Tony Stark (Robert Donwney Jr.) and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) are often thought of as the superheroes who best embody what it means to be an Avenger. While they are both impressive and admirable individuals, many other members of the team could be considered the best Avenger.
Bruce Banner/the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) has proven on many occasions throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe that he is actually the best Avenger. His combination of intelligence, strength, bravery, and empathy is unparalleled and demonstrated through many of his quotes. However, if fans had to choose, which ones would they say are the best? While they are all unique in their own right, there are a few that stand out more than others.
The Secret To Being The Hulk:
"That's my secret, Captain. I'm always angry."
When Captain America tells Bruce it is a good time to get angry in The Avengers, Bruce reveals that his secret is that he's always angry. This iconic line is important because it shows that even though he is always angry and the Hulk's anger is constantly on the cusp of taking control, Bruce has the self-control to keep the anger at bay and keep it from taking over him entirely.
When needed during a situation like the iconic Battle of New York, Bruce can relinquish control and become the Hulk in a matter of seconds, but the real struggle is all the times when he isn't giving into the anger. While some of the Avengers struggle to keep their emotions in check, Bruce is a master of self-control.
Hulk Gives Loki A Reality Check:
"Puny god."
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) tries to stop the Hulk by telling him he is a dull creature and that Loki is a god superior to all beings on Earth. The Hulk puts the arrogant Loki in his place by picking him up and smashing him repeatedly into the floor, calling him a "puny god."
The Hulk does not tolerate arrogance and self-righteousness and gives Loki a much-needed reality check. He makes Loki see that he is not all that superior and brilliant after all.
Bringing The Hulk Out On Asgard:
"Everything's going to be all right now. I got this."
When Fenris is about to annihilate Heimdall and the other Asgardians in Thor: Ragnarok, Bruce jumps down and transforms into the Hulk to save them. Before doing so, he tells Valkyrie (Tessa Thomspon) that everything is going to be okay, showing a calm and confidence she hadn't seen from him before.
Even though Bruce is often anxious, he can be confident and levelheaded when he needs to be and steps up when others are in danger. Avengers don't need to be calm and confident all the time, but they need to step up when it counts the most.
Bruce Implores Tony To See The Bigger Picture:
"Tony, listen to me. Thor's gone. Thanos is coming. It doesn't matter who you're talking to or not."
When Bruce returns to Earth in Avengers: Infinity War, Tony catches him up on how he and Steve Rogers fell out hard after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Bruce is more mature than Tony and tries to get him to see the bigger picture.
Bruce recognizes that Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his quest for the Infinity Stones threaten the entire universe and that this is more important than the lingering drama and resentment between Tony and Steve. He tries to get Tony to put this aside for the greater good.
Bruce's Discovery Of Ant-Man And Spider-Man:
"There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?"
As Bruce continues to catch up on what he's missed since he's been away from Earth, he learns that the Avengers now include an Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and a Spider-Man (Tom Holland). It is important for the Avengers to sometimes slow down and take a moment to digest the absurdity of their universe.
Bruce does this perfectly by calling out that the Avengers have had more than one insect-named member join the team during his absence. Bruce is unafraid to call out the small, amusing things that other Avengers overlook.
Putting The Brains And The Brawn Together:
"For years, I've been treating the Hulk like he's some kind of disease, something to get rid of. But then I start looking at him as the cure. Eighteen months in the gamma lab, I put the brains and the brawn together and now look at me. Best of both worlds."
After all the conflict between Bruce Banner and the Hulk, the two of them are revealed to be unified as "Smart Hulk" in Avengers: Endgame. Bruce realized that it was better to view the Hulk as an asset rather than a problem and this was the key to ending the conflict between the two sides of him.
This solution proves how he is an innovative problem solver and is always looking at how he can improve himself and the world around him. These are the kinds of traits and skills that are essential for an Avenger to have.
Hulk Encourages Rocket To Show Some Compassion:
"Hey, have a little compassion, pal. First, they lost Asgard, then half their people. They're probably just happy to have a home."
When Rocket (Bradley Cooper) makes a snarky remark about New Asgard on Earth being a step down from the golden palaces of the planet Asgard, Hulk encourages him to show some compassion. Between the destruction of Asgard, the survivors being attacked by Thanos and the Black Order at the beginning of Infinity War, and then the Blip, the Asgardian people lost their home and many of their people in a matter of days.
Hulk is an Avenger who has the compassion and perspective to sympathize with the unimaginable loss and suffering that the Asgardians had been through in recent years, and is able to encourage others like Rocket to show the same respect and empathy.
Hulk Explains Time Travel To The Other Avengers:
"If you travel to the past, that past becomes your future, and your former present becomes the past, which can't now be changed by your new future."
Even though the Avengers who weren't blipped are eager to do whatever it takes to bring everyone back, the Hulk is one of the only Avengers who actually understands what needs to be done to make it happen.
He is one of the only Avengers who understands how time travel works and he has to explain it to the others so that they understand it. This makes him one of the most intelligent Avengers.
The Moment Hulk Was Made For:
"The radiation's mostly gamma. It's like I was made for this."
After retrieving the Infinity Stones using time travel, the question is who will use them to snap their fingers to try and bring everyone back from the Blip. The Hulk is adamant that he be the one to do it. He points out that if the Infinity Stones almost killed Thanos when he used them, they will kill any of the other Avengers if they try to do it.
Not only is the Hulk the only Avenger who could survive it, but the radiation being mostly gamma almost makes it feel like he was made for this very moment. He has the bravery and the strength to use the Infinity Stones, is able to successfully bring everyone back from the Blip, and survives the experience. This makes him one of the bravest and strongest Avengers, able to do what none of the others can.
Bruce Welcoming Shang-Chi And Katy Chen:
"Stay safe. Welcome to the circus."
In the mid-credits scene in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, after discussing the mystery surrounding the origins of the Ten Rings, Bruce welcomes Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy Chen (Awkwafina) into the wild universe of the Avengers. While most of the original Avengers are dead, retired, or off doing their own thing, Bruce is still taking the time to be an active member of the team and is welcoming in new faces.
He acknowledges that the Avengers and the threats they face can feel like a circus, but he shows that he cares about Shang-Chi and Katy, tells them to stay safe, and is already involved in helping them out and making them part of the team.