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General Thaddeus E. " Thunderbolt" Ross is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics featuring the Hulk. Ross is a United States military officer, the father of Betty Ross, and the ex-father-in-law of both Glenn Talbot and Hulk.
A jingoistic war hawk, Ross is portrayed as the military head of the gamma bomb project that turned Banner into the Hulk. After the creation of the Hulk, Ross pursues the creature with a growing obsession, and, after learning that Banner and the Hulk are one and the same, Ross hunts Banner as well. His motivations vary between different iterations, from a petulant hatred of Banner himself, to a Captain Ahab-esque desire to defeat the Hulk in combat, and sometimes even more villainous motivations such as hoping to harness the Hulk's abilities and create similar Biological agent for use by the US government. Ross was transformed into the first Red Hulk to better combat the Hulk, though this instead led him to become more sympathetic towards Banner and eventually become a superhero, serving as a member of the Avengers and forming his own Thunderbolts team.
Ross has appeared in numerous media adaptations, including animated television series, video games, and live-action feature films. He has been voiced by numerous actors in animation, including John Vernon, Keith Ferguson, Fred Tatasciore, and Clancy Brown. In live-action, Sam Elliott portrayed the character in the film Hulk (2003). In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the character is portrayed by William Hurt (2008–2021) and Harrison Ford (2025–present).
Red Hulk began appearing as a regular character in Avengers vol. 4, from issue #7 (January 2011) through its final issue #34 (January 2013). His popularity resulted in him becoming a main character in the 2012 Thunderbolts series by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon. He also appeared in the issues #1–3 of the 2011 series The Avenging Spider-Man (November 2008) by Zeb Wells and Joe Madureira as a team-up character for Spider-Man.
Holding the rank of lieutenant general, Ross is chosen to oversee Bruce Banner's gamma bomb project. His daughter, Betty, takes a liking to the young scientist, deepening Ross' dislike for the "weakling". After Banner's transformation into the Hulk, Ross spends years chasing the monster, becoming obsessed enough to commit treason by allying himself with supervillains such as the Leader, MODOK and the Abomination Incredible Hulk #159 (January 1973) to destroy the Hulk. Dismissed from the military, he shows up at Betty and Bruce's wedding with a gun and shoots Rick Jones. He is recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Clay Quartermain to merge with the electric creature Zzzax, a process that gives Ross superpowers but also makes him mentally unstable. He is later restored to human form but retains some residual energy-generating powers. Incredible Hulk #325–327 (November 1985February 1986)
Finally, the Nevermind, a mutant who drains people of their life energy, attacks Gamma Base in search of a strong host, in this case the Hulk. After witnessing Banner and Jones (who was the Hulk at that time) heroically engaging the mutant, Ross realizes that he has been wrong about the Hulk being a mindless monster. He saves his daughter by allowing the mutant to latch on him and discharging the energy resources he retained from Zzzax. Giving his blessing to Banner and Betty, he dies in his daughter's arms. Incredible Hulk #330 (April 1987)
Ross' body is later stolen by the Leader who uses the powers of one of his followers to resurrect him as a replacement for his fallen soldier Redeemer. Ross is eventually recovered and revived by agents of the alien Troyjan and returns to the Air Force. He later comes up with a more cost-effective method of confronting the Hulk: ignoring him.
Ross would become friends with Banner, but when Betty is seemingly killed due to what both Ross and Banner believed to have been Banner's gamma-irradiated DNA interacting with Betty's, he once more pursues the Hulk with a vendetta.
Around this time, General John Ryker takes over the pursuit of the Hulk. Ross is indirectly involved, observing when Ryker mentally tortures Banner to try to figure out how the Hulk works. The Hulk escapes from Ryker's control and, after several adventures, is lost in space.
After the Hulk returns from exile and initiates "World War Hulk", General Ross, now a full general, makes his own return, electing to bring the fight to his nemesis once more after the Hulk beats Iron Man. After a failed assault on the Hulk, Ross and his men are captured and placed in chains under the watch of the Warbound, the army he has brought back from space. The Hulk is eventually defeated via satellite weapons that revert him back to his human form. Hulk (vol. 2) #23 (August 2010)
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> "Who is the Red Hulk?" Marvel.com. June 17, 2009
The opening story arc of the Hulk (vol. 2) series that premiered in 2008 established that the Red Hulk is very aggressive, as he murders the Wendigo and Abomination; destroys the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier; defeats several Marvel heroes; and, after causing an earthquake in San Francisco, is defeated by the Hulk and Thor. In a subsequent storyline, the Collector places the character with other villains on a team called the Offenders, an evil version of the Defenders, in a bid to prevent the Hulk from reuniting with Jarella. In that story, the Red Hulk siphons the Power Cosmic from the Silver Surfer, seemingly killing him, steals his board and Terrax's cosmic axe, and kills Namor, Tiger Shark, Doctor Strange, Baron Mordo, the Grandmaster, Terrax, Hulk, and Psycho-Man. When the Red Hulk reveals this to Galactus, Galactus takes back the Power Cosmic from him. Subsequently, almost everyone he killed is resurrected with no memory of the event. Hulk (vol. 2) #10–#12 (April – June 2009)
The Red Hulk was created as part of a super soldier program by several persons, including Doc Samson and the criminal think tank the Intelligencia, headed by MODOK. Fall of the Hulks: Alpha one-shot (February 2010) Hulk (vol. 2) #1–#6 (March – November 2008) Incredible Hulk #600 (September 2009) The 2009 "Code Red" story arc also made allusions to the Red Hulk's real identity, and introduced Red She-Hulk. Hulk (vol. 2) #14–17 (October – December 2009)
In the 2010 story line "Fall of the Hulks: Gamma", the Red Hulk is related in flashback to have killed General Ross at the behest of Bruce Banner, with whom he has formed an alliance. Fall of the Hulks: Gamma one-shot (February 2010) However, the 2010 "World War Hulks" story line reveals that the Red Hulk is Thunderbolt Ross, the Red She-Hulk is Betty Ross, and the Ross who was "killed" was a Life Model Decoy (LMD). The Red Hulk then thwarts the Intelligencia's plan to take over the United States with an LMD of Glenn Talbot by destroying the Talbot LMD and attempts to take over the country himself. He is thwarted by a restored Hulk, who beats the Red Hulk mostly due to the Red Hulk's exhaustion from overheating. The Hulk tells the Red Hulk that it was his idea to fake Ross' death and that he can never again resume that identity. After imprisoning the Red Hulk in Gamma Base, Banner makes arrangements with Captain America for the Red Hulk to join the Avengers. Hulk (vol. 2) #24 (September 2010) Hulk (vol. 2) #25 (November 2010)
After Rogers recruits the Red Hulk, the Red Hulk stops the Intelligencia's failsafe plan "Scorched Earth". Although Banner had claimed that he removed the Red Hulk's energy-draining ability from him because it was killing him, he is shown to still possess this ability. Hulk (vol. 2) #26 (December 2010) After the events of the Scorched Earth program, the Red Hulk is paired up with an LMD named Annie. The Red Hulk is occasionally assaulted by Ross' former protégé General Reginald Fortean, a scientist given superhuman mutations by MODOK named Zero/One, and the Indian serial killer Black Fog. Hulk (vol. 2) #30 – 33 (April - July 2011)
The Red Hulk plays a vital role in the Infinity Gem crisis of the "Heroic Age" story line. Avengers (vol. 4) #12 (June 2011) During the 2011 "Fear Itself" story line, the Red Hulk attempts unsuccessfully to stop the Thing (in the form of Angrir, Breaker of Souls) from destroying Stark Tower, Avengers (vol. 4) #14 (July 2011) as MODOK Superior and Black Fog converge on both combatants during the fight. Angrir dispatches the Red Hulk by knocking him out of the city and into Vermont. Hulk (vol. 2) #37 (September 2011)
As part of the 2012 Marvel NOW! relaunch, the Red Hulk leads a non-government sponsored version of the Thunderbolts. This incarnation is a strike team that cleans up the messes left by Ross' military career, but the team later decides on a new arrangement in which the team will do one mission for Ross, then a mission for a random member.
Ross is later depowered by Doc Green, a new personality of Bruce Banner who believes that gamma-powered superhumans are a threat to humanity. Hulk (vol. 3) #10 - 15 (March - June 2015) He is subsequently imprisoned, but eventually paroled for helping a resistance cell during "Secret Empire". Civil War II: The Fallen one-shot (October 2016) Captain America (vol. 9) #1 (September 2018) After being tortured by Cutthroat, who is acting on orders of Alexa Lukin and Crossbones, Ross suddenly regains his ability to transform into Red Hulk. Captain America (vol. 9) #26 (December 2020)
During the One World Under Doom event, Ross is kidnapped by Doctor Doom, who forces him to join his think tank. He is able to escape from the alongside Deathlok and Machine Man. After making their way to the Latverian border, all three of them are arrested by the U.S. Army for violating the treaty with Doctor Doom. Red Hulk #1-5 (February-June 2025)
Augie De Blieck Jr. of Comic Book Resources gave the first six issues a positive review, describing it as a "silly fun action romp" and a "popcorn comic". De Blieck liked Loeb's lack of subtlety when giving out clues, saying "this is a book where anytime someone is about reveal the solution to the big mystery, they get knocked out by a slap in the face from the Red Hulk or a machine gun to the gut." His one criticism was that, although he liked the artwork, he would have preferred Dale Keown as the artist.
In 2012 Red Hulk was listed as #41 on IGN's "Top 50 Avengers". IGN reviewer Jesse Schedeen was generally critical of the series, citing a lack of character development and the emphasis on action over the ongoing question of Red Hulk's identity. Schedeen also derided the treatment of other mainstream Marvel characters within the pages of Hulk, saying about issue #5 "The series has already treated She-Hulk and Iron Man like ragdolls who crumple under the awesome might of Red Hulk. Now it's Thor's turn". Schedeen disliked the series for its poor dialogue, pacing, and characterization, and stated that Ed McGuinness' artwork was its only saving grace.
Powers and abilities
Marvel editor Mark Paniccia described the Red Hulk as "absolutely uninhibited, tactically intelligent", while writer Jeph Loeb said "The Red Hulk is the kind of Hulk we haven't seen before—a thinking, calculating, brutal weapon-toting kind of Hulk." To further distance the character away from the original: "Everything the Green Hulk isn't, the Red Hulk is. Except, of course, for his powers which are identical. And he looks the same, except he's red. And he's the same size. But other than that, they're complete opposites." The character has abilities almost identical to those of the Hulk. The character can also emit heat at will from his eyes during non-enraged periods and can augment power levels by absorbing various types of energy, such as gamma radiation and the Power Cosmic. Hulk (vol. 2) #12 (July 2009) When infected with Cable's techno-organic virus during the "X-Sanction" storyline, he was able to control this heat to burn the virus out of his system. Avengers: X-Sanction #3–4 (April – May 2012) Red Hulk was created through a combination of gamma radiation and cosmic rays. The satellites used to revert the Hulk to human form at the end of World War Hulk were used to power the device used to turn Ross into the Red Hulk. Hulk (vol. 2) #23 (July 2010) Unlike the green Hulk, the Red Hulk does not revert to human form when rendered unconscious, and his blood is a fluorescent yellow instead of green, Hulk (vol. 2) #6 (September 2008) remaining that color even in human form. Unlike the green Hulk, who gets stronger as his rage increases, Red Hulk's body temperature rises with his anger. Though the heat is intense enough to melt desert sand into glass, it causes him to weaken when it becomes too intense, as his physiology lacks a cooling mechanism to deal with the excess heat. Red Hulk has also been shown to have a weakness to Negative Zone energy, which caused him burning pain and drained him when he attempted to absorb it. Hulk (vol. 2) #19 (March 2010)
Reception
In 2009, Thunderbolt Ross was ranked as IGN's 71st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.
Red Hulk reception
Comics featuring the Red Hulk sold well but received mixed reviews. The first five issues of the 2008 Hulk title sold out, and second printings featured new covers. Issue #6 was the second-best-selling title of September 2008, and issue #10 was sixth in February 2009.
Other versions
In other media
Television
Film
Thunderbolt Ross appears in Hulk (2003), portrayed by Sam Elliott. This version is a four-star administrator of Desert Base, later known as Gamma Base, in the 1970s and was a colleague of Brian Banner. After the murder of Rebecca Banner, Ross continues to supervise Bruce Banner and Betty Ross at the Berkeley Lab.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Thaddeus Ross has appeared in various media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), initially portrayed by William Hurt and subsequently by Harrison Ford. Hurt portrayed the character in The Incredible Hulk (2008), ,; ; Pearson, Ben (2015). "Paul Rudd's Ant-Man and William Hurt's General Ross Confirmed For CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR". Geek Tyrant.; Romano, Nick (November 25, 2015). "'Captain America: Civil War' Directors Reveal Hidden Details in Trailer". Collider.; Keyes, Rob (November 26, 2015). "Captain America: Civil War's Superhero Registration Act Explained". Screen Rant.Downey, Meg (January 24, 2018). "Prelude Comic Explains Every Avenger's Pre-Infinity War Status". CBR.com.Bacon, Thomas (March 13, 2018). "Jessica Jones May Explain Why Ant-Man And Hawkeye Aren't In The Raft". Screen Rant. (2018), (2019),Harrington, Delia (May 1, 2019). "Avengers: Endgame - Who Was in That Important Spoiler Scene". Den of Geek! Retrieved May 1, 2019. and Black Widow (2021). Ford portrayed the character in (2025) where he also turned into the Red Hulk. Alternate versions of Ross in the Multiverse appear in What If...? (voiced by Michael Patrick McGill), and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (voiced by Travis Willingham).
Video games
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> "Galactus Lands in New LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Trailer". Marvel.com. August 21, 2013.
Merchandise
Red Hulk has been merchandised in the form of action figures Marvel Universe 3 3/4" Series 4 Action Figure Red Hulk at Amazon.com, Accessed January 20, 2010Marx, Julius. "Hulk Has Big Bad Toy Store Seeing Red" Action Figure Insider, June 17, 2008; "Marvel Legends Exclusive Red Hulk Build-A-Figure Action Figure: BAF Red Hulk Loose" CmdStore.com, Accessed January 2010 and miniature statues. Marvel Statues & Busts , StarStore.com, Accessed January 20, 2010
Collected editions
Hulk Vol. 1: Red Hulk Hulk (vol. 2) #1–6 February 2009 Hulk Vol. 2: Red & Green Hulk (vol. 2) #7–9; King-Size Hulk #1 July 2009 Hulk Vol. 3: Hulk No More Hulk (vol. 2) #10–13; Incredible Hulk #600 February 2010 Hulk: Fall of the Hulks Prelude Hulk (vol. 2) #2, 16; Skaar: Son of Hulk #1; Hulk: Raging Thunder; Planet Skaar Prologue; All-New Savage She-Hulk #4; February 2010 Hulk Vol. 4: Hulk vs. X-Force Hulk (vol. 2) #14–18 June 2010 Hulk: Fall of the Hulks – Red Hulk Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk #1–4 August 2010 Hulk Vol. 5: Fall of the Hulks Hulk (vol. 2) #19–21; Fall of the Hulks: Gamma November 2010 Hulk Vol. 6: World War Hulks Hulk (vol. 2) #22–24 March 2011 Red Hulk: Scorched Earth Hulk (vol. 2) #25–30 May 2011 Planet Red Hulk Hulk (vol. 2) #30.1, 31–36 October 2011 Fear Itself: Hulk Hulk (vol. 2) #37–41 February 2012 Hulk: Hulk of Arabia Hulk (vol. 2) #42–46 April 2012 Hulk: Haunted Hulk Hulk (vol. 2) #47–52 August 2012 Red Hulk: Mayan Rule Hulk (vol. 2) #53–57 November 2012
External links
Categories: Avengers Characters, Characters Created By Jack Kirby, Characters Created By Jeph Loeb, Characters Created By Stan Lee, Comics Characters Introduced In 1962, Comics Characters Introduced In 2008, Fictional Characters With Fire Or Heat Abilities, Fictional Characters With Nuclear Or Radiation Abilities, Fictional Generals, Fictional Military Strategists, Fictional Presidents Of The United States, Fictional Super Soldiers, Fictional United States Air Force Personnel, Fictional United States Secretaries Of State, Hulk, Marvel Comics Characters Who Can Move At Superhuman Speeds, Marvel Comics Characters With Accelerated Healing, Marvel Comics Characters With Superhuman Strength, Marvel Comics Male Supervillains, Marvel Comics Male Superheroes, Marvel Comics Military Personnel, Marvel Comics Mutates
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