Elizabeth "Betty" Ross, later known as Red She-Hulk, is a pivotal character in Marvel Comics, closely tied to the Hulk mythos. Introduced as the daughter of General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962), Betty served as the primary romantic interest for Bruce Banner, the scientist who becomes the Hulk following a gamma bomb explosion. Her early role emphasized her emotional support for Banner amid his transformations and her father's relentless pursuit of the Hulk. Over time, Betty endured significant hardships, including a brief transformation into the winged, monstrous Harpy in The Incredible Hulk #168 (1973) due to manipulation by MODOK, and later her apparent death from gamma-irradiated blood poisoning inflicted by the Abomination.
Betty's resurrection and evolution into Red She-Hulk marked a profound shift in her character. Revealed to have been revived through cryogenic preservation and gamma enhancement by the Leader and MODOK—at the behest of her father—she first appeared in this form in Hulk vol. 2 #15 (2009). Endowed with superhuman strength capable of lifting over 100 tons, enhanced speed, durability, a regenerative healing factor, and energy absorption abilities, Red She-Hulk initially operated under brainwashing, aligning against heroes before regaining autonomy. Her identity was dramatically unveiled during the "World War Hulks" storyline, where she confronted and spared her father, now Red Hulk, highlighting complex familial tensions.
Subsequent developments saw Red She-Hulk participating in major events such as "Chaos War," "Fear Itself," and joining teams like the Defenders. She starred in her own series from 2012–2013, exploring independent adventures, before being depowered in 2014 by Doc Green (an altered Hulk persona). Later arcs, including in Immortal Hulk, introduced a further transformation into the Red Harpy, underscoring Betty's enduring resilience and her integral role in the gamma-powered narrative of Marvel Comics.