Red Hulk’s Greatest Power Can Make Doctor Doom Jealous. But Why?

Warning: Contains spoilers for Incredible Hulk #19!As Doctor Doom prepares to take control of the entire Marvel Universe, the egotistical supervillain has admitted that he needs the tactical genius of Red Hulk’s human alter-ego, General Thaddeus Ross, to make it possible. Though the Latverian leader prides himself on his supposed superior intellect, he envies Thunderbolt Ross’ skill as a battlefield leader, and requires it for one important piece of his plan.

Incredible Hulk #19 features a special prelude to the new Red Hulk series coming in 2025 as part of the One World Under Doom event. The prelude, entitled Prisons – written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Geoff Shaw, color artist Bryan Valenza, and letterer VC’s Cory Petit – reveals Doctor Doom’s grand plan for Red Hulk.

Doom captures and imprisons Ross in Latveria for his status as one of the world’s “greatest military strategists. ” Before Doom’s Marvel domination, the not-so-humble villain is forced to admit he needs the disgraced General’s help to succeed.

To Make His Plan For World Domination A Reality, Doctor Doom Needs Red Hulk’s Great Military Mind And Strategic Expertise

Incredible Hulk #19, Back-Up Story “Prisons” – Written By Benjamin Percy; Art By Geoff Shaw; Color Artist Bryan Valenza; Lettering VC’s Cory Petit

Despite his extreme physical strength as Red Hulk, Doom recognizes that Thaddeus Ross’ greatest power is his brains, rather than his brawn. General Ross was introduced in Incredible Hulk #1, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, way back in 1962, and existed as a tactical military man for decades before his crimson transformation. As one of the main adversaries of Bruce Banner’s classic Hulk, Ross was a major threat for almost fifty years because of his strength as a leader in the U.S. military, before he finally matched Hulk’s gamma power when the Red Hulk was introduced in 2008.

Though Doom is one of Marvel’s most established geniuses, he envies Thunderbolt Ross’ military expertise – so much that he dares to kidnap and imprison a Hulk for strategic guidance. With Doctor Doom now Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, he will soon dominate the Marvel Universe. In order to make that happen, the supervillain forces Ross into a “think tank” in the upcoming Red Hulk series to help plan and enact his takeover. Percy and Shaw’s prelude in Incredible Hulk #19 establishes Rulk as a one-man shadow operation for the United States, now made to use his skills to empower Doom.

Summer Of Rage: Red Hulk’s Power Will Rage Throughout The Marvel Multiverse Next Year

In anticipation, and celebration, of Harrison Ford’s MCU’s version of Thaddeus Ross finally getting his super-powered transformation in Captain America: Brave New World, Marvel is raising Red Hulk’s profile in its current comics landscape. After his battle with Sam Wilson reaches Earth-616, Red Hulk’s ongoing One World Under Doom tie-in series will also pit him against the primary antagonist of the Fantastic Four. With his abilities as Red Hulk and a strategic military mind that could even make the super-genius Doctor Doom jealous, Ross is re-established as a major player and a powerful threat in the Marvel Universe.

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Since he has his own tie-in series, Thunderbolt Ross should prove to be an important piece of the One World Under Doom crossover event. As the Prisons prelude in Incredible Hulk #19 makes clear, Ross is a “staunch nationalist” for the United States of America, so being forced by a supervillain to help strategize his plan for worldwide control should be enough to unleash the raging red monster inside. With even Doctor Doom green with envy and trying to take advantage of his strong military mind, Red Hulk’s brilliant tactical skills could contribute to the Latverian ruler’s downfall.

Incredible Hulk #19 is available now from Marvel Comics.

Red Hulk

Created as part of a Super Soldier program by Doc Samson and criminal think tank the Intelligencia, Red Hulk was imagined as an antiheroic and more volatile adversary for the Hulk. Boasting greater strategic intelligence, his true identity was revealed to be General Thunderbolt Ross in World War Hulks. After years of speculation, Red Hulk debuts in Captain America: Brave New World, played by Harrison Ford.