What's the difference between Red Hulk and Hulk in the comics? Characters explored

On Sunday, July 13, the first trailer for Captain America: Brave New World dropped, giving fans a brief glimpse of the Red Hulk. Featuring Sam Wilson donning the mantle of Captain America and seemingly being once again at odds with the government, the trailer ended with him engaging in a fight with the big red monster.

In the comics, Red Hulk is very closely related to the mythos of Bruce Banner's The Incredible Hulk. General Thadeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, an US military officer and nemesis of Banner, transforms into the red beast in the comics, among others.

While the two Hulks might share the same name and even exhibit similar powers, major differences do set them apart. The most significant distinction is that, while Banner does not have complete control over his persona, Ross does when he hulks out.

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Difference between Red Hulk and Hulk explored

Bruce Banner turns into The Incredible Hulk when a freak accident involving gamma radiation turns him into the giant green monster. Fueled by rage, Banner loses control of himself when he transforms into the Hulk, causing massive destruction. Armed with super strength, the gamma powers his rage, which eventually leads to him becoming the monster he is.

Red Hulk, in some capacity, possesses all the powers that Hulk has, but the biggest difference between him and Banner is that Ross still retains his mind when he hulks out. While Banner, the otherwise genius physicist, eventually takes a back seat as his other personality takes control, Ross can make all the decisions he wants while being the big red monster.

Another distinction between Ross and Banner's Hulk is that, while the Green Hulk emits energy when enraged, Ross releases an intense amount of heat. Utilization of too much heat energy, however, makes him vulnerable to attack.

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Why was Red Hulk created?

In the comics, following Betty Ross, Banner's love interest and Ross's daughter's death, and Hulk being sent into space by the Illuminati, Ross decided to fall back to his old ways. As he was grieving at the moment, he decided to ally himself with the Leader and M.O.D.O.K., who told him that Hulk would be coming back to Earth to get revenge.

When the Hulk finally arrived back on Earth, Banner's body was kidnapped, and then his energy was siphoned off and given to Ross, who then turned into the Red Hulk. He then became a nemesis of the Hulk, with the two battling each other many times, and Ross even killed Abomination as revenge for killing Betty.

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Who is playing Red Hulk in Captain America 4?

Harrison Ford will be jumping into the role of Thadeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in Captain America: Brave New World. He will be replacing William Hurt, who died in March 2022. How Ford will become his alter-ego remains to be seen, but fans can expect some differences in his origins here as it is unconfirmed whether Mark Ruffalo will reprise his role as Bruce Banner in the film.

The official synopsis of the upcoming film reads,

“Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who’s officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.”

Those interested should expect to see Ford hulk out when Captain America: Brave New World releases in theaters on February 14, 2025.