Red Hulk’s Complicated History With MODOK Explained

Ross eventually gets infused with the powers of the monster Zzzax, dies, and gets resurrected by the Leader as a mindless slave. Some aliens free his mind, and Ross manages to achieve a detente with the Hulk. He realizes that years of force have done nothing but provoke the Hulk, so he befriends him and Banner instead. For a while, this tactic works, and Ross seems satisfied. 

Then the Abomination kills Betty, and Ross is despondent. A number of heroes trick the Hulk into being sent into outer space, to prevent any further rampages on Earth without actually killing him. Ross has no purpose as a military man now with the Hulk gone, and he takes to drinking heavily. In “Hulk” #23, his nadir comes while he’s sitting in a bar, and news arrives that Steve Rogers — Captain America — has been assassinated. Ross has a low opinion of most heroes, but Cap is his idol. 

At that moment, the seemingly unlikely duo of the Leader and MODOK walk into the bar, paralyzing everyone except Ross. They tell him that they agree that the country is broken, and offer him a chance to fix it as its leader. He scoffs at them, but the Leader tells him that he can bring back his dead daughter Betty with her full mental faculties. They tell him they all know the Hulk will return, and ask him if he wants to be ready for it. Ross accepts. 

Ross eventually gets infused with the powers of the monster Zzzax, dies, and gets resurrected by the Leader as a mindless slave. Some aliens free his mind, and Ross manages to achieve a detente with the Hulk. He realizes that years of force have done nothing but provoke the Hulk, so he befriends him and Banner instead. For a while, this tactic works, and Ross seems satisfied. 

Then the Abomination kills Betty, and Ross is despondent. A number of heroes trick the Hulk into being sent into outer space, to prevent any further rampages on Earth without actually killing him. Ross has no purpose as a military man now with the Hulk gone, and he takes to drinking heavily. In “Hulk” #23, his nadir comes while he’s sitting in a bar, and news arrives that Steve Rogers — Captain America — has been assassinated. Ross has a low opinion of most heroes, but Cap is his idol. 

At that moment, the seemingly unlikely duo of the Leader and MODOK walk into the bar, paralyzing everyone except Ross. They tell him that they agree that the country is broken, and offer him a chance to fix it as its leader. He scoffs at them, but the Leader tells him that he can bring back his dead daughter Betty with her full mental faculties. They tell him they all know the Hulk will return, and ask him if he wants to be ready for it. Ross accepts.