The True Origin of Hulk Isn’t What Marvel Fans Think – Screen Rant

The Hulk has long been a constant presence in Bruce Banner's life, but Peter David added another layer, making the Hulk Banner's childhood friend!

The Hulks origin story is not what fans think. In the Tempus Fugit storyline running through The Incredible Hulk #77-81, Peter David, considered by many to be the definitive Hulk writer, teams up with artists Lee Weeks (Daredevil) and Tom Palmer (Tomb of Dracula) to shed new light into the Hulks originand it may surprise even long-time fans.

Most fans know the basics of Hulks origin: scientist Bruce Banner was caught in a gamma bomb explosion that turned him into the Hulk. Over the years, other creative teams have added and expanded upon this. Readers know the Hulk is the physical embodiment of Banners anger, but this was then taken a step furtherthis anger and rage was the result of years of abuse at the hands of his father. Recent issues of The Immortal Hulk have now added ayet anotherelement to the Hulks origin. David and his collaborators added a layer of their ownthat the Hulk was actually Bruces childhood imaginary friend.

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In the storyline, fans learn through flashbacks that the Hulk was the name of Bruces childhood friend, created as a response to the trauma he was enduring. Bruce would continue to talk about the Hulk into his teenage years and readers see the Hulk sitting in the classroom with Banner, even holding conversations with him. In one key scene, Banner defends a classmate from her abusive boyfriendonly for the Hulk to tell him not to be a hero.

The Hulk has always worked as a metaphor for Banners repressed rage and trauma. Some children in similar situations create imaginary friends as an escape, and Bruce was no different; except his imaginary friend would eventually come to life and curse him for the remainder of his days. Even at this point fans can see the Hulks nature coming outhe tells Banner not to stick up for the classmate, but Banner defies him and does so, only to get beaten horribly. The worst part is the classmate was actually indifferent and dismissive to Banner, so perhapshe was misguided instanding up for her.

By making Hulk Banners childhood imaginary friend, David and company have added another layer to the Hulk-that his trauma was so great he had to keep that friend through his teenage years. The trauma was almost so great, Banner had to become the Hulk to survive. Most childhood imaginary friends disappear by adolescence, but Banners did not, and many peoples lives have been changed forever because of it.

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Shaun Corley is a pop culture enthusiast living in the Pacific Northwest. After stints in both customer service and academia, he's turned his attention to writing about comic books--his lifelong passion. He is a graduate of Radford University, with a degree in English. When not reading comics, he enjoys spending time with his fiance and their dog.

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The True Origin of Hulk Isn't What Marvel Fans Think - Screen Rant