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

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, one of Peter's Oscorp interns. But who is Amadeus Cho, and why is he a significant teen hero in Marvel's recent history? This guide explores his brilliance, his Hulk persona, and his journey.

Amadeus Cho: The Seventh Smartest Person in the Marvel Universe

Despite his youth, Amadeus Cho is among the Marvel Universe's most intelligent individuals. His exceptional intellect, particularly in pattern recognition and rapid mental calculations, often leads to intense hunger. However, this brilliance, coupled with his rebellious nature, has frequently put him at odds with authority, leading to a life partially spent evading the law. He displays a fondness for fugitive heroes like the Hulk and Hercules, and consistently champions his friends.

Amadeus's intellectual prowess is matched by his physical strength. He briefly became the Hulk after absorbing Bruce Banner's gamma radiation. Even after the original Hulk's return, Amadeus continues to fight for justice, now operating under the alias "Brawn."

Amadeus Cho's Powers and Abilities

Amadeus possesses extraordinary intelligence, officially ranked as the seventh smartest person in the Marvel Universe. His cognitive abilities are exceptional, allowing for rapid problem-solving and complex calculations. However, this intense mental activity often results in extreme hunger.

His time as the Hulk granted him immense physical strength, durability, and regenerative abilities. Unlike the classic Hulk, Amadeus retains his intelligence and personality while transformed, avoiding the rage-fueled persona. Currently operating as Brawn, his power level is slightly reduced compared to his Hulk form, but he still retains the ability to fully transform when necessary.

Amadeus Cho: A Comic Book History

Created by Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa, Amadeus debuted in 2005's Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2 #15. Winning an Excello Soap Company competition, he was officially recognized as the world's seventh smartest person. Tragedy struck when the contest sponsor targeted him, resulting in his family's death. He subsequently went into hiding, eventually forming a strong bond with the Hulk.

Amadeus played a crucial role in 2007's World War Hulk crossover, teaming up with Hercules. Their partnership led to the Incredible Hercules series, showcasing their numerous adventures. Later, after absorbing Bruce Banner's gamma radiation to prevent a nuclear disaster, Amadeus became the Hulk, his adventures documented in Totally Awesome Hulk. He also joined the Champions, a team of teen heroes.

Currently, with Bruce Banner back as the Hulk, Amadeus operates as Brawn, a powerful hero combining intellect and strength.

Amadeus Cho Beyond the Comics

Amadeus's popularity has extended to Marvel's animated and video game projects, particularly after his Hulk transformation. He's a playable character in various mobile games and LEGO Marvel titles. In animation, he appeared in Ultimate Spider-Man and Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled, often portrayed as Iron Spider. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man features him as the Totally Awesome Hulk. His potential MCU debut is anticipated, given his mother's appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron. In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, voiced by Aleks Le, he's a confident scientist and Peter Parker's Oscorp intern, hinting at a future superhero transformation.