MCU's Explanation For Bruce Banner Being Human Again Is A Total Copout

Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for She-Hulk episode 1!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe explains how Bruce Banner is human again during She-Hulk: Attorney At Law episode 1. For much of Hulk's MCU journey, the battle between Bruce Banner and his giant, green, angry alter ego was at the forefront. Due to the character's complex rights, Marvel has not been able to put Hulk's story at the center of a single project. His MCU arc has instead been spread apart multiple appearances, with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings revealing another massive twist for him: Bruce Banner's human form returned after Avengers: Endgame's Smart Hulk transformation.

Audiences only met Smart Hulk a few years ago in Avengers: Endgame. The movie explained that Bruce took time after The Blip to focus on figuring out the issues that have kept him and Hulk separated and in conflict. He ultimately combined Banner's brain with Hulk's brawn to become Smart Hulk, making him the ultimate version of himself. Since this transformation was the culmination of Marvel's three-movie Hulk arc in Phase 3, it was thought Smart Hulk would remain the character's only form in Phase 4 and beyond. Shang-Chi's post-credits scenes revealed otherwise, and it was then confirmed that She-Hulk would also feature a human Bruce Banner - along with a fully healed Smart Hulk.

The sudden reversal of Smart Hulk's transformation in Phase 4 left viewers in a state of confusion. Not only were there questions about how this was possible, but why Marvel and the character would make such a decision was also confounding. She-Hulk episode 1 provides the explanation for Bruce Banner being human again in the MCU. Although it seems to have been necessary to tell She-Hulk's origin and even set up Hulk's MCU future, the Bruce Banner human reveal answers are not all that satisfying.

She-Hulk Episode 1 Mark Ruffalo Smart Hulk

It turns out that staying Smart Hulk was not something Bruce Banner wanted to do after Avengers: Endgame. This is partially due to the injuries he sustained by using the Infinity Stones to reverse Thanos' snap, which permanently damaged his arm - or so he thought. Bruce began developing a prototype inhibitor that would revert Smart Hulk to his human form for an unspecified reason (but possibly because he was no longer effective as a Hulk with his injury). The inhibitor device is fitted on Bruce's left arm and calibrated to meet his specific needs. The science behind the device is not fully revealed, but it is clear that Bruce Banner's human form returned after he created a device that would suppress his Hulk alter ego. The device effectively reversed Bruce's years of hard work in the lab after Thanos' snap to merge his two halves into one. Hulk's inhibitor appears to reverse whatever mind and body meld that led to Smart Hulk's creation.

Of course, She-Hulk also reveals that this is not a permanent switch. Bruce Banner is only human again for a short amount of time, allowing his blood to help create She-Hulk. Once Bruce learns that She-Hulk's DNA holds the key to healing Smart Hulk's arm, he utilizes this exciting discovery to fix himself. The return of a fully powered Smart Hulk might be a good sign for his future, but it also means the initial return of Bruce Banner's human form is quite underwhelming. Shang-Chi's post-credits tease seemingly does not have a lasting impact on the MCU's future, as Bruce Banner's human form is gone just as quickly as it returned - raising questions about why Marvel would make the switch at all.

Hulk MCU future after Shang-Chi phase 4 phase 5 rumors

If it was unclear before, Bruce Banner's human transformation and the Hulk inhibitor device show Marvel's lack of planning. Looking at his last several appearances, the MCU has repeatedly changed the character's status quo. Thor: Ragnarok teased the beginning of a proper explanation of Hulk and Banner's dynamic, but it also showed Banner willingly become Hulk without knowing if he would ever become human again. Avengers: Infinity War then made Hulk refuse to be a hero after Thanos beat him, and Avengers: Endgame is where Smart Hulk debuted as the two sides were merged. Shang-Chi then reversed this decision by having Bruce's human form return. She-Hulk now changes his story again by quickly wiping away Bruce's human transformation only as a means to heal Smart Hulk.

While there are some fascinating parts of Smart Hulk's journey throughout these five appearances and how they build on the other, it also feels like Marvel is constantly changing him. Characters are meant to change and grow, but not even Tony Stark retired from being Iron Man as often as Marvel has changed whether Bruce wants to be Hulk. He has been a difficult character for the MCU to crack in several ways, with even the Russo brothers admitting they did not know how to use the strongest Avenger. All of these changes also mean that audiences have a hard time connecting to Hulk and understanding precisely what Bruce Banner wants because it comes across as though not even he knows.

Marvel Keeps Skipping Over Hulk's Best Stories

Mark Ruffalo as Professor Hulk in Avengers: Endgame and as Bruce Banner in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Another issue raised by Bruce Banner's human transformation is it enforces the idea that Marvel is skipping over Hulk's best stories. One of the most intriguing aspects of the character is the inner conflict between Hulk and Banner as they fight for control. Thor: Ragnarok mostly skipped over Hulk taking control and what it was like for Bruce during the few years he was not in control. Marvel then changed Smart Hulk's origin by delaying it from Avengers: Infinity War. That decision was made because the Russos felt it was a big reveal that came at the wrong time in the film's finale. However, the deleted scenes of that transformation still provided a better explanation for Hulk and Banner joining forces to become Smart Hulk than what Avengers: Endgame included.

Bruce Banner's human return in Shang-Chi and She-Hulk is skipped over just like these past developments. Viewers are now left in the dark about why Bruce wanted to be human again, if that was a difficult decision, and whether the Hulk alter ego had any say in the matter. While future episodes of She-Hulk or even future MCU content with Hulk could explain some of this, it is disappointing to see Marvel again take the easy way out and show Hulk's latest significant change without explaining the reasons behind his actions.

Smart Hulk in Avengers Endgame and Bruce Banner in Shang-Chi's post-credits scene

Now that She-Hulk has skipped over Bruce Banner's human transformation, Marvel really needs to focus on fixing the MCU's Hulk/Bruce Banner issues in Phase 5. Figuring out the long-term future of Hulk would go a long way in helping avoid some of these problems. Marvel would know roughly where the character is going and can build to future changes over time. It would also be beneficial for Hulk if he could receive more screen time, which would allow the MCU the proper time to explore all aspects of Bruce Banner and his green alter ego. She-Hulk: Attorney At Law can help with some of this, but so could the rumored World War Hulk movie. Since it would theoretically put Hulk center stage, his feelings, thoughts, and inner conflict can all be adequately explored.

New episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law release on Thursdays on Disney+.