While many of Bruce Banner’s allies (and a few enemies) have been transformed into Hulk beings over the decades, the gamma radiation expert has been the only version of everyone’s favorite rage monster since the character’s introduction in 1962. However, come this winter, Banner will be out, and a new person will be taking over as Hulk in the new Marvel universe. Meet 19-year-old Amadeus Cho, the Totally Awesome Hulk!
After months of staying mum on who this new Hulk is, Marvel revealed Korean-American teenage genius Amadeus as the new Green Goliath earlier today. Picking up eight months after the events of Secret Wars (like the rest of Marvel’s All-New, All Different books), Totally Awesome Hulk #1, which is being written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Frank Cho, will follow Amadeus on his adventures not as a Hulk who is tormented or conflicted, but simply a giant green wrecking machine who loves being the Hulk. Cho has been an important player in the Marvel universe since 2006, but he’s primarily been a supporting player to other heroes, including Bruce Banner and some of the Avengers. This propels him to new heights of fame, and with those Hulk legs, he’ll certainly go far.
In an interview with EW, Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso explained how he and Pak decided to make Cho the new Hulk rather than stick with Banner. Namely, they felt that Banner had shouldered this unique burden for so long that it was time to pass it to someone else, and Amadeus was the perfect candidate. Alonso said:
One of them is that physically, he’s like Banner: he’s the 98-pound weakling who’s had everything but the physical aspect to make him seem super cool. And secondarily is that he’s so different from Banner. He shares the monstrous intellect but he’s so different — he’s a teenage kid, who’s hasn’t lived much yet. When Banner inherited the burden of being the Hulk, he was an adult. And I think that it showed in the way that he responded to it. Amadeus is a plucky kid. He’s got a chip on his shoulder, he’s the fifth or sixth smartest guy in the world according to the official rankings, and I think he’s just going to carry himself very differently with that power.
If you happen to be a Bruce Banner fan, not to worry. The book will explore what happened to him and “what state he is in now.” However, Alonso made it clear that Amadeus will be the only Hulk in the Marvel universe (for the time being, anyway). In addition to She-Hulk appearing in the first issue, Totally Awesome Hulk will introduce several new characters, including a young woman who will serve as a “great foil” for Amadeus. The teenager is the the most recent Marvel character who has inherited an established superhero identity. Other recent switches include Sam Wilson becoming Captain America and Jane Foster becoming Thor.
In terms of story, Pak stated that the book’s opening arc will tell two stories: one will take place in the present day and show Amadeus “kicking ass and getting a threat that is scaled to his power,” while the other will be flashbacks showing how he acquired these powers and what happened to Banner. Pak also hinted that the present day story will also plant seeds that tie into something happening in the grander Marvel universe lear this year.
You can find Totally Awesome Hulk #1 this December at your local comic book store or online.
