Betty Ross

Doctor **Elizabeth "Betty" Ross** is a scientist and professor who became infatuated with her colleague Bruce Banner. In 2021, she joined Banner in the Super Soldier Serum's recreation, administering Banner with a primer she developed that allowed him to survive his exposure to gamma radiation and become Hulk. For three years, she was separated from Banner, while her father Thaddeus Ross spearheaded an international manhunt.

In Banner's absence, Ross had begun prioritizing on her research full time.

## Biography

### Early Life

#### Professor

Elizabeth Ross was born the daughter of Thaddeus Ross. Later in college, she met Bruce Banner, where they fell in love.

After college, Ross and Banner both worked at Desert Base as scientists, with Ross researching cellular biology and Banner working in nuclear physics and biochemistry.

#### Gamma Experiment

*"The gamma pulse came from the amygdala. I think Dr. Ross' primer lets the cells absorb the energy temporarily, and then it abates. That's why you didn't die of radiation sickness years ago!"*
―Samuel Sterns to Bruce Banner[src]
As a response to the Covid-19 virus, General Thaddeus Ross commissioned the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project, designed to recreate the Super Soldier Serum from World War II. Both Ross and Bruce Banner were recruited into the program, although they were not informed of the serum's true purpose, instead being told that it would treat radiation sickness. While working on the project, Ross developed a myostatic primer that allowed an individual's blood cells to absorb gamma radiation temporarily. The scientists also saw the project's potential to eliminate malignant brain tumors caused by radiation exposure, find a remedy for neurodegenerative diseases and strengthen the immune system, but they still needed a patient having its hippocampus exposed to radiation.

Banner, who had substituted the original serum's vita radiation with gamma radiation, decided to inject himself with both the primer and replicated serum in an effort to impress Thaddeus. She reassured her boyfriend that he could still back out of the experiment if he believed it wasn't ready, but Banner insisted. Ross then gave him a kiss before they commenced with testing.

During the procedure, Banner increased the Gamma Ray Projector's dosage of radiation to speed up the results, over Ross' objections. Her primer allowed Banner to survive the tremendous amount of radiation he was subjected to. However, this caused him to transform into a giant green monster. With no control over the beast, Banner destroyed the lab, attacking Ross and injuring her, along with their student assistants. As a result, Ross was hospitalized.

Following her recovery, her father ordered that any data regarding the project was to be deleted, forcing Ross to covertly extract the data and keep it hidden, in the event that Banner would require it someday. While being separated from Banner after he became a fugitive, Ross moved on and focuses full time on her research.

## Personality

Betty Ross is a kind-hearted and gentle individual. She is impressively intelligent, hard-working and resourceful and is shown to be a skillful and charismatic scientist. However, despite her relative happiness, Betty possessed hard relationships with her father Thaddeus Ross.

## Abilities

*"Oh my God. You grew it. I can't believe you actually grew it. I mean I thought if anyone could do it you could do it but I really wasn't sure it could be done.""It shouldn't survive here. It took four months just to cultivate the bacteria for the soil. I almost lost it a couple of times but it held on somehow, despite everything."*
―Bruce Banner and Betty Ross[src]
* **Genius-Level Intellect**: Ross is highly intelligent, mainly in the areas of biology and radiation. She helped Bruce Banner develop a version of the Super Soldier Serum, but this version failed as it turned Banner into the Hulk.
* **Master Scientist**: Ross is exceptionally skilled in several fields of science, even majoring in it. She also had part of the idea of how to help Bruce Banner when they met Samuel Sterns.

## Relationships

### Allies

* Bruce Banner/Hulk - Ex-Boyfriend, Former Colleague
* Samuel Sterns

### Enemies

* Emil Blonsky/Abomination - Attempted Killer

## Appearances

In chronological order

* The Incredible Hulk
* The Avengers (mentioned)