So, it’s Saint Patrick’s Day, and what better way to celebrate than talking about Gamma Radiation? Okay, so, this is primarily based off of high school biology and the Incredible Hulk comics (U-616, and a few other comic universe, especially the Old Man Logan [U-807128 or OML]), both ones I’ve had the opportunity to read and those I haven’t. There’s some spoilers but I don’t think anything too recent, because I haven’t been able to read the most current issues. I will also cite the Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes [U-8096 or EMH] and the Avengers Assemble [TRN-123 or MAU5] television shows. There isn’t enough examples in the Marvel Cinematic Universe [U-199999 or MCU] to have enough evidence. I am going to pretend to be a scientist in the Marvel multiverse (IE no “well, it’s fictional” type of answers), instead of a geeky autistic kid that’s been obsessed with Bruce Banner for at least three years. I will still try to date the discoveries based on our dates, since comic book time is fluid (EG - Bruce Banner became the Hulk in 1962). I will also use many abbreviations, which I will elaborate on the first usage and then continue to use as just the abbreviation. For the sake of convenience, I shall refer to the genes in my theory as singular genes, but am aware that such things would likely be sets of multiple genes that regulate it.
Pi’s Theory of the Genetic Aspects of Gamma Radiation OR The Gamma-Gene Theory
The basis of this theory is that gamma forms, both the forms themselves, and the ability to have a gamma form is genetic. I propose that there are three genes (that I know of), that would have been discovered in this order:
Gamma Gene 3 (γG3) - This gene regulates a GTP’s (gamma-transformed person) form. This is most likely to be a set of numerous genes that controls the exact appearance and abilities of a gamma form. There are perhaps an infinite number of mutations of this gene, but I will specifically be referring to:
The “Hulk” mutation - characterized by superhuman strength, durability, and size, with green skin and large muscles, while still appearing humanoid. The most famous form of the gene and also one of the rarest. GTPs known to have this form include Bruce, Skaar, and Lyra Banner, Jennifer Walters, and Benjamin Tibbits.
The ”Abomination” mutation - characterized by superhuman strength, durability, and size, with (usually) green or greenish-grey scales and spikes growing from the body, with webbed ears. One of the more famous (and common) form of the gene. GTPs known to have this form of the gene include Emil Blonsky, Rick Jones, Florence Sharples, Ethel Gaxton, and Jamie Carlson.
The “Harpy” mutation - characterized by bird-like features and wings. A lesser known form of the gene. Individuals known to have this form of the gene include Betty Ross and possibly Marlo Chandler.
The “Leader” mutation - characterized by extreme intelligence, green skin, and a disproportionately large head. A rare but somewhat well known form of the gene. GTPs known to have this form include Samuel Stern and Timothy Wilkerson.
The “Sampson” category - characterized by limited physical change accompanied with assorted superhuman abilities.
Gamma Gene 2 (γG2) - This gene controls whether or not a GTP’s body produces gamma radiation, and is linked to, but independent of γG1.
Gamma Gene 1 (γG1) - This gene controls whether or not a human can survive exposure to gamma radiation. It comes in four forms:
Off/Off - This is the unmutated version and the most common form of the gene. With this form, a human will die if exposed to gamma radiation.
Off/On - The most common mutation. With this form, a human will transform into a GTP but will eventually die of gamma poisoning.
On/Off - The rarest mutation. With this form, a human can survive exposure to gamma radiation but is not transformed by it.
On/On - The best known mutation. With this form, a human will transform into a GTP when exposed to gamma radiation.
Discovery, Summary, and Evidence
The first gamma gene to be observed was γG3, when Bruce Banner was accidentally exposed to a gamma bomb detonation in 1962, changing him into a being known as the Hulk. Since then, there have been many attempts to replicate the Hulk, almost all of them ending in the death of the subjects. The first success was in 1967, with Emil Blonsky, who became the Abomination after exposing himself to a gamma blast that exceeded the amount Banner was exposed to. The first successful new Hulk was Jennifer Walters, who inadvertently became She-Hulk in 197_, after her cousin, Bruce Banner, donated her some of his blood. Many other attempts would follow that lead to various GTPs.
I came to theorize that gamma forms were genetic because, with the exception of Benjamin Tibbits, all Hulks are members of the Banner family, which originated in France. Several people have become GTPs after being exposed to gamma from Banner family’s blood, bodies, or genetic material, but only Tibbits resembles the Hulk. Conversely, all gamma-affected members of the Banner family are Hulks. I believe it is possible that Tibbits is a distant relative of the Banners, or, less likely, has the same rare mutation of γG3. This genetic link to gamma forms also lends credence to Brian Banner’s “Banner family monster gene” theory. Also, of Bruce Banner’s children, two are Hulks and two are not, and this lends to my theory, because a child is biologically one half of each parent’s DNA. The “Leader” gene is shown to be genetic because Samuel Sterns altered the DNA of Timothy Wilkerson by adding some of his own, which induced the same mutation in the young boy. There is no known familial ties to the GTPs affected by the “Abomination” mutation, but the affected all have strikingly similar appearances. This makes it arguably the most common form of the γG3 mutation.
The second gamma gene to be discovered was γG2 in 1998 following the death of Bruce Banner’s wife, Betty Ross, of cancer caused by gamma poisoning. It is commonly held that she developed this due to prolonged exposure to her husband, but I do not believe that is the case. Betty Ross had previously been exposed to gamma and had taken on the gamma form of Harpy in 1973, which was later cured by Banner. I propose that the serum works by silencing the γG3 gene, but also had the unaffected consequence of also switching off the γG1 gene, while leaving γG2 active. Since these genes had not yet been discovered, Banner had no way of knowing that such side-effects could happen. Due to this serum, Betty Ross no longer had the ability to take on a gamma form and was now susceptible to harm due to gamma exposure, however, her body continued to produce small amounts of gamma radiation on it’s own, making it only a matter of time until her death. Her death was still, technically, due to Banner, but the blame also falls on M.O.DO.K. and AIM, who caused her to mutate into Harpy in the first place.
The final gamma gene that I have discovered thus far is γG1, which is also the most controversial, as it is based mostly on a universe outside our own U-616. Although there are cases in the 616, it is in the OML universe where this gene is most obvious. Following a gamma-blast that wiped out most of the human population, the survivors were left to deal with a psychotic Hulk and the rest of the Banner Clan (all of whom Banner’s descendants and were Hulks, which further backs up the γG3 idea.). Most of the survivors were affected by the radiation and took on gamma forms, but a select few, such as Clint Barton and the granddaughter of Rick Jones, did not. I theorize that the unaffected had an active γG1, but silenced γG2 and γG3 genes.
Red Hulks and Cosmic Radiation
This brings us to a group not yet mentioned in this article: the Red Hulks. Many view these part of the Hulk group, but they are distinct. Hulks are created due to exposure to gamma radiation and only occur in a select few individuals. Red Hulks are created with a combination of gamma and cosmic radiation and can be created out of almost anyone. The most well known are General Thunderbolt Ross and his daughter, Betty, (who notably already has a gamma form, known as Harpy) but there has been well over 200 created in a short period of time, though those were unstable is did not last long. Cosmic radiation is known to have genetically mutagenic properties, as illustrated by the Fantastic Four. Therefore, I theorize that the Leader and M.O.D.O.K. (forming a group known as the Intelligencia) found the perfect frequency to alter the DNA in such a way to resemble a Hulk, albeit a red one. Whereas most of the subjects used to try and replicate the Hulk perished, seemingly all of the Intelligencia’s subjects survived and were successful. They were even able to manipulate the wavelength of the cosmic radiation so that their army of 200 red hulks had active Off/On versions of the γG1 gene and would die twenty-four hours after exposure during the 2012 event that came to be known as World War Hulks or the Hulked Out Heroes (HOH) incident. For the latter, the Intelligencia also turned their rays on a large group of superheroes, all of whom mutated into various forms that were related to their existing powers. The cosmic rays must be the cause of this, because in most parts of the multiverse, like the OML universe, these same people were killed when exposed to pure gamma.
Other Forms of GTP Creation
In the EMH universe, the Leader created a gamma-dome that mutated all humans inside. The inside of the dome was filled with green gas, which I suspect had the effect of switching the γG_ so that all the affected people will transform into various beings based on their γG3, but have inactive γG2, and thus revert as soon as there is no more gamma present. Notably, existing GTPs were not affected by the dome (except for those wearing gamma-boosters), and Thor was unchanged, suggesting that Asgardians do not possess transformative genes. Interestingly, of all the hundreds of GTPs seen inside the dome, only one appeared to be a Hulk: Steve Rogers. Perhaps Erskine’s formula also had an effect on the γG3 gene, which would make it the first instance of this without the use of cosmic rays.
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