Dr. Brian BannerBrian Banner

The more Brian Banner learned about radiation, the more he feared it. He started drinking to deal with his mounting stress and began to suspect that he had been exposed to trace amounts of it. Fearing it had altered his genetic structure, he was horrified to learn that his wife Rebecca was pregnant. She suffered many medical complications and Brian became convinced that his son, Bruce, was some kind of a mutant. Although Bruce seemed a normal, healthy baby, Brian was convinced he would grow up to be a monster. Brian's paranoia increased when Bruce began to show signs of a gifted intellect. Rebecca tried to defend her son, but Brian became abusive. He had an explosive temper and lashed out at anyone who annoyed him. Young Bruce often watched in helpless horror as his father stuck his mother. He prayed that one day he'd be strong enough to protect her. When she decided to leave him, Brian accidentally killed her in a fit of rage. Brian Banner was eventually convicted of manslaughter and sent to a mental institution. Much later in Bruce's life he was diagnosed with ALS (aka Lou Gehrig's Disease) and was on the verge of death. DNA taken from Brian's corpse repaired Bruce's nervous system. Indebted to his father for continued life, Bruce made peace with his memory.