Every Gamma-Powered Superhero & Villain In The MCU

Gamma radiation has resulted in all sorts of superpowered beings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from daring heroes to rampaging monsters. The “Big Three” listed by Sam Wilson as being the root cause behind every superpowered character in the MCU leaves out an important source of supernatural abilities, namely science experiments such as the one that affected Bruce Banner. Gamma radiation has been to blame for the creation of multiple heroes and villains in the MCU, forming similar effects.

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In the real world, gamma radiation doesn’t do much to human beings other than dramatically increase the rate at which they might develop cancer. While the rays can still be deadly in the MCU, being the primary force that actually kills Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame, certain portions of the population seem to be affected by them in bizarre ways. Typically green, muscular, and out-of-control, gamma irradiated mutates have shown up multiple times across the movies of the MCU.

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8

The Hulk

First appears in The Incredible Hulk

The first and most famous recipient of gamma radiation to turn into a superpowered being in the MCU, Dr. Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk after significant exposure to the powerful electromagnetic waves. In The Incredible Hulk, it’s revealed that Dr. Banner unwittingly was the subject of an experiment attempting to recreate Dr. Erskine’s super soldier serum, replacing the so-called “Vita-rays” with gamma radiation. This differs significantly from Hulk’s comic origins, in which he is accidentally hit with gamma waves after a nuclear bomb test.

The Hulk starts out as a monstrous green giant with an entirely separate personality from Bruce Banner, manifesting in times of extreme stress or anger. Eventually, Banner learns to reconcile these two halves of his psyche, walking around permanently green and muscular as Professor Hulk. It’s a shame Hulk never got another solo movie, forced instead to progress his story in the background of other projects. The original gamma mutate of the MCU, Hulk is the seed from which all others using the intense form of radiation sprung from.

7

Abomination

First appears in The Incredible Hulk

The main villain of The Incredible Hulk, Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. Abomination, is the second person to undergo mutation at the hands of gamma radiation in the MCU. Blonsky is originally a highly-decorated special ops soldier who goes up against the Hulk and loses, having samples of Bruce Banner’s blood transfused into his body in a bid to get on the same level. As a result, Blonsky is turned into Abomination, and goes on a dangerous rampage through Harlem before being defeated by Hulk and captured.

Blonsky’s Abomination form is far more monstrous and less human-like compared to the Hulk, eventually changing to become even more so with fish-like fins on the side of his head. Despite this, Blonsky turns over a new leaf when he learns to control his transformations, seeking release from his super-max prison. More or less reformed, Abomination ends up becoming a disciple at Kamar-Taj under Wong. Abomination is proof that even deeply irradiated beings are capable of change.

6

The Leader

First appears in The Incredible Hulk

The third and final gamma mutate introduced in The Incredible Hulk is Dr. Samuel Sterns, who later becomes known as The Leader. Once a gifted cellular biologist helping Bruce Banner find a cure for his unique condition, Dr. Samuel Sterns comes into contact with Banner’s blood after Abomination’s rampage, causing his head to swell in size. This mutation ends up dramatically increasing his brains rather than his brawn, making him a unique case among gamma mutates.

After being captured by S.H.I.E.L.D., Sterns’ mutation continues to grow, giving him an even greater degree of intellectual superiority. As The Leader, he returns to the MCU after over a decade in the recently-released Captain America: Brave New World, which puts a renewed focus on Hulk’s historic comic enemies. It’s here that he puts a devious plan into motion in order to strike back at General Ross, now the President of the United States.

5

She-Hulk

First appears in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

Yet another gamma mutate caused by exposure to Bruce Banner’s blood, Jennifer Walters is only the second gamma-powered hero to use her abilities for good. Bruce Banner’s cousin, Jen is exposed to his gamma-irradiated blood after an accident, causing her to gain her own muscular green transformation via She-Hulk. Unlike the original Hulk incarnation, Walters is in full control of her transformations, having no secondary persona, and can turn her superpowered form on and off at will.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law hints that something about the Banner family’s genes in particular allows them to somehow synthesize gamma radiation into superpowers, explaining why such lethal exposure to the gamma rays don’t kill Bruce or Jen outright. Almost as strong as the Hulk and with none of the downsides, Jennifer Walters truly lucked out the most when it comes to her own gamma-fueled transformation. The gamma radiation seems to have also granted Walters a knack for breaking the fourth wall, just like in the comics.

4

Scorpion

First appears in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

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Despite being teased for an appearance in the MCU proper at the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Mac Gargan’s Scorpion doesn’t get much time in the spotlight until his recent debut in the animated series, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Just like in the comics, Scorpion doesn’t have any inherent powers, but wields a suit complete with a mechanized stinger tail that allows him to get the better of foes as strong as Spider-Man himself. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man also adds a gamma-irradiated twist to the classic villain.

The series determines that Mac Gargan’s Scorpion suit is actually powered by an intense gamma reactor designed by Otto Octavius. The dangerous and unstable power plant emits intense heat and radiation, even burning the flesh of Scorpion himself, but the terrifying arachnid villain employs it anyway, heedless of the consequences. At one point, Scorpion even escapes by overloading this gamma-powered reactor, freeing himself and critically wounding Spider-Man at the same time.

3

Red Hulk

First appears in Captain America: Brave New World

Another character to continue the legacy of The Incredible Hulk vis gamma mutation in Captain America: Brave New World, President Ross’ Red Hulk is a dangerous new variable for Captain America to face. Once upon a time, General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross was the Hulk’s primary enemy, doing everything he can to bring down and capture the rampaging beast. After giving up the chase and succeeding in a bid for the presidency, Ross himself gains a gamma-infused transformation of his own.

Unlike in the comics, Ross doesn’t seem to be in control of his actions as Red Hulk, perhaps an even more dangerous and unpredictable creature than the original Hulk. Regardless, he seems to have strength and durability on-par with Bruce Banner’s old alter ego, creating chaos for Sam Wilson to somehow handle. It’ll be interesting to see where Red Hulk winds up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole after Captain America: Brave New World as the franchise’s latest gamma mutate.

2

Apex

First appears in What If…?

Sadly, the lack of focus on Hulk as a solo character meant that the Marvel Cinematic Universe never truly got to adapt the infamous World War Hulk storyline, in which Hulk grows powerful enough to wage a one-man war against the entire planet. While this dream remains unrealized in the main timeline, the series is at least able to entertain a similar idea in an alternate timeline thanks to the What If…? episode, What If…the Hulk fought the Mech Avengers? In this timeline, Banner infuses himself with even more gamma radiation in an attempt to cure himself of Hulk.

Rather than get rid of the Hulk, this process only exacerbates its symptoms, resulting in the creation of Apex, a massive, kaiju-sized Hulk monster whose appearance kicks off the so-called Gamma War. A separate entity from Banner and Hulk himself, Apex goes on to create an army of similarly monstrous Gamma Beasts, waging war on all of humanity. Apex and his minions are the ultimate example of how powerful unchecked gamma radiation can be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, prompting the Avengers to upgrade themselves to Pacific Rim-style mech pilots in response.

1

Freak

First appears in What If…?

Apex and the Gamma Beasts aren’t the only gamma-infused creature exclusive to the alternate timelines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe What If…? series. Another gamma creation, simply known as Freak, actually appears in multiple different timelines in the What If…? series. Freak debuts in What If…Happy Hogan Saved Christmas? when Happy is accidentally injected with, of course, a sample of Bruce Banner’s blood while protecting it from Hammer Industries saboteurs. Transforming into Freak, Happy becomes a muscular, purple, crazed monster with a manic edge.

Freak shows up again in What If…The Avengers Assembled in 1602? as a sudden superpowered side of Sir Joseph “The Happy” Hogan, a Middle Ages version of Happy. It’s unclear how this version of Happy was able to have transformed in a medieval time period with no gamma technology to speak of, but he nevertheless appears to have all the same trademarks of the traditional gamma-infused Freak of the earlier episode in the same season. Freak is a great example of the strange myriad of ways gamma radiation can affect different personalities in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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