How Did Bruce Banner Survive the Gamma Radiation That Turned Him Into The HULK?

Summary

The video discusses the various explanations for Bruce Banner's survival of gamma radiation in becoming the Hulk, including the MCU's Dr. Ross' primer, the Ultimate Universe's super-soldier serum, comic book logic, and an alternate future where the same explosion that created the Hulk also destroys him.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Tony Stark's question in the first Avengers movie about Bruce Banner surviving gamma radiation sparks a discussion on the Hulk's origin.
• 🦸‍♂️ The Hulk's origin is tied to unique circumstances that make Bruce Banner's story compelling and specific to him.
• 🔬 In the MCU, Dr. Samuel Sterns suggests that Dr. Ross's primer allowed the Hulk to absorb the gamma radiation, explaining Banner's survival.
• 🧬 In the 'Anglie' version of the Hulk, David Banner (Bruce's father) conducts experiments on himself, leading to Bruce being born with altered DNA.
• 🌌 In the Ultimate Universe, Dr. Banner's involvement in recreating the super-soldier serum leads to his transformation, unrelated to gamma radiation.
• 📚 Comic book logic suggests that gamma radiation isn't inherently harmful, as seen in the Incredible Hulk TV series where Banner discovers humans can gain powers under certain conditions.
• 🧪 The original comic book series features Banner using a gamma radiation machine to control his transformations into the Hulk.
• 🔮 In an alternate future, the Maestro Hulk retains Banner's intelligence and is sent back in time, where he encounters the gamma explosion that both creates and destroys him.
• 🤷‍♂️ Marvel has never provided a definitive answer to why Bruce Banner survived the gamma radiation, leaving room for multiple interpretations.
• 📺 The script explores various theories and encourages viewers to consider their favorite explanation for the Hulk's origin.

Q & A

Why is it considered a miracle that Bruce Banner survived the gamma radiation?

It's considered a miracle because the amount of gamma radiation he was exposed to typically would have been fatal, but instead, it transformed him into the Hulk.

What is the significance of a superhero's origin story?

A superhero's origin story is significant because it ties down to something very specific and unique that could only happen to the main character, making their story worth following.

What is General Thaddeus Ross's interest in Bruce Banner?

General Thaddeus Ross is interested in understanding what makes the Hulk tick in order to weaponize it, which is why he has been searching for an answer to Banner's survival for decades.

Why has Marvel never given a definitive answer to why Bruce Banner survived the gamma radiation?

Marvel has provided several explanations, but they have never picked one as the absolute answer, leaving it open to interpretation and discussion.

What is the most common explanation for Bruce Banner's survival in the MCU?

In the MCU, the most common explanation is that Bruce Banner has gone through a procedure that allowed him to survive the ordeal, as mentioned by Samuel Sterns.

What role does Dr. Ross's primer play in the Hulk's origin according to the MCU?

In the MCU, Dr. Ross's primer is said to have allowed the Hulk to absorb all the radiation, which is a key factor in his transformation.

What is the explanation for Bruce Banner's survival in the 'Anglie' version of the Hulk?

In the 'Anglie' version, Bruce's father conducts unauthorized experiments on himself to improve human DNA, and Bruce is born with these changes, which help him survive the gamma radiation.

What is the Hulk's origin in the Ultimate Universe?

In the Ultimate Universe, gamma radiation is not directly related to the Hulk's origin. Instead, Dr. Banner is a scientist trying to recreate the super soldier serum, which leads to his transformation.

What is the explanation for the Hulk's survival in comic book logic?

In comic book logic, severe stress during times of heightened gamma radiation can grant superpowers, as shown in the 'Incredible Hulk' TV series.

What was Bruce Banner's original method of regulating his transformations in the comic book series?

In the original comic book series, Banner had a gamma radiation machine that allowed him to regulate his transformations into the Hulk.

What is the strangest explanation for the Hulk's origin in the comic books?

The strangest explanation is from an alternate future where the Maestro Hulk, retaining Banner's intelligence, is sent back in time and his DNA is dispersed by the same gamma bomb that created him.