The Incredible Hulk
Bruce Banner is no longer Smart Hulk but the reason for this may have already been explained inAvengers : Endgame . Throughout each of his MCU appearances , Banner has always been defined by tragedy . He referenced having set about to take his own life inThe Avengersand was forced to come to term with his key difference of opinion inThor : Ragnarok . Avengers : Endgame ’s Smart Hulk thus seemed to be a desirable middle - ground for the character .
After struggling to cooperate with Hulk inAvengers : Infinity War , Banner spent 18 months in a Vasco da Gamma science laboratory , redact “ the brains and the brawn together ” to make Smart Hulk , “ the in effect of both worlds . ” This combination of the Hulk ’s top-notch strength and healing power with Banner ’s mind ensue in an amalgamation that was able to help to undo Thanos ’ plans and lead to an ultimate victory for the Avengers inAvengers : Endgame’sfinal engagement . However , as theShang - Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsmid - credit sequence show , along with theShe - Hulktrailers , the Hulk no longer holds this appearance and has rather reverted to his Banner form .
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Smart Hulk seemed like the logical development for Hulk ’s lineament , so why has the MCU turn him back to his human form ? The explanation may be hidden inEndgameas well as prior franchise installments . It appears that despite apparently descend to terms with his relationship with the Hulk , Banner ’s Smart Hulk agreement could not forbid the scientist from reckon about his dream : the chance to live a normal liveliness .
In Smart Hulk , Banner found balance . His natural anger and fears of morality – common triggers for the Hulk – were counterpoint by his methodical and caring learning ability , allowing each of his alters to hold up in relative peace . However , this did not put a stop to Banner ’s desires for a kinfolk lifewithout Smart Hulk . These dreams were first teased inThe Avengers . When Black Widow suggest that Banner does n’t need to break his year - long run without an incident , Banner begin to rock a crib next to him as he says , “ I do n’t every time get what I desire . ” In this moment of musing , Bruce ’s true desires are made apparent – his dreaming of a quiet family life are unsufferable as long as the Hulk is around .
These feelings may have acquire prominence inAvengers : Age of Ultronas Bruce grew closer to Natasha . If the idea of settling down in a family line role continued to appeal to Banner , then Black Widow ’s death inAvengers : Endgamehad the potential difference to bring this fantasy back to the surface , disturbing the relative counterbalance that he had achieved in Smart Hulk . It ’s this version of the fictional character than attendsIron Man ’s funeral , but it stands to rationality that in the ensuing years his worked up attachment to Romanoff and her association to Banner ’s idealistic life would come to unsettle the Smart Hulk equilibrium .
Appearing at the end ofShang - Chiand sporting a sling after suffering burns from the Infinity Gauntlet , Banner ’s humane appearance may signpost where his characterization is go to turn next . The Hero of Alexandria will next seem in the Disney+ series , She - Hulk , which is set to inaugurate Jennifer Walters into the MCU . If Banner is to seem as something of a guide to his full cousin , then it would make common sense that he retains the intellectual side of his character and may be appearing in human form more on a regular basis . However , the actualization ofAvengers : Endgamecan only last so long and it is more than potential that Hulk will still have a large part to toy in the future of the MCU .
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