Character Analysis: The Incredible Hulk

Next on the list of heroes to analyze is Dr. Bruce Banner or, as he is called when in hero form, The Incredible Hulk. Dr. Banner is a man victimized by something living in his own psyche. He has a monster that his must mentally, and often times physically, control; otherwise it will escape and wreak havoc on anything or anyone nearby and pave a path of destruction in its wake. Whether one uses the comics, the TV show, or the movies, the back-story is always the same. Dr. Banner has a lab accident that causes him to become a giant, green monster whenever he loses his temper. Afraid of hurting others and being hunted the government; Bruce goes on the run across countries and continents. His ever persistent quest is to learn how to reverse the effects or at least how to live with his new life.

When ‘the Incredible Hulk’ and ‘mental illnesses’ are mentioned in the same sentence, the conclusion is that the discussion is on Dissociative Identity Disorder. This idea makes sense as Bruce Banner physical and mentally switches from himself to the large,

He gives up his relationship with Betty, stepping back so that she can find a man who will not kill her at the drop of a hat. When in his new life in Mexico, he does not make any friends and tries to stay out of social interactions. His odd behaviors can be explained as Understanding Abnormal Behavior says that some people with this disorder “believe they possess…special powers” (Sue. 2006. Pg 454). However, he does have special powers so this is justified. However, “speech oddities such as frequent digression or vagueness in conversation” (Sue. 2006. Pg 454) are often seen in Dr. Banner when he is not the Hulk. The social isolation that he chooses to envelop himself in is another strike on his record. The Incredible Hulk and Avengers: Age of Ultron both end with him running away from people to be