Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a unique entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because its story is mainly self-contained yet reaches out to other franchises. This is best shown in the film’s mid-credits scene, where Shang-Chi and Katy are in a room with Wong and the holograms of Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner, who is in his human form. However, while Banner looks the part, there may be something deeper regarding his recent transformation. In fact, whatever Bruce may be hiding could have potentially catastrophic consequences for the MCU.
In the mid-credits scene, Bruce and his friends examine the Ten Rings after Wenwu gifts them to Shang-Chi before dying. As they try to piece together its origins, they resolve to the fact that it’s a mystery that can’t be solved in a day. Carol is the first to leave, stating that Bruce has her phone number, even though he says he doesn’t. Before disbanding, Bruce looks at Shang-Chi and Katy and welcomes them to the circus, but everything about how Banner carries himself seems off from how he was last seen as a human in Avengers: Infinity War.
The most obvious example is Bruce’s hair is more grey than it’s ever been. His voice has even become more gravely and deeper. While a logical excuse would lead many to believe that the weight of the past five years, plus his injury from the nano gauntlet, have aged him physically.
However, Bruce’s history in the comics reveals that he’s had multiple identities in the past. One possible lead could be that Bruce’s Joe Fixit persona has taken hold. In the comics, Joe is a gangster who takes the form of the grey Hulk. However, The Immortal Hulk series by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett has shown that Joe can also appear in a human form. If it is the Grey Goliath, it’s possible he’s altered the hologram to give the appearance of a still wounded Bruce Banner. This would also explain why he doesn’t have Carol Danvers’ number because he technically never met her.
According to the co-writer of Eternals, Kaz Firpo, he believes that Bruce’s human form and appearance is the character trying to find himself following the past five years. With two of his friends dead and he and the Hulk still figuring out their relationship, the human form of Bruce symbolizes him trying to recenter himself. This also explains why his healing factor hasn’t healed his arm like in the She-Hulk teaser. The comics back this idea up, as Bruce has spent many years, in many media, trying to cure himself. From melding personalities to separating himself from the Hulk, Bruce’s biggest issue in the books is his lack of understanding that he and the Hulk are the same, even if they don’t always get along.
Another, more grim possibility regarding Banner’s slight change in demeanor and appearance is a subtle tease to him becoming the Maestro Hulk. In the comics, Maestro is a personality born after a nuclear holocaust destroys most of humanity. The extra radiation twists Bruce’s mind, and he relies more on his bitterness, creating an evil genius with the strength of the Hulk. He strives to take over anything he can, and if Bruce’s appearance serves as a tease to the future, he could become the next big MCU threat. This could also serve as a definitive end to the Hulk in the MCU, with a climactic battle that hopefully ends with Bruce finding peace.
There is still much to uncover surrounding Bruce Banner in this phase of the MCU. Knowing he doesn’t remain Professor Hulk forever also raises questions about where his more savage personality has gone. There’s no denying that something is different with Bruce at the end of Shang-Chi, but until the answers arrive, speculation helps decipher what is and what could be for the Green Goliath.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is streaming now on Disney+.
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