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Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, Ph.D.[4] a.k.a. the Hulk, is an American theoretical physicist famous for his work in the fields of nuclear physics and gamma radiation.[76] He was recruited by General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross and the U.S. Army to develop the first Gamma Bomb. During its first live test, he was bombarded with a massive dose of gamma rays while saving Rick Jones, a teenager who had made his way onto the test site. He was mutated into a green behemoth, the living personification of anger that was fueled by pure physical strength, and would come to be known as the near-mindless "Incredible Hulk". Fearful of the damage that the Hulk could inflict, as well as fleeing from the military, he went on the run.[77] In the years that followed, Banner became a loner, occasionally joining together with other heroes, but more often than not struggling to be left alone. He was a founding member of the group of heroes known as the Avengers, "Earth's Mightiest Heroes", as well as a founding member of the group of outsider heroes known as the Defenders, but would not remain with either group for too long (although, admittedly, his time with the Defenders was much longer than his time with the Avengers was).[37][78] Over the years, the Hulk's personality changed drastically, owing to Banner's undiagnosed dissociative identity disorder. At times intelligent, at other times savage, the one constant in the Hulk's existence was his quest for solitude and peace in a world that would not leave him alone.[77]
On Monday, fugitive Bruce Banner stops at a gas station and is approached by an armed robber. Enraged, the man shoots Banner. The pain awakens the Hulk when he is shot. On Tuesday, the destruction draws the attention of General Ross and the army. Consumed by vengeance for the deaths of his men, Ross hunts him down, seeing great military potential in the Hulk and his blood. A manhunt ensues, leading to chaos and destruction. On Wednesday, still on the run, Banner ends up at the Stark Expo during Zzzax's attack, transforming again. Seeing the Hulk and the chaos, Tony Stark believes himself responsible, leading to a confrontation between Hulk and Iron Man. On Thursday, Banner clashes with S.H.I.E.L.D., led by Hawkeye. On Friday, Betty Ross locates the Hulk with the help of Rick Jones. They share a moment, but Bruce pushes her away, aware of the danger he poses to her. On Saturday, Banner is contacted by Dr. Geoffrey Crawford, a friend of his father, who claims to be developing a cure for the Hulk. However, Crawford uses Hulk blood on himself to cure a terminal illness, transforming into an equally dangerous gamma creature. Even so, he gives the serum and research to Bruce. Banner refuses to abandon him, and the two fight, resulting in Crawford's death when his heart fails. The serum and research are destroyed during the fight. On Sunday, Banner resumes his solitary journey down the road. Looking in the mirror, he sees the Hulk's reflection, as lonely as he is.
