Marvel's *Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man* introduces a fresh take on Peter Parker, but its animated universe extends far beyond the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler. The supporting cast is a veritable who's who of costumed heroes and villains from the comics, including the brilliant and self-assured Amadeus Cho, one of Peter's fellow Oscorp interns.
But who is Amadeus Cho, and why has he become a prominent teen hero in the Marvel Universe? Why the nickname "Totally Awesome Hulk?" Let's delve into this multifaceted character.
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Who Is Marvel’s Amadeus Cho?
Despite his youth and the abundance of exceptionally gifted individuals in the Marvel Universe, Amadeus Cho ranks among the smartest. His brilliance and rebellious nature, however, have often led him to clash with authority, resulting in a life partially spent evading the law. He possesses a strong affinity for fugitive heroes like the Hulk and Hercules, consistently standing up for his friends.
Amadeus's strength eventually matched his intellect. He briefly became the Hulk after absorbing Bruce Banner's gamma radiation. While the classic Hulk has returned, Amadeus continues his heroic endeavors as Brawn. Regardless of his moniker, Amadeus Cho remains a powerful force for good.
Amadeus Cho’s Hulk Powers and Abilities
Amadeus possesses exceptional intelligence, officially ranked as the seventh smartest person in the Marvel Universe—a ranking that might even be an underestimate. His skills in pattern recognition and rapid mental calculations are unparalleled. The only drawback to his incredible mind is a constant, insatiable hunger.
After becoming the Hulk, Amadeus gained physical strength to rival his mental capabilities. At his peak, he possessed the Hulk's full strength, regeneration, durability, and other abilities. Unlike the classic Hulk, however, Amadeus retained his intelligence and personality, avoiding the rage-fueled transformations.
Currently, Amadeus operates as Brawn, a slightly less powerful iteration than his Hulk persona, though he can still unleash his full Hulk strength when necessary.
Amadeus Cho Cheat Sheet
- First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2 #15 (2005)
- Creators: Greg Pak & Takeshi Miyazawa
- Aliases: Mastermind Excello, Hulk, Brawn, Prince of Power
- Current Team: Agents of Atlas (Previously Champions, God Squad, Avengers)
- Recommended Reading: Incredible Hercules - The Complete Collection Vols. 1-2, The Totally Awesome Hulk Vols. 1-4, Champions: Because the World Still Needs Heroes
Amadeus Cho’s Comic Book History
Created by Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa, Amadeus Cho debuted in 2005's Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2 #15. This issue, mirroring the significance of the original Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), which introduced Spider-Man, served as a launchpad for new Marvel characters. Amadeus quickly became the breakout star.
He gained recognition as the world's seventh smartest man after winning an Excello Soap Company competition. Tragically, the sponsor, Pythagoras Dupree, targeted Amadeus for death to maintain his own ranking. Following the loss of his family, Amadeus went on the run, befriending a coyote pup and eventually crossing paths with the Hulk, forging a lasting friendship.
Amadeus returned to prominence during the 2007 World War Hulk crossover, assisting his friend and partnering with Hercules. Their adventures were chronicled in The Incredible Hercules, a series filled with misadventures. This collaboration birthed the iconic meme image:
Amadeus and Hercules eventually became established heroes, even saving the multiverse from Amatsu-Mikaboshi. Their partnership eventually dissolved, leading Amadeus to absorb Bruce Banner's gamma radiation to prevent a nuclear meltdown, becoming the new Hulk. His adventures as the Hulk were documented in Totally Awesome Hulk. He also joined a new iteration of the Champions alongside other teen heroes.
Now, with Banner back as the Hulk, Amadeus operates as Brawn, a powerful hero with unmatched intellect.
Amadeus Cho Beyond the Comics
Amadeus has become a recurring character in Marvel's animated and video game projects, especially since his Hulk transformation in the comics. He's a playable character in mobile games like Marvel Future Fight, Marvel Puzzle Quest, and Avengers Academy, and appears in the LEGO Marvel games.
In animation, Amadeus appeared in Ultimate Spider-Man and Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled, voiced by Eric Bauza as Iron Spider. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2017) featured him as the Totally Awesome Hulk (voiced by Ki Hong Lee).
In the latest Spider-Man series, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, voiced by Aleks Le, Amadeus is portrayed as a confident scientist and Peter Parker's intern at Oscorp. While his superhero destiny remains uncertain, his presence alongside other comic-book-inspired characters hints at a future transformation.
A future MCU appearance seems likely, given his mother Helen's minor role in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), suggesting groundwork for his introduction.
For more on Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, check out IGN's spoiler-free review of Season 1 and see the 5 ways the new series reinvents Peter Parker's mythology.
