love of his life" queen Jarella) gives him a comprehensible direction. Basically the most pure-hearted and genuinely heroic version, and seen in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperHeroSquadShow'', but non-constructively constantly hunted like an animal due to his sheer scale of power without the maturity to handle it properly. Nowadays, tends to usually be treated more kindly by other heroes when he shows up .

* AGirlInEveryPort: Hulk has had many different lovers and wives, and he's fathered children with some of them. The main reason why he's had so many is Bruce Banner's constant need to stay on the run and find a place where he and the Hulk won't cause trouble or hurt anyone, but he still cannot avoid falling in love with a local. Also, a lot of Hulk's separate personalities consider themselves entirely different people, often disagreeing on which woman they consider their OneTrueLove (if any). Gray Hulk, for instance, moved to Las Vegas and worked as a pimp and a bouncer, acquiring a harem of women in the process. On another occasion, Savage Hulk entered the sub-atomic kingdom K'ai and, after magically having the Bruce Banner personality become dominant in Hulk's mind, fell in love with princess Jarella, The Green Scar was forced off-world by Comicbook/TheIlluminati and found a happy life on the planet Sakaar, along with his new wife, Caiera. On yet ''another'' occasion, an otherworldly deity named Umar took an enraged Hulk back to her dimension to make him her consort. Feeling there was nothing left for him back on Earth, Hulk allowed her to, although his ex-wife, Betty Ross, resented it and eventually followed Hulk to that world.

*** Comicbook/IronFist: Punching Man

* LetsYouAndHimFight: Various heroes have been unlucky enough to cross the Hulk's path, including Franchise/SpiderMan, Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}, Comicbook/IronMan and the heroes who make up part of his regular rogues' gallery (see below). It's not an experience any of the other guys would care to repeat.

** Although Doc Green (yet another Hulk persona) once stated that Comicbook/SheHulk is the Hulk's SuperiorSuccessor. The rest of the gamma crew are all a mess in one way or another, with their power and potential squandered by their psychological issues. But Jennifer has proven to be the most stable and heroic of them, which is why she is the only one he doesn't DePower.

* ThouShaltNotKill: Not an absolute version, and he makes exceptions for any thoroughly malevolent EldritchAbomination, OmnicidalManiac, and such, or as a very last option if too many other lives depend on it, but contrary to popular belief (due to that he loves to rumble and smashing inanimate objects), and similarly to Franchise/SpiderMan, the most heroic Hulk incarnations (including Banner, Savage Hulk, the merged version, and likely the Green Scar), are as close as the Franchise/MarvelUniverse gets, or at the very least far more so than the majority of the heroes. He really, ''really'' hates to kill, and has [[FriendTOAllLivingThings repeatedly gone into a panic or been brought to tears at times when he hasn't been able to save bystanders]]. It takes ridiculous extremes to get him to that point. Lampshaded by his son Skaar who considers him extremely "[[ARealManIsAKiller weak]]" in this respect. Of course, [[TokenEvilTeamMate Joe Fixit]] doesn't have that problem, although he seemed to avoid using lethal force during the Dale Keown run/towards the end. The Immortal/Devil Hulk likewise doesn't, being more than willing to kill if he feels it deserved.

* AntiHero: KnightInSourArmor or PragmaticHero. Extremely noble, well-intended, loyal, heroic, constantly persecuted without understanding why, only wants to be loved and have friends, but cannot understand the society around him, protector of all oppressed peoples around the universe, will be inconsolable after watching ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'' or seeing a dead bunny, and strictly a force for good as long as somebody (like his former father figure Comicbook/DoctorStrange, or own, as opposed to Banner's, "the greatest love of his life" Queen Jarella) gives him a comprehensible direction. Basically the most pure-hearted and genuinely heroic version, but non-constructively constantly hunted like an animal due to his sheer scale of power without the maturity to handle it properly. Nowadays, tends to usually be treated more kindly by other heroes when he shows up.

The result of Hulk being inverted during the ''Comicbook/{{AXIS}}'' story arc.

* AntiHero: TerrorHero and WellIntentionedExtremist. He isn't called "Devil Hulk" for anything, as he dispenses justice in his own brutal way. Case in point, after Banner gets shot in the head by an obviously-terrified gunman trying to rob a convenience store to pay his debts, Hulk awakens in the dead of night and chases after him. [[NothingIsScarier We don't see what happens to the guy]], but we cut back to him after the fact and his body is so destroyed that if he ever wakes up, he'll never walk again.

** Franchise/SpiderMan: Bug Man

** ComicBook/{{Iceman}}: Ice Man... OhWait.

** Franchise/{{Superman}}: Cape Man
** Franchise/{{Batman}}: Pointy Ears

* DiscardAndDraw: In ''Immortal Hulk'', Joe spends the series without any Hulk powers, as his physical form is somehow depleted of Gamma. [[spoiler:When X-Ray of the U-Foes bombards Joe's body with (normally Hulk-weakening) Cosmic Rays to delay his resurrection, Joe absorbs them and gains a Red Hulk-like form]].

[[folder:Green Scar/Worldbreaker]]
!!Green Scar/Worldbreaker

* {{Retool}}: The ''Immortal Hulk'' saga reinvented and expanded Devil Hulk's concept over 30 years since his original debut and infrequent appearances since; doing away with Devil Hulk's original presentation as the sum of all of Banner's most evil desires as that being just how Banner's fractured psyche chose to see him as, while in truth Devil Hulk, rebranded as Immortal Hulk, is the persona born with the sole purpose of being the father figure Banner always wanted but couldn't get out of his abusive father David; with Immortal Hulk managing to grow closer to Banner's innermost he managed to make himself known as how he wants to be seen, not the demonic lizard monster he once appeared as. Such overhaul made previous depictions of Devil Hulk look outdated and incomplete, most famously in the ''Ultimate Destruction'' video game.