History Characters / TheIncredibleHulk

!!''Dr. Robert Bruce Banner / [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]]''
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bruce_banner_avengers_420.png]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[labelnote:Click here]]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hulk_avengers_7592.png[[/labelnote]] to see the Hulk]]

->'''Portrayed By''': Creator/EdwardNorton, Creator/MarkRuffalo (pictured right), Lou Ferrigno (voice of Hulk)
->'''Film Appearances''': ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' (portrayed by Edward Norton) | ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}} | Film/IronMan3 | Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' | ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' | ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar''

->''"The last time I was in New York, I kind of broke... Harlem."''

A nuclear physicist who believed that he was trying to make soldiers immune to radiation, but was actually working on a new super soldier for General Thunderbolt Ross. He was so sure he was on to something that he experimented on himself, which turned him into the Hulk. He's been on the run ever since, searching for a cure, but both Ross and S.H.I.E.L.D. are tracking his whereabouts.

Nick Fury calls upon his knowledge when the Tesseract is stolen by Loki, and Bruce finds a new friend in Tony Stark, but regardless feels like he's being treated by a ticking time bomb by his other cohorts. Tony helps Bruce learn an important lesson about himself - that the Hulk ''is'' Banner, not a separate person, and is just as much a self-defense mechanism as it is a reactionary transformation. This lesson comes just in time for Bruce to play a critical role in the Battle for New York, becoming beloved around the world as a hero for his actions.

Bruce stays with Tony until the Avengers are forced into action once again when HYDRA returns, serving both as the brains of the team and as the brawn as a last resort. Bruce finds romance with Natasha Romanoff, but to his dismay loses control during the ensuing conflict with Ultron.

* AxCrazy: The Hulk can become so enraged at times that the concept of FriendOrFoe in him can be hampered, which usually leads him into attacking everything and everyone in reach.
* {{Adorkable}}: A meek, somewhat disheveled, and polite man, it seems almost unbelievable that ''this'' man turns into the Hulk.
** He's also reduced to a stuttering, blushing mess when Natasha is flirting with him.
* AffectionateNickname: The Hulk tends to get called "the Big Guy." Comes up the most in ''Ultron'', when Black Widow needs to calm him down.
* AlliterativeName: Bruce Banner.
* AndroclesLion: Tony Stark's kindness to Banner earns him [[spoiler:the life-saving loyalty of the Hulk]] during the final battle.
* AntiHero: He's rather aggressive compared to the other Avengers.
* {{Badass}}: Comes with being the Hulk.
* BadassBoast: After [[spoiler:interrupting Loki's last AGodAmI moment by slamming him into the ground. ''[[MetronomicManMashing Repeatedly.]]'']]
--> '''Hulk''': [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Puny god.]]
* BadassNormal: Studied [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido Aikido]] while hiding in Brazil.
* TheBerserker: In Tony's words, an "enormous green rage monster".
* BerserkButton: The Hulk doesn't like being called Bruce.
-->'''Tony:''' Right, forgot, don't bring up puny Banner...
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Bruce is a friendly scientist who just wanted to help people, but can turn into one of the most dangerous things on the planet at the drop of a hat. However, you shouldn't underestimate him in human form either, as shown in ''Ultron'' when he cheerily threatens to kill [[spoiler:Scarlet Witch]].
-->'''Bruce:''' Oh, we are '''so''' beyond anger right now. [[TranquilFury I could snap your neck and never change a shade.]]
* TheBigGuy: When [[HulkingOut Hulked out]], as a Type 1. Coulson explicitly calls him this at one point.
* BrainyBrunette: As Banner, the world's leading expert on gamma radiation.
* TheCameo: Shows up in TheStinger of ''Iron Man 3''. [[spoiler:Stark had been narrating the movie's plot to Banner, who tried to act as a shrink but fell asleep towards the beginning.]]
* CarpetOfVirility: Mark Ruffalo was not asked to shave his chest hair for the scene in which he wakes up nude after a Hulk-out; in addition, some of it made it on to the Hulk.
* CharacterDevelopment: ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' implies that he went from repressing his anxieties that lead to his Hulking out, similarly to the [[Film/{{Hulk}} 2003 film]], to using meditation techniques to manage them. The end of that movie ominously showed him purposefully inducing a Hulk episode. [[spoiler:''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' showed that he'd subsequently gone past anger management and constantly trying to fight the Hulk, and merely existed in a state of TranquilFury at all times, keeping the Hulk close but at bay through mere discipline rather than struggling to reject him. This level of acceptance leads to him being able to Hulk out at will and in turn makes the Hulk less animalistic and more generally aligned with Banner's intentions. Tellingly, The Hulk's last appearance in ''The Avengers'' never shows him to be particularly angry, merely bellicose and helpfully destructive.]]
* CombatPragmatist: This Hulk is bright enough to use tools... and weapons. Supposedly, the special effects team refused to make the Abomination's pointy ears visible, otherwise they'd have to make a scene of the Hulk tearing them off and couldn't otherwise justify the Hulk NOT taking that advantage. Likewise, he hits the Abomination with ''everything'' he's got--he makes gauntlets out of cars, uses shockwaves to push him off balance before attacking, choking him with massive chains, and even ''rips out his elbow spikes and stabs him with them''.
* CompositeCharacter:
** While the character as a whole is mainly based off of his mainstream comic incarnation, what caused his condition in the first place is trying to recreate a Super Soldier serum (not that he knew that) and testing it on himself, which is how Ultimate Hulk came to be. The mainstream version was irradiated by a bomb after running onto its test site.
** Surprisingly, ''The Avengers'' film version brings in elements of [[{{Film/Hulk}} the 2003 film]] as well as the 2008 reboot.
*** Banner's situation at the start of the movie mirrors that of Banner at the end of the 2003 film, where both of them are trying to help the local downtrodden populace while dealing with the Hulk.
*** Banner's relationship with the Hulk is slightly more nuanced in ''The Avengers'' film than in ''The Incredible Hulk'', much like the 2003 version.
*** Bruce in ''The Avengers'' is more uptight like the 2003 version, and calmer and more self assured like in ''The Incredible Hulk''.
*** The Hulk's appearance in ''The Avengers'' resembles his 2003 appearance in build and his 2008 appearance in behavior.
*** Bruce in ''The Avengers'' [[spoiler: claims that he is constantly angry but very well self-controlled, no longer trying to avoid anger as in the 2008 film. This hearkens back to Bruce's anger issues in the 2003 film, where he is a constantly repressed boiling pot of rage, with the Hulk near at hand at all times; trying to fight it was an exercise in futility.]]
*** The Hulk's transformation is more closely tied to anger, as in the 2003 and most comic versions, but general excitement can also bring him out, as was the case in ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk''.
*** In most other cases, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk resembles the comic version, as did the 2008 movie version. Ruffalo has also stated he drew from Bill Bixby's portrayal of Banner in the 1970s television series, which many reviewers picked up on.
* CunningLinguist: So far, he's known to speak, to some degree, Hindi, English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
* CurbStompBattle: Besides from his fights against The Abomination, Hulkbuster and Thor all of them result in him dishing one out to the other.
* DeadpanSnarker: You really couldn't go through all he does without developing a dry sense of humor.
-->'''Banner''': Oh, they want to put ''me'' in a submerged, pressurized metal container? ''(the Helicarrier begins to take off)'' Oh, no. This is ''much'' worse.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: [[spoiler: Hulk defeated a god.]]
* DoingInTheScientist: Tony suggests that the Hulk (A.K.A "The Other Guy") is not triggered by Bruce's heart rate ''per se'' but that the Hulk deliberately manifests to protect Bruce in dangerous (heart rate pumping) situations. Thus, it is an ally to be embraced instead of a monster to be caged. The events of ''The Avengers'' support this view. [[spoiler: Bruce tells TheTeam that Hulk interrupted his suicide attempt and later emerges in the final battle because Bruce told him to. This is supported by the fact that Banner had created a drug to forcibly lower his heart rate that, while successful in and of itself, did nothing to help his unique problem.]]
* TheDreaded: In ''The Avengers'', he makes people nervous just by being there, including the otherwise unflappable Black Widow.
* DrivenToSuicide: He tried it at one point prior to ''The Avengers''. He has since moved on. If you played the video game of ''The Incredible Hulk'', [[CallBack you saw this happen]].
-->'''Banner''': I got low. I didn't see an end. So I put a bullet in my mouth, and the other guy spit it back out.
* DumbMuscle: Just like the HulkSpeak, this is downplayed for the Hulk compared to most of the Savage Hulk's appearances. Especially in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', he behaves more like a relatively intelligent animal (such as a gorilla) than a raging baby, and in said movie his intentions are more in line with Banner's too.
* FriendlyRivalry: Seems to have one with Thor, unlike their usual HeadbuttingHeroes behavior in the comics. [[spoiler:Hulk punches Thor off of a Leviathan they just defeated for no specified reason but because [[LetsYouAndHimFight their previous fight]] was a draw.]]
* GlowingEyes: In his solo movie, he sports these when he transforms into the Hulk.
* GodzillaThreshold: Both ways; if things are bad enough, only the Hulk can save you. On the other hand, if your problem ''is'' the Hulk, you're likely to cross some other GodzillaThreshold trying to fix things.
* GoingCommando: A fan on Twitter queried Mark Ruffalo about how Banner handles the undergarment situation. [[http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5zz60VEqZ1r38f9do1_1280.jpg Ruffalo's response]]...
* HeroicNeutral: Banner wants to be left alone by the military and S.H.I.E.L.D., and maybe use his skills to do some good. This attitude extends to the Hulk as well, who rarely fights anyone or anything that didn't try to kill him first.
* HomelessHero: He's forced to stay on the run because of the government forces chasing him. Following his transformations, Bruce is often left with nothing but the pants he is wearing. At one point, he has to beg in order to survive.
* HonorBeforeReason: In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', he's unable to refuse a little girl begging for his help as a doctor. It's a trap set by Black Widow to get him to meet with her. His comment to himself as soon as he realizes he's been tricked: "Should've gotten paid upfront, Banner."
* HorrifyingHero: With the exception of Tony Stark, Bruce Banner was at best tolerated by other heroes, at worst feared, until he proved his ability to control himself in battle. His tendency toward [[DestructiveSavior collateral damage]] does not help. However, bystanders, especially in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', find him more heroic than horrifying.
* HurtingHero: He has to deal with the loss of his life, his work, his love interest, all the while managing the Hulk and Ross' {{plan}} to dissect him. As of ''Age of Ultron'', he now has to deal with his self-enforced exile and giving up a chance to be with Natasha.
* HulkingOut: The TropeNamer, after all. It should be noted that this happens less in each movie between the two he has been in (''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' just had 2), and we rarely see him "Hulk back" ([[JustForPun Hulking In?]]) i.e. revert to Bruce. ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' is the first time. We see him revert once on camera, and both of his {{Hulk Out}}s occur off-screen.
* HulkSpeak: Only says a few words in each movie where he appears, but they are still in the third person and angry.
-->'''[[Film/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]]''': [[PreAsskickingOneLiner Hulk... smash!]]
* ImmuneToBullets:
** Funnily, at one point in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', a fighter jet opens up on him with a jet-mounted Vulcan cannon, and he doesn't realize he's being shot until he hears the bullets bouncing off him.
** Bruce also tells of a time when he tried to put a bullet in his head. It only triggers a transformation with "the other guy" spitting it out.
* InsistentTerminology: In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' Bruce consistently refers to the Hulk as "the other guy", and pointedly corrects himself the one time he slips.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Believing Natasha will be safer without him, he [[spoiler: exiles himself after Ultron's defeat.]]
* JekyllAndHyde: Subverted. Banner's CharacterDevelopment over ''The Incredible Hulk'' and ''The Avengers'' is about realizing that the Hulk isn't a villain or a mindless beast: he's part of Banner, driven by Banner's simplest and most uncomplicated instincts, and he needs to be accepted rather than constantly restrained.
* LightningBruiser: Not only is the Hulk very strong, he's also quite fast. At one point in the 2003 Ang Lee film (which the MCU takes in BroadStrokes), he snatches a missile ''out of midair'' and throws it back at the Comanche helicopter that launched it.
* LoonyFriendsImproveYourPersonality: He's not a jerk, but he's very bitter, aloof, and uptight until Tony starts dumping good-natured teasing on him uninvited, at which point he starts to open up and relax.
* MagicPants: Justified. Two scenes in ''The Incredible Hulk'' show he makes sure his pants are several sizes too large and ''very'' stretchy. ''Age of Ulton'' instead gives him specially made, Avengers branded pants. The pants in question are also purple.
* NeutralNoLonger: After some CharacterDevelopment in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''.
* NiceGuy: He's very sweet, polite, and good humored, thus making the contrast between him and his alter ego even greater.
* NighInvulnerable: It takes a ''lot'' to bring down the Hulk. (No, seriously. A '''lot.''')
* TheNoseKnows: WordOfGod says Bruce wasn't exaggerating when he said "you could smell crazy on [Loki]"; a DeletedScene from ''The Avengers'' has Hulk sniff Loki out of a crowd of holograms.
* NotThatKindOfDoctor:
** {{Inverted}} in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''. While he's a physicist, but is seen practicing medicine in the slums of Calcutta at the beginning of the film.
** In [[spoiler:''Film/IronMan3'']], this is his exact explanation for doing a bad job [[spoiler:helping Tony with his PTSD.]]
--->'''Bruce:''' I'm sorry, I'm not that kind of doctor. I'm not a therapist. It's not my training. I don't have the temperament!
* OddFriendship:
** With [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Tony Stark]], of all people, as they bond over science geekery in ''The Avengers''. This is a complete 180 from their relationship in the comics. It is also implied that Tony's willingness to make merry by teasing Banner (he pokes him with a ''cattle prod'' at one point just to see what would happen) helps bring him out of his shell by reminding him that not everyone is afraid of him.
** Also with Steve, who is always respectful and kind to him and refers to him as ''Doctor'' despite his mutation. Though this is not so odd when considering they are the only two genuinely nice, humble people on a team filled with egos and ulterior motives. Part of this is that they are both the results of the super soldier project. Rogers understands what could have been with Banner.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Nuclear/quantum physics gets juxtaposed with medicine in Dr. Banner.
** In ''Age of Ultron'' Tony calls him a leader in bio-mechanics.
* OneManArmy: Tony Stark lampshades it to Loki in ''The Avengers'' by comparing him to his army. True to form, the only real challenges that the Hulk has had in terms of strength in the MCU as of ''The Avengers'' have been [[EvilCounterpart Abomination]] from ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'', Tony Stark's Hulkbuster armour (which Banner helped design) and Thor as per their comic rivalry.
* PersonOfMassDestruction: He broke Harlem, ''accidentally''.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner: Gets one in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', right before HulkingOut and destroying a massive Leviathan:
-->'''Steve:''' Now might be a good time for you to get angry.\\
'''Bruce:''' That's my secret, Cap. [[spoiler:[[TranquilFury I'm always angry.]]]]
* ProperlyParanoid: He's learned to be this in order to avoid getting tracked or endangering other people.
* PsychoPartyMember: The Hulk in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', [[spoiler: until the third act of the movie shows that Banner has learned control]], but the timid, likable Banner is constantly ''treated'' like this.
* PutOnABus: [[spoiler: In the wake of the devastating Hulkbuster battle in Africa and not wanting to endanger Natasha, he takes off in the Quinjet for parts unknown. Somehow, he'll end up in Asgard for ''Film/ThorRagnarok''.]]
* ReluctantWarrior: He is quite possibly literally the most powerful individual on planet Earth, including gods like Thor. He also has absolutely no interest in fighting and killing, not even getting into the fact that he can't control the Hulk.
--> '''Natasha:''' All my friends are fighters. I've never met a man before who avoids the fight because he knows he'll win.
* ScienceHero: According to Black Widow, Bruce is ''the'' leading expert on gamma radiation.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: He plays the sensitive guy to Tony Stark's brash manly man.
-->'''Tony:''' You're tiptoeing, big man. You need to strut.
* ShieldBash: With the only shields big enough for him; car debris.
* ShutUpHannibal: Loki ''definitely'' chose the wrong Avenger to give his AGodAmI speech to.
* SlasherSmile: From ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'':
-->'''Captain America:''' Hulk? Smash.\\
'''Hulk:''' (''grin'')
* TheSmartGuy: He's the world's foremost expert in gamma radiation, and in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', once he gets curious enough to drop the [[HeroicNeutral heroic neutrality]], he picks up on a tiny clue and gets halfway to unraveling S.H.I.E.L.D.'s scheming ''without trying'' before the rest of the Avengers realize there's a puzzle to solve.
* SmarterThanYouLook: The Hulk appears to be a near-mindless animal, although when the fighting gets intense, he starts using his head and shows a CombatPragmatist streak.
* SociallyAwkwardHero: Ruffalo's Bruce Banner doesn't know how to interact with people. This is justified because he doesn't know how they will react to him. Connected to that is the fear of how ''he'' might react to ''them''. When a lovely girl like Natasha is practically throwing herself at him during the party early into ''Age of Ultron'', he's speechless and unsure how to react.
* SubmissiveBadass: As Banner, he'll do almost anything to ''avoid'' getting pissed off. However, this is subverted by the time of actual Avengers gathering. At this point his secret is [[spoiler:that [[TranquilFury he's ]]''[[TranquilFury always ]]''[[TranquilFury angry]] and all he needs to do is direct it and ''let loose''.]]
-->'''Tony:''' You just roll over, show your belly, every time somebody snarls?\\
'''Bruce:''' Only when I've created [[ComicBook/{{Ultron}} a murder-bot!]]
* SuperStrength: Increasing with increased rage.
** StoutStrength: Ruffalo's Hulk, at least, has a bit of a spare tire on him.
* TechnologicalPacifist: Stated to be this by Ross, who argues that "scientists" are not to be trusted with military matters in any way, shape, or form.
-->'''Ross:''' He's a scientist. He is ''not'' one of us.
* TerseTalker: The Hulk only one or two lines in any movie he appears, and doesn't speak at all in ''Age of Ultron''.
** In the middle of ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'':
--->'''Hulk:''' Leave me alone.
** In ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' finale:
--->'''Hulk:''' [[PreAsskickingOneLiner Hulk... smash!]]
** In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'':
--->'''Hulk:''' [[BondOneLiner Puny god.]]
* ThreatBackfire: By the time of ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', Bruce is completely unmoved by any kind of threat (including guns in his face), as he knows he'll just turn into the Hulk if hurt.
-->(''Black Widow points a gun at Bruce'')\\
'''Banner:''' Why don't we do this the easy way, where you don't use that, and the "other guy" doesn't make a mess? Okay?
* TheToothHurts: The Hulkbuster armor punches out one of his teeth in ''Age of Ultron''. This just serves to piss him off even more and makes Tony meekly apologize.
* TranquilFury:
** His ultimate goal in the films is to achieve a state of quiet anger so he can stay in control. [[spoiler:It's achieved by ''The Avengers'']].
** In ''Age of Ultron'', he is so pissed off that he boasts he could strangle [[spoiler:Scarlet Witch]] and not change a shade.
* {{Troll}}: He's not above using the threat of HulkingOut to scare Black Widow, just to see her reaction.
-->'''Banner:''' ''[in deadpan tone]'' [Fury] needs me in a cage?\\
'''Natasha:''' No one's gonna put you in--\\
'''Banner:''' '''[[SuddenlyShouting STOP LYING TO ME!]]'''\\
''[Black Widow freaks out and draws her gun]''\\
'''Banner:''' I'm sorry, that was mean, I just wanted to see what you'd do.
* UnkemptBeauty: As many a [[http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/infinitely-polar-bear-2015 film]] [[http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/begin-again-2014 review]] has pointed out, ''nobody'' pulls off the rumpled-curls-and-bedroom-eyes aesthetic quite like Creator/MarkRuffalo. Despite constantly looking like he needs a week of sleep and the world's biggest hug -- or perhaps ''because'' of it -- Bruce Banner is a ''dreamboat''.
* UnstoppableRage: When he hulks out due to stress, he's a force of nature.
* WeaponOfChoice: The Hulk prefers DualWielding shields and will rip a car apart to make them for himself. This is because the Hulk always manifests to defend Bruce or someone else.
* WhatDidIDoLastNight: Banner tends to wake up unconscious after a Hulk episode, and barely remembers anything of it. He's compared the experience to an acid trip, and can never put the memories back together when transformed or not.
* YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry: TropeNamer and it's rather cleverly inserted too, as Banner messes up the line while speaking Portuguese.
-->'''Banner:''' You wouldn't like me when I'm... hungry... Wait, that doesn't sound right.

[[folder:Dr. Elizabeth "Betty" Ross]]
!!''Dr. Elizabeth [[ComicBook/BettyRoss "Betty" Ross]]''
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/betty_ross_hulk_4685.png]]

->'''Portrayed By''': Creator/LivTyler

->''"In the cave, I really felt like it knew me. Maybe your mind is in there, it's just overcharged and can't process what's happening."''

Daughter of General Ross, and Bruce's confidant and love interest. She was one of the leading scientists on Bruce's experiment, and feels partially responsible for his condition. Has an understandably terrible relationship with her father.

* ActionSurvivor: Inevitable when one follows a DestructiveSavior.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Somehow, all that fire after [[spoiler:the helicopter she was in crashed]] never touched Betty's long, beautiful hair. Maybe ''she's'' [[MythologyGag the one with a hair based superpower]]?
* BrainyBrunette: She's a scientist.
* CooldownHug: Provides one for the Hulk during his rampage at Culver, though unlike most instances in the comics it doesn't cause him to start turning back to normal.
* DatingWhatDaddyHates: Her dad has a low opinion of scientists. It's incredibly ironic when you think about it, considering that Betty herself is a scientist.
* DeadpanSnarker: Downplayed but present. When Bruce turns out her purse and says they can't use anything in it because it can be tracked she responds, "Can they track my lip gloss?"
* LongHairIsFeminine: [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished It also may or may not be fireproof]].
* HotScientist: Worked with Bruce on the gamma project.
* HotTeacher: Teaches at Culver University.
* MoralityPet: To the Hulk. She's the only one that he won't attack, and feels she still sees Bruce in him. After they reunite, she invokes MoralityChain by keeping his attention focused on her because she knows he isn't going to attack ''her''.
* NiceGirl: She's the opposite of her dad in that she is tolerant and forgiving.
* PutOnABus: She has been replaced by Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow as Bruce's love-interest.
* ThereAreNoTherapists: Averted. She's dating one, Dr. Samson.
* TwoFirstNames: Betty and Ross.
* ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend: Normally not, but when the two end up in a taxi driven by [[DrivesLikeCrazy the world's most reckless cabbie ever]], she ''EXPLODES'' at the driver for endangering them.
-->'''Betty Ross''': Are you out of your mind?! What is wrong with you?
-->'''Driver:''' It's nothing, baby. You don't like my driving?
-->'''Betty Ross:''' ''[screams and kicks the taxi door]'' ASSHOLE!!!
-->'''Bruce Banner:''' You know, I know a few techniques that can help you [[HypocriticalHumor manage that anger very effectively]]...
-->'''Betty Ross''': ''You'' zip it. We're walking!
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: There's no mention of her when Bruce takes up with Black Widow in ''Age of Ultron''. Considering that Bruce had been on the run for ''years'' by the time he met up again with Betty, that he has a less-than-ideal relationship with her father, and that he has a genuine fear of the Hulk hurting those he cares about, it's likely that he's deliberately staying away and/or he's completely given up on her for her own sake.
* WideEyedIdealist: Everyone, including Bruce, thinks the Hulk is a monster. Betty is the only one who thinks it can be tamed.

[[folder:General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross]]
!!''General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross''
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ross_icon.png]]

->'''Portrayed By''': Creator/WilliamHurt
->'''Film Appearances''': ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk | Film/MarvelOneShots'' | ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''

->''"As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the U.S. army."''

A General who hunts down Bruce Banner claiming him to be a threat - in truth, he's after his blood as it contains answers to perfecting the SuperSoldier serum. After his failure to capture Bruce, he has since become the United States Secretary of State.

* AdaptationalVillainy: In the comics, Ross considers the Hulk a threat, and hunts him in order to stop him. In the movie, he knows perfectly well that Banner would prefer not to fight, but wants to weaponize the Hulk.
* BigBad: All the conflict of ''The Incredible Hulk'' is because he wants to dissect Bruce and all the soldiers attacking Bruce answer to him.
* TheBusCameBack: While he was never really put on a bus to begin with due to ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' never receiving a sequel (one could say the whole franchise was PutOnABus), his return in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' marks the longest gap between appearances by a character in the MCU at 8 years.
* CompositeCharacter: His desire to capture and dissect the Hulk echoes that of General John Ryker, another Hulk villain.
* TheDeterminator: For better or worse, he does ''not'' know when to give up.
* DrowningMySorrows: In TheStinger of ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' after he had a '''really''' rough day: [[spoiler:his star soldier Blonsky went psycho and became the Abomination, his daughter severed her ties with him, and he was forced to release Banner to defeat Blonsky]]. As ''[[Film/MarvelOneShots The Consultant]]'' reveals, his day will only get worse.
* EnemyMine: [[spoiler:Temporarily releases Banner from custody and allows him to become the Hulk in order to fight off the Abomination and save the city.]]
* EvilutionaryBiologist: Of a sort. While he claims to be hunting down the Hulk just for the public's safety, he's more interested in dissecting Banner in order to discover the ComicBook/CaptainAmerica formula.
* GeneralRipper: Hunting Banner and bringing helicopters to a college that, until that point, was not experiencing Hulk problems.
* GodzillaThreshold: Is willing to use an uncompleted serum on his star soldier in order to take down the Hulk. When that goes wrong, [[spoiler:he sets Banner free to become the Hulk in order to save Harlem from the Abomination]].
* InspectorJavert: An outside observer would see a general tracking a defector/monster in order to bring him in for custody.
* {{Jerkass}}: Treats Banner like property and disrespects others.
* KnightTemplar: As noted by Samson, despite what Ross himself thinks, he's a bigger threat to Betty's safety than the Hulk.
* NeverMyFault: The experiment that turned Bruce into the Hulk was headed by him, but refuses to take responsibility for what happened to him or his daughter. He didn't even tell them what they were actually doing, creating a new Super Soldier instead of radiation resistance. Betty calls him out on it.
-->'''Betty:''' I will never forgive you for what you've done to him.
-->'''General Ross:''' He's a fugitive...
-->'''Betty:''' You ''made'' him a fugitive, to cover your failures and to protect your career. [[IHaveNoSon Don't ever speak to me as your daughter again]].
* [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking it, General]]: Through giving Blonsky the prototype remade SuperSoldier serum, he essentially created the Abomination ''and'' [[spoiler: the Leader]] by proxy.
* OverprotectiveDad: One of his other reasons for tracking Banner; Betty was injureed during Bruce's first ever HulkOut.
* ParentsAsPeople: He focuses so much of his time on getting the Hulk/Bruce Banner that it damages his relationship with his daughter.
* RedBaron: Is known as "Thunderbolt".
* UnwittingPawn: Of Blonsky (DragonWithAnAgenda), and later of ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} (they didn't want the Abomination in The Avengers Initative.)
* WhatTheHellHero: On the receiving end, repeatedly. It never takes.

[[folder:Captain Emil Blonsky / The Abomination]]
!!''Captain Emil Blonsky / The Abomination''
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/emil_blonsky_hulk_3627.png]]
[[caption-width-right:310:[[labelnote:Click here]]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/abomination_hulk_3559.png[[/labelnote]] to see The Abomination]]

->'''Portrayed By''': Creator/TimRoth
->'''Film Appearances''': ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk | Film/MarvelOneShots''

->''"I'm a fighter, and I'll be one for as long as I can. Mind you, if I took what I had now, and put it in a body that I had ten years ago, that would be someone I wouldn't want to fight."''

A British Royal Marine assigned to a team headed by General Ross to capture the Hulk, and quickly becomes obsessed with bringing him down, to the point of being injected with a sample of the original super-soldier serum to enhance his strength. After a painful encounter with the Hulk, he becomes even more driven and has Samuel Sterns infuse him with Banner's blood, transforming him into an abomination.
-----
* AccidentalMisnaming: In ''The Consultant'', Coulson notes that the World Security Council and Blonsky himself do not like the name he has been given.
* TheAce: Considered to be one of the best seasoned soldiers around. (He's referred to as "an ace" by the guy who refers him to Ross.)
* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: After he transforms into The Abomination, his BloodKnight tendencies push him off the deep end and goes on a destructive rampage.]]
* AppropriatedAppellation: Averted. He was given the name of "the Abomination" after his full transformation. He doesn't like it.
%%* ArchEnemy: To the Hulk.
* BadassNormal: Pre-serums. He led a platoon in close combat against the Hulk and was the only person to survive.
* BaldOfEvil: As Abomination.
* BarbieDollAnatomy: The Abomination is too big for MagicPants but doesn't have genitalia anyway. Given [[BodyHorror the nature of his transformation]], it's likely they're inside his pelvis now.
* BloodKnight: Ross asks why he doesn't have a higher rank given his age and experience. He replies "I'm a fighter". This increases as he's augmented, to the point when he stopped giving a crap about orders and just wanted to duke it out with the Hulk.
* BrokenAce: Even before he starts dabbling in PsychoSerum, he's a sadist and a thug. Afterwards...
* CallForward: His [[DrunkOnTheDarkSide descent into madness]] is an early hint of what Dr. Erskine explained in the ''Captain America'' movie that came three years later: with the serum, "[[{{Jerkass}} bad]] becomes [[OmnicidalManiac worse]]".
* TheCaptain: Blonsky is a Captain in the Royal Marines.
* ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames: Sterns alludes to the name "abomination", but otherwise he is referred to post-transformation as Blonsky. Averted in ''The Consultant'', where SHIELD agents indeed call him the Abomination, with a mention that the World Security Council ''really'' doesn't like it when he's called that. Later on, when he gets a shoutout in ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' he's referred to as "Blonsky" instead of "Abomination".
* CursedWithAwesome: He's twice as strong as Hulk usually is and keeps his intellect. The downside? He can't change back and his strength doesn't increase like Bruce's does. The transformation also pushes him further into insanity.
* DeadpanSnarker: Tim Roth can't help himself from giving him a snarky line or two.
* DragonInChief: Ross's champion against the Hulk. [[spoiler: The serum drives him to become a DragonWithAnAgenda and, by the climax, becomes a greater danger than Ross, who he tries to kill along with the Hulk.]]
* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: After he turns into the Abomination, he starts tearing up New York City just because he can.
* EmpoweredBadassNormal: Post-serums, he's a super soldier. After a transfusion of Banner's blood, he's ''ABOVE'' the Hulk's level.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: He shoots Banner's dog with a tranquilizer dart because it annoyed him. This establishes him [[KickTheDog as a bully]].
* EvilBrit: On loan from Britain, though in a nod to the comics he's mentioned to have been born in Russia. In either case, he has an accent from Britain and he is a villain.
* EvilCounterpart:
** Born of a combination of the super-soldier serum and The Hulk's blood; while Blonsky sacrifices his ability to be empowered by rage, he retains his intelligence.
** Before becoming the Abomination and after taking the imperfect Super Soldier serum, is easily one to Captain America. His abilities are roughly the same, but he has none of the honor or heroism Steve has.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Upon turning into the Abomination, his voice deepens similar to the Hulk's.
* FallenHero: At least InUniverse, he was considered a war hero before his transformation.
* FragileSpeedster: After taking the first imperfect Super Soldier serum but before becoming the Abomination, he is faster than the Hulk and any normal soldier, but is taken down with one kick into a tree from the Hulk that breaks all the bones in his body.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: After he becomes the Abomination.
* HealingFactor: The imperfect Super Soldier serum gives him one that allows him to survive (but not necessarily in good condition) full on blows from the Hulk.
* HumanoidAbomination: After taking in Banner's blood. Dr. Sterns lampshades this before the transformation itself.
* HumanPopsicle: ''Agents of SHIELD'' reveals he's being kept on ice in Alaska.
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Once he discovers he's no longer the toughest guy around. The Super Serum turns this UpToEleven.
* {{Jerkass}}: See KickTheDog.
* TheJuggernaut: As the Abomination nothing can stop him. He marches down the streets of Harlem despite the military throwing ''missiles'' at him. None of it has any effect. [[spoiler: This is why Ross had to [[SummonBiggerFish release another juggernaut]]; the Hulk]].
* LightningBruiser: After becoming the Abomination he's faster and stronger than before.
* NeckLift: He raises Sterns above his own head, when he demanding that Sterns helpes him gat the Hulk's power.
* PersonalityPowers: As a result of the CallForward, Blonsky's transformation into the Abomination can be considered this as he mixed an imperfect Super Soldier serum with the Banner's irradiated blood, and thereby turned into the as-far-as-is-known permanent monstrosity that Samuel Sterns calls "an abomination".
* RaceLift: An interesting case, he's still a Russian and born in Russia. But he is raised in England as an Englishman, and eventually served the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marines Royal Marines]] (while his comics counterpart served [[UsefulNotes/MoscowCentre KGB]]). This change is to explain Creator/TimRoth's accent.
* RemovingTheEarpiece: Before his second "fight" with the Hulk to show that he doesn't care about Ross or the chain of command anymore.
* RevengeBeforeReason: Disobeys orders and demands to be injected with Hulk blood without caring about the consequences just so he can become strong enough to beat the Hulk.
* SealedEvilInACan: ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' notes that SHIELD is keeping him in cryogenic stasis in a facility in Alaska.
* SpikesOfVillainy: The Abomination has [[BodyHorror bones that have grown outside his skin]]. Even before he becomes the Abomination, he observes his own spine in a mirror and notes with strange fascination that his vertebrae have begun to poke out a bit.
* SuperSoldier: Unlike every other attempt to replicate Cap we've seen, it worked - if he wasn't on the same level, he was pretty close. The only apparent flaw had more to do with his personality than the serum itself: [[spoiler: after taking it he cared about nothing more than fighting.]]
* SuperSpeed: After taking the imperfect Super Soldier serum, he is able to jog faster than soldiers decades younger than him. When he finally stops he acts as though he was taking a calm stroll through the park.
* SuperStrength: As a SuperSoldier he can lift Sterns high above his own head with one hand. After becoming the Abomination he becomes twice as strong as the Hulk. However, it's set and won't increase with rage as he does.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Nearly became part of the Avengers, but SHIELD [[DefiedTrope put a stop to that.]]
* TooDumbToLive: For future reference, aspiring villains, getting within three feet of the Incredible Hulk and stopping your fight just to taunt him is not a good idea. If it wasn't for the super serum in his system, he certainly would have died.
* UnskilledButStrong: As the Abomination, he is stronger than the Hulk, but doesn't have his tricks (like using two halves of a car as a pair of clubs or smashing the ground to create a shockwave).
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Even after turning into The Abomination, the WSC still considered Blonsky a war hero and the Hulk at fault, and was close to getting him into The Avengers. Thankfully, saner minds prevailed.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: His descent into madness started when he took the super-soldier serum. Then he got himself injected with Hulk blood and [[DrunkOnTheDarkSide went completely off the deep end]].
* YoungerThanTheyLook: He's 39, but Ross estimates his age at 45 (Tim Roth was 46 at the time of filming, for what it's worth). This is due to constant battle stress.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dr. Samuel Sterns]]
!!''Dr. Samuel Sterns''
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/samuel_sterns_hulk_1617.png]]

->'''Portrayed By''': Tim Blake Nelson
->'''Film Appearances''': ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk''

->''"I've always been more curious than cautious, and that's served me pretty well."''

A scientist who helps Bruce under the moniker "Mr. Blue". Bruce communicates with him wirelessly while in Brazil in hopes of developing a cure for his condition, but necessary ingredients for the formula require him to return to the United States. There, he discovers that Sterns has more than just curing the Hulk on his mind.
----

* AdmiringTheAbomination: Well, not the ''actual'' Abomination, who he's pretty horrified by, but Sterns is in complete awe of Banner as the Hulk, calling it "god-like" and "Olympian", and comparing Bruce to Prometheus giving man fire.
* AdaptationalHeroism: Samuel Sterns is an eccentric and careless, but mostly harmless scientist in this movie who tries to cure Banner, while in the comics, he is one of the more diabolical villains in that universe. The comic tie-in shows he eventually turned evil, so it's more like his origin story than a true morality shift.
* AdaptationalIntelligence: Instead of working at a nuclear facility as a mentally handicapped janitor, he's already a science genius and university professor.
* AlliterativeName: First and last names starts with S.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: He's an odd scientist to be sure.
* CassandraTruth: When Blonsky demands to have the Hulk's blood and gamma radiation applied to him, Sterns argues against it, claiming that the gamma-blood combined with Blonksky's experimental super-serumed body might turn him into "an abomination". Blonsky doesn't care, and holds Sterns at gunpoint to transform him anyway.
* CodeName: Mr. Blue.
* ForScience: Downplayed. While he is fascinated by Hulk blood he is ''thrilled'' by its practical applications.
* {{Keet}}: ''Very'' hyperactive, especially when it comes to science.
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: [[spoiler:He wants to cure Banner and find similar cures for diseases but wants to use gamma-irradiated blood to do so which always has unfortunate consequences.]]
* MotorMouth: He can get carried away discussing the merits of Hulk Blood; the result is a fast-flowing stream of science.
* MyBrainIsBig: [[spoiler: Caused by Banner's irradiated blood falling into an Abomination-caused head wound.]]
* NiceGuy: Other than Bruce, he knows how dangerous Hulk blood is better than anyone but instead of treating Bruce like a menace he's 'hail fellow scientist! Well met!'
* WeCanRuleTogether: [[spoiler:To Black Widow when she finds him in ''Fury's Big Week''. She responds by shooting him in the knee and taking him into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dr. Leonard Samson]]
!!''Dr. Leonard Samson''
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/leonard_samson_hulk_6035.png]]

->'''Portrayed By''': Ty Burrell
->'''Film Appearances''': ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk''

->''"You know, it's a point of professional pride for me that I can tell when somebody's lying. And you are."''

A psychiatrist and Betty Ross' boyfriend while she is away from Bruce Banner.
----
* BadassBookworm: Lets General Ross know exactly how big a jerk he is.
* BrainyBrunette: A brunette who's a psychiatrist and takes a personal pride for being a LivingLieDetector.
* IWishedYouWereDead: He admits to Bruce that he secretly hoped Bruce was dead, because then he could keep dating Betty and wait for her pining for Bruce to fade. Now Bruce is back, though Leonard knows better than to hold a grudge.
* LivingLieDetector: It's personal pride for him to be able to do this.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: He's aware that Betty has been keeping something secret from that's been the reason for Bruce's exile. This also happens when Bruce tries to explain his condition to him, but the little he gives Leonard makes it sound like mere anger management issues.
* TheMole: [[spoiler:He gives Ross Banner's location so the General can capture him.]]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:When he sees the Hulk and Ross's ruthlessness in hunting him down.]]
* NiceGuy: He's friendly, reasonable, doesn't hold a grudge; no wonder Betty rebounded on him.
* OnlySaneMan: He can certainly understand how and why others think, and for his on-screen time he is not prone to overreacting.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Mixed in with the WhatTheHellHero below, he rebuffs General Ross' attempts at cooperation after seeing his military forces in action, and goes so far as to say that ''Bruce'' is essentially protecting Betty from ''Ross''.
-->'''Leonard''': I used to wonder why she never talked about you. Now I know.
* RomanticRunnerUp: Loses Betty back to Bruce.
* ThereAreNoTherapists: Averted, considering his own profession. However, Betty won't share everything with him.
* TwoFirstNames: Leonard and Samson.
* WhatTheHellHero: A short but pointed one to General Ross. "He protected her. You almost killed her."
[[/folder]]

* DrowningMySorrows: In TheStinger of ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' after he had a ''really'' rough day: [[spoiler: His star soldier Blonsky went psycho and became the Abomination, his daughter severed her ties with him, and he was forced to release Banner to defeat Blonsky]]. As ''[[Film/MarvelOneShots The Consultant]]'' reveals, his day will only get worse.
* EnemyMine: [[spoiler:Temporarily releases Banner from custody and allows him to become the Hulk in order to fight off [[EvilCounterpart the Abomination]] and save the city.]]

* KnightTemplar: As noted by Samson, despite what Ross himself thinks he's a bigger threat to Betty's safety than the Hulk

-->''Betty:'' I will never forgive you for what you've done to him.
-->''General Ross:'' He's a fugitive...
-->''Betty:'' You '''made''' him a fugitive, to cover your failures and to protect your career. [[IHaveNoSon Don't ever speak to me as your daughter again]].

* AppropriatedAppellation: He was given the name of "the Abomination" after his full transformation. He doesn't like it.

A General who hunts down Bruce Banner claiming him to be a threat - in truth, he's after his blood as it contains answers to perfecting the SuperSoldier serum. In the time between TheIncredibleHulk and CaptainAmericaCivilWar he has become the United States Secretary of State.

A General who hunts down Bruce Banner claiming him to be a threat - in truth, he's after his blood as it contains answers to perfecting the SuperSoldier serum. In the time between 'The Incredible Hulk' and 'Captain America Civil War he has become the United States Secretary of State.

A General who hunts down Bruce Banner claiming him to be a threat - in truth, he's after his blood as it contains answers to perfecting the SuperSoldier serum.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thaddeus_ross_hulk_7412.png]]

Bruce stays with Tony until the Avengers are forced into action once again when HYDRA returns, serving both as the brains of the team and as the brawn as a last resort. Bruce finds romance with Natasha Romanoff, but to his dismay loses control during the ensuing conflict with Ultron. [[spoiler: Believing he can never be safe in the world, nor with Natasha, Bruce flees for parts unknown after Ultron's defeat.]]

* Curb-Stomp Battle: Besides from his fights against The Abomination, Hulkbuster and Thor all of them result in him dishing one out to the other.

->''"The last time I was in New York, I kind of broke... [[PersonOfMassDestruction Harlem]]."''

->'''Film Appearances''': ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' (Portrayed by Edward Norton) | ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}} | Film/IronMan3 | Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' | ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' | ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar''

%%* GlowingEyes: In his solo movie.

->''"In the cave, I really felt like [[Film/TheIncredibleHulk it]] knew me. Maybe your mind is in there, it's just overcharged and can't process what's happening."''

->''"As far as I'm concerned, that man's whole body is property of the U.S. army."''

* UnwittingPawn: Of Blonsky (DragonWithAnAgenda), and later of {{ComicBook/SHIELD}} (they didn't want the Abomination in The Avengers Initative.)

->'''Portrayed By''': TimRoth
->'''Film Appearances''': ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk | Film/MarvelOneShots''

->''[[ForScience "I've always been more curious than cautious]], [[TemptingFate and that's served me pretty well.]]"''

->''"You know, it's a point of professional pride for me that [[LivingLieDetector I can tell when somebody's lying]]. [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu And you are."]]''

%%* BrainyBrunette

* LightningBruiser: Not only is the Hulk very strong, he's also quite fast.

* PutOnABus: [[spoiler: In the wake of the devastating Hulkbuster battle in Africa and not wanting to endanger Natasha, he takes off in the Quinjet for parts unknown. Somehow, he'll end up in Asgard for Film/ThorRagnarok.]]

* PutOnABus: [[spoiler: In the wake of the devastating Hulkbuster battle in Africa and not wanting to endanger Natasha, he takes off in the Quinjet for parts unknown. Somehow, he'll end up in Asgard for Film/ThorRagnarok]]

* PutOnABus: [[spoiler: In the wake of the devastating Hulkbuster battle in Africa and not wanting to endanger Natasha, he takes off in the Quinjet for parts unknown.]]

->'''Film Appearances''': ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' (Portrayed by Edward Norton) | ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}} | Film/IronMan3 | Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' | ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar''

* PersonOfMassDestruction: See page quote.

[[caption-width-right:310:[[labelnote:Click here]]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hulk_avengers_7592.png[[/labelnote]] to see the Hulk]]

A General who hunts down Bruce Banner believing him to be a threat - in truth, he's after his blood as it contains answers to perfecting the SuperSoldier serum.

* {{Jerkass}}: Treats Banner like property and disrepects others.

* OverprotectiveDad: One of his other reasons for tracking Banner; Betty was injuried in the original Hulk Out.

* HulkingOut: The TropeNamer, after all. It should be noted that this happens less in each movie between the two he has been in (''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' just had 2), and we rarely see him "Hulk back" ([[JustForPun Hulking In?]]) i.e. revert to Bruce. ''AvengersAgeOfUltron'' is the first time. We see him revert once on camera, and both of his {{Hulk Out}}s occur off-screen.

* SubmissiveBadass: As Banner, he'll do almost anything to ''avoid'' getting pissed off. However, this is subverted by the time of actual Avengers gathering. At this point his secret is [[spoiler:that [[TranquilFury he's ]]''[[TranquilFury always ]]''[[TranquilFury angry]] and all he needs to do is direct it and ''let loose'']].

->'''Portrayed By''': Creator/EdwardNorton, Creator/MarkRuffalo (pictured right), Lou Ferrigno (voice)

* [[spoiler: AxCrazy: Not at first, of course. But after he transforms into The Abomination, his BloodKnight tendencies push him off the deep end and goes on a destructive rampage.]]