Marvel's Amadeus Cho Explained: Who Is the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Character?

Marvel's *Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man* introduces a fresh take on Peter Parker, but the animated series cleverly expands into the wider Marvel Universe. Many supporting characters are based on comic book heroes and villains. This includes Peter's Oscorp intern, the brilliant Amadeus Cho.

But who is Amadeus Cho, and why is he a significant teen hero in Marvel's recent history? Why the nickname "The Totally Awesome Hulk"? Let's delve into this self-assured genius.

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Who Is Marvel’s Amadeus Cho?

Despite his youth and the abundance of competition, Amadeus Cho ranks among the Marvel Universe's smartest individuals. His brilliance and rebellious nature often lead him to clash with authority, resulting in a life partially spent evading the law. He has a soft spot for fugitive heroes like the Hulk and Hercules, readily defending his friends.

Recently, Amadeus gained strength to match his intellect. He briefly became the Hulk after absorbing Bruce Banner's gamma radiation. Even with the classic Hulk's return, Amadeus continues his heroic endeavors as Brawn. Regardless of his moniker, Amadeus Cho is 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 (though his actual rank might be higher). He excels at pattern recognition and complex mental calculations. A drawback is his 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 all the Hulk's abilities: regeneration, durability, and more. Unlike the Hulk, however, Amadeus retains his intelligence and personality when transformed, avoiding the rage monster aspect.

Currently, Amadeus operates as Brawn, slightly less powerful than his Hulk form, but still capable of fully transforming 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 original Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), introduced Spider-Man, and served as a launchpad for new Marvel characters. Amadeus quickly became a standout.

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. After his family's death, Amadeus went on the run with only a coyote pup, eventually befriending the Hulk.

Amadeus returned to prominence during 2007's World War Hulk crossover, teaming up with Hercules (a fugitive hero who refused the Superhuman Registration Act). Their partnership led to The Incredible Hercules series, filled with adventures. This era gave rise to the iconic meme:

Amadeus and Hercules eventually became established heroes, even saving the multiverse from Amatsu-Mikaboshi. Their partnership dissolved, leading to a new chapter. After absorbing Bruce Banner's gamma radiation to prevent a nuclear meltdown, Amadeus became the new Hulk, documented in Totally Awesome Hulk. He also joined a new iteration of the Champions, alongside Ms. Marvel, Nova, Viv Vision, and a time-displaced Cyclops.

Now, with Banner back as the Hulk, Amadeus is Brawn—a powerful hero with unmatched intellect. His considerable ego is backed by impressive skills.

Amadeus Cho Beyond the Comics

Amadeus has appeared in Marvel's animated and video game projects, especially after his comic book Hulk transformation. He's a playable character in games like *Marvel Future Fight*, *Marvel Puzzle Quest*, and *Avengers Academy*, and features 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).

Now, in *Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man*, voiced by Aleks Le, he's a confident scientist and Peter Parker's Oscorp intern. While his transformation into a super-powered hero remains uncertain, given the comic-based nature of other interns and professors, it's likely only a matter of time before this Spidey teams up with Brawn. His mother, Helen Cho (Claudia Kim in *Avengers: Age of Ultron*), further suggests a potential MCU 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.