15 Years? How Long Was Bruce Banner Really The Hulk?

Warning: This post contains spoilers for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

How long was Bruce Banner actually the Hulk? She-Hulk: Attorney at Law sees the return of Bruce Banner, who has now merged his two personalities to become Smart Hulk. Mark Ruffalo reprises the role of the Hulk, attempting to train his cousin, Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany), as she navigates her new life as She-Hulk.

In She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Smart Hulk brings Jen to his lab in Mexico after accidentally infecting her with his blood, the gamma radiation transforming her into the green-hued, 6-foot-7-inch She-Hulk. Banner believes he’s the right person to train her because of his years and experience being the Hulk. It’s taken him a long time to come to terms with his own transformation, as well as working on keeping his raging emotions at bay so that the Hulk doesn’t run rampant destroying cities and harming people. However, Banner explains to She-Hulk that he knows exactly how such a change can affect a person because he has been the Hulk for 15 years. But, is that really true?

When only factoring in Ruffalo’s time in the role, then it has only been ten years since Banner’s been the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor took over the role from Edward Norton in 2012’s The Avengers, which suggests the Hulk has only been around for 11 years. However, it’s most likely that She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is factoring in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, which is technically a part of the MCU’s Phase One. To that end, it has actually been 15 years since Banner became the Hulk. It’s worth pointing out the five-year time jump between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, which sets She-Hulk in 2023 following the events of the latter MCU film. With that timeline settled, Smart Hulk is correct in his assessment regarding being the Hulk for 15 years.

Hulk’s Time On Sakaar Changes How Long He’s Been Transformed

smart hulk how long was hulk in she-hulk

One of the more nuanced aspects of Banner’s time as the Hulk comes during his time on Sakaar. Hulk landed on the trash planet after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, remaining in his green form for two years until Thor arrived during the events of Thor: Ragnarok. However, time on Sakaar passes faster than it does on Earth. After all, Loki arrived on Sakaar just seconds before Thor, but was there for several weeks prior. Hulk was stuck on Sakaar for two years without transforming back into Bruce Banner, which suggests he lived an additional few thousand years as his green-hued alter ego. This estimation would cancel out his 15 years as the Hulk if factored into the calculations.

All told, it’s likely Smart Hulk counts his time on Sakaar using Earth years, which explains why he’s only been there for two years. Either way, Banner has been the Hulk for a long time. The scientist-turned-Hulk has adjusted to his new form and has gone through a good amount of alterations as well. 15 years is indeed a long time; it makes his final form as Smart Hulk in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law stand out all the more. Without his many years as the Hulk, Banner would not have learned how to balance both forms or bring them together.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law releases new episodes Thursdays on Disney+.