Amadeus Cho: Marvel's Brainy, Powerful Teen Hero
While Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man features a fresh take on Peter Parker, the animated series delves deep into the Marvel Universe. Many supporting characters are based on comic book heroes and villains, including Amadeus Cho, Peter's Oscorp intern. But who is Amadeus Cho, and why is he a significant teen hero in Marvel's recent history? Let's explore this brilliant yet self-absorbed character.
Who is Amadeus Cho?
Despite his youth and the abundance of competition, Amadeus Cho is among the Marvel Universe's most intelligent individuals. His brilliance and rebellious nature often lead him into legal trouble, resulting in a life partly spent evading authorities. He has a soft spot for fugitive heroes like the Hulk and Hercules, readily defending his friends.
Amadeus's strength now matches his intellect. He briefly became the Hulk after absorbing Bruce Banner's gamma radiation. Although the classic Hulk has returned, Amadeus continues his heroic endeavors as Brawn. Regardless of his moniker, Amadeus Cho is a powerful force for good.
Amadeus Cho's Powers and Abilities
Amadeus possesses exceptional intelligence, officially ranked as the seventh smartest person in the Marvel Universe (though potentially higher). He excels at pattern recognition and complex mental calculations, although this intense mental activity often leaves him ravenous.
His time as the Hulk granted him immense physical strength, matching his mental capabilities. At his peak, he possessed the Hulk's full strength, regeneration, durability, and other abilities. Unlike the Hulk, Amadeus retains his intelligence and personality during transformations, avoiding the rage monster persona.
Currently, Amadeus operates as Brawn, slightly less powerful than his Hulk form but still capable of unleashing his full Hulk strength when needed.
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 original Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man's debut), introduced characters with significant Marvel Universe potential, with Amadeus becoming a standout.
He gained recognition as the world's seventh smartest man after winning an Excello Soap Company competition. However, the sponsor, Pythagoras Dupree, targeted Amadeus for assassination to maintain his own ranking. Following his family's death, Amadeus fled with only a coyote pup, eventually befriending the Hulk.
Amadeus's prominence returned during 2007's World War Hulk crossover, partnering with Hercules (a fugitive hero from Civil War). Their adventures in The Incredible Hercules series led to memorable moments. They later became respectable heroes, even saving the multiverse from Amatsu-Mikaboshi. Their partnership eventually dissolved.
After absorbing Bruce Banner's gamma radiation to prevent a nuclear meltdown, Amadeus became the Hulk, detailed in Totally Awesome Hulk. He also joined the Champions, alongside Ms. Marvel, Nova, Viv Vision, and a time-displaced Cyclops.
Now, with Banner back as the Hulk, Amadeus operates as Brawn, a powerful and brilliant hero.
Amadeus Cho Beyond the Comics
Amadeus's presence in Marvel's animated and video game projects has grown, particularly after his comic book Hulk transformation. He's a playable character in games like Marvel Future Fight, Marvel Puzzle Quest, and Avengers Academy, and appears in LEGO Marvel games.
In animation, he 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).
Currently, in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, voiced by Aleks Le, Amadeus is a confident scientist and Peter Parker's Oscorp intern. While his superhero destiny remains uncertain, his confident demeanor and the comic book-based nature of other interns suggest a future as a powered hero. An MCU debut also seems likely, given his mother's minor role in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
