I've been leaning towards the theory that the Red Hulk is none other than the Clay Quartermain. After reading the latest Hulk #14, I'm absolutely certain that Rulk is the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent--who appears to be seemingly dead! Let me present my case to you, fellow Marvelites.
1. Clay Quartermain has a history as Hulk supporting character with intimate knowledge of Bruce Banner. He first appeared way back in Hulk 187 (1975) when Nick Fury assigned him to work with General T-Bolt Ross as SHIELD liaison. I never really cared for Quartermain--he smiled like Dudley Do-Right all the time in these early appearances. And he was far too handsome. I'm sure later appearances tried to make him more realistic. However, if Jeff Loeb is going to transform a former Hulk cast member into Rulk--no one is going to cry over Quartermain switching from good guy to bad guy.
2. Quartermain makes a brief appearance in Hulk #2, alongside T-Bolt Ross in the helicarrier. We're not supposed to think anything of it--Quartermain worked with Ross many times before on Hulk related matters. Only this isn't really Quartermain, it's a fake, possibly an LMD (Life Model Decoy) that no one can detect. The real Quartermain can't be seen at this point, because he has gamma irradiated green hair.
3. Rulk's attack on the SHIELD helicarrier, also in Hulk #2. How did a freaking red giant monster sneak onto the helicarrier undetected? SHIELD security can be pretty loose, but even the dumbest agents would notice the Rulk getting off a carrier plane.
4. It's very simple--Quartermain put on Samson's jacket as a disguise while in human form, and snuck around the helicarrier. Quartermain has green hair now, and from a distance, he might resemble Samson. He transformed into Rulk and attacked Iron Man and She-Hulk. His intimate knowledge of the helicarrier allowed him to sneak through the helicarrier's passageways.
5. Quartermain's corpse is discovered in Hulk #4. As I said, this is an LMD and not the real dude. Somehow, SHIELD can't detect that it's an LMD. This is a red herring to throw you off track--but if you remember Batman: Hush, Jeff Loeb used this trick before. Halfway through the story, it appears that the Joker has killed Tommy Elliott. Tommy can't be Hush, right, because he's dead? Wrong. Same deal with Quartermain. Loeb has said all the clues were in the first six issues of the new Hulk series that lead to Rulk's identity.
6. In Hulk #14, we learn that Rulk can shift back into human form, just like Jen Walters--it's under his control. Domino sees a glimpse of Rulk through her sniper scope. We see the square-jawed shape of his head, crew cut hair that is tinged with green. It could be Sampson, but that is just another red herring. Sampson is involved in this scheme somehow, but he ain't Red Hulk. Compare the shape of the head to Quartermain's picture in Hulk #2. It's the same guy.
7. The Rulk's first person narration in Hulk #14 really makes this case concrete. He talks about the USA going downhill, SHIELD collapsing, and Captain America's death. When Rulk encounters Deadpool, he immediately recognizes the "freshman S.H.I.E.L.D. LMD's" that Deadpool is using for sparring practice. All of this adds up to the fact that Rulk was former SHIELD agent Clay Quartermain.
I rest my case. I've seen other fans on the internet point out other clues to Quartermain as well. I'll have to eat my words if this turns out not to be true. If it is true, I think the bigger mystery is with Ross and Sampson's involvement. Nuff said.
