The MCU has unleashed its version ofRed Hulkupon superhero fans around the world, making sure that movie audiences and comic book fans alike know Bruce Banner isn’t the only colorfulHulkin the Marvel Universe. But the next question is obvious:who would win in a fight between Hulk and Red Hulk, anyway?
The temptation to comparedifferent versions of the Hulkis an easy one to understand, since Bruce Banner’s superpowered form owes much of his fame to being the strongest, most unbeatable, or downright unkillable Marvel hero. It’s for that very reason that General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross sought to gain power over Banner and Hulk, going so far as to transform himself into a Red Hulk. Becoming a monster to catch one may be admirable, butthe actual fight between the two proved there is simply no comparison at all.
Hulk vs Red Hulk: A Laughably Easy Fight For Banner
The Avengers#685 by Jim Zub, Mark Waid, Al Ewing, Paco Medina, and Juan Vlasco
When Bruce Banner had to sacrifice his intellect, personality, and entire identity to become the bigger, stronger Hulk, fans could have made a case for a Red Hulk advantage. As an experienced military leader and soldier, Thaddeus Ross would, in most scenarios, be a terrifyingly effective enemy. But the days of a dim-witted Hulk are largely over in Marvel’s main universe, instead showing bothHulk and Banner to have gained new mastery over the gamma energy which powers their strength. And which powersthe crimson-colored Red Hulk, as well.
When Banner attacked the forces of Thunderbolt Ross and his U.S.Avengers in the pages ofThe Avengers#685, it was immediately clear that no member of the team could stand up to the brute force of an attacking Hulk. That wasn’t enough to stop Ross from trying, triggering a Hulk-out and outfitting himself in modified pieces of Iron Patriot armor to stand against Banneras a new “Iron Hulk” (self-named). And to his credit, he did land a few punches in the opening seconds of the fight.
Unfortunately for Ross, all he managed to achieve was convincing Hulk that with his armor and arsenal, he could actually pose any threat at all. Since Red Hulk draws his massive size and powers from gamma radiation, the same source as the Hulk himself, the greatest advantage exercised by Thaddeus Ross is also his greatest weakness.Placing a single hand on Ross' head, Hulk decides to employ his most underrated superpower: gamma absorption.
Instead of punching Red Hulk into oblivion, or even trading blows to work up a sweat, Hulk begins to absorb the gamma energy injected into Ross' body into his own. Gaining in size and mass within seconds, and rendering Thaddeus Ross a non-powered human being, dangling helplessly from Hulk’s closed fist, begging for his life.
Red Hulk Only Has Power If The REAL Hulk Allows It
General “Thunderbolt” Ross Fights With Gamma, But Bruce Banner is Its Master
The absence of Hulk from the cinematic debut of Red Hulk allowed Marvel to avoid this very comparison, and establish how much of Banner’s MCU power is derived from the (admittedly vague) gamma energy in both men’s cells. But the comics make the difference between these two perfectly clear, spending recent years revealing howHulk’s role as a gamma avataris tied to a much larger, much more complicated cosmic struggle.This is Hulk’s reality, but it makes Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross seem like a child, playing with a gamma-powered handgun.
On the other hand, beinga member of the Hulk familyis an honor in itself, so Red Hulk still has plenty to be proud of. But make no mistake: if Hulk and Red Hulk ever do get into a fight, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross will owe any advantage, let alone any victory, to some massive outside factors. Because in a head-to-head battle betweenHulkandRed Hulk, the latter doesn’t stand a chance.
