Warning: Spoilers for Hulk and Dr. Strange #1!Hulk lore officially proposes a new theory that gamma radiation transforms a person into “more” of who they already were before exposure. Readers have long been confused about why every gamma-irradiated character becomes a different kind of monster. Hulk, She-Hulk, and the Abomination all have vastly different physical designs, and the way they behave after exposure to gamma radiation is just as inconsistent.

Through Bruce Banner’s words in Hulk and Doctor Strange #1, Marvel finally explains why gamma radiation affects people differently. It amplifies who they already are rather than transforming them into something entirely new.

In a conversation with Doctor Strange, Bruce shares his theory that gamma rays enhance a person's existing traits once they become a Hulk. He compares the process to gaining power or money. In his view, a kind person becomes even kinder, while a jerk just becomes more of a jerk.

Hulk Theory Proves Gamma Doesn’t Change You, It Amplifies Who You Already Are

Hulk and Dr. Strange #1 by J. Michael Straczynski and German Peralta

Bruce Banner explains his theory using three prominent figures in Hulk lore: She-Hulk, The Abomination, and Brawn. He also name-drops his former flame, Betty Ross, and her run as the Red Harpy (better known as the Red She-Hulk), but he ultimately just uses her as another example to summarize a long line of gamma s. When giving examples that validate how gamma can be used to make someone "more" of who they are, he sticks to talking about this trio of Hulks, and the way he breaks it down is undoubtedly sound.

For Jennifer Walters, gamma radiation may be associated with rage, but her Hulk form has nothing to do with anger because Jen never had anger issues to begin with. What she did have was a strong ion for law and justice. After her transformation, that ion only became stronger. As Bruce Banner puts it, "She became an even better attorney than she'd been before because she's a good person." Whether in her human or Hulk form, Jennifer is rarely shown as angry. She consistently remains calm and in control.

The same idea applies to Amadeus Cho. Even after becoming a Hulk, he continues to be level-headed and focused on helping others. His calm demeanor and desire to do good were always part of who he was before being exposed to gamma radiation. Although he is still a teenager working through personal growth, Amadeus has never misused his powers because, at his core, he is a good person. In contrast, Emil Blonsky, who became the Abomination, was selfish and arrogant long before his transformation. As Bruce explains, gamma radiation did not change him. It simply amplified his worst traits, turning him into an even bigger monster in both a literal and figurative sense.

How Bruce Banner's Gamma Theory Explains His Own Hulk Transformation

Anger Issues and Survival Instincts Were Prevalent for Bruce Banner Before Becoming the Hulk

Initially, Bruce Banner can't explain how his Hulk theory applies to himself, and fears that it could all mean that he's a bad person based on all the damage that he's done as the Hulk. As the story unfolds, with the help of Doctor Strange, the answer becomes clearer to both himself and the reader, and Banner is validated as he carries the same heroic characteristics as the Hulk. Through in Hulk's origin story, Bruce Banner can be seen as a hero and a survivalist, both of which are traits that are amplified in his Hulk form.

Bruce was a hero in saving Rick Jones' life to become the Hulk to begin with, while his inner determination to survive his gamma accident drove him to emerge from it stronger than ever possible. As a stronger force, Bruce uses his newfound prowess to help and save others, just as he did for Rick before becoming the Hulk. Meanwhile, his temper first developed in childhood, when he suffered physical abuse from his father. The same abuse was created through his father's own anger, instilling into Bruce hereditary anger issues alongside the fear of anger, knowing the destruction that anger could cause firsthand.

Everyone has a sense of anger within themselves, but for Bruce Banner, it's an anger that he has mostly repressed in adulthood. Being the Hulk allows Bruce to express that same anger personified as a superhero. It is also worth noting that the comics confirmed that Bruce Banner suffers from D.I.D., dissociative identity disorder, and the Hulk is a personification of one of his personalities developed from his anger. These qualities were always present in Bruce since childhood, but as an adult, they became a "more" prominent and outward part of who he is.

Marvel Highlighted a Similar Gamma Theory in Immortal Hulk

Immortal Hulk #13 by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett

This gamma theory isn't the first time that Marvel has attempted to canonize the concept of why all Hulks are different and how they all become "more" of who they were before gamma came into their lives. The Immortal Hulk first introduced the idea of "metaphor people" by way of Puck from Alpha Flight, the Canadian equivalent to The Avengers. Puck likens gamma radiation to the Theory of Everything, giving sense to a senseless occurrence. On paper, it may seem puzzling why all Hulks are different despite being affected by the same gamma radiation, but these theories help bridge that gap in understanding.

Puck explains that the unified forces created by gamma radiation take control of the physical body. The Alpha Flight member suggests that gamma works similarly to magic, and when these forces combine, they create an idealized version of a person, manifested as their Hulk form. While this concept is ittedly complex, Bruce Banner’s theory in Hulk and Doctor Strange #1 offers a more straightforward interpretation of what Puck was hinting at. It’s important to note that these ideas are presented as theories within the Marvel Universe, not established facts.

Marvel has yet to officially canonize why each Hulk differs so drastically from the others. Presenting these explanations as theories allows Marvel to explore fresh ideas without fully committing them to canon, especially if they aren’t widely accepted by fans. Still, these concepts are intriguing enough to gain community should Marvel choose to legitimize them. Fans have long wondered about the science behind Hulk transformations, and these theories currently offer some of the most plausible explanations.

Hulk and Dr. Strange #1 is available now from Marvel Comics!