Bruce Banner

**Robert Bruce Banner** is a scientist and a founding member of the Avengers. He is highly respected for his work in biochemistry and nuclear physics.

## Biography

### Early Life

Bruce Banner was born on December 18, 1969 in Dayton, Ohio. Banner attended Harvard University at age 17 and graduated with PhDs in Computer Science and Mathematics. He then attended Culver University and Banner graduated with six degrees. The six degrees are as follow; Nuclear Physics (PhD), Biochemistry (PhD), Radiophysics (PhD), Engineering (PhD), and an MD.

### Gamma Accident

After the 9/11 Attacks in New York City, General Thaddeus Ross and the US Army commissioned Banner to recreate the Super Soldier Serum from the 1940s. Banner was not informed of his task, and instead told he was developing a method of preventing gamma radiation. In 2006, Banner used ingredients that were incompatible with the Super Soldier Serum base, and when he tested it on himself, it changed his genetic makeup, and he became the Hulk. In this form, Banner escaped the science lab and became a fugitive from the United States Army.

### Fugitive Life

After his initial accident, Banner was first spotted in Idaho, where he had a violent incident with state troopers. He was then tracked down by SHIELD, but once again escaped during a transformation.

Banner was next sighted in Vermont while trying to cross the American-Canadian border, and was apprehended by the FBI, but escaped and fled into Canada. At this point SHIELD began tracking his location, but hiding their operations from the rest of the government. In later months, SHIELD satellites spotted Banner in northern Alaska, and also picked up a small earthquake form the same location. SHIELD attributes the small quake to Banner's Hulk form. After this incident, Banner disappeared for 5 months.

During the next few years, Banner was spotted all over the world, while trying to find a cure for his condition. He was spotted by civilians in Brazil, then traveled to Asia where he travelled through Japan and Russia. Banner spent a few months in Tibet, where he was eventually spotted by Chinese satellites. Banner was next spotted in Israel, where he snuck aboard a cargo ship that brought him to Rio de Janeiro.

After arriving in Rio, banner decided to settle down, and remained in Rio for the next 3 years where he worked at a soda factory. He was known to be in communication with an unknown figure that claimed he could help cure Banner. In 2010, the US Army had tracked Banner's location through DNA evidence from his factory products. Banner encountered the armed forces in Rio and engaged in combat with them. Banner then fled from Brazil and traveled back towards the United States to see his mystery contact.

After Banner had traveled to Culver University in order to acquire equipment, the US military had been notified of his arrival. Banner fought the Armed Forces and Emil Blonsky, who had taken a rudimentary form ofd the Super Soldier Serum. This incident was the first time that the Hulk's existence had been discovered by the media and the public. Banner then made his way to New York City to meet his contact, and was followed by the military. While meeting with his contact, his Hulk form was temporarily suppressed, which allowed for his captured by the Army. His contact was also apprehended and forced by the government to find a way to increase the power of Blonsky's strength. This led to Blonsky transforming to his "Abomination" form. Banner was released from custody to help apprehend Blonsky, who was rampaging throughout Harlem.

After the events in New York City, Banner fled to British Columbia where he resided for 30 days before being spotted by civilians. He then fled to Kolkata, India and hid there for 2 more years.

### Career as an Avenger

#### Chitauri Invasion

In 2012, during the Chitauri Invasion, SHIELD sent Natasha Romanoff to recruit Banner to the Avengers. Banner accepted the offer, and boarded Helicarrier 64. With the Avengers, Banner researched the Chitauri, and fought in the Battle of New York, where he helped repel the Invasion. Afterwards, Banner began living in Avengers Tower

#### War on HYDRA

In 2014, after the Fall of SHIELD, the Avengers and Banner regrouped in order to eliminate HYDRA. The group traveled to Sudan, where they found information about the location of the *de facto* HYDRA Headquarters. They then traveled to the HYDRA Research Facility in Sokovia. The group successfully eliminated HYDRA and recovered Loki's Scepter during the battle.

#### Ultron Incident

After the end of HYDRA, Tony Stark and Banner experimented on Loki's Scepter, and decided to use it to power the proposed Ultron Initiative. The AI was originally created as a workd peacekeeping program to defend the Earth from extraterrestrial threats, but went rogue in the same week and evolved into Ultron. Ultron fought the Avengers in the tower, and managed to escape.

The Avengers then tracked Ultron to Johannesburg, where they believed he was attempting to buy Vibranium that was smuggled from Wakanda. Once in Johannesburg, the Avengers fought the twins and Ultron, but were defeated as a result of Wanda Maximoff's mind altering abilities. Banner was affected by these abilities and was sent on a rampage throughout Johannesburg, where 7 civilians were killed, before he was stopped by Tony Stark. This event created major negative public opinion against Banner.

The Avengers then followed Ultron to Seoul, South Korea, where they chased him throughout the city in order to retrieve the Vibranium. The Avengers succeeded in the retrieval, and brought the Vibranium back to New York City. Banner and Stark both used the Scepter's core (The Mind Stone), and the Vibranium, to create Vision. All of the Avengers then traveled to Sokovia, to stop Ultron from destroying the Earth. During the Battle of Sokovia, the Avengers eliminated Ultron, and prevented Sokovia from being crashed on the Earth, but not without the destruction of Sokovia. After the battle, Banner went missing for a prolonged period of time.

#### Thanos' Invasion

In 2018, Banner resurfaced in New York, when Thanos' Invasion began. He was seen fighting with Tony Stark and Steven Strange against the forces of Thanos, and later rejoined with the remaining Avengers at the New Avengers Facility. He also helped in the battle against Thanos' forces in Wakanda, but ultimately failed when Thanos retrieved the Mind Stone and used it along with the Infinity Stones to wipe out half of the population.

#### Snap

During the Snap Period, Banner worked to merge his Hulk and human form to create a mind-body balance.

#### Blip

In 2021, Banner rejoined the Avengers and helped to retrieve the Infinity Stones and reverse the effects of the Snap. He also helped to defend Earth from Thanos' second attacks.

## Personal Life

Banner has fought a guilt-ridden mental battle since 2006 with his Hulk form. In 2020, he was able to finally overcome this obstacle by spending time merging his two forms.

## Recognition

Banner has been recognized for his achievements in the Battle of New York and the Battle of Earth. He has been awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Honor (2012), 2012 TIME Person of the Year (Group Award), 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Honor (2021), and the 2021 TIME Person of the Year (Group Award).