Contains Spoilers for Red Hulk (2025) #2!Red Hulkhas a new weakness in Marvel Comics, but it’s a double-edged sword that explains exactly how he could become Marvel’s strongest Hulk if given the chance. This is a cool complication for the character and one that will actually help him long-term, as strange as that may sound.
The preview forRed Hulk(2025) #2, written by Benjamin Percy with art by Geoffrey Shaw, reveals a newweakness for Red Hulkthat actually sheds light on why he can become so powerful.
In the preview, Ross reverts back from Red Hulk, telling his ally Machine Man thathe’s"tapped out"due to a lack of radiation exposure.On one hand, this reveals that solitary confinement is a major vulnerability for Ross. On the other hand, it explains why he can absorb vast amounts of energy and become incredibly strong.
Red Hulk’s New Weakness Reveals the Massive Power Limitations He Faces
Ross' Struggle to Harness Radiation
This series follows Ross’ Red Hulk, who’s been captured by Doctor Doom as part ofDoom’s successful plan to conquer the world. However, Ross, Machine Man, Deathlok, and several other characters have managed to stage a prison break and are now fighting against a never-ending stream of Doombots.The problem is that Ross will be useless until they can reach an area where he can absorb sunlight, or even stronger radiation. However, with robots like Machine Man on their side, they might be able to create an alternative source of radiation by combining their powers.
Red Hulk Locks In a New Team Ahead of the Antihero’s Marvel Movie Debut: Who’s On the Squad?
Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’s newest team of military cybernetic experiments will be all he has to break free from the clutches of Doctor Doom.
The focus on this literal power scaling sets Red Hulk apart from the regular Hulk. While Hulk has always been able to absorb gamma radiation to power up, Ross canpower up on all forms of radiation. If he absorbs enough, he could become nearly unstoppable. Red Hulk’s classic weakness is that if he absorbs too much, he"overheats"and reverts to his human form.This new weakness also makes Red Hulk vulnerable in situations where he’s at his base strength, as long as his opponent can keep him away from radiation long enough.
Red Hulk’s New Weakness: A Necessary Evolution for the Character
Why Red Hulk’s Power Limitations Make Him a More Engaging and Balanced Hero
While this new weakness might feel like a bit of a downgrade for Red Hulk, from an out-of-universe perspective, it’s the best thing that could have happened to the character. Heroes and villains alike need valid weaknesses to work in ongoing stories, otherwise they become stale, and their stories have no stakes. That goes doubly for Hulk characters, who often fall into the trap of one-upmanship when it comes to power creep.Red Hulkdoesn’t have to be the strongest there is, at least permanently, and that makes him a better character.
