| For alternate versions of the Battle at Culver University, see the Battle at Culver University's Event Hub |
- "I was a highly decorated soldier. You know, I was sent on a mission to take out a threat, and I thought I was the good guy, you know? I thought I was gonna be, you know... Captain bloody America or something, you know?"
- ―Emil Blonsky to Jennifer Walters[src]
The Battle at Culver University was the second confrontation between Hulk and Emil Blonsky at Culver University.
Background[]
- "This is a whole new level of weird. And I don't feel inclined to step away from it. So if you're taking another crack at him, I want in."
- ―Emil Blonsky to Thaddeus Ross[src]
Hulk furiously battles US soldiers
General Thaddeus Ross tracked Bruce Banner to Porto Verde, Brazil and arrived at the slum in Rocinha with a team led by British Royal Marines-trained officer Emil Blonsky to bring Banner in.
Banner attempted to escape from Blonsky and his troops, but he was cornered in the soft drink bottling plant where he worked. He transformed into Hulk and furiously battled the soldiers. Banner managed to escape to Guatemala, before making his way back to the United States of America. Returning to Culver University, he found that Betty Ross was still working there in the Cellular Biology Department, and was dating psychiatrist Leonard Samson.
He also found his old friend Stanley Lieber, a pizzeria owner, who gave him a job as a delivery boy. Banner used this job to sneak past a university security guard to continue his research, only to discover that the government got rid of all the details of the incident. One night Betty visited the pizzeria, discovered Banner, and the pair reunited shortly thereafter.
Blonsky was briefed on Banner by Ross and asked to be injected with a variation of the Super Soldier Serum in order to face Banner.[4]
Nick Fury heard of Ross' recent efforts to obtain Banner and sent Black Widow to grab intel.[2]
Battle[]
Bruce Banner protecting himself from gas
- "Banner... uh... changed. Yeah, it's quite a sight."
"And General Ross is there?"
"Yes, sir. They're going at it pretty fiercely." - ―Natasha Romanoff and Nick Fury[src]
General Thaddeus Ross received a tip-off from Leonard Samson to Bruce Banner's whereabouts and staged a military attempt to capture the scientist on the Culver University campus. The soldiers chased Banner into the library and locked him into a walkway. Ross ordered tear gas fired through the window, which caused Banner to transform into the Hulk. Banner jumped out the window and was attacked by the Strategic Operations Command Center. Banner fought back and destroyed several Humvees.[4] While watching in the distance, Black Widow was spotted by a student. She quickly ran away from him, into the fight. She was then knocked over by thrown debris.[2]
Hulk prepares to kick Emil Blonsky away
Emil Blonsky was again thrown into the fray, this time with biological enhancements of his own. Blonsky was able to hold his own against Banner for a short time before retreating, and Ross sent in a Humvee with experimental high-tech Stark Industries Sonic Cannons. The Cannons slowed Banner down but Banner was able to destroy the Humvees. Blonsky again confronted Banner and Banner kicked him 40 feet across the field and into a tree, leaving Blonsky in a critical state with bones crushed throughout his body.[4] A shaken up Romanoff watched it unfold.[2]
Hulk protects Betty Ross from a crashing helicopter
Betty Ross approached Banner as an Apache Helicopter began firing on them. Banner blocked the gunfire and threw a piece of debris at the helicopter, knocking it to the ground. Banner shielded Ross from the explosion before Hulk and an injured Betty Ross fled the scene to Smoky Mountain National Forest.[4]
Aftermath[]
Emil Blonsky is nearly killed by Hulk
- "Rumors continue to swirl about a violent clash between forces of the U.S. military and an unknown adversary on the campus of Culver University earlier today."
- ―WHiH World News Reporter[src]
When Emil Blonsky recovered and found Bruce Banner again, he arrested him and Betty Ross and brought them to General Thaddeus Ross. Not soon later, Blonsky forced Samuel Sterns to infuse Banner's gamma-irradiated blood into his body. This turned him into an immense beast that only the Hulk could defeat. The battle that the two of them fought in became known as the Duel of Harlem.
Jack McGee and Jim Wilson were interviewed by WHiH World News about what they witnessed. McGee called one of the combatants "this huge hulk"; this ultimately became the moniker of Banner's alter ego.[4]
Nick Fury later met with Tony Stark who studied many instances in the past week including the battle with the Hulk. Fury decided to use him as a consultant.[5] Fury walked out of the facility to find a banged up Black Widow telling Fury that they enhanced Blonsky.[2]
Thaddeus Ross' role in spearheading the response to the emergencies at Culver University and Harlem would be cited by President Matthew Ellis as examples of the newly appointed Secretary of State's experience with super-powered individuals and the incidents involving them, during an interview with WHiH anchor Christine Everhart on May 3, 2016 in which he gave his vote of confidence in Ross' ability to negotiate a governmental relationship with the Avengers.[6]
Appearances[]
In chronological order:
- The Avengers Prelude: Fury's Big Week (concurrent events)
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2 (computer screen)
- The Avengers (computer screen)
- WHiH Newsfront
