Bruce Banner aka Hulk makes his return to the MCU in She-Hulk. Since Phase 1, Hulk has been a popular and exciting character in the cinematic universe, standing out from his fellow heroes with his own unique story. And though his solo movie franchise was short-lived, fans have still gotten to know Hulk quite well.
Though Hulk himself was once a monster of few words, there are a number of memorable quotes that speak to him as a character. These quotes from throughout the MCU show Hulk as a tormented figure, a powerful hero, and how he stands as part of the Avengers.
"I Don't Wanna Control It. I Wanna Get Rid Of It."
Bruce Banner - The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Before the recasting of Mark Ruffalo in the MCU, Edward Norton debuted the role of Banner in the darker solo movie The Incredible Hulk. The movie made it clear that despite the power of Hulk, Banner sees it as a curse and nothing more.
Controlling his Hulk personality has always been something that Banner has struggled with and this quote gives some insight as to why. Banner and Hulk don't mesh well because Banner resents Hulk and that is something he gradually has to confront.
"Not Control It, But, I Don't Know, Maybe Aim It."
Bruce Banner - The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Hulk can certainly be destructive, but there are more dangerous monsters out there. Abomination is one of Hulk's greatest villains and makes for a formidable foe in The Incredible Hulk. And seeing this bigger threat makes Banner realize Hulk can be used for good.
His suggestion that he may be able to "aim it" shows that Hulk is still an unpredictable force. But there is enough of Banner in him that he can use this power to take on such dangerous enemies.
"Leave Me Alone."
Hulk - The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Hulk can be quite intimidating when he's on a rampage, but there is also still a vulnerability to him in these moments. he seems to understand that humanity doesn't want him around and that fuels his rage.
In some of these moments in which he lashes out, he seems more like a cornered animal trying to escape. When the military closes in on him, his angered demand that he wants to be left alone cements that he is a very lonely creature which adds some sadness to all that power.
"Puny God."
Hulk - The Avengers (2012)
While Banner is one of the smartest characters in the MCU, Hulk can often seem like a mindless monster. But sometimes that also makes him one of the bravest heroes around as he doesn't give a second thought to the danger he encounters.
One of Hulk's shining moments is when he confronts Loki and throws the God of Mischief around like a ragdoll. His dismissive view of Loki hurts almost as much as the pummeling. It shows that in a universe of gods, aliens, and sorcerers, none of it impresses Hulk very much.
"That's My Secret, Cap. I'm Always Angry."
Bruce Banner - The Avengers (2012)
Throughout The Avengers, Banner is often asked what his secret is for keeping Hulk controlled. When Banner arrives at the climactic battle, he reveals that his secret is that he's always angry and simply lets Hulk take over.
While fans have questioned how much this makes sense, it still works as a defining quote for the character. It reveals that Banner always has Hulk bubbling under the surface ready to come out. And it also reveals that throughout the many struggles Banner has faced, he has become bitter and angry.
"And Hulk… Smash!"
Captain America - The Avengers (2012)
Just like most of the other Avengers, Hulk isn't a great team player at first. However, as unpredictable as he might be, the team does seem to know how to put his specific set of skills to good use.
As Loki's army invades New York City, Captain America strategizes how each of the members of the Avengers will tackle these enemies. When it comes to Hulk, Cap's only direction is to "smash." This perfectly sums up the value Hulk brings to the team as a completely destructive force.
"Yeah, Banner’s Powerful And Useful, Too."
Bruce Banner - Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Banner's intelligence is another huge asset to the Avengers, but he is always a bit conflicted as a member of the team. He seems to always feel somewhat insulted when the team insists it is a job for Hulk rather than Banner.
When Banner is able to regain control in Thor: Ragnarok after years of Hulk being the dominant personality, Thor immediately insists he needs his more powerful alter-ego. When Banner suggests he is powerful as well, Thor responds with the hilarious, "Is he though?" adding to Banner's self-conscious view of being the less important of the two personalities.
"I Don't Get A Suit Of Armor. I'm Exposed, Like A Nerve. It's A Nightmare."
Bruce Banner - The Avengers (2012)
Putting Hulk alongside the other Marvel heroes in The Avengers really highlighted the struggles that separate him from his teammates. As Tony Stark insists Hulk will join the fight when the time comes Banner reminds him that there is no armor to protect him.
This insight helps fans to see just what it is like for Hulk to go into battle. It shows that his rage is partially due to the pain he experiences. It also proves the kind of sacrifice Banner makes every time he chooses to transform.
"Your Work On Anti-Electron Collisions Is Unparalleled. And I'm A Huge Fan Of The Way You Lose Control And Turn Into An Enormous Green Rage Monster."
Tony Stark - The Avengers (2012)
Tony Stark is not one to mince words which leads to his hilarious first meeting with Banner in the MCU. But while it is a funny moment that showcases Tony's own amusing personality, it is also a solid summation of Banner and Hulk as a shared character.
Tony is able to be an admirer of Banner as one of the smartest people on the planet, but he can also be impressed with the force of nature he transforms into. It is something Banner took a while to realize in that each side of his personality is special in its own way.
"I Put The Brains And The Brawn Together And Now Look At Me. Best Of Both Worlds."
Hulk - Avengers: Endgame (2019)
After so much struggle between them, the biggest breakthrough for Hulk and Banner happens off-camera. Avengers: Endgame reintroduces Hulk as an intelligent yet still big and green version of himself that combines the best of both Banner and Hulk.
While it would have been interesting to see this development actually happen, it is the logical conclusion for the character. Though they hated each other for so long, it was eventually realized that Hulk and Banner were better together.