Captain America: Brave New World- Why is Red Hulk’s Color different from other Hulks?

Disclaimer: This article contains mild spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World. Reader discretion is advised.

Captain America: Brave New World stars Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross, who turns into Red Hulk. He is as big and terrifying as Bruce Banner's Hulk. The major and unmistakable difference is that this Hulk is red. It became clear to the viewers from the series of promotional material that the Marvel Studios shared online over the course of a few months in anticipation of their big release.

The die-hard Marvel fans will have a clue of the reason behind the color change, but other viewers might be wondering why the Red Hulk’s Color is different from the previous Hulk. Unfortunately, they won't get the answer in Captain America: Brave New World since the film doesn't share a specific reason behind Red Hulk's color.

If Ross underwent the Gamma rays experiment, he should have been green like Bruce Banner's monstrous version instead of red. However, one of the Marvel Comics reveals that his red color is due to a procedure including Gamma rays and cosmic radiation.

The post-credit scenes of Captain America: Brave New World also hint at The Leader's potential involvement in exposing Ross to the cosmic rays as he could have accessed this material.

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Captain America: Brave New World: The new Captain America film doesn't reveal why the new Hulk is red

Captain America: Brave New World features Hulk in a red, hot avatar, but doesn't necessarily explain why Thaddeus Ross turns into a red monster instead of a green one, like Bruce Banner.

They might want to know why Harrison Ford's character becomes this color of formidable antagonist. One of the limited pieces of information is Ross' exposure to the Gamma Rays, because of The Leader / Sam Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson). However, it doesn't reveal why Ross doesn't turn into a green giant.

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Marvel Comics: The reason behind Red Hulk's color explored

Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross turns Red because he was exposed to cosmic radiation besides gamma rays. The red color signifies his seething, enormous rage, which translates into fire - since he radiates a lot of heat, also noticeable in the new film.

The red color offers Ross's transformed version an enormous power and it separates him from green, blue, or orange-colored Hulks - since their color variations have different roots and origins as explained in some other Marvel Comics editions.

Hulk #23 offers an insight into why Ross's version of Hulk becomes Red. This book reveals that a clique of villains, known as Intellgencia was behind it.

The group comprised Doc Samson, Modok, and The Leader. They led Ross to undergo a complicated procedure shortly after he fought Sentry.

The villains combined cosmic radiation with gamma to turn Ross' Hulk into the raging red monster that he ends up being. However, it is important to note that Red Hulk's powers can also lead to his tragic end since he can explode if he loses control over his powers. That also helps Sam Wilson's Cap defeat Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World.