1st Appearance | Origin Story | Main Publication History | Secondary Publication History | Key Storylines | Media Source Material | Key Issues | Compilations
by snowbi-wan, updated Nov 2024
From writer Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuinness, the Red Hulk burst into Marvel publishing with the first issue of HULK [2008] in March of 2008. His identity was a mystery that was strung out for nearly two years in that series and several appearances in other comics. As you can imagine, the Red Hulk's powers are similar to the green Hulk's, but also the Red Hulk can emit extreme heat and absorb gamma and cosmic radiation. The classic green Savage Hulk dates back to the 60s, but Doc Samson gained Hulk-like powers in the 70s. And the She-Hulk, Bruce Banner's cousin with hulk-like powers, debuted in 1979. But the "re"-introduction of the Grey Hulk in the 80s started a slow revolution in Hulk personalities that eventually evolved into a whole cast of supporting characters with hulk-like powers in the 2000s, culminating in the FALL OF THE HULKS storyline cross-over from writers Jeph Loeb and Greg Pak. Suspicion from the outset that the Red Hulk was just some other incarnation of Bruce Banner was not unwarranted but eventually refuted. Poor initial reception from fans that Red Hulk was a green knockoff softened as some strong Red Hulk storylines were presented.
Red Hulk's origin would be revealed in issue #23 of the HULK [2008] series. Thaddeus E. 'Thunderbolt' Ross, the father of Betty Ross, was introduced way back in the very first issue of Hulk in 1962. He had an adversarial relationship with Bruce Banner/Hulk throughout the decades. Readers were initally thrown off the track when it was revealed that the Red Hulk had killed Thunderbolt Ross, but the real story was eventually told. A criminal organization, the Intelligencia, cromprised of some of the most brilliant super-villains, transformed General Ross into the Red Hulk through a combination of gamma and cosmic radiation.
Another Red Hulk was introduced in 2017 and should not be confused with Thunderbolt Ross. This other Red Hulk has a mustache and is the alter-ego of another general, Robert Maverick, and a member of the U.S. Avengers team from the title of that same name that ran for only 12 issues from 2017-2018. Red Hulk (Robert Maverick) also starred in a run of issues of AVENGERS [2017B] #675-685 in 2018 during the NO SURRENDER storyline. The OG Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) made a reappearance in CAPTAIN AMERICA [2018] #26 in 2021 but has not really been part of any Marvel storylines since. This will likely change when the Red Hulk makes a proper, long-form debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2025.
1st Appearance
The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross), if it's within your budget.
First appearances are sometimes contentious based on differing interpretations of the specific details for any given character by individual collectors, but the market usually sets relative values along with the supply and demand. Some collectors consider Red Hulk's cover appearance in Marvel Previews #51, which predates HULK [2008] #1 by a few months, to be a sort of first appearance. We include it in the list below with that caveat. Also included for completeness is Thaddeus E. 'Thunderbolt' Ross' first appearance way back in 1962. The value on this book is extremely high because, you know, it just also happens to be Hulk (Bruce Banner)'s first appearance.
*As an eBay Partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- INCREDIBLE HULK [1962] #1 (1st appearance of Thaddeus E. 'Thunderbolt' Ross) Find it on eBay
- MARVEL PREVIEWS [2003] #51 (1st cover appearance of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)) Find it on eBay
- HULK [2008] #1 (1st appearance of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)) Find it on eBay
Origin Story
The original presentation of an origin story or a retelling/recounting of it can be a good place to get started with a character or subject. The 'origin' of a superhero/villain is typically the event or circumstances surrounding how they gained their powers and/or began fighting/committing crime.
The origin of the Red Hulk was told in issue #23 of his first ongoing feature series. Since his identity was a mystery before this issue, it's recommended that you simply just read that series from the beginning, and let the origin be told in its due time, pretending it hasn't already been parenthetically spoiled in every other sentence on this webpage.
*As a MyComicShop Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #291 (origin of Thaddeus E. 'Thunderbolt' Ross well before he became Red Hulk) Find issues on MCS
- HULK [2008] #23 (origin of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)) Find issues on MCS
Jump to Compilations
- RED SHE-HULK [2012] #58 (contains 1-page character profile on Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)) Find issues on MCS
Main Publication History
Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for Red Hulk (thunderbolt Ross) comic books. The reading order presented here is chronological by publication date (of the first issue of the series).
Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) starred in his own series HULK [2008] from 2008-2012. He was featured in an Avengers story arc then joined the Avengers in the 2011-2014 timeframe and was seen in the background at least almost anywhere the Avengers were seen around Marvel publishing. Thunderbolt Ross also founded the Thunderbolts team in the 2013 series of that name. He recruited other super-power beings with the same mindset of him. This series ran from 2013-2014. (The Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) has not been a part of any of Marvel's follow-on Thunderbolt series though.) Red Hulk starred in the Disney XD animated cartoon HULK AND THE AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H. in 2013 and was perhaps introduced to another generation of fans via that medium. There are some comics from that timeframe adapting some of the episodes. Otherwise, the Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) faded out of Marvel publishing after the 2014 OMEGA HULK storyline.
*As a MyComicShop Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- HULK [2008] #1-57 (1st solo series for Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)) Find issues on MCS
- KING-SIZE HULK [2008] #1 (anthology issue contains original stories that set up ongoing Hulk family storylines and reprints of INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180-181) Find issues on MCS
- FALL OF THE HULKS: ALPHA [2010] #1 (FALL OF THE HULKS, Part 1; Red Hulk is an integral character to this crossover storyline and features in most, but not all parts) Find issues on MCS
- FALL OF THE HULKS: GAMMA [2010] #1 (FALL OF THE HULKS, Part 2) Find issues on MCS
- INCREDIBLE HULK [2009] #606-608 (FALL OF THE HULKS, Parts 3, 7, and 9) Find issues on MCS
- HULK [2008] #19-21 (FALL OF THE HULKS, Parts 4, 6, and 10) Find issues on MCS
- FALL OF THE HULKS: RED HULK [2010] #1-4 (FALL OF THE HULKS, Parts 5, 8, 11) Find issues on MCS
- HULK MGC [2010] #1 (reprints HULK [2008] #1) Find issues on MCS
- AVENGERS [2010] #7-34 (regular appearances in this run of this series of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) first as a guest (#7-9) then as an Avenger; Red Hulk appears with the Avengers team in other books from the timeframe as well, but is not a main character) Find issues on MCS
- SPIDER-GIRL [2011] #2-3 (guest appearance of the Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)) Find issues on MCS
- AVENGERS: INFINITY QUEST [2011] #1 (reprints AVENGERS [2010] #7-9 together in one comic book) Find issues on MCS
- AVENGING SPIDER-MAN [2011] #1-3 (team-up story arc of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) with Spider-Man) Find issues on MCS
- VENOM [2011] #11-13, 13.1-13.4, 14 (Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) is one of the 'four' main characters in this Venom storyline) Find issues on MCS
- UNCANNY X-MEN [2012] #11 (guest appearance; Juggernaut-powered Colossus Vs. The Red Hulk) Find issues on MCS
- HULK SMASH AVENGERS [2012] #5 (this one issue of this anthology series features Red Hulk vs. the Avengers) Find issues on MCS
- A+X [2012] #1 (this one issue of this anthology series features a Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) story) Find issues on MCS
- THUNDERBOLTS [2013] #1-32 (Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) recruits a team that shares his outlook on the world) Find issues on MCS
- FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2013 (AVENGERS/HULK) [2013] #1 (appearance; based on the the animated Disney HD television cartoon, HULK AND THE AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H.) Find issues on MCS
- MARVEL UNIVERSE HULK: AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H. [2013] #1-4 (appearances; based on the the animated Disney HD television cartoon, HULK AND THE AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H.) Find issues on MCS
- HULK [2014] #10, 14-15 (appearances of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) in Parts 6, 10-11 of the OMEGA HULK storyline) Find issues on MCS
- CAPTAIN AMERICA [2018B] #26 (reappearance of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)) Find issues on MCS
Key Issues
A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross), but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags. The issues listed in this section are predominantly non-variants (i.e. main covers).
*As an eBay Partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- INCREDIBLE HULK [1962] #1 (1st appearance of Thaddeus E. 'Thunderbolt' Ross) Find it on eBay
- INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #291 (origin of Thaddeus E. 'Thunderbolt' ross) Find it on eBay
- HULK [2008] #1 (1st appearance of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross)) Find it on eBay
- KING-SIZE HULK [2008] #1 (anthology issue contains stories that set up ongoing Hulk family storylines and reprints INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180-181) Find it on eBay
- HULK [2008] #14 (Red Hulk vs Wolverine!) Find it on eBay
Compilations
In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross). The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).
The compilations of the HULK [2008] series begins with volumes numbered 1-6 but then transitions to a succession of 6 more volumes named RED HULK with a subtitle but do not carry volume numbers. Also, to confuse you more, Marvel published [VOL 10] before [VOL 09].
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
| Cover | Release Month | Series / Number / Storyline | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Quick View | Sep 2024 | INCREDIBLE HULK EPIC COLLECTION [2018-TPB] VOL 01: MAN OR MONSTER? 3RD EDITION, CURRENT PRINTING (included for completeness, this compilation contains the 1st appearance of Thaddeus E. Ross well before he became the Red Hulk) |  | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jan 2009 | HULK [2008-TPB] VOL 01: RED HULK OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2009 | HULK [2008-TPB] VOL 02: RED AND GREEN OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jan 2010 | HULK [2008-TPB] VOL 03: HULK NO MORE OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jun 2010 | HULK [2008-TPB] VOL 04: HULK VS. X-FORCE OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2010 | FALL OF THE HULKS: RED HULK [2010-TPB] OUT OF PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2010 | HULK [2008-TPB] VOL 05: FALL OF THE HULKS OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Mar 2011 | HULK [2008-TPB] VOL 06: WORLD WAR HULKS OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Apr 2011 | RED HULK: SCORCHED EARTH [2011-TPB] OUT-OF-PRINT (effectively VOL 07 of the compilations of the HULK [2008] series) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2011 | RED HULK: PLANET RED HULK [2011-TPB] OUT-OF-PRINT (effectively VOL 08 of the compilations of the HULK [2008] series) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jan 2012 | AVENGERS [2010-TPB] VOL 02 OUT-OF-PRINT (Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) is the subject of an Avengers story arc) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | May 2012 | RED HULK: HULK OF ARABIA [2012-TPB] OUT-OF-PRINT (effectively VOL 09 of the compilations of the HULK [2008] series) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2012 | RED HULK: HAUNTED [2012-TPB] OUT-OF-PRINT (effectively VOL 10 of the compilations of the HULK [2008] series) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Sep 2012 | VENOM: CIRCLE OF FOUR [2012-TPB] OUT-OF-PRINT (Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) is one of the 'four' main characters in this Venom storyline) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2012 | AVENGING SPIDER-MAN: MY FRIENDS CAN BEAT UP YOUR FRIENDS [2012-TPB] OUT-OF-PRINT (Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) team-up story arc with Spider-Man) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2012 | RED HULK: MAYAN RULE [2012-TPB] OUT-OF-PRINT (effectively VOL 11 of the compilations of the HULK [2008] series) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2012 | AVENGERS [2010-TPB] VOL 03 OUT-OF-PRINT (Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) joins the Avengers!) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2012 | FEAR ITSELF: HULK/DRACULA [2012-TPB] OUT-OF-PRINT (effectively VOL 12 of the compilations of the HULK [2008] series; contains issues out-of-order from the main series, but this is when this compilation was released) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | May 2013 | THUNDERBOLTS [2013-TPB] VOL 01: NO QUARTER OUT-OF-PRINT (Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross) recruits a team that shares his outlook on the world) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2013 | AVENGERS [2010-TPB] VOL 04 OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Aug 2013 | AVENGERS [2010-TPB] VOL 05 OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Sep 2013 | THUNDERBOLTS [2013-TPB] VOL 02: RED SCARE OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jan 2014 | THUNDERBOLTS [2013-TPB] VOL 03: INFINITY OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Apr 2014 | MARVEL UNIVERSE HULK: AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H. [2013-DIG] OUT-OF-PRINT (digest-sized compilation) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2014 | THUNDERBOLTS [2013-TPB] VOL 04: NO MERCY OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Dec 2014 | THUNDERBOLTS [2013-TPB] VOL 05: PUNISHER VS. THE THUNDERBOLTS OUT-OF-PRINT | | Go to Amazon |
Media Source Material
If you've enjoyed non-comic media for Red Hulk (Thunderbolt Ross), this section describes the comic book source material for some of the most popular non-comic media. Ross as the Red Hulk is set to appear in the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* in 2025. General Ross (not as Red Hulk) has made a couple cameos in MCU films already. The character was initially played by William Hurt and subsequently by Harrison Ford.