Is the Hulk’s name David or Bruce?

Answered by Edward Huber

The Hulk’s name is Bruce, not David. The character’s alter ego is indeed Bruce Banner, as established in the original comic book series. However, there is an urban legend surrounding the 1970s television show adaptation that suggests the name was changed to David because “Bruce” was considered too homosexual.

First and foremost, it is important to clarify that this urban legend is not based on factual information. The decision to change the character’s name from Bruce to David in the television show was not motivated by any concerns about homosexuality. In reality, there were various reasons for this alteration.

When the TV show was being developed, the producers wanted to change the character’s name to distinguish the show from the comic book series. They were aiming for a fresh start and sought a name that would resonate with the audience. Ultimately, they settled on the name David Banner, which has a nice alliterative quality akin to the original Bruce Banner.

It is worth noting that the showrunners have provided different explanations for this change over the years. Some have stated that they simply preferred the name David, while others have mentioned that Bruce sounded too similar to the comic book character Batman’s alter ego, Bruce Wayne. However, none of these explanations have ever alluded to concerns about homosexuality.

The urban legend surrounding the name change likely emerged due to societal attitudes and stereotypes prevalent during that era. The 1970s was a time when homosexuality was still highly stigmatized, and many false assumptions and misconceptions existed. It is possible that some individuals, influenced by these biases, started speculating about the name change being driven by homophobic reasons.

It is essential to approach urban legends critically and examine the facts before accepting them as truth. In this case, there is no credible evidence to support the claim that the character’s name was changed due to concerns about homosexuality.

The Hulk’s name is Bruce, not David. The name change from Bruce Banner to David Banner in the television show was not motivated by concerns about homosexuality, despite the existence of an urban legend suggesting otherwise. It is important to separate fact from fiction and rely on accurate information when discussing such topics.