The Red Hulk is an alias that is used by several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics: Thunderbolt Ross, Robert Maverick, Joe Fixit and other equivalents in specific Marvel timelines. The character has appeared in numerous adaptions in media alongside the comics including several animated television shows and many video games.
Fictional character biography
editThunderbolt Ross
editThe first incarnation of Red Hulk (also known as Rulk)[1] first appeared in the Hulk series that debuted in 2008.[2] The 2010 World War Hulks storyline reveals that this being is United States Army General Thunderbolt Ross,[3] the father-in-law and longtime nemesis of the original Hulk (Bruce Banner).[4] The storyline reveals that Ross was given the ability to transform into the Red Hulk by the organizations A.I.M. and the Intelligencia and that he did this in order to better fight the original Hulk.[3]
Robert Maverick
editThe second incarnation of Red Hulk appears in the 2017 debut issue of U.S.Avengers. Four-star General Robert Maverick is selected for his genetic profile to create a being who is "halfway to a Hulk". A device called the Hulk Plug-In, created by Avengers Idea Mechanics (a legitimate technology company created from the remains of the defunct supervillain organization Advanced Idea Mechanics), is implanted in Maverick's wrist. When triggered, it turns him into a variation of the Red Hulk for one hour approximately every day and a half. Unlike his predecessor, Maverick retains his mustache as the Red Hulk and wears his sunglasses. He joins the U.S. Avengers.[5]
Joe Fixit
editThe Hulk's Joe Fixit personality later gained the ability to transform into his version of Red Hulk when in the Below-Place.[6]
Powers and abilities
editThe Red Hulk has superhuman strength, durability, and endurance, comparable to that of the Hulk. He is capable of absorbing radiation, which his body can metabolize for increased strength. Unlike the Hulk, increased anger does not make him stronger but causes him to emit increasing heat. The upper limit of this heat has not been specified. When fighting the Hulk, during the Red Hulk's first story line, this heat created an aura of light around the two behemoths and melted the desert sand on which they stood into a glass disc at least dozens of feet in diameter. At this level, the Red Hulk weakens and is vulnerable to being knocked unconscious by the Hulk.[7][8]
Collected editions
edit| Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulk: Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk | Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk #1-4 and material from Incredible Hulk #606-608 | August 2010 | 978-0785147954 |
| Red Hulk: Scorched Earth | Hulk (vol. 2) #25-30 | May 2011 | 978-0785148968 |
| Red Hulk: Planet Red Hulk | Hulk (vol. 2) #30.1, 31-36 | October 2011 | 978-0785155782 |
| Fear Itself: Hulk/Dracula | Hulk (vol. 2) #37-41, Fear Itself: Hulk vs Dracula #1-3 | November 2011 | 978-0785155805 |
| Red Hulk: Hulk of Arabia | Hulk (vol. 2) #42-46 | April 2012 | 978-0785160953 |
| Red Hulk: Haunted | Hulk (vol. 2) #47-52 | August 2012 | 978-0785160991 |
| Red Hulk: Mayan Rule | Hulk (vol. 2) #53-57 | October 2012 | 978-0785160977 |
Other versions
editMarvel 2099
editIn the unified Marvel 2099 reality of Earth-2099, space explorer Ross Romero is dispatched with his crew by Alchemax to explore a rogue planet that appeared around the Sun. When the planet attacked his crew and one abandoned Ross on the planet, he worked to survive on it. One day, Ross ate a red fruit that appeared before him and it transformed him into the 2099 version of the Red Hulk as he figures out that the planet he's stranded on is Ego the Living Planet who empowered him as his last act. Ego's pursuer Terrax the Planet Hunter arrived after killing the crew member that abandoned Ross and fought his Red Hulk form. The Red Hulk defeats Terrax the Planet Hunter who finds himself unable to manipulate Ego's soil. Now with his new powers, the Red Hulk leaves Ego to protect the galaxy as he taps into Hyperspace and heads into the unknown.[9]
Secret Wars (2015)
editThe 2015 "Secret Wars" story line features the Battleworld domain of Greenland and contains some Red Hulks who are part of the different Tribal Hulks. One Red Hulk rules Greenland as the Red King. A variation of Captain America called the Captain is sent into Greenland by God Emperor Doom and Sheriff Strange to kill the Red King who is holding Bucky Barnes prisoner.[10] After the Red King reveals to that group that he already killed Barnes,[11] the Captain kills the Red King.[12]
In other media
editTelevision
edit- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Fred Tatasciore.[13]
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., voiced by Clancy Brown.[13][14][15]
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man four-part episode "Contests of Champions", voiced again by Clancy Brown.[13]
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears in Avengers Assemble, voiced again by Clancy Brown.[13]
Marvel Cinematic Universe
editThe Red Hulk will make his live-action debut in the 2025 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: Brave New World, portrayed by Harrison Ford (Thaddeus Ross).[16]
- Previously, the Red Hulk was considered with William Hurt during Captain America: Civil War (2016),[17] and Avengers: Endgame (2019).[18] Additionally, a film featuring both the Hulk and Red Hulk was considered, but the project never entered development due to conflicts with Universal Pictures holding the film rights.[19]
Video games
edit- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in the GameStop-exclusive Xbox 360 version of The Incredible Hulk (2008).[20]
- The Red Hulk appears as an alternate costume for the Hulk in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2,[21] Marvel Super Hero Squad, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet, and Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced by Tom Kenny.[13]
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as an unlockable character in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes, voices again by Fred Tatasciore.[22]
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in Marvel: Contest of Champions.
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight with Robert Maverick / Red Hulk as an alternate costume.[23]
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers.
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Academy, voiced again by Fred Tatasciore.[13]
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest.[24]
- Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.[25]
References
edit- ^ "'Hulk' #5 is red hot – second printing announced". CBR.com. August 12, 2008
- ^ Loeb, Jeph (w), McGuinness, Ed (p), Vines, Dexter (i). "Who is the Hulk?" Hulk, vol. 2, no. 1 (February 2008). Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Loeb, Jeph (w), McGuinness, Ed (p), Mark Farmer (i). "Dogs of War" Hulk, vol. 2, no. 23 (July 2010). Marvel Comics.
- ^ "71. Thunderbolt Ross". IGN (2009). Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ Ewing, Al (w), Medina, Paco (p), Vlasco, Juan (i). "$kullocracy", U.S.Avengers #1 (March 2017). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Immortal Hulk #45-49. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Loeb, Jeph (w), McGuinness, Ed (p), Vines, Dexter (i). "Blood Red" Hulk, vol. 2, no. 6 (July 2008). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded.
- ^ Annihilation 2099 #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Planet Hulk #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Planet Hulk #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Planet Hulk #5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b c d e f "Red Hulk Voices (Hulk)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 10, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Goldman, Eric (April 21, 2012). "Eliza Dushku Will S.M.A.S.H. as She-Hulk". IGN. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21.
- ^ Feily, Karl (October 19, 2011). "NYCC: Marvel Television Has Big Plans". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 2011-10-21. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ^ Smart, Jack (July 27, 2024). "Harrison Ford Says He 'Wanted a Piece of the Action' While Previewing Next Captain America Movie". People. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ Han, Angie (August 25, 2016). "'Captain America: Civil War' Directors Considered Including Red Hulk and Iron Spider". /Film.
- ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (August 3, 2019). "Red Hulk Was Considered for Avengers: Endgame". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- ^ Sobon, Nicole (July 1, 2017). "James Gunn Wanted to Helm a Hulk/Red Hulk Film". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ "The Red Hulk Comes To GameStop". Game News International. May 8, 2008. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
- ^ Raub, Matt "‘Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2′ Alternate Costumes Revealed!" The Flick Cast, September 15, 2009
- ^ "Galactus Lands in New LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Trailer". Marvel.com. August 21, 2013.
- ^ Marvel Future Fight on Facebook Gaming, retrieved 2021-08-26
- ^ Kollar, Philip (October 1, 2015). "Marvel Puzzle Quest celebrates second birthday with an epic Galactus boss fight". Polygon. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ "Characters". IGN Database. Retrieved 13 January 2018.