Mark Ruffalo has rubbished Boris Johnson’s claim that the UK could break out of the European Union’s “manacles” like The Incredible Hulk if a deal cannot be struck by the end of next month.

In an interview with the Mail On Sunday, Johnson likened Britain to the fictional scientist Bruce Banner, who transforms into the monstrous green Hulk when he is angry in the Marvel superhero comics and movies.

However Ruffalo, who plays the green-tinged superhero in Marvel’s Avengers films, suggested Johnson’s metaphor was ill-conceived.

“Boris Johnson forgets that the Hulk only fights for the good of the whole,” the American tweeted. “Mad and strong can also be dense and destructive.

“The Hulk works best when he is in unison with a team, and is a disaster when he is alone.

“Plus… he’s always got Dr Banner with science and reason.”

The actor, who has played the Hulk since 2012, joined a number who suggested the prime minister lacked understanding of the comic book character when he made the comparison, the Press Association reports. 

“This is the kind of thing my kids would say aside from they would never make such glaring errors about The Hulk, I’ve raised them properly,” Labour MP Jess Phillips tweeted.

Call The Midwife actor Stephen McGann added: “I also note, with reference to the Hulk, that Theresa May’s ‘red, white and blue Brexit’ has morphed effortlessly into a ‘green, violent and emotionally unstable’ Brexit. Righto.”

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay praised Johnson’s novel metaphor and even revived another recent favourite of the Conservative Party – an assertion that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is a “chicken” for not voting for an early general election.

“The Hulk was a winner and was extremely popular and I’d rather be backing a character and a leader who is The Hulk, rather than one who is on the ‘chicken run’, as Jeremy Corbyn is,” Barclay told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday.

But the European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt described the Prime Minister’s Incredible Hulk comparison as “infantile” even when compared with the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump.

“Even to Trumpian standards the Hulk comparison is infantile,” he tweeted. “Is the EU supposed to be scared by this? The British public impressed?

“Is this Boris Johnson whistling in the dark?”