Ultimate Universe Bios

Hulk

Covers

Real Name: Dr. Bruce Banner
Affiliation: The Ultimates
Powers: Banner alone does not possess any powers, though is highly intelligent. However, when Banner transforms into the Hulk, he has an amazing amounth of strength and stamina. Bruce Banner suffers from depression and can be highly envious of his colleagues, especially Hank Pym. He is often ridiculed by other members of the team, further fueling his anger and depression. Banner was the leader of the Super Soldier program, which was trying to find the formula that created the original Captain America. He tested his own formula on himself, but it was wrong and he transformed into the rampaging Hulk, resulting in a fight between him and Spider-Man on the Chelsea Piers. Afterwards, all traces of the Hulk seemed to have left Banner's body and he was able to continue his work normally.

When Nick Fury became the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D, he gave a boost to the Super Soldier program so the Ultimates would have Captain America on the roster. But due to his Hulk episode, Banner was forced to step down and let Hank Pym take over as leader of the program. At this time, Banner's girlfriend, Betty Ross (also the Ultimates PR person) decided that they needed a break from one another. As the rest of the members of the program were making breakthroughs, Banner was no closer to replicating the Super Soldier formula, furthering his descent into depression. But then the original Captain America's body was found and revived. Banner hoped to use Cap's blood to figure out the formula, but still couldn't crack it. As the Ultimates grew lazy with no villains to fight, Banner mixed Cap's blood with his old formula that created the Hulk and mainlined it, hoping to achieve results. Instead, he was transformed back into the Hulk and rampaged through Manhattan, killing hundreds. He was able to take on the entire Ultimates team, but Wasp was able to shrink herself and "sting" the part of Banner's brain that made him the Hulk. Banner was immediately incarcerated in the Triskelion, but the public was never made aware of the connection between Banner and Hulk. Now, due to the fact that Banner mixed the old formula with Cap's blood, the Hulk DNA is forming a permanent bond with Banner's own.

Unfortunately, during Magneto's return and attack on the Triskelion, power in the complex fluctuated and Banner transformed into the Hulk and escaped, eating a few of the technicians on the way out. He was eventually brought in and his identity again kept secret. When the Chitauri invasion began, Fury had Bruce thrown out of an aircraft to turn him into the Hulk, whereupon he did some major damage to the invaders.

Afterwards, Bruce returned to the Super-Soldier program, and continued his relationship with Betty Ross. However, someone leaked the fact that Bruce was the Hulk, and S.H.I.E.L.D. had no choice but to incarcerate him. While in lockup, Bruce engaged in telepathic therapy sessions with Professor Xavier, and continued working on Super-Soldier designs with Hank Pym. With Matt Murdock (Daredevil) as his lawyer, Bruce was tried on international television, and found guilty of the eight-hundred-plus murders he committed as the Hulk. He was sentenced to death, which was carried out by the Ultimates via a nuclear bomb planted near Bruce on a Pacific atoll. However, Hank Pym gave Bruce a serum before the detonation, supposedly to keep him unconscious, but it may in fact have been an extra dose of the Hulk serum, since Bruce's eyes glowed green just before the explosion, and he later called Hank to say "thanks" before he disappeared.
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