Bruce Banner is no longer Smart Hulk but the reason for this may have already been explained in Thor: Ragnarok. Avengers: Endgame’s Smart Hulk thus seemed to be a suitable middle-ground for the character.
After struggling to cooperate with Hulk in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings mid-credits sequence shows, along with the She-Hulk trailers, the Hulk no longer holds this appearance and has instead reverted to his Banner form.
Smart Hulk seemed like the logical development for Hulk’s character, so why has the MCU turned him back to his human form? The explanation may be hidden in Endgame as well as prior franchise installments. It appears that despite seemingly coming to with his relationship with the Hulk, Banner’s Smart Hulk agreement could not prevent the scientist from thinking about his dream: the chance to live a normal life.
In Smart Hulk, Banner found balance. His innate anger and fears of morality – usual triggers for the Hulk – were contrasted by his methodical and caring brain, allowing each of his alters to live in relative peace. However, this did not put a stop to Banner’s desires for a family life without Smart Hulk. These dreams were first teased in The Avengers. When Black Widow suggests that Banner doesn’t want to break his year-long streak without an incident, Banner begins to rock a crib next to him as he says, “I don’t every time get what I want.” In this moment of contemplation, Bruce’s true desires are made apparent – his dreams of a quiet family life are impossible as long as the Hulk is around.
These feelings may have gained prominence in Iron Man’s funeral, but it stands to reason that in the ensuing years his emotional attachment to Romanoff and her connection to Banner’s ideal life would come to unsettle the Smart Hulk equilibrium.
Appearing at the end of Shang-Chi and sporting a sling after suffering burns from the Infinity Gauntlet, Banner’s humane appearance may signpost where his characterization is going to turn next. The hero will next appear in the Disney+ series, She-Hulk, which is set to introduce Jennifer Walters into the MCU. If Banner is to appear as something of a guide to his cousin, then it would make sense that he retains the rational side of his character and may be appearing in human form more regularly. However, the realizations of Avengers: Endgame can only last so long and it is more than likely that Hulk will still have a large part to play in the future of the MCU.
