The Hulk’s future in the MCU
Hulk is an extremely interesting character that hasn’t been explored much in the MCU due to complications over the rights to the character. However, with the First episode from She-Hulk, we have a little more insight into what the Hulk has been up to when he’s not fighting with his fellow Avengers. After spending 18 months in his lab, he completed his transformation into the Smart Hulk. He also talks about his struggles with his alter ego. Jen Walters has no alter ego and mostly controls her powers. For Bruce, it was an uphill battle. He tries to explain what it’s like to have another person on your mind. This gives MCU the Opportunity to explore Hulk’s childhood and mental health issues. So what is this tragic past we are talking about?
Hulk’s childhood
Bruce’s father was Dr. Brian Banner who was also an atomic physicist. He never wanted to have children and despised Bruce because of it. He refused to believe that Bruce was a smart kid and instead thought the radiation exposure had somehow mutated him into something else. Brian was an alcoholic and a very angry person. He took out all his rage on Bruce and physically assaulted him. His mother, Rebecca, often tried to protect him. One fateful day, Brian Banner killed Rebecca right in front of Bruce. It was because she was trying to save Bruce from his father and take him with her.
After this incident, Brian is sentenced to prison and the Hulk goes to live with his Aunt Susan. She tried to give him as much love and care as possible. Nevertheless, the damage was done. He was a child prodigy but extremely withdrawn, lonely and isolated. He was often harassed. His only friend was his cousin Jen Walters.
Mental health problems
Eventually, Bruce began to exhibit symptoms of dissociative identity disorder, which often stems from childhood trauma from physical abuse. He started having imaginary friends. This is how he created the identity of the Hulk. Hulk, the imaginary friend, helped Bruce deal with his childhood trauma and the death of his mother. It stuck with him throughout college and served as an outlet for all of Bruce’s negative emotions. Banner’s sanity has barely been referenced in the MCU and would be a great angle to cover.
Bruce Banner was also presumed to have bipolar disorder. His rage is not limited to his Hulk persona. He has extreme mood swings regardless. He also accidentally caused the death of his father. After his father got out of prison, he came into contact with Bruce. However, things quickly escalated and Brian started pissing off Bruce. Eventually it got physical and they fought at Rebecca’s grave when Bruce went there to remember his mother on the anniversary of her death. Brian knocked Bruce to the ground. Bruce, in an attempt to defend himself, pushed his father away. Brian, losing his balance, fell and hit his head on Rebecca’s headstone and died. Bruce’s mind suppressed reality and instead created a new one where muggers murdered his father. This is also linked to dissociative identity disorder.
The future in the MCU
In the first episode of She-Hulk, Bruce and Jen went on a road trip together. Returning from the same, they collided with a spatialship of the planet Sakaar. Bruce had spent about 2 years in Sakaar and had been seen there during Thor: Ragnarok. In the comics, Hulk has a child in Sakaar known as Skaar with Caiera. The MCU could easily combine these two scenarios. Giving Bruce a child could force Bruce to finally face the trauma and abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. In this way, Marvel could explore these two father-son relationships in parallel.
In fact, the Class 8 Sakaarian messenger craft might try to reach Bruce for the same purpose. It could be to inform Bruce of the birth of his child. Considering that during Ragnarok Bruce was completely stuck while the Hulk was in charge, he could totally have tried to start a new life there. Plus, the Hulk doesn’t really seem one to think about the consequences of his decisions. This would be the perfect opportunity to show Hulk as more than just a green monster born out of anger.
