THE DISEASE

[selfantagonized]

[ the incredible H U L K (2008) ]
Under the influence of good intentions and lied to about the nature of an experiment he was running, Dr. Bruce Banner brought upon himself a curse, and exposed himself to gamma radiation. He sought a way to make people immune to the radiation, when the process itself was an attempt to replicated the SUPER-SOLDIER SERUM developed by Dr. Abraham Erskine, masked by general Ross.

By making himself the sole target of the experiment during a test, Banner turned himself into a monster, known otherwise as The Hulk. His affliction is one that triggered by unhealthy rates in his heartbeat, no matter the cause. The form in which this happens most often (or is known more by others) is prolonged anger; when this occurs and he reaches the boiling point, he transforms into a humanoid beast, loses control of himself and goes on a rampage - it does not matter who is in his way, his lack of restraint when changed destroys everything. Despite knowledge of this, Banner believes that the beast can be 'directed' at least, at the point of his transformation, like the color red for a bull, almost.

His strength as the Hulk is unmatched, he is capable of lifting cars, uprooting trees, taking physical blows that would kill the more human, unaffected Bruce Banner. The extent of his endurance and physical capacity stretches to where a showdown with a beast such as himself results with him coming out on top - it may be a result of the humanity he holds. He cannot be consoled or swayed under most circumstances in this form; the best choice of action is take cover, hide and run away from him, wait for the beast to tire itself out; only then does he revert back into the doctor. Very rarely, the human side of Banner shines through in the Hulk at times - when this happens, it is easy to push him either way as the slightest trigger can set him off, or clam him down.

Throughout the course of the 2008 film, Bruce does everything he can in his power to evade the beast. He exchanges letters with a 'Mr. Blue', refers to himself as 'Mr. Green' in attempts to find a cure for his... 'condition'. The curse is something he wishes on no one else. He spends his time afraid of it, worried for the damage he has caused to those he regards fondly, more specifically Betty Ross, his girlfriend before the incident. As a result of the monster inside of him, Banner finds himself unable to form deep emotional relationships out of concern from what can happen if things turn wrong, those he cares for get endangered. In another light however, he has also discovered ways to keep his anger under control, but not the panic he finds himself under attack by at times with his situation.

By the end of the film, Bruce is shown to be in seclusion, somewhere in British Columbia. He works at raising his heart rate, a common symptom of anger - it hints that he is learning how to change into the beast at will.


[ the AVENGERS (2012) ]
During his disappearance from the world, Dr. Banner has chosen to place himself in a chaotic environment, knowing that by now, running will not get him far. He ends up in Calcutta of West Bengal, having decided to help those less fortunate. It is revealed by Natasha Romanoff that he has been without an incident (transformation) for nearly a year now, hinting that Banner either has control over his condition, or that he has simply managed to avoid stressful situations somehow.

The first time Banner transforms in the film is on the helicarrier, against his will and struggle to prevent turning into 'the other guy'. Right before he loses himself to the Hulk, he looks at the only witness to his transformation, Natasha, and then stumbles away in an attempt to avoid hurting her. Once the Hulk takes over, no one is recognized as friend or foe, and he cannot be reasoned with.

The big green guy holds his own against Thor, and is only incapacitated by wearing himself out; he is lured out of the helicarrier and heads back down to earth, reverting to Banner later more than sooner.