Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
In Avengers #28:
Thaddeus "Thuderbolt" Ross AKA The Red Hulk tries to assassinate Phoenix-Cyclops, in his human form. He is caught and the 'all-powerful' Phoenix-Frost suppresses his ability to turn back into the Hulk, and fails.
Phoenix-Frost then warns the others of the Phoenix-Five that they can't defeat him, and they should just remove him from the situation.
Why did they fail to destroy him?
As I mentioned in the early post: What additional powers does the Phoenix Force grant the “Phoenix Five”? The Phoenix is not in its ideal host. As a result, its capabilities are not nearly as omnipotent as they would be if they were within Jean Grey or Hope.
Their powers are a shadow of what they will be. They are currently utilizing their abilities at the peak of their mutant powers, but nowhere near the peak of the Phoenix's capabilities. It would likely be easier for them to destroy the Red Hulk than it would be to suppress his powers since none of their powers naturally suppress metahuman ability.
Think of the Phoenix Five as remotes for the Phoenix Force. Very clumsy remotes whose powers are nothing like the ones it is used to wielding. A threat like the Red Hulk is not to be trifled with and they would be best served eradicating it, if that is even possible.
It is also clear, they do not understand the mechanics of how his powers work, considering their bungled attempt to short circuit his powers using Emma Frost's psychic abilities. The Red Hulk was an unknown quality to the Phoenix and this worked in his favor as they used energy attacks against a being who only grew more powerful due to those attacks.
I think that it's a function of those he is fighting - Cyclops, Magneto, Emma Frost and Magik. Given he is noted as being able to absorb radiation, and specifically cosmic radiation (see below), it's likely that the Phoenix Force-powered threesome actually strengthen the Red Hulk with their attacks, augmented as they are by the Phoenix Force. In addition Magneto manipulating magnetic fields also generates electromagnetic radiation, so would likely also benefit the Red Hulk.
An attribute of the Red Hulk which isn't known to many is what gives him his tremendous power. Red Hulk is able to absorb radiation at will, mostly gamma radiation, but he can also absorb other types such as cosmic radiation. The more he absorbs, the more powerful he becomes.
