History Headscratchers / Hulk

* Though it should be when Lily's teeth clamp down on his crotch, the Hulk doesn't react until ''after'' she pulls it, so does he hold the pain in until then or what?

** The Hulk's pain threshold for his groin area is unclear. He immediately responds to an accidental self-inflicted groin attack while fighting the tanks, and it takes a few seconds for him to recover. However, Lily's groin attack doesn't seem to stun the Hulk or slow him down.

** The novelization reveals Atheon is a nationwide, private research organization subcontracted by the government and has ties to the military. One of the things it does is—as Talbot teases in the film—buy out smaller labs and acquire their assets. Bruce later speculates that Atheon is a front for something more covert and higher up the ladder than General Ross to be able to push the military around.

* When Lily pounces on the Hulk's groin, why does she only get hold of his shorts? The Hulk's shorts are close-fitting, so Lily should've latched onto his genitals.

** Bigger question is why he, the physically-disabled man half-covered in a body cast, is doing it instead of a capable soldier.

** Maybe Talbot believed that Bruce somehow got to General Ross as payback for Talbot getting on Bruce's case at the lab, but it's still a bit of a stretch for Talbot to point the finger at Bruce.

* After rigging a gamma reactor to explode and killing his wife, how can David possibly be roaming out and about again with his record and no one keeping tabs on him?

** The novelization reveals that she does. Her father built it, and her mother decorated it. After Betty's mom died, General Ross couldn't bring himself to go there anymore as it reminded him of his late wife, so he left it to Betty for her to use whenever and however she wanted.

** After the gammasphere accident, the novelization has Ross and Talbot meet up. During the discussion, Talbot shows Ross a folder of photos of Bruce and Betty, revealing that Talbot has had Bruce under constant surveillance for years. Then Talbot reminds Ross about David, which makes Ross connect the dots, much to his annoyance.

** In the novelization, David unleashes the dogs ''after'' calling Bruce; David calls to tell Bruce what he's about to do, not about something in progress. David sics the dogs on Betty while Talbot attacks Bruce.
** Maybe the dogs had some trouble tracking Betty down—the three of them having to work together probably slowed them a bit.

** Of course, he doesn't want to scare Betty, but what if she didn't see him first? Would he watch over her and wait for the dogs to come before revealing himself?

** Maybe it's out of concern for Bruce or scientific curiosity—Betty is a scientist, after all.

* As Betty and Bruce walk to his old house, he says he probably saw or knew Betty during their childhoods, but the theory goes unanswered, so did they meet as kids or not?

** Either they're desensitized to loud noises and ignored everything, or Ross—for whatever reason—had them relocated.

*** The Hulk also has Bruce's memories to fall back on. The book surmises that the Hulk finds Betty through her scent or Bruce's memories of happy times with Betty at the cabin. The junior novelization explains a bit of Bruce's consciousness within the Hulk figures that Betty would be there since her father would have troops surround her house, which unbeknownst to Bruce, is correct.

[[folder:The Hulk's pain tolerance 'down there']]

** Perhaps Lily only bites the crotch of the Hulk's shorts rather than his privates, and he reacts to her tugging since it's like getting a front wedgie.
** The Hulk's pain threshold for his groin area is unclear since he immediately responds to an accidental self-inflicted groin attack while fighting the tanks.

* The film presents Atheon as an organization connected to the military-industrial complex but never explains what it is or does.

* For Bruce and Betty (David's son and General Ross's daughter) to be colleagues is quite a coincidence, so was it fate or something else?

** The novelization reveals that David, for some reason, got sent to a mental hospital rather than prison, and his getting cleared and released is another thing Talbot arranged as part of his plan.

* A glimpse of elderly David appears in Bruce's nightmare before the gammasphere incident. However, they haven't met again yet, so there's no way for Bruce to know what David looks like.

** In the novelization, David unleashes the dogs ''after'' calling Bruce; David calls to tell Bruce what he's about to do, not something already happening. David sics the dogs on Betty while Talbot attacks Bruce.
** Maybe the dogs had some trouble tracking Betty down—the three of them having to work together probably slowed them down a bit.

** Of course he doesn't want to scare Betty, but what if she didn't see him first? Would he watch over her and wait for the dogs to come before revealing himself?

[[folder:The Hulk's pain tolerance down there]]
* Though it should be when Lily's teeth clamp down on his crotch, the Hulk doesn't react until ''after'' she pulls it, so does he hold the pain in until then?
** The Hulk's pain threshold for his groin area is unclear since he immediately responds to an accidental self-inflicted groin attack while fighting the tanks.

** The novelization reveals Atheon is a nationwide, private research organization subcontracted by the government and has ties to the military. One of the things it does is—as Talbot teases in the film—buy out smaller labs and acquire their assets.

* Talbot assaults Bruce under the false assumption that Bruce went behind his back and got General Ross to cut him out of his plans for the lab. But it was Betty who tried to get her father to pressure Talbot into backing off. Plus, Ross restricted access to the lab and rendered Bruce "incommunicado" after Bruce's first Hulk-Out, so how and why would Talbot blame Bruce?

*** The Hulk also has Bruce's memories to fall back on. The novel surmises that the Hulk finds Betty through her scent or Bruce's memories of happy times with Betty at the cabin.

** He understandably doesn't want to scare Betty, but what if she didn't see him first? Would he watch over her and wait for the dogs to come before revealing himself?

[[folder:Lily goes MIA in the middle of the dog fight]]

** The novelization reveals that Talbot arranged David's release from the mental hospital, among other things behind the scenes, as part of an elaborate years-long plan to put the screws to Bruce and see what would happen when he gets upset based on David's files on him.

** The novelization reveals her father built it, and her mother decorated it. After Betty's mom died, General Ross couldn't bring himself to go there anymore as it reminded him of his late wife, so he left it to Betty for her to use whenever and however she wanted.

[[folder:Why go to the cabin instead of back home?]]
* After questioning David Banner about Bruce, why does Betty go to her cabin instead of returning home?
** After General Ross threatens to imprison Bruce forever if he goes near Betty again, the novelization and a deleted scene answer this question. Betty does return to her house after meeting David but finds [=MPs=] confiscating everything connected to the lab on her father's orders and one parked across the street assigned to protect her. The novel has Betty get back in her car and leave, with the latter [=MP=] tailing her, but Betty gives him the slip on the road while driving to the cabin.

[[folder:Knowing Betty's location]]
* How does the Hulk know to find Betty at her cabin when Bruce doesn't even know she went there?
** An early script and the novelization explain that the Hulk sniffs the air and picks up Betty's scent.
*** The Hulk also has Bruce's memories to fall back on. The novel surmises that the Hulk finds Betty through her scent or Bruce's memories of happy times with Betty at the cabin.

[[folder:The Hulk finds Betty first]]
* David sics his mutant hounds on Betty before calling Bruce to rile him up, so how does the Hulk find Betty before the dogs do, despite their substantial headstart?
** In the novelization, David unleashes the dogs ''after'' calling Bruce; David calls to tell Bruce what he's about to do, not something already happening.
** Maybe the dogs had some trouble tracking Betty down—the three of them having to work together probably slowed them down a bit.

[[folder:Hiding from Betty]]
* Why does the Hulk hide among the trees until Betty finds him?
** He understandably doesn't want to scare Betty, but what if she didn't see him first? Would he watch over her and wait for the dogs to come before revealing himself?

[[folder:The Hulk's hands while carrying Betty to her car]]
* When picking Betty up and setting her atop her car, why does the Hulk lift Betty with one hand over the other?
** She wouldn't be secure in his hands, especially since they're so big, and the Hulk doesn't use his thumbs to ensure Betty doesn't fall from his grip.
** It'd make sense for the Hulk to put one hand around Betty's torso and the other around her legs; some of the film's storyboards show him holding her this way.

[[folder:The Hulk's pain tolerance down there]]
* Though it should be when Lily's teeth clamp down on his crotch, the Hulk doesn't react until ''after'' she pulls it, so does he hold the pain in until then?
** The Hulk's pain threshold for his groin area is unclear since he immediately responds to an accidental self-inflicted groin attack while fighting the tanks.

[[folder:Lily goes MIA in the middle of the dog fight]]
* Where does Lily go after the Hulk uses her as a bat against Smokey? Was she unconscious or waiting for the others to fall from the treetops before going after Betty again?

[[folder:Have we met before?]]
* As Betty and Bruce walk to his old house, he says he probably saw or knew Betty during their childhoods, but the theory goes unanswered, so did they meet as kids or not?
** The novelization reveals that they did—Bruce saw Betty while looking out his window when Ross arrested David.

[[folder:Military escort]]
* Why does General Ross think a platoon of soldiers with tanks trailing Bruce and Betty through the abandoned town is a good idea? For all he knows, presuming Betty didn't tell her father about anger causing Bruce's transformations—for some reason—their presence might make Bruce Hulk-Out again.

** The novelization gives the NightmareFuel answer—unsurprisingly, David is involved.

* After questioning David Banner about Bruce, why does Betty go to her cabin in the woods instead of returning home?

* David sics his mutant hounds on Betty before calling Bruce to rile him up, so how does the Hulk reach Betty when the dogs have a substantial headstart?
** In the novelization, David unleashes the dogs on Betty ''after'' calling Bruce; David calls to tell Bruce what he's about to do, not something already happening.

* Why does the Hulk hide among the trees and wait for Betty to find him? He understandably doesn't want to scare Betty, but what if she didn't see him first? Would he watch over her and wait for the dogs before revealing himself?

* When picking Betty up and setting her atop her car, why does the Hulk lift Betty with one hand over the other? She wouldn't be secure in his hands, especially since they're so big, and the Hulk doesn't use his thumbs to ensure Betty doesn't fall from his grip.

* Though it should be when Lily's teeth clamp down on his crotch, the Hulk doesn't react until ''after'' she pulls it, so does he hold the pain in until then? The Hulk's pain threshold for his groin area is unclear since he immediately responds to an accidental self-inflicted groin attack while fighting the tanks.

[[folder:The Nanomeds]]
* How do the nanomeds work anyway?
** A deleted scene shows Betty and Bruce giving the presentation to the review board they mention in the film that clarifies everything about the nanomeds, including why they don't seem to work.

[[folder:Why go to the cabin instead of back home?]]
* After questioning David Banner about Bruce, why does Betty go to her cabin in the woods instead of returning home?
** After General Ross threatens to imprison Bruce forever if he goes near Betty again, the novelization and a deleted scene answer this question. Betty does return to her house after meeting David but finds [=MPs=] confiscating everything connected to the lab on her father's orders and one parked across the street assigned to protect her. The novel has Betty get back in her car and leave, with the latter [=MP=] tailing her, but Betty gives him the slip on the road while driving to the cabin.

[[folder:Knowing where to find Betty]]
* How does Hulk know to find Betty at her cabin when Bruce doesn't even know she went there?
** An early script and the novelization explain that Hulk sniffs the air and picks up Betty's scent.

[[folder:The Hulk finds Betty first]]
* David sics his mutant hounds on Betty ''before'' calling Bruce to infuriate him, so how does Hulk reach Betty first?
** The novelization gives a likely answer—David calls to tell Bruce what he's about to do, not something already happening; David unleashes the dogs on Betty ''after'' calling Bruce.

[[folder:The Hulk hides from Betty]]
* Why does the Hulk hide among the trees and wait for Betty to find him? He understandably doesn't want to scare Betty, but what if she didn't see him first? Would he watch over her and wait for the dogs before revealing himself?

[[folder:The Hulk's hands while carrying Betty to her car]]
* When picking Betty up and setting her atop her car, why does Hulk lift Betty with one hand over the other? She wouldn't be secure in his hands, especially since they're so big, and Hulk doesn't use his thumbs to ensure Betty doesn't fall from his grip.
** It'd make sense for Hulk to put one hand around Betty's torso and the other around her legs; some of the film's storyboards show him holding her this way.

[[folder:The Hulk's pain tolerance down there]]
* Though it should be when Lily's teeth clamp down on his crotch, Hulk doesn't react until ''after'' she pulls it, so does he hold the pain in until then? Hulk's pain threshold for his groin area is unclear since he immediately responds to an accidental self-inflicted groin attack while fighting the tanks.

[[folder:Lily goes MIA in the middle of the dog fight]]
* Where does Lily go after Hulk uses her as a bat against Smokey? Was she unconscious or waiting for the others to fall from the treetops before going after Betty again?

[[folder:Military escort]]
* Why does General Ross think a platoon of soldiers with tanks trailing Bruce and Betty through the abandoned town is a good idea? For all he knows, presuming Betty didn't tell her father about anger causing Bruce's transformations—for some reason—their presence might make Bruce Hulk-Out again.

* Given Hulk's tougher-than-kevlar skin, how and why does Talbot expect to get a [=DNA=] sample with an extraction drill?
** The film shows Talbot as perhaps trying to penetrate Hulk's eye, thinking it might be a weak spot, but it's still a far reach.
** The novel and an early script have Talbot thrust a handheld laser drill into Hulk's neck, successfully cutting off chunks of Hulk's skin.
** Bigger question is why he, the crippled man half covered in bodycast, doing it instead of an able-bodied soldier.

** After General Ross threatens to imprison Bruce forever if he goes near Betty again, the novelization and a deleted scene answer this question. Betty does return to her house after she meets with David, only to find [=MPs=] confiscating everything connected to the lab on her father's orders and one parked across the street assigned to protect her. The novel has Betty get back in her car and leave, with the latter [=MP=] following behind. Betty gives him the slip on the road while driving to the cabin.

* How does Hulk know to find Betty at her cabin when Bruce doesn't know Betty went there?
** An early script and the novelization explain that Hulk picks up Betty's scent from sniffing the air, tracking her to the cabin.

* David sics his mutant hounds on Betty ''before'' calling Bruce to rile him up, so how does Hulk reach Betty first?
** The novelization provides a plausible answer—David calls to tell Bruce what he's about to do, not something that's already happening; David sends his dogs after Betty ''after'' calling Bruce.

* Why does the Hulk hide among the trees and wait for Betty to find him? He understandably doesn't want to scare Betty, but what would he do if she didn't see him first—watching over her and waiting for the dogs to come before revealing himself?

* When picking Betty up and setting her down on her car, why does Hulk lift Betty by placing one hand over the other? She wouldn't be secure in Hulk's grip, especially since his hands are so big and he doesn't use his thumbs to ensure Betty doesn't slip from his grasp.
** Otherwise, it'd make sense if the Hulk put one hand around Betty's waist and the other around her legs; some of the film's storyboards show him holding her this way.

[[folder:The Hulk's pain tolerance during the first groin attack]]
* Hulk doesn't react until ''after'' Lily pulls the crotch of his shorts, even though the dog's teeth making contact with his groin should've done it. Does Hulk hold the pain in until then, or does he have a high threshold for pain down there?

[[folder:One canine goes MIA in the middle of the dog fight]]
* Where does Lily go after Hulk uses her as a bat against Smokey? Was she knocked unconscious or waiting for the Hulk, Smokey, and Sammy to fall from the treetops before going after Betty again?

* Why does General Ross think that having a platoon of soldiers with tanks trailing Bruce and Betty through the abandoned town is a good idea? For all he knows, presuming Betty didn't tell her father about anger causing Bruce's transformations—for some reason—their presence might make Bruce Hulk-Out again.

* How and why does Talbot expect to get a sample of Hulk's [=DNA=] with an extraction drill when his skin is tougher than kevlar?
** The film shows Talbot as perhaps trying to penetrate Hulk's eye, thinking it might be a weak spot, but it's still a long shot.
*** The novel and an early script have Talbot thrust a handheld laser drill into Hulk's neck, successfully cutting off chunks of Hulk's skin.

* Why does the Hulk hide among the trees and wait for Betty to find him? Understandably, he doesn't want to scare Betty, but what was he going to do if she didn't see him first—watch over her and wait for the dogs to come before revealing himself?

* When picking Betty up and setting her down on her car, why does Hulk lift Betty by placing one hand over the other? She wouldn't really be secure in Hulk's grip, especially since his hands are so big and he doesn't use his thumbs to ensure Betty doesn't slip from his grasp.
** Otherwise, it'd make sense if the Hulk put one hand around Betty's waist and the other around her legs; some of the film's storyboards actually show him holding her this way.

* How and why does Talbot expect to get a sample of Hulk's [=DNA=] with an extraction drill when his skin is tougher than Kevlar?
** The film shows Talbot as perhaps trying to penetrate Hulk's eye, thinking it might be a weak spot, but still.

* How and why does Talbot expect to get a sample of Hulk's [=DNA=] with an extraction drill when his skin is stronger than Kevlar?

* Does Betty own the forest cabin or not?
** The novelization reveals her father built it, and her mother decorated it. After Betty's mom died, General Ross couldn't bring himself to go there anymore as it reminded him of his late wife, so he left it to Betty for her to use however she wanted.

** After General Ross threatens to imprison Bruce forever if he goes near Betty again, the novelization and a deleted scene answer this question. Betty does return to her house after she meets with David, only to find [=MPs=] confiscating everything connected to the lab on her father's orders and one parked across the street assigned to protect her. The novel has Betty get back in her car and leave, with the latter [=MP=] following behind. While driving to the cabin, Betty gives him the slip on the road.

* David sics his mutant hounds on Betty ''before'' calling Bruce to rile him up, so how does Hulk manage to reach Betty first?
** The novelization provides a plausible answer as David calls to tell Bruce what he's about to do, not something he's done already; David sends his dogs after Betty ''after'' calling Bruce.