The Sartrean Struggle of Banner/Hulk in Marvel's Cinematic Universe

The Sartrean Struggle of Banner/Hulk in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe

Jason Butco Sams, Arizona State University

Abstract justifiable in this context. Hulk, on the other hand, represents the authentic within the Ang Lee’s 2003 Hulk is gauged as the character. These two concepts establish the least favorable showing of Bruce Banner philosophical ontology through which and the Incredible Hulk in Marvel’s Banner/Hulk can be best understood; driving Cinematic Universe (MCU). Despite its the development of Banner/Hulk through his criticisms, the film remains in the cinematic subsequent appearances in the MCU. The canon. The opportunity to retcon the content distinction between Banner and Hulk, along of Ang Lee’s Hulk has been possible in any these existential lines, begins to decay as the of the subsequent appearances of interpolations of these ontologies begin to Banner/Hulk in MCU. However, this has affect one another in their continuing never come to pass, which indicates that presence within the ever expanding MCU. Hulk makes a significant contribution to the One of the criticisms that was directed character. towards Sartre’s philosophical offering was Unlike the traditional comic book that he underestimated the strength of the representation of Banner/Hulk, Ang Lee’s world to limit the freedom of the individual, offering does not establish the emergence of particularly in the face of oppressive the Hulk as the result of the gamma political and economic regimes. As the radiation accident. Instead, an attentive MCU expands, and increasingly powerful analysis shows that the Hulk has been, from entities emerge as antagonists, it is the Banner’s birth, a part of the unity of the author’s intent to use Banner/Hulk as a character. The gamma accident in the film is response to such a criticism. The power and just a catalyst that tears away any sort of strength of the Hulk may, at first, seem the divide between the two facets of key to such an argument. However, the Banner/Hulk. This duality can be understood events of Thor: Ragnarok represent the apex through the existential philosophy of Jean- of the interpolation between Banner/ Hulk, Paul Sartre. which can be predicted through the Sartre develops two concepts within existential understanding established. A Being and Nothingness that ultimately drive possible solution to Sartre’s criticism and the ontology of Banner and Hulk, bad faith the continuing development of Banner/Hulk and authenticity. Banner is the epitome of lies not with the Hulk, but in the rise of bad faith, or the denial of one’s freedom in Banner. the face of the conditions of the world. Eric Bana’s banal performance becomes

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 59

MCU started in 2008 with the release of Significance emerges through the two films, Iron Man and The Incredible application of an existential hermeneutic Hulk, and has since transitioned to include a driven by concepts within the philosophical wide cast of characters from comics to contributions of Jean-Paul Sartre. Resulting cinema.1 Prior to the establishment of this from this hermeneutical approach are cinematic MCU continuity, Ang Lee’s Hulk parallels between Hulk and the MCU canon was released in 2003.2 This film has always that can be used to understand the occupied a peculiar position in relation to relationship between Banner and Hulk, the MCU films, even after the declaration by predict character development, and Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel potentially answer questions about the Studios, in a 2014 interview that the film is characters that are currently unanswered. excluded from Marvel cinematic canon.3 A Though the author appreciates both Sartre’s complete chronological filmography of philosophy and the MCU, there are Banner and/or the Hulk in the MCU would comments that Sartre has made to which are be ordered as such: The Incredible Hulk difficult to reconcile with some of his most (2008), Marvel’s The Avengers (2012), Iron fundamental concepts. Using Banner and Man 3 (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron Hulk as a paradigm, the author also (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and considers one of the most severe statements Avengers: Infinity War (2018). The Sartre has made about violence, a sentiment conclusion to Infinity War releases in 2019. that seemingly applies to the Banner/Hulk The Incredible Hulk, which is both a character. sequel to and a reboot of Hulk, establishes a Jean-Paul Sartre was an author, dependence upon its prequel thereby causing philosopher, and playwright contributing to Hulk to occupy a position in relation to the the French existentialism philosophical MCU in that it is both included and tradition that arose after the Second World excluded. In part, this article is intended to War. Although his body of work is be a defense of Ang Lee’s Hulk in that its significant, only a few of his concepts are content is significant to the trajectory of necessary to create an interpretive model for Bruce Banner and Hulk in the MCU canon. the cinematic variations of Bruce Banner and Hulk. 1 Iron Man, directed by Jon Favreau (Marvel Studios, In Being and Nothingness, Sartre 2008), DVD (Paramount Pictures, 2008); The 4 Incredible Hulk, directed by Louis Leterrier (Marvel introduces bad faith and freedom. These Studios, 2008), DVD (Universal Pictures, 2008). two concepts rest upon facticity and 2 Hulk, directed by Ang Lee (Marvel Enterprises, transcendence and the relationship between 2003), DVD (Universal Pictures, 2003). 3 Jim Vejvoda, “Marvel Studios Boss Kevin Feige them. It is necessary to first clarify these Talks Captain America: The Winter Soldier Spoilers terms as bad faith and freedom are both And What’s in Store for the Marvel Cinematic dependent upon them. Facticity is Universe,” IGN, 7 April 2014, accessed 23April 2018, http://www.ign.com/ articles/2014/04/07/marvel-studios-boss-kevin-feige- talks-captain-america-the-winter-soldier-spoilers- 4 Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness (New and-whats-in-store-for-the-marvel-cinematic- York, NY. Washington Square Press, 1992), 86-116, universe 800, 803.

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 60 everything that one brings into their where the situation is perpetuated. To situation.5 Facticity is the unchangeable illustrate possible expressions, Sartre elements of one’s self and the world; all the provides examples, one of which is aspects of the situation that presuppose that applicable to the Banner/Hulk character. He given moment: One’s body, past, and the imagines a young woman on a first date with context of their situation. Representing the a man.7 Over the course of the date, the possibilities from that moment and situation suitor places his hand upon hers. This is is distinguished as transcendence. something that requires a response, either in Simplified, facticity is everything that one the affirmative or negative; instead, she does brings into a given moment, and nothing. Rather than make a decision that transcendence is what that same individual will drive her towards the next moment, she does with it. The relationship between is suspended in that situation with his hand facticity and transcendence is that both are touching hers, passing it by with idle synthetic of bad faith and freedom. conversation, refusing to acknowledge the Bad faith, according to Sartre, is an events that demand a choice from her. intentional self-deception that comes about Freedom, which Sartre also calls by denying one’s transcendence, or in authenticity, is the mediation in a situation another variation, the deception that one has where one maintains the possibilities that freedom over their own facticity.6 These present themselves from that moment. In examples can be taken as expressions that choosing a given action, the consequence of one situation determines the next, thus that action becomes a part of their facticity. denying one’s freedom in that antecedent The result of transcendence, due to the situation. This amounts to a deterministic temporality of moments, is building upon attitude about the given situation. The one’s facticity. For illustrative examples, response is predetermined by one’s facticity. think of freedom as skydiving where one’s The other being form of bad faith is that one actions are potentially limitless: Maneuvers, has the freedom over their situation, in that ordinary freefall, and when to release the specific situation confusing facticity for chute are all possibilities to the skydiver. freedom. Take, for example, an individual They could go as far as completely who has experienced some trauma earlier in abandoning their rig mid-air if that is the their life. This form of bad faith would be consequence they seek. Bad faith, in the equivalent of attempting to erase that contrast, is like being tied to the front of a trauma. It cannot be undone, but it need not runaway locomotive, the locomotive being define the individual or determine their one’s facticity. It pushes one ahead with no actions from the point of trauma forward. semblance of control or freedom, the tracks Bad faith can be either a self-inflicted of the train already determining the next obstruction to the transcendental project of moment. freedom, or a short circuit of this process

5 Ibid., 127-33, 802. 6 Ibid., 87. 7 Ibid., 96-97.

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 61

Conceptually, Bruce Banner is the in the third act that he cannot be cured. archetype of bad faith, in contrast to Hulk Banner is consistently referring to Hulk as who represents the expression of freedom. “the other guy,” as someone other than The first appearance of Bruce Banner himself. He also denies himself certain within the canonical MCU is presented in choices because of the possibility of the The Incredible Hulk. He is a scientist who expression of Hulk. This is easily identified has the misfortune of being on the wrong as the self-denial of one’s transcendence due end of a gamma radiation accident; an to their facticity. Betty Ross attempts to attempt to recover a super soldier serum convince him that, as the Hulk, he thought lost during the Second World War. recognized her, and she recognized Bruce Consequently, he finds himself involuntarily beneath Hulk. Hulk even recognized and transforming into a goliath green man with responded to the name Bruce, yet Banner strength far beyond normal human still insists that Hulk is something other than capabilities whenever he becomes agitated himself. to some outside stimulus. All this occurs Throughout the MCU films, within the first half of the opening credits; transformation from Banner into Hulk is there is no dialogue, only a montage of short implied to be a result of anger, or a response scenes intermingled between set pieces of to some outside threat. These scenes, scientific notes. This film, and going however, can be interpreted in such a way forward, consistently presents Banner as that the anger experienced by Banner is not merely the vehicle for Hulk. Nothing is necessarily in response to others, but to given about Banner other than his intellect himself. He increasingly finds himself in towards the sciences and his relationship situations of his own making that deny his with Betty Ross, his love interest, and her freedom. These moments of obstruction father, Gen. Ross, who oversaw the project define Banner as his own self-denial. Hulk is to recover the super soldier serum. The two a response to Banner’s own self-negation of relationships are plot points that are cast freedom; it is a restoration of that which aside after the events of The Incredible Hulk Banner denies himself. Dividing Banner and and are absent in subsequent appearances. Hulk into conceptual halves of the same The Incredible Hulk also places subject, freedom and its negation, seemingly significant emphasis on the physiological runs against the representations within the emergence of the Hulk. Viewers are led to MCU canon as its tendency is to view believe that an elevated heartrate is the Banner and the Hulk as a dichotomy. Scenes trigger for a transformation. Stress, depicting the transformation from Banner to confrontation, and even sex are either Hulk should be approached with the depicted or implied to bring about the Hulk. question of “Why is he changing?” Every Banner is also introvertedly centered upon instance provides the possibility for an his own problems. Curing his condition is alternative interpretation: That Banner is much more significant to him than the angry with himself. The Incredible Hulk has welfare of others until he finally concludes multiple scenes where Banner has inevitably

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 62 trapped himself into a situation where he with potential military applications. Through obstructs his freedom in that moment with this perspective, the origin in Hulk and The Hulk emerging as a result. Scrutinizing the Incredible Hulk are not incompatible even if situations, they are all of Banner’s making. presented differently. The product of the Marvel’s The Avengers has a similar gamma accident needs a subject of which moment when Banner creates the conditions Hulk is a part. Ang Lee gives us this subject of his bad faith. He agrees to help track while the MCU tends to ignore the depth of down an alien artifact, placing himself in a the Banner character. situation that he knows is hostile: Facing a In Hulk, Bruce Banner is the genetically government agency that he does not trust. altered offspring of his father, David When the scenario goes awry, Banner’s Banner. David Banner is the head scientist transformation to the Hulk effectively asks, under Gen. Ross’s attempt to develop a “Why did I do this to myself?” super soldier serum. Ross hesitates to allow The Banner in Ang Lee’s Hulk shares human experimentation, leading David many similarities to the MCU Banner. What Banner to secretly administer the serum to Hulk does, that no other film has done, is himself, conceiving Bruce after having done give a deeper story into the character of so. Ang Lee’s presentation is grounded in Bruce Banner, rather than just being a the psychological and ontological presence vehicle for Hulk. The origin story of the of Hulk. In contrast, The Incredible Hulk Hulk is still, consequently, a gamma focuses on the physiological emergence of experiment gone awry. The difference lies in Hulk and, from The Avengers forward, the that the experimentation is based on the foundation of Banner in relation to the Hulk gamma activation of medical nanobots that is largely ignored. Due to the nature of the would be capable of healing injuries in genetic modification to which David Banner significantly shorter periods of time than submitted himself, Hulk has always been ever thought possible. Gen. Ross sees the present within Bruce Banner. In the first act military applications of this and applies the of Hulk, on two separate occasions, young technology in a way that creates soldiers Bruce is shown to express traits of Hulk, with higher capabilities for combat both physically and emotionally.9 For Ang readiness. It would not be that far of a Lee, the gamma accident is not the stretch to say Gen. Ross is creating “super origination of the Hulk; rather, it is what soldiers.” allows his manifestation. Hulk also presents Hulk’s origin story in this film is an Brue Banner as an individual that carries important difference from that depicted in psychological trauma from childhood. His The Incredible Hulk because it is one of the father intended to kill Bruce because he justifications that Fiege uses to support the understood what he had the potential to 8 exclusion of Hulk from the MCU. Despite the details, Hulk is a product of 9 Hulk, directed by Ang Lee (Marvel Studios, 2003) unintentional exposure to gamma radiation DVD (Universal Pictures 2003). At approximately the 6:10 mark, Bruce throws a temper tantrum and parts of his flesh change to green, which occurs again 8 Vejvoda. at 8:03.

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 63 become. His attempt was stopped by vocation; hence, the sustained anger and Bruce’s mother who sacrificed herself to destruction of the lab. It is symbolic of that save the child. Hulk also provides an by which Banner allows himself to be instance of Hulk manifesting when Banner bound. is alone; there is no external threat as the As Ang Lee’s Hulk progresses, the MCU seems to suggest is necessary for a limitation of Banner’s traumatic childhood transformation. In the scene, he mentally is also tested and inevitably broken by Hulk. revisits the trauma of his childhood, a Bruce is eventually captured and detained. helplessness that has carried forward into his He is reluctantly reunited with his father, adult life. In response, Hulk emerges and David, while attached to a device that might begins to destroy Banner’s laboratory as it is have the capacity of killing Bruce should symbolic of the very thing that has denied Hulk emerge. David spouts off on a tirade adult Banner his freedom. This scenario is about his true son, Hulk, and that Bruce is also consistent with another example of bad just a flimsy veil of concealing faith that Sartre gives in Being and consciousness.12 Anger is Bruce’s response, Nothingness: but unlike previous transformations, Hulk is slow to show himself. This is because Bruce Let us consider this waiter in the sees truth in his father’s statement: That café. His movement is quick and Bruce is the limitation, the negation of his forward, a little too precise, a little own transcendence, and that only he can free too rapid. He comes towards the himself. The elapse in time from the point of patrons with a step a little too anger to transformation seems to imply that eagerly; his voice, his eyes express something more is happening: Hulk is not an interest a little too solicitous for stepping in as in previous confrontations. the order of the customer.10 Instead, when Banner does transform, it seems as if it was his choice to do so. For Sartre, bad faith can also come to be Choosing the transformation is a repeating through the limitations for the sake of element in Hulk. During the action sequence others. It is still a self-denial but, rather than prior to the finale with Hulk and David choosing not to act on one’s freedom, Banner, Hulk finds himself in San Francisco instead the individual does what is expected after being chased through the California of them by others. Sartre adds, “society canyon country. As Betty Ross approaches demands that he limit himself to his him, Hulk recognizes her and reverts to function.”11 The individual yielding to that Banner. Transitioning between Banner into demand is bad faith. This comes about in Hulk, and then from Hulk into Banner, is Hulk when it is revealed that Bruce and important when viewed through the Betty’s relationship has failed due to his relationship of bad faith and authenticity. emotional distance and commitment to his Though the division of Banner and Hulk is definitive, it is not necessary that it be a

10 Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 101. 11 Ibid., 102. 12 Hulk, 2:01:00.

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 64 limitation. Hulk, as the authentic subject, confrontation that he could encounter in does not deny or attempt to change his South America considering the pockets of facticity. If Hulk is Banner’s authentic self, political instability and the presence of then choosing to become Banner is a choice; military authoritarianism. This is due to even if that choice potentially returns Banner no longer having anything to fear Banner to a position of bad faith. There is a because he is, if the need arises, Hulk. This therapeutic reconciliation in Hulk choosing lack of fear extends not only to himself, but to return to Banner, not just the subject but also to any possible situation the world is the consequences of being that subject. It capable presenting him. suggests that Hulk is indicating that the Returning to the MCU canon, Marvel’s relationship between the two need not be The Avengers provides us with an authentic defined as it is; they are free to make it as moment between Banner and Hulk, the first they see fit. By giving himself over to in the MCU filmography. When Banner Banner, Hulk is showing Bruce another way. reunites with the Avengers during the Battle The confrontation between Bruce and David of New York. The Avengers indicate they implies that Bruce is asserting himself to do could use the Hulk’s assistance and Banner what Hulk has done for him previously. replies by seamlessly transforming into In the closing moments of the film, Hulk. Until this point in the MCU canon, Banner has fled California to South Hulk’s emergence has been a struggle of America. Viewers find him administering Banner attempting to contain the medical care to villagers in need when transformation; the denial of one’s paramilitary members show up and begin transcendence. If Banner is the conceptual demanding Banner’s resources. They tell side of bad faith, then transforming into the Banner that they are taking all of his Hulk, a choice Banner either denied or supplies to which he responds, “You’re circumvented through circumstance, making me angry. You wouldn’t like me presents an authentic moment for himself. when I am angry.” His eyes turn green and Voluntary transformation from Banner to the camera quickly zooms out to an aerial Hulk indicates interpolation of authenticity shot. Only six seconds elapse from the time in a moment where bad faith would typically that Banner’s eyes shift to when he is hidden reign. It is distinct from the previous cycles by the jungle canopy and the roar of the of Banner’s bad faith collapsing upon him Hulk is heard. There is little time for the until Hulk violently erupts forth to break struggle between Banner and Hulk that that obstructive state. Unlike Ang Lee’s typically accompanies a transformation; Hulk, the progress between Banner and Hulk Hulk is almost instantaneously present. is stalled in his next two appearances in When Banner states “when I am angry,” it is MCU films. authentic. Banner is Hulk and can make that A brief mid-credits teaser features Bruce choice for himself. He is an intelligent Banner in Iron Man 3. The implication is individual, so it would be surprising that he that the entire film has been a narrative would be unaware of the possibilities for recollection of the events by Tony Stark to

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 65

Banner.13 When Stark enquires about the can freely transform into Hulk, as is the case possibility of a psychoanalytic in The Avengers, then why would Banner interpretation, Banner replies that he is not not emerge from Hulk on his own? Why that kind of doctor, indicating that he does Banner need someone else to do that nodded off very early into the events. This is which he chooses? It is as if Hulk’s illustrative of Sartre’s waiter in that he has reluctance is not due to being “put away,” allowed himself to serve the function of but the manner in which this is another. In that same situation, he is also accomplished. Banner is still unready to act much like Sartre’s young woman in that upon that freedom. If he were ready, he Banner’s silence is perpetuating the moment could simply emerge from Hulk whenever of his own denial of freedom. Even though it he chooses, just as Bruce allowed Hulk to is a brief scene, and may seem insignificant, emerge in the finale of The Avengers. This it perfectly frames Banner as the epitome of tension between Banner and Hulk in Age of bad faith. Ultron, which stems from the regression of Avengers: Age of Ultron also depicts Banner back toward bad faith, culminates at Banner serving in the capacity of performing the end of this film. Hulk refuses to respond a function for others over his own freedom to hails to return to the Avengers, Black and conscience.14 This occurs first in the Widow in particular, and instead cuts creation of the film’s main antagonist, communication with the team. Ultron. The second moment is at the Hulk reappears in Thor: Ragnorak in a creation of an entity, Vision, that might help world where lost things converge. In his neutralize the threat that Ultron posed. In absence from Earth, he has become a both instances, Banner serves at the gladiatorial champion. His fellow Avenger, direction of Stark, who is blinded by Thor, later finds himself cast away on this ambition. Additionally, Banner and Black planet. The two reunite and Thor pleads for Widow create a way to lull Hulk back into Hulk to come with him to assist in Banner, playing off Banner’s awkward protecting his home world, Asgard. When affection for her. This interrupts the pattern Hulk refuses, Thor takes it upon himself to of Hulk emerging as freedom from the find a way off the planet leading him to the situation of Banner’s making. Instead, Hulk craft that transported Hulk. When Hulk becomes a tool for the Avengers team which intercepts Thor’s attempt to escape, the is inconsistent with the freedom that Hulk ship’s recorder inadvertently plays back a represents. If Hulk is Banner’s freedom, message from Black Widow, a plea for Hulk then Hulk chooses how that freedom plays to return to the Avengers from two years itself out. Banner cannot consistently take prior. At this point the violent emergence of on this responsibility. There is reluctance in Banner occurs with the Hulk struggling and Hulk’s response to this technique. If Banner failing to keep Banner at bay. Banner has again shown his capacity for authenticity. 13 Iron Man 3, directed by Shane Black, DVD (Walt However, until the film’s finale, Banner is Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2013). 14 Avengers: Age of Ultron, directed by Joss Whedon, reluctant to place himself in a situation that DVD (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2015).

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 66 might cause Hulk to emerge for fear of unity. Remediation is not always so never again expressing himself as Banner. efficient; in fact, it can be downright messy. The first question regarding Hulk that is The MCU’s Banner/Hulk illustrates just left unanswered stems from a scene that how messy it can be with Banner affecting occurs in Age of Ultron. Banner is on the Hulk so much that Ragnarok presents bad receiving end of a mental assault by the faith through Hulk. It is most noticeable Scarlet Witch that induces a strong when Banner’s name is spoken to Hulk, a hallucination. Audiences are presented with name that the Hulk once recognized as if it what the other Avengers, also afflicted by was his own in previous outings. Much like this power, experience under this effect. the Banner of The Incredible Hulk and The Banner’s experience, however, is not. Avengers, in Ragnarok, Banner becomes the Hulk’s response to the effect is a rage that “other guy” for Hulk. In these moments causes significant structural damage ending Hulk shows frustration not at being called after an extended fight with Iron Man to Banner, but because he knows that he is in subdue Hulk. Consistent with the Sartrean bad faith, in contrast to Banner who denies hermeneutic, Banner experienced a vision his own denial. This affirms that Banner where he was always the Hulk. Banner’s bad must be the one to free himself from his own faith would trigger a response from Hulk, bad faith; Hulk cannot do this for him. but still being under the influence of the Avengers: Infinity War continues the vision, Hulk would experience being trapped dilemma of Banner maintaining the division in Banner forever. This explanation would between the two, despite sporadic moments justify the level of aggression by Hulk while of authenticity.15 In the beginning of the first under the effect, as well as that the theme act of Avengers: Infinity War, Hulk is common to the other Avengers’ vision, soundly defeated by the Mad Titan Thanos, which is that of helplessness. These events a powerful alien who is collecting artifacts also would affirm why Hulk would take that would give him the capacity to shape control and prevent Banner from emerging reality to his will. This is a situation which in the span between Age of Ultron and Hulk has never encountered. In Hulk’s Ragnarok. For as much as Hulk kept Banner defeat, he is saved by being teleported back subordinate, there is an element of Banner to Earth. Later, as Banner, he warns the not wanting to reemerge, as if Banner has Avengers of what is coming, and must band admitted to himself that he cannot be as together with other heroes to fight off one of Hulk can, so he allows Hulk to be dominant. Thanos’ elite fighters. However, Hulk Even with Hulk acting as a therapeutic refuses to respond to Banner’s attempt to mentor in restoring equilibrium between his force a transformation. The third act gives freedom and bad faith, the process of doing another moment between Banner and Hulk so could just as likely contain the when the heroes are preparing for Thanos’ interpolation of Banner into Hulk. Ang Lee’s Hulk is concise; it shows the origin of 15 Avengers: Infinity War, directed by Anthony and Banner/Hulk, their division, and eventually Joe Russo (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2018.)

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 67 invasion of Earth to retrieve the final he makes of himself is a reoccurring artifact. Hulk once again refuses to respond. division between Banner and Hulk. Banner, Audiences and fans were left wondering, as being conceptually in bad faith, attempts Why would Hulk not fight? Is it because to reject responsibility for his actions, Thanos defeated him easily? Or perhaps he particularly those taken as Hulk. On the was brooding like a child? Through the other hand, Hulk seems to silently act out conceptual lens made possible by Sartre’s that responsibility. This is most evident in concepts, the answer is clear. Hulk is forcing the post-rage recognition of the carnage that Banner to act on his transcendence rather he caused while under the effects of the than escaping into Hulk to do it for him. mind influence in Age of Ultron. This is the fundamental motivation for Hulk Close viewings of the films show that refusing to emerge during the events of Hulk’s response is either to leave or defend Infinity War. Withholding Hulk’s his interests and himself until the emergence, Banner must play out the opportunity to break free from the situation thereby forcing him to mediate his oppressive situation presents itself. The own transcendence rather than relying on patterns portrayed in Hulk and the MCU Hulk to do so. Suiting up in a version of the films suggest that, in response to the Iron Man armor, Banner assists in the oppressor, total annihilation is not fighting. The rise of Banner and his necessary. One does not need to destroy the authenticity is the reconciliatory step other to restore their autonomy to create towards a unification of Banner/Hulk which themselves as they see fit. This runs against should be forthcoming in the next Avengers a sentiment made by Sartre later in his film due in 2019. works. In the introduction of Frantz Fanon’s, In Existentialism is a Humanism, Sartre Wretched of the Earth, Sartre writes that in attempts to convey the ethical project of the response to colonialism, “to shoot down a responsibility for one’s freedom while European is to kill two birds with one stone, making the themes he presents in Being and to destroy an oppressor and the man he Nothingness more palatable for non- oppresses at the same time.”18 Sartre means academic consumption. From his this to imply that the man being oppressed is ontological foundation, he attempts to show also destroyed and therefore free to create the ethical implications of such. For Sartre, himself as he fits, no longer under the man’s existence precedes his essence.16 He influence of the oppressor. As much as first exists before he can make something of Sartre’s philosophy can be intriguing and himself, the consequence of such an empowering, encouraging a critical ontology is that in that freedom to create introspection of oneself, it begs the question: himself, he alone is responsible for his Is violence to the point of fatality, 17 choices. Man being responsible for what 18 Sartre, Jean-Paul, Preface to Frantz Fanon’s “Wretched of the Earth,” Marxist, Accessed April 30, 16 Jean-Paul Sartre, Existentialism is a Humanism 2018. (New Haven, CT. Yale University Press, 2007), 22. https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/sartre/19 17 Ibid., 23. 61/preface.htm.

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 68 necessary? It is a question that can through the denial of his freedom to liberate appropriately be applied to the cinematic himself. This phenomenon captures the representations of Banner/Hulk. Inevitably, essence of Banner throughout the MCU as when considering the freedom of the detailed above. From the perspective that the individual, there will come a situation in oppressed plays a hand in their own which that individual will be confronted by oppression, if this were the case, then Hulk another who actively opposes, or outright would only emerge once in that act of denies, their freedom. Banner/Hulk liberating violence, never again allowing consistently are placed in such situations. Banner to manifest. Banner, after all, is his The application and exploration of Sartre’s oppression. It cannot be changed, but it does sentiment regarding violence to not necessarily have to limit their freedom. Banner/Hulk is slightly out of context, but it Scrutinizing this dynamic further, Sartre is is still applicable towards the individual potentially contradicting himself in the sense which grounded much of Sartre’s early that he has already prescribe the attempt to philosophy. The conclusion drawn from this change one’s facticity as bad faith. An attitude, as it is played out through Hulk, is individual can never undo what has been intended only through this specific analysis done to him; no action can affect the and does not imply the same conclusion is immutable. The oppressed can come to beneficial to considering colonialism, as its regain their autonomy to create themselves effects are far more complex and systemic after the shackles of oppression are cast off, than the relationship of an individual to but they can never recreate what is already himself and his immediate situation.19 created. Sartre’s wording is questionable Through the existential concepts of bad coming through his own, earlier faith and authenticity, then it becomes philosophical work. apparent that the oppressor himself is also When conflict between the two, the oppressed. The man he oppresses is himself, oppressor and the oppressed, occurs, it does as well as the other whom he oppresses. In not necessitate total annihilation of the maintaining that oppression over the other, other, as Sartre seems to imply. This applies the oppressor is also denying himself his both as an external relationship between two own freedom to act otherwise. The role of parties, as well as the opposition of bad faith the oppressor, the one who would inflict and authenticity within an individual. Hulk their rule upon another, is another way of does not annihilate either Banner or his viewing the villains or antagonists within the opponents. There is a quality of askesis, or Hulk films. The same phenomenon within self-discipline, in the Hulk’s response to the oppressed exists as well. Not only is he conflict: His own with Banner, as well as the oppressed by another, but by not revolting world at large. He confronts the world, against that force, he oppresses himself liberates himself from its conditions, seeks isolation, and returns to the world to be confronted once more. Cyclical patterns 19 Colonialism, its effects, and considerations, are taken up through Marvel Studios’ 2018 film, Black such as this might be viewed as futile. Yet, Panther.

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 69 with every return, there is a change in MCU’s current story arc, the forthcoming Banner, Hulk, or both that potentially leads Avengers film in 2019 should contain a to the dissolution of their conceptual split. unified Banner/Hulk. No longer encumbered In relation to Hulk and his antagonists, by a conceptual division, Banner/Hulk will his response, though violent, does not reach have completed their therapeutic the severity that Sartre sees as necessary. remediation. How this character will be Here, one must differentiate between human represented is yet to be determined but this beings and fantastical beings. Hulk creates authentic Banner, who is and refuses to deny no human fatalities through his actions himself as Hulk, has already been predicted although some antagonists do destroy in the final moments of Ang Lee’s Hulk. themselves upon Hulk, but this is not due to Hulk’s actions. In the Avengers films, the Bibliography volume of adversaries under the direction of the story’s main antagonist all lack qualia Avengers: Age of Ultron. Directed by Joss for human beings: Hive-minded, cybernetic Whedon. DVD. Walt Disney Studios aliens, and androids. For Hulk, it is enough Motion Pictures, 2015. to liberate himself from his adversarial Avengers: Infinity War. Directed by oppressors. In breaking free from the Anthony and Joe Russo. Walt Disney situation, he proves that he cannot be Studios Motion Pictures, 2018. contained and thus the adversary is shown Hulk. Directed by Ang Lee. DVD. Universal that they do not have the capacity to limit Pictures, 2003. Hulk. The oppressor is negated through the The Incredible Hulk. Directed by Louis liberation of Hulk, not annihilated. Leterrier. DVD. Universal Pictures, It is this interpretation, using 2008. existentialism as a hermeneutical device Iron Man 3. Directed by Shane Black. DVD. supported by the depictions of Banner as Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, self-denying and Hulk as the freedom, that 2013. illustrates the value of Ang Lee’s Hulk. It Marvel’s The Avengers. Directed by Joss contains the entirety of the origin of the Whedon. DVD. Walt Disney Studios characters from traumatic divorce to post- Motion Pictures, 2012. traumatic authenticity. In viewing the MCU Thor: Ragnarok. Directed by Taika Waititi. canon through this lens, Hulk provides the DVD. Walt Disney Studios Motion perspective that can be used to predict the Pictures, 2018. Banner/Hulk trajectory through the MCU Sartre, Jean-Paul. Being and Nothingness. films. Unanswered questions relating to New York, NY. Washington Square Banner/Hulk are reconciled through Sartre’s Press, 1992. concepts and the foundation that Hulk ___. Existentialism and Human Emotions. provides. It is a significant film to the New York, NY. Citadel Press, 1987. Banner/Hulk character despite its excluded ___. Existentialism is a Humanism. New state from the MCU. As a conclusion to Haven, CT. Yale University Press, 2007.

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 70

___. Preface to Frantz Fanon’s “Wretched Cinematic Universe.” IGN. 7 April of the Earth.” Marxist. Accessed April 2014. Accessed 23 April 30, 2018. 2018. http://www.ign.com/ https://www.marxists.org/reference/archi articles/2014/04/07/marvel-studios-boss- ve/sartre/1961/preface.htm kevin-feige-talks-captain-america- Vejvoda, Jim. “Marvel Studios Boss Kevin the-winter-soldier-spoilers-and-whats-in- Feige Talks Captain America: The store-for-the- marvel-cinematic- Winter Soldier Spoilers And universe What’s In Store For The Marvel

The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 71