Ramblings of a Misanthropic Geek

The Hulk, a Consulting Criminal?

So I re watched The Avengers this weekend instead of studying for finals because fuck finals. It's one of my favorite movies (which reminds me - I need to do an update with a list of those). Anyway I was watching the scene in the laboratory where the Avengers are all disagreeing with each other. Dr. Banner started talking about his attempted suicide and he was using a really quiet, dangerous voice and I was just like OH MY GOD IT'S MORIARTY! (By which I mean the Moriarty from BBC Sherlock, portrayed by Andrew Scott)

If you think about it, Mark Ruffalo and Andrew Scott look really similar. Their characters are both geniuses that get the protagonists in trouble. They are really dangerous when angry and attempted/committed suicide. They're both a bit misunderstood. They both enjoy doing genius-y things with other genius main characters, but end up either saving or causing the other genius main character to sacrifice themselves to save their friends. So I've got a little cross-fandom theory.

Jim Moriarty grew up somewhere in Ireland/Great Britain. He was a child prodigy and enjoyed experimenting. Little Jimmy was rather unloved and figured that if he could be like his hero, Captain America, perhaps people would love him. In fact, he often dreamt that he fought in World War II, under the name PFC John D. Halls. In his dreams he joined up with Easy Company, a group of American paratroopers, before dying heroically while running back and forth through enemy fire to supply his friends with ammo. He left behind his best friend, Alan, a gay, socially awkward genius who had previously broken an important Nazi code. Dream-Jim felt that his service was worthless compared to Alan's - this led to his sacrifice in battle to keep his friends alive. (If you understood any of what I'm referencing in this paragraph then I love you and we need to become best friends)

So Jim spent long hours alone in his laboratory, attempting to recreate the Super Serum used to transform Steve Rogers into Captain America. In the process, he accidentally dosed himself with lethal levels of gamma radiation. For some reason, he survived but transformed into a large, green monster whenever he got angry. Jim learned to control his anger but after accidentally killing his parents, Jim tried to find someone to help him fix himself. Now a teenager, he crossed paths with Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock was interested in Jim's condition but did not help him cure it because he wanted to study Jim. Enraged, Jim plotted revenge on Sherlock.

Now a billionaire consulting criminal, Jim nearly achieved his plan for revenge when he caught up with Sherlock Holmes again as an adult. However, Jim was foiled and realized that he would rather die than spend the rest of his life brooding over his mistakes. So when Sherlock defeated him for the last time on the roof of St. Bart's, Jim put a bullet in his mouth. What Sherlock didn't see was the other guy spit it out. After seeing how Sherlock sacrificed himself (sorta) for his friends, Jim had a change of heart, let go of his hatred for Sherlock, and decided to do good for the world.

He moved to India and started over under the name of Bruce Banner, gaining a reputation as a miracle doctor who maybe studied some advanced physics and nuclear stuff on the side. That's where S.H.I.E.L.D. found him and convinced him to join the Avengers. Bruce thought it was ironic how he was finally working with the man he had adored after he had put his past behind him. Loki knew Bruce's past and attempted to exploit it.

Bruce tried to work with Tony Stark but the genius/billionaire/playboy/philanthropist reminded him too much of Sherlock. Bruce hinted at his past in the tense standoff in the laboratory when he talked about his attempted suicide - when he tried to kill himself on the roof of St. Bart's. Bruce eventually broke down and reverted to his Hulk form, causing a lot of destruction. In the end, however, he helped the Avengers in their fight against Loki. Still feeling bad for the pain he caused Sherlock, Bruce finally redeemed himself by saving Tony's life after the superhero sacrificed himself to save his friends.

So there you have it. Probably a lot of holes in the reasoning and plots but that's just a fan theory I had. I'm sorry if none of this makes any sense but it's really late and I'm barely awake. Bonus points if you can name the four fandoms/movies/television series referenced in this fan theory.