Red Hulk: Has the Hulk finally found his equal in Thaddeus Ross?

For years, Marvel fans have speculated about a character as mysterious as he is formidable: Red Hulk. Unlike his green counterpart, this Hulk is more strategic, brutal, and unpredictable. His long-concealed identity surprised many readers, and he remains one of the most powerful and intriguing characters in the Marvel universe to this day.

 

 

Who is Thaddeus Ross?

 

Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross is a character who first appeared in 1962, in The Incredible Hulk #1, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Initially a mere antagonist to Dr. Bruce Banner, he gradually becomes a figure obsessed with destroying Hulk.

 

Ross is a hardcore military man, a general in the US Air Force and an expert in strategy. He leads the program to neutralize Hulk, whom he views as a threat to humanity. His zeal knows no bounds: he is ready to do anything, even betray his own country, to succeed in his mission.

 

What makes Ross so dangerous is his obsessive compulsion to capture and eliminate Hulk. He sees Bruce Banner as a man who is both weak and dangerous at the same time, unable to control the power he holds.

This obsession drives him to accept the unthinkable: becoming a monster himself.

 

In the film "Captain America: Brave New World", Thunderbolt Ross is appointed President of the United States. It's at this point that the identity of Red Hulk begins to be revealed...

 

 

 

How did Thunderbolt Ross become Red Hulk?

 

The transformation of Thunderbolt Ross into Red Hulk did not happen overnight. Behind this change lies a conspiracy orchestrated by The Intelligencia, a group of supervillains led by MODOK and the Leader. Their goal? To create an ultimate weapon using gamma radiation.

 

Ross agrees to be transformed into Hulk after being captured by the Intelligencia.

Through a series of extremely dangerous experiments, his DNA is altered to give him powers similar to those of Hulk. Unlike Banner, he retains his intelligence and strategic mind (although this was not noted in the film Captain America: Brave New World).

 

In the comics, to cover up this transformation, Ross stages his own death. The whole world believes he is dead, while in reality, he becomes Red Hulk, a version that is stronger, more vicious, and more strategic than the original. This Hulk is not just a simple brute: he is a trained soldier, ruthless and formidable.

 

 

Why is Red Hulk red?

 

Unlike Hulk, who turns green from gamma radiation, Red Hulk derives his color from a unique transformation.

 

The experiments Ross underwent involve a much more unstable source of radiation, which affects the pigmentation of his skin. But that's not all: his metabolism works differently, giving him a unique appearance.

 

One side effect of his transformation is that the more he fights, the hotter he gets. Unlike Hulk, who grows stronger as he gets angrier, Red Hulk burns off energy, literally. He can even emit intense heat, enough to melt weapons or burn his opponents.

However, this power has a limit: if he overheats too much, he can weaken and lose control.

 

 

 

Who is stronger between Green Hulk and Red Hulk?

 

The eternal question: who is more powerful, Hulk or Red Hulk?
The answer depends on several factors.

 

Advantages of Red Hulk

 

• -   Intelligence and strategy: Unlike Hulk, Red Hulk thinks and fights like a soldier. He exploits the weaknesses of his enemies.
• -   Energy absorption: He can steal gamma energy from his opponents, making him potentially more powerful than Hulk in certain situations.
• -   Destructive temperature: His body becomes scorching hot as he fights, potentially disabling even invulnerable enemies.

 

Why Hulk remains the most powerful?

 

• -   Infinite strength: Hulk gets stronger the angrier he gets. Unlike Red Hulk, who can exhaust, he has no limit to his power.
• -   Extreme regeneration: Hulk heals much faster than Red Hulk, making him nearly invincible over the long term.
• -   Raw power: While Red Hulk is an excellent fighter, Hulk possesses unequaled raw strength, giving him the advantage in a prolonged fight.

 

Verdict? Red Hulk can defeat Hulk if he acts quickly, but over the long term, Hulk crushes him with his infinite strength.

 

 

 

Will Thunderbolt Ross be in the Thunderbolts movie?

 

The movie "Thunderbolts" and the character Thunderbolt Ross share a similar name, but it's not a coincidence.

 

-   Ross's nickname: Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross earned this military codename due to his brutality and explosive temper. He is known for his radical methods and his obsession with destroying Hulk.

 

-   The Thunderbolts in the comics: The Thunderbolts team was originally founded by Baron Zemo, but in several versions, Ross becomes the leader in his Red Hulk form.
He reforms this team by recruiting anti-heroes and former criminals for secret government missions.

-   His role in the MCU: In the film Thunderbolts, Ross is now President of the United States, suggesting he may have a direct connection to the team, either as a founder, sponsor, or even an enemy.

The film "Captain America: Brave New World" was released on February 12 in France.

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