So some time ago I asked this question and the answers I got told me that all the Hulks (Savage, Joe Fixit, Devil, etc) were all just alternate personas manifested by Bruce’s DID, i.e it’s all just in Bruce’s head.
Since then I’ve watched Comicstorian’s summary of the Immortal Hulk storyline, and I’m once again confused. During that run, Bruce and the Hulks get “physically” separated, while in the Below-Place which I understand to be a separate dimension akin to hell. This would suggest that Bruce and the Hulks are entirely different souls based on what Brian Banner says and not just something inside of Bruce’s mind? Even in the finale, where Bruce and Devil Hulk had been taken by the Leader and Joe Fixit and Savage Hulk had control of the body, once they physically travelled to the Below-Place, Joe and Savage split apart into two different people.
The Below-Place is clearly a physical thing since other characters like Jackie and Gammaflight get pulled in there, as well as the other Gamma heroes. So what’s happening? Why can the Hulks exist separate from Bruce if they’re just his DID personas? Heck the leader kidnapped Bruce and Devil Hulk from inside of Bruce’s mindscape. What the heck does that mean? Is Bruce’s mind some metaphysical realm where his soul lingers?
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What makes you think people with DID personas only have one soul?
Hulk is a manifestation of Bruce’s subconscious, powered by a metaphysical connection to an extraplanar entity triggered, magnified , and sustained by exposure to gamma radiation. Each transformation is a subconscious negotiation between his id’s desire to survive, his ego’s desire for dominance and an until recently unknown third party that ‘tempted’ him toward a darker expression of those desires. His superego has no control over this change unless his ego reliquishes control (Smart hulk).
Theoretically, those infected with gamma radiation that undergo permanent metamorphosis could either be similarly linked to the extraplanar wntity or they could be subconscious manifestations of Bruce’s own subconscious struggle to reconcile his pacifistic beliefs with his nearly uncontrollable inner rage.
As these manifestations are loliterally converting energy (gamma radiation) to mass and back again, there is no reason why his split personality cannot inhabit two bodies.
They are very clearly different people. They have seperate memories, opinions, desires and relationships.
Hulk may have developed due to bruces trauma or whatever. But it’s clear that it’s not just all on his head.