Amadeus Cho is a 19-year-old Korean-American genius, one of the smartest people on earth. Actually, he was credited as the 7th smartest person in the world, a title he obtained after winning the Excello Soap Company’s “Brain Soap” competition (he’s maybe only the 8th or 10th smartest person in the world, but who’s counting?). It’s also where his story begins, as the game’s creator tries to kill Cho to preserve his ranking. His attempt failed but Cho’s parents were killed, and our young man had to flee for his life.
It didn’t take long for him to run across The Hulk who saved his life. As a result, Amadeus became his sidekick, a sort of modern-day Rick Jones before moving on to Hercules. But Amadeus Cho was too smart and too cocky to stay in this sidekick role and was destined to become a hero in his own right. Cho became the Totally Awesome Hulk but lost control at some point. He was somehow depowered when he finally succeeded in destroying the rage monster inside him. Amadeus chose to be called Brawn in this new form. He has also been a member of two superhero teams: The Champions and Agents of Atlas.
This reading order was requested by one of our readers! Don’t hesitate to leave a comment or write to us with some other suggestions!
Amadeus Cho, the Complete Comics Reading Order
Smashing Hulk! For more readings with members of the Hulk’s clan, check out our reading guide about:
- The Hulk to know more about Bruce Banner
- She-Hulk aka Jennifer Walters, lawyer and Bruce Banner’s cousin
Introducing Amadeus Cho
Created by Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa, Amadeus Cho made his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy (2004) #15 published by Marvel Comics, before befriending Hulk and Hercules (see reading order) to live some fun adventures with them.
- The Incredible Hercules: Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects Incredible Hulk (2000) #106-112, Incredible Hercules #113-120 And Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide; And Material From Giant-Size Hulk (2006) #1, Amazing Fantasy (2004) #15 And Incredible Hulk (2000) #100. Also collected in:- World War Hulk: The Incredible Hercules
Collects The Incredible Hulk vol. 3, #106–111 - The Incredible Hercules, Vol. 1: Against the World
Collects Incredible Hulk #112, Incredible Hercules #113-115 & Hulk vs Hercules: When Titans Clash. In the aftermath of World War Hulk, The Incredible Hulk series received a new title: The Incredible Hercules. The focus change to Hercules – but the numeration stays the same. The series focused on Hercules, Amadeus Cho, and half-sister Athena.
- World War Hulk: The Incredible Hercules
- Incredible Hercules: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects Incredible Hercules (2007) #121-137.
Dark Reign: Amadeus Cho, member of the Mighty Avengers
In the aftermath of Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn came out as a hero and rise to national power. This led us to Dark Reign, a period in the Marvel Universe where the former Green Goblin was in control. Amadeus Cho and Hercules joined Dan Slott’s Mighty Avengers after Incredible Hercules (2007) #125.
- Mighty Avengers Vol. 5: Earth’s Mightiest
Collects Mighty Avengers #21-26. Those issues take place before Dark Avengers #5. - Mighty Avengers Vol. 6: The Unspoken
Collects Mighty Avengers #27-31. - Siege: Thunderbolts
Collects Thunderbolts #138-143. - Siege: The Mighty Avengers
Collects Mighty Avengers #32-36, and material from Secret Invasion: Requiem
Incredible Hercules and Amadeus Cho in The Heroic Age
The Dark Reign era concluded and was replaced by The Heroic Age, a time that was supposed to go back to more straightforward stories for Marvel’s heroes. It’s a little more complicated than that for Cho and Herc, as the Olympian was left for dead not long after (and his title was canceled). Amadeus Cho had to figure out how to return him to life, while also being reunited with Bruce Banner for some Hulk action.
- Incredible Hercules: Assault On New Olympus
Collects Incredible Hercules #138-142, and Siege of Olympus Prologue. Also collected in Agents of Atlas: The Complete Collection Vol. 2 - Incredible Hulk Volume 2: Fall Of The Hulks
Collects: Fall of the Hulks: Alpha and Incredible Hulk #606-608. - World War Hulks
Collects World War Hulks #1, Fall Of The Hulks: Savage She-Hulks #1-3, Hulked-Out Heroes #1-2, World War Hulks: Spider-Man Vs. Thor #1-2, World War Hulks: Captain America Vs. Wolverine #1-2, and Incredible Hulk (1968) #312 and #609-611. - Incredible Hercules: The New Prince of Power
Collects Heroic Age: Prince of Power #1-4, Hercules: Fall of an Avenger #1-2. Fall of An Avenger is also collected in: Agents of Atlas: The Complete Collection Vol. 2 - Chaos War
Collects Chaos War #1-5. This Hercules event is also a follow-up to Grep Pak and Fred Van Lente’s Incredible Hercules series.
Chaos War marks the end of the Herc/Cho partnership, with both characters going their own way after that. Shortly after, Cho teamed up with the Hulk and Red She-Hulk.
- Incredible Hulks: Planet Savage
Collects Incredible Hulks #623-629. Amadeus appears starting from issue #626. - Incredible Hulks: Heart of the Monster
Collects Incredible Hulk #630-635.
And soon enough, the Marvel Universe was affected by another event: Fear Itself. Amadeus Cho does not appear in the main title, he is present in the last three issues of the tie-in series Fear Itself: The Home Front.
Amadeus Cho lost in Savage Land during Marvel Now!
Amadeus Cho was clearly put on the side during the Marvel Now initiative. He only appeared in the pages of Savage Wolverine and is seen as a member of the Illuminati in Avengers vol. 5 #35 (as part of the Time Runs Out storyline).
- Wolverine by Frank Cho: Savage Land
Collects Savage Wolverine (2013) #1-5.
Amadeus Cho is Totally Awesome Hulk and member of the Champions
New entry point! Before the launch of Totally Awesome Hulk, Marvel released a trade paperback introducing Amadeus Cho to readers unfamiliar with the character, with a selection of past issues. This is a perfect new entry point for new readers to discover Amadeus Cho!
Amadeus becomes the Hulk and he’s convinced he’s gonna be the best Hulk ever — and just possibly brings the entire world crashing down into chaos. Following Civil War II, he’s also recruited to become a member of the Champions, a team of teenagers working to “put the world back together“.
- Amadeus Cho Genius At Work (for new readers only)
Collects material from Amazing Fantasy (2004) #15, Incredible Hulk (2000) #100 and Incredible Hercules #126, #133, #135 and #137. All those issues have been collected elsewhere. - The Totally Awesome Hulk: Cho Time
Collects The Totally Awesome Hulk #1-6, and material from Planet Hulk (2015) #1. - The Totally Awesome Hulk: Civil War II
Collects The Totally Awesome Hulk #7-12. Part of the Civil War II event, reading order here. Bruce Banner’s fate during the 8-month gap post-SECRET WARS is revealed!- Champions vol. 1: Change the World
Collects Champions #1-6. After The Totally Awesome Hulk #10.
- Champions vol. 1: Change the World
- The Totally Awesome Hulk: Big Apple
Collects The Totally Awesome Hulk #13-18. First appearance of the team Protectors with Silk.- Champions vol. 2: The Freelancer Lifestyle
Collects Champions 6-11.
- Champions vol. 2: The Freelancer Lifestyle
- Weapons of Mutant Destruction
Collects Weapon X #5-6, Weapons Of Mutant Destruction, Totally Awesome Hulk #20-22. - The Totally Awesome Hulk: My Best Friends are Monsters
Collects Totally Awesome Hulk #19, 23, 1.MU; Generations: Banner Hulk & Totally Awesome Hulk #1, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #4. - Hulk: Return To Planet Hulk
Collects Incredible Hulk #709-714.- Avengers & Champions: Worlds Collide
Collects Avengers #672-674, Champions #13-15. - Champions vol. 3: Champion for a Day
Collects Collects Champions (2016) #16-18 and #1.MU.
- Avengers & Champions: Worlds Collide
- Hulk: World War Hulk II
Collects Incredible Hulk #714-717, and World War Hulk #1.- Champions vol. 4: Northern Lights
Collects Champions #19-21, Infinity Countdown: Champions #1-2.
- Champions vol. 4: Northern Lights
Amadeus Cho’s time as Totally Awesome Hulk comes to an end with Bruce Banner coming back full time as the Immortal Hulk. Amadeus Cho is still a member of The Champions, where he takes his new alias, Brawn.
- Champions vol. 5: Weird War One
Collects Champions #22-27. - Champions by Jim Zub vol. 1: Beat The Devil
Collects Champions (2019) #1-6. Only present in the four first issues. - Champions by Jim Zub vol. 2: Give and Take
Collects Champions (2019) #7-10 and Nova (2015) #1. Only present in issues #9-10.
Amadeus Cho, member of the New Agents of Atlas
Remember The Protectors? They kind of make their comeback during The War of Realms (got to the full Reading Order). More specifically, the same characters teamed up in Asia and formed The New Agents of Atlas.
- War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas
Collects War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1-4. - Agents of Atlas: Pandemonium
Collects Agents of Atlas #1-5. - King in Black: Atlantis Attacks
Collects Atlantis Attacks #1-5. Marvel put the “King in Black” banner on the book, but it’s not connected to the event. Amadeus quits the team.
Since Amadeus quit the Agents of Atlas, the character has made a few appearances here and there, in Champions, Immortal Hulk or Marvel’s Voices: Identity (2021) #1, but he’s not part of any series anymore. We can only hope that will change soon!
Did we forget an important issue? Did we make a mistake? Let us know in the comments!