Avengers 4 Theory: Professor Hulk Is Coming

Avengers 4 may be adapting one of the most popular Hulk plots of all time, bringing the Hulk and Bruce Banner personas into head-on collision - and creating a new identity nicknamed "Professor Hulk." There was already significant evidence that Marvel was working towards that idea, but recent artwork - that might actually be a leak from Avengers 4 - has just provided compelling evidence.

With the distribution rights to the Hulk sitting with Universal, Marvel has opted to create a three-film character arc for the Hulk that runs through other films. It kicked off in Thor: Ragnarok, ran through Avengers: Infinity War, and is building to a climax in next year's Avengers 4.

That means we're two-thirds of the way through this particular character arc. By looking at the story so far, we can extrapolate onwards and work out just what Marvel is building up to. And that leaked concept art could be the final clue we need to work it out.

This Page: The Hulk's Character Arc So Far

Next Page: Deducing the Hulk's Character Arc

The Hulk's Arc Leading Up To Avengers 4

This character arc all began with the Hulk and Bruce Banner separating into two different identities. "Hulk speaking [in Thor: Ragnarok] is the start to separating of these two individuals," Ruffalo explained, "these identities in this split-identity person, and where that's going to end up going."

There's a sense in which Bruce Banner suffers from a form of multiple personality disorder; there are two minds, trapped in the same body. In human form, Bruce is in control; but whenever Banner transforms, the Hulk takes charge. The MCU has always treated Banner and the Hulk as distinct personas, with Bruce referring to the Hulk as "the other guy." But it wasn't until the events of The Avengers that Bruce first began to understand the Hulk is truly a person in his own right, not just a rampaging monster. When the Hulk chose to redirect his fall from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier so as not to endanger innocents, Bruce realized the Hulk actually had the ability to empathize. Although Banner didn't trust the Hulk - that's why he worked with Stark to build the Hulkbuster armor - he did begin to let the Hulk out to play every now and again.

The events of Thor: Ragnarok changed everything. Stranded on the world of Sakaar, the Hulk persona decided to suppress Bruce Banner, to refuse to change back. The Hulk remained in control of Banner's body for two full years, learning and growing, developing language. As Ruffalo put it, "He's like a baby! He's like a five year old or six year old. So he has the same syntax, he has the same world view." In the end, Thor managed to coax the Hulk into turning back, but this experience left Bruce terrified. If he turned into the Hulk again, would he ever change back?

But Bruce Banner is a hero. Seeing the last surviving Asgardians threatened by Hela, he decided to transform one more time. Notice what happened, though; rather than transform as Banner jumped down on to the Rainbow Bridge, the Hulk waited until after Banner had hit the surface. It was an amusing scene, but in hindsight it was an objection from the Hulk - an expression of frustration at being taken for granted, at being treated as a weapon of war. Moving on to Avengers: Infinity War, when Thanos beat the Hulk down, the Hulk had enough. He survived the Bifrost, crash-landing on Earth, and changed back to Bruce Banner. But he wasn't willing to carry on being Banner's weapon any longer. Instead, throughout the film, the Hulk refused to return. As Joe Russo explained it, "I think that if the Hulk were to say why, it’d be [that] Banner only wants Hulk for fighting. I think he’s had enough of saving Banner’s ass." Banner was forced to step up and become a hero in his own right, using the Hulkbuster to take on the Outriders. There's perfect continuity between the third act of Thor: Ragnarok and the Hulk's arc in Infinity War.

What We Know of Hulk's Arc in Avengers 4

Bruce Banner next to the Hulkbuster Gauntlet in Avengers Infinity War

Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War have placed these two personas in conflict. The Hulk and Bruce Banner are as antagonistic towards one another as ever, two personas who share the same body and seem to have a fierce dislike of each other. The beginning of Avengers 4 will presumably pick up with the status quo at the end of Infinity War, with the Hulk still refusing to do Banner's dirty work. It's safe to say the Russos are planning the Hulk's return sooner or later. Action figures for Infinity War even teased the Hulk tearing out of the Hulkbuster, and according to the Russos these were inspired by an early draft of the film's script. That suggests the direction of the Hulk's character arc, although it's uncertain whether or not the actual Hulkbuster scene will happen - that could easily have been cut.

Meanwhile, while this may be the end of a three-film arc for the Hulk, it doesn't necessarily mean the character's MCU time in the MCU will be over. Contractually, Avengers 4 is the final film for Chris Evans, while most viewers are expecting Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man to pay the ultimate price in the effort to defeat Thanos. But Mark Ruffalo's contract may not be coming to an end. It's generally believed he has at least one film left on his contract after Avengers 4. That means the Hulk's arc probably won't end in death, but rather will set up some sort of new status quo, one Marvel can explore in another Avengers movie, or perhaps by having the Hulk cameo in another character's film again.

Page 2 of 2: Avengers 4 Should Introduce "Professor Hulk"

The Avengers 4 Art Teases A New Hulk

And that brings us to this Avengers 4 artwork. Notice this image shows a Hulk who's very different to the one we've seen before in the MCU. He's not Hulked out quite as much, the face is more recognizable as Mark Ruffalo's, and - most importantly - he's actually wearing clothes. If this image is indeed related to Avengers 4, it teases a scenario where the Hulk and Bruce Banner actually seem to have merged. Where these two different identities have become one.

The process of transforming from Bruce Banner to the Hulk usually shreds Bruce's clothes. When he turns back, any still fitting clothes would be useful to "puny Banner." So the fact the Hulk has suited up is actually very much suggestive, hinting the Hulk doesn't expect to turn back anytime soon. He and Banner have found some sort of place of balance.

If that's the case, this is the direction the entire Hulk arc is traveling. The Hulk and Bruce Banner personas will confront one another, and ultimately combine. When Screen Rant was on the set of Avengers: Infinity War, we were even told about a "smart Hulk" being present in the movie (which didn't happen but could have been held back for Part 2). The result will presumably be similar to something comic book readers refer to as "Professor Hulk."

Professor Hulk Explained

This whole idea has a strong comic book precedent, running back to Peter David's run of The Incredible Hulk. David explored the idea the Hulk was born from Bruce Banner's childhood trauma, at the hands of an abusive father, and his mind had schismed long before exposure to Gamma Radiation. In fact, David even introduced a third persona, the Grey Hulk! In #376, in an issue entitled "Personality Conflict," Bruce Banner's different personas were launched into head-on collision. The issue featured staggering scenes in which Bruce reeled, his body rebelling against the change, his hands enlarging and turning green and gray. It also featured extensive dialogue where the personas spoke to one another through Banner's mouth.

If that sounds familiar, it's because Avengers: Infinity War reproduced the idea. Visually, the part-transformation scenes are lifted straight from The Incredible Hulk #376. There's even a brief moment of dialogue between the two personas, with Banner yelling at the Hulk, and the Hulk shouting "No" back.

Incredible Hulk #376 ended with the personalities in desperate conflict, literally attempting to choke one another to death. It took the intervention of psychologist Doc Samson to end the Hulk's turmoil. He used post-hypnotic suggestion to prevent the personas going to war again, and then forced Banner to face to his childhood trauma. The result was the final integration of the Hulk's different personas, creating the so-called "Professor Hulk" - a single, whole mind, with the genius of Bruce Banner and the childish love of action of the Hulk.

It's distinctly possible this Avengers 4 art isn't genuine. Whether it is or not, though, existing arc for Hulk is clear. Marvel seems to be building up to a "Professor Hulk" style unification. The logical end of this three-film character arc. If that is the case, Avengers 4 will end with a totally different Hulk, a being who could prove fascinating in the next Avengers film, or else in his next cameo.