I've just started reading the Gray Man series (I'm on book four now) and because it's such a long series and I'm such a freak about Courtland Gentry, here's an unfinished list of things I think are important about Court's character to those in the Gosling Cinematic Universe, but (understandably) not interested in reading a sixteen long book series;
He is a little pathetic. He is absolutely not completely stoic all the time. This is not a man who takes everything with an unfeeling mask. This is a man who cries a little on the river bank. And he deserves to!
Similarly, a lot of shit goes wrong for him. Actually, most of his plans go wrong. And not just in a 'shit hit the fan and we made it work anyway' kinda way, but mostly in a 'ended in a worst position than we started' type way.
He has/had an opioid addiction. He does his best to fight it, but it was very prevalent for a while, and it definitely still affects him.
He is such a sickeningly good person, with an incredibly strong moral compass that he desperately clings to. He is actively trying to be a good person despite the situations he finds himself in, and will always try and do the Most Right thing because he's scared of the person he would be if he didn't.
And this moral code is as infamous as his skills are. He's walked into numerous traps because the people opposing him knew exactly what he would do because of his morals.
He loses his temper quite frequently. And, again, most times, it's because of the most understandable reasons, but he still does. He snaps and yells and talks back and even instigates senseless violence when pushed enough.
He disobeys orders all. the. time. It does not matter who gives them, if he disagrees, he just won't listen. He has almost none of the American government brainwashing you might expect from him. Though he is still rather patriotic.
He's bad at talking to people. He unironically uses 'affirmative' and 'negative' in conversations with civilians, and feels awkward when he has to talk to them for long periods of time.
He is so aro/ace-able! I know it's supposed to read as a result of his lifestyle, but--I swear to god--every time this man imagines settling down with a partner, he goes 'eugh, ew, no., why would I do that?'
His first reaction to most bad situations is to try and make a bomb about it. He makes so many bombs. He has such bad hearing damage, I'm so sure of it.
He's a bad driver. Doesn't matter what he's driving, nor does it matter the situation he's driving it in, he's just kinda shit at it. It's bad enough that it comes up in every book.
He was burned by the CIA and he does not know why. So, ColtLand Gentry fans, if you are looking for a reason why he never came back for his brothers, it's because setting foot in American would have been a death sentence. Maybe he genuinely thought he would be able to get back to them and life a normal life, until his team turned on him with a 'shoot on sight' order.
The scars are worse than you're imagining. Not only has he been shot and stabbed a lot, but he's also been electrocuted to the point of electric burns more than once! (we can give all these brothers burn scars!!)