Samuel Sterns

"I've always been more curious than cautious, and that's served me pretty well so far."

―Samuel Sterns^[src]

Professor Samuel Sterns is a cellular biologist who may be able to find a cure for Bruce Banner.

Biography

The Incredible Hulk

Sterns was initially a scientific ally to an on-the-run Bruce Banner and they communicated with each other as Mr. Green and Mr. Blue while collaborating to find a cure for Bruce's condition. Upon meeting in the flesh, Dr. Samuel Sterns was shown to be an eccentric man who was infatuated with the potential power of gamma-radiation. After witnessing Banner transform into the Hulk as a test and successfully reverting him back with their finalized supressant, it was revealed that he had been experimenting with Bruce's blood samples on animal test subjects without Bruce's knowledge. He was physically threatened by Emil Blonsky who desired to be further mutated. Sterns eagerly complied. Once Blonsky mutated, he became insane and proceeded to injure Sterns and demolish his lab. Sterns was accidentally infected with Banner's blood via an open wound on his forehead and he was last seen with his head expanding as he smiled in joy.

Fury's Big Week

Sterns' mutation has gone wild, and his brain power has incremented exponentially, to the point his cranium was expanded and deformed. He's found by Natasha Romanoff, who has a brief dialogue with him, during which Sterns identifies Black Widow's birth place from a hint of accent in her voice. Sterns then attempts to bribe her, promising he'll help her come back to Stalingrad, but Natasha shoots him the leg and arrests him, blowing him off as he threatens to kill her. Sterns is now in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s custody referred to as "Project: Mr. Blue".

Character Traits

According to actor Tim Blake Nelson,

"Sterns is brilliant, but he is also ethically challenged.^[1]"

―{{{2}}}

He goes on to explain that Sterns wants to continue to make discoveries, and doesn't worry too much about good or bad.

Relationships

Bruce Banner - Ally
Emil Blonsky - Enemy

Appearances/Actors

Marvel Cinematic Universe (1 film)
- The Incredible Hulk (First appearance) - Tim Blake Nelson
Marvel Cinematic Universe (1 comic)
- Fury's Big Week

Behind the scenes

In the comics, Sterns becomes The Leader, Banner's archnemesis. This transformation is foreshadowed in the film, when he begins mutating after being exposed to Banner's blood.

Trivia

In the original comic, Sterns was not a scientist, but instead was a menial laborer with only average intelligence. He was exposed to gamma radiation while he was transporting hazardous materials. Also, he became the Leader before Banner became the Hulk.
Sterns uses the online name Mr. Blue to communicate with Banner. In the comic, Mr. Blue was an alias used by Betty Ross to keep in contact with a fugitive Banner.