8 Things Red Hulk Can Do That Bruce Banner Cannot

Key Takeaways

• Red Hulk has unique abilities: conscious transformation, retains intelligence, and energy absorption.
• Red Hulk can transform at will, stay smart, and absorb energy, giving him tactical advantages in combat.
• Red Hulk can take on cosmic threats, project absorbed energy in explosions, and command a military.

Red Hulk is set to make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. Fans got a glimpse of the crimson-hulking monster in the first trailer for the 2025 release movie after years of speculation about the character making his silver screen debut.

Many characters in Marvel Comics have donned the Red Hulk title, but first and most famously, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. The character has appeared in the MCU before but will become his rouge alter ego Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World. Red Hulk has the same powers and abilities as Bruce Banner’s green version, but there are a few key differences in their power set.

Some versions of Bruce Banner’s Hulk share some of the abilities that Red Hulk possesses. This list references the standard version of the character, with the abilities most commonly associated with Bruce Banner’s Hulk.

Updated on November 12, 2024, by Ben Painter: Captain America: Brave New World is right around the corner, with the latest trailer giving fans a little more taste of Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk. Fans have long requested the character to make an appearance since Thunderbolt Ross’ debut in The Incredible Hulk, and MCU diehards are finally getting their wish. Although Red Hulk and his original Green counterpart have a similar powerset, there are a few variations that fans may see on the silver screen for the first time. This update adds two more things that Red Hulk can do that Bruce Banner can’t.

8 Conscious Transformation

Thunderbolt Ross Can Transform Into Red Hulk At Will

Unlike Bruce Banner, who becomes the Hulk when he is angry (sometimes against his own will), Ross can transform into the Red Hulk and back whenever he chooses. Even when he is knocked out, he will remain in the Red Hulk state until he regains consciousness and de-powers.

This gives him a great tactical advantage over his adversaries, as he can use it for his gain. There is no telling if this element of Red Hulk will make the jump into the MCU. The trailer suggests he is just as out of control as the Hulk originally was, but this could be a red herring to deceive viewers before the movie’s release.

7 Retain Intelligence

Red Hulk Is Just As Smart As Ross

Most versions of the Green Hulk do not keep the high level of intelligence that Bruce Banner is known for, acting very much like a toddler — a toddler with immense speed, strength, and durability.

The Red Hulk, on the other hand, is a different animal with the alter ego of General Ross remaining just as smart as he is. This gives him a great upper hand in combat scenarios, as he can use his powers much more cleverly. Combining this with his ability to transform at will, Red Hulk’s abilities are much more of a tool than the curse of Banner’s.

6 Energy Absorption

Red Hulk Can Take In Mass Amounts Of Energy

The biggest switch-up in the powers of Red Hulk compared to the original is the fact he can absorb mass amounts of energy, something that most versions of Banner’s ‘The Other Guy’ cannot do.

This is tied to the gamma radiation experiment that turned Ross into this monster. He has shown in comics that he can absorb a lot of energy and favors that of the cosmic variety. He even absorbed the power of the Silver Surfer, took command of his surfboard, and absorbed the very Odinforce, easily overpowering the king of Asgard, Odin. However, if Red Hulk takes in too much gamma radiation, then he is unable to revert to his human form.

5 Absorb The Hulk’s Gamma

It Makes A Battle Between Them One-sided

Ross’ hatred of the Hulk stems back to decades in the comics. This culminated in Ross becoming the very thing he sought to destroy, a Hulk, in a way to finally get one step ahead of his foe.

But a battle between them isn’t always an even match due to the Red Hulk’s ability to absorb energy and radiation. This, of course, stems from the Hulk’s gamma radiation that gave him his powers. The Red Hulk can absorb this radiation, making the Hulk weaker throughout their fight. It is unclear whether Bruce Banner will appear in Captain America: Brave New World, so fans may need to wait a little longer for this epic clash in cinemas.

4 Heat Increase

The Angrier He Gets, The Hotter He Gets

When the Hulk becomes angrier and angrier, he becomes stronger and wilder. There seems to be no limit to how powerful Banner can get while enraged.

The Red Hulk’s temperature increases the angrier he gets, which causes him some issues. If he gets too hot-headed, then he will pass out, as his body simply cannot handle the levels of heat. He has shown that he can get hot enough to instantly turn sand into glass in the comics.

3 Explosion

Red Hulk Can Project The Energy He Has Absorbed

When Red Hulk absorbs mass amounts of gamma radiation, he can project it back out in an explosion, leaving very little remaining if hit by this destructive energy — something that Bruce Banner has not shown to be capable of, as their powers work differently. Green Hulk gives off gamma radiation, while Red Hulk takes it in.

This immense force is akin to that of a nuclear bomb, with the blast looking very similar and no doubt leaving traces of gamma radiation in the aftermath. An insane, but dangerous power that takes a lot out of Thaddeus Ross, something that fans could see in Red Hulk’s debut in the MCU.

2 Command A Military

Being A General Has Its Perks

Thaddeus Ross made his debut in Incredible Hulk #1 in 1962 as a Lieutenant General in the U.S. Air Force and a sworn enemy of the Hulk — he would stop at nothing to kill the Hulk. Secretly, he became the Red Hulk in 2008 in a desperate attempt to go toe-to-toe with Bruce Banner.

Instead of being a scientist, Ross is a military leader with a whole army at his disposal, certainly outnumbering the Hulk. Even without his powers, Ross is a formidable foe against Banner with soldiers, guns, tanks, jets, and more to throw in the path of the Incredible Hulk — or anyone in his way.

1 Take On Cosmic Threats

Red Hulk Has Defeated Some Powerful Foes

Red Hulk’s ability to absorb energy seemingly has endless means and has taken on the Odinforce and Power Cosmic in the comics, two of the strongest forces in Marvel. This gives him an edge over Banner as it gives him the much-needed power to take on some powerful threats.

Ross once went toe-to-toe with the Uatu of the Watchers, a group of cosmic beings who watch over the universe, but never intervene. Even if they probably should at times. Not many have taken on the Watcher like this and the regular version of the Hulk could never come close.