Marvel has already revealed how powerful the MCU Red Hulk would be compared to Bruce Banner's original Hulk, and exactly how Mark Ruffalo's Jade Giant could beat him in a fight. While it remains unconfirmed that William Hurt's Secretary Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross will follow his Marvel comics counterpart and become Banner's hulking red nemesis, the trajectory has been set for some time. In fact, Avengers: Endgame almost introduced Ross' legendary alter-ego, before plans were scrapped.

With the MCU seemingly setting up several new superhero teams, the arrival of the MCU's Thunderbolts feels like an open secret at this point. Even if Countess Val isn't setting up the MCU's version of the team, with or without Ross' involvement, Red Hulk still seems like unfinished business for the sprawling comic book franchise. He is, fundamentally, one of the most interesting remaining elements of the Hulk story, and the interest in Abomination's return in Shang-Chi (and She-Hulk) sets the precedent for another MCU monster to arrive to similar plaudits. There may be a lot going on in the MCU already, with the Multiverse tearing open and Kang's impending arrival, but Red Hulk would offer specific justification for Ruffalo's Hulk to stick around even as the other original Avengers drop out.

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While Red Hulk would be a formidable foe for Banner, with Ross' desperation not only to take him down, but also to have his ideological opposition to vigilante superheroes validated, his weakness is already well-established. It is in fact his weakness that might make Ross even more likely to become Red Hulk in the MCU. Hurt's version of Ross is a volatile but vulnerable figure, who revealed in Civil War that he had a heart attack 5 years previously, and who had a second triple bypass before the events of Black Widow. He is presented as an emotional workaholic, whose hatred of the Hulk drove him beyond reason and into ill-health, his own body failing even as his personality kept him sharp and formidable. The Red Hulk might make Ross stronger - and, in his own mind, better equipped to fight Hulk, finally - but his tendency to anger would repeat the comics version's biggest weakness and what sets him apart from Ruffalo's Banner.

Red Hulk Professor Hulk General Ross

In the comics, rather than becoming stronger as he becomes angrier, as Bruce Banner's Hulk does, Ross' anger increases his temperature to dangerous levels, weakening him at the highest point and allowing Banner to knock him out. Even with the MCU steadily decreasing Hulk's power - partly because of his seemingly amicable union with Banner - and a perceived weakness in the Jade Giant, he could still win. The idea of the MCU's Ross being seduced to "improve" himself with the Red Hulk serum - however it's developed - but being hamstrung by his own very human weaknesses would fit with the MCU's narrative line on how superpowers tend to amplify what is already there. And in John Walker, the "new" Captain America introduced in Phase 4, there's already useful precedent to show the effect of serum on someone with underlying psychological or emotional issues. In effect, it would make sense that Red Hulk would be an exaggerated version of Ross, stronger and fitter, but subject to the same vulnerabilities within him.

If this Red Hulk does come to the MCU, it's still inevitable that it would lead to a fight with the original Hulk. Crucially, no amount of celebrity recognition would turn Secretary Ross away from his firm belief in the evil of the Hulk, especially given his refusal to accept the endorsement of the other Avengers. And should the two behemoths come to blows, Banner would be able to use his own emotional control - as established in The Avengers but then reinforced between Infinity War and Endgame when it came undone - against Ross, and Red Hulk's anger as a weapon to weaken him. Yes, it would be a battle for the ages, but Banner reaffirming balance as his revelation, as established in Endgame, and showing Ross' anger to be his undoing would be the right end to Hulk's MCU arc and Ross' story. So even if the MCU has made Hulk seem weak, he already has the perfect setup to beat his oldest enemy.

Next: The MCU Can Still Do Red Hulk (Despite Zemo Smashing The Serum)

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