Search for Bruce Banner

The Search for Bruce Banner was a S.H.I.E.L.D. operation undertaken by Director Nick Fury himself in order to assess the intel on Bruce Banner, who was seemingly the result of General Thaddeus Ross' efforts to create a super soldier.
Staging a brawl at Kirby's, Fury witnessed Banner's transformation into Hulk and managed to deal calmly with him, driving him away from the bar. This encounter made Fury decide that searching for Banner was not going to be S.H.I.E.L.D.'s priority.
==Background==
At Culver University, Professors Bruce Banner and Betty Ross conducted experiments with a serum that would ostensibly cure gamma poisoning. The project was funded by the United States Army under the direction of Betty's father, Thaddeus Ross, who in actuality wanted to replicate the Super Soldier Serum which created Captain America, using gamma radiation. Banner decided to test the prototype serum on himself, but the exposure to gamma radiation instead transformed him into a superhuman creature known as Hulk. After accidentally destroying the lab and injuring its occupants, including Betty, Banner went on the run to avoid capture and experimentation by the military.
While trying to evade authorities, Hulk was sighted in scattered incidents throughout the United States, causing rumors to abound of the sheer power he possessed. Unsubstantiated reports that Ross might have successfully created a super soldier drew the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D., with Director Nick Fury personally intrigued at the prospect of confirming Hulk's existence. Eventually, Banner was tracked to a bar named Kirby's, where Fury set up an operation to determine if the rumors about Hulk were true.The Incredible Hulk: The Fury Files
==Search==
Nick Fury was somewhat skeptical of Bruce Banner's powers at first glance, and decided to personally meet him first. Posing as a fellow patron of Kirby's, he made conversation with Banner on a soccer game playing in the bar, claiming the sport lacks excitement. Banner retorted that is why he prefers the sport, as it is less likely to cause conflict. Fury analyzed Banner's behavior, deducing he had experience hiding his true feelings and blending in. Banner grew suspicious and asked about Fury's eyepatch, to which Fury cryptically answered that he lost his eye in a war. Now wary, Banner excused himself and tried to leave Kirby's.
On Fury's signal, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Johnson purposefully bumped into Banner and started flirting with him. While Banner was flustered, Agent Peterson, posing as Johnson's boyfriend, grabbed Banner by his collar and confronted him for trying to make a move on her. Banner grew agitated and tried to urge Peterson to leave him alone. Fury pretended to try and intervene, with Peterson punching him in response. Just then, Banner transformed into Hulk, much to everyone's shock.
Hulk tossed Peterson aside and roared, punching through the bar. He then picked up a jukebox and was about to throw it when Fury approached Hulk. Fury urged him to put the jukebox down, stating that the man he just talked to, who is still inside the Hulk, didn't really want to hurt the innocent people in Kirby's. Hulk then roared in Fury's face loud enough to shatter the glass bottles in the bar, but Fury stood his ground. Hulk decided to listen to Fury and made his way out of Kirby's by making a hole in the wall, before running off into the night.
==Aftermath==
Having obtained confirmation of Bruce Banner's powers as Hulk, Nick Fury discussed the situation in a meeting with S.H.I.E.L.D., annoyed at how the organization's poor intel rendered them unprepared to properly handle the situation. Agent Phil Coulson assured Fury they would rectify this. However, Fury instead declared that Hulk wasn't the super soldier S.H.I.E.L.D. was looking for, deeming him to be Thaddeus Ross' concern now. As Banner remained a fugitive, Fury subsequently designated him as THREAT LEVEL RED, only to be dealt with using surveillance in the future.
==References==
Category:Events