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I imagined the army of superhumans scouring the planet had they known of the mental titans of this world convening, however sporadic. And this unparalleled brainpower could only have been brought together by a man with true vision. A Leader.
„
~ Samuel Sterns.
Samuel Sterns, also known as The Leader, is one of the main antagonists of the Marvel Universe, specifically serving as one of the main antagonists of The Incredible Hulk franchise and a major antagonist in The Avengers franchise.
Formerly a janitor who worked at a chemical plant, who would become an evil mastermind after being exposed to gamma radiation, which granted him superhuman intelligence and a grossly oversized head for a side effect. As a result of his transformation, he began scheming to conquer the entire world and become the new leader of the human race, bringing him into conflict with the Hulk and numerous other heroes.
He is one of the Hulk's archenemies, alongside Abomination, General Ross, and Brian Banner, being considered to be his polar opposite; possessing limitless intelligence and a feeble body as opposed to Hulk's limitless strength and feeble intelligence.
Originally, Samuel was a dimwitted drop out with an more intelligent brother that overshadowed him. He eventually found employment in his adult years at a chemical plant, where he was exposed to the gamma-radiation that mutated his mind and body. After having a massive increase in intellect, he became known as "The Leader" and set his sights on taking over the United States Government. He quickly became a regular foe of the Hulk, fighting him on many different occasions in his criminal attempts.
The Leader's powers did not turn out to be permanent. He desperately tried to retain his Leader identity as his skin and intellect began to revert. After reverting, he tried to become normal once again, but he coincidentally was offered a position that involved Gamma Radiation. He ended up in the middle of Thunderbolt Ross's death, and took advantage of it as the man's corpse was brought to a secret laboratory (killing someone along the way). He was able to fuse Rick Jones's DNA into his at these facilities after manipulating the Hulked-out Bruce Banner.
After this, he began using his intelligence to experiment. He was able to figure out how to bring the dead back to life, and was able to do so on Ross. Ross did not return the same, and was forever in a "waking-coma". He accumulated two accomplices, Rock and Redeemer, who did his bidding for him. This involved stealing gamma technology. He now aimed to experiment on radiation victims, bringing them to a town he called "Freehold". The people here believed that they would be the only survivors of an ever-impending mass extinction.
When he resurfaced, he was still using Rick's radiation to keep his gamma-self alive. This caused him to become somewhat emotionally linked to the man. Rick exchanged his energy for promise of the revival of his girlfriend. During her resurrection, HYDRA invaded and the Hulk arrived. The Leader ended up dying in an explosion, and his soul went into the bodied of one of his followers known as Omnibus. While in Omnibus's body, the Leader attempted to plunge the world into chaos through a series of terroristic attacks Omnibus was put on trial, banished to the Arctic Circle, and was eaten by a polar bear.
Through his many Deaths, he had become enlightened through his brief encounters with the afterlife (specifically with the Green Door). He brought himself back to life with dead animals and plant cells, hid in a mine shaft, and summoned the Hulk's mental state. He offered the Hulk to witness his "accession", only to explode. Still embracing his faith after this incident, he now sought to open the "Green Door".
The Leader had another run in with the Hulk and was captured by "Hulkbusters". He was put on trial for his crimes, but since his intelligence technically made him evil, he was let off. His next major appearance was in the World War Hulks story ark, where his mind became more massive then ever. He was again killed during the Warbound battle, and was even battled in death. He ended up teleporting away.
Red Leader[]
The Leader formed the group known as Intelligencia so that criminal masterminds could share their knowledge. Together they were able to defeat the Hulk, steal his knowledge, and then approached the Red Hulk about becoming their ultimate weapon. Initially, many Hulk-related beings were turned into super weapons, but everything fell apart when the Red Hulk drained the Leader's powers.
The Red Hulk eventually gave the Leader red energy so that he could use the Leader as an intelligence agent. He was briefly killed again by the Punisher but was then brought back to life. He had become a full-time member of the Red Hulk's Thunderbolts. After the Punisher quite the team, the Leader set up a plan to frame the Red Hulk for attempted murder on the Punisher, hoping that they would destroy each other in the process. The group disbanded months after their fight, and the Red Leader tried to settle down, only to have his newly built empire destroyed by his former colleagues and the Avengers. He was killed again by the Punisher, and again led to the gates of the underworld.
He had escaped for some unknown reason, and was recruited by the Hulk's "Doc Green" persona in an attempt to help wipe out all gamma-related beings on Earth. Another being named Gammon had already reached out to him, and they worked together behind Doc's back. The Red Leader then became the Leader, and eventually merged with Gammon. Around this time, he reformed Intelligencia. After that was thwarted, he sought after the She-Hulk to experiment on her. He ended up being thwarted and arrested. While in custody, he was recruited to help study the Hulk (as he had just made a return). The Leader used his studies to help in his attempts at defeating the Hulk by creating a virus to weaken him. During his attempts, he met up with Aliana Alba (who was following Wolverine). Together they fused Wolverine and the Hulk into one, but they ended up becoming an uncontrollable mass of chaos. They ended up having to let their creation be undone, but the two did end up growing closer together, ending their mission with a kiss.
Their relationship didn't end up lasting, and this ark was dropped. The Leader's next goal was to help the One Below All in his quest to erase the multiverse, hoping that he would be the sole remaining presence in it. The Leader ended up meeting with Brian Banner and then absorbing him to gain knowledge on the Green Door, hoping to get one step closer to the green door. He knew he needed Bruce Banner who's gamma energy connection was the strongest. After confronting him in a disguise, he took control of Banner's Green Scar and used Banner's minds cape to seal away the Devil Hulk persona. After taking control of Delbert Frye, he used him to watch his plan unfold in the Below-Place. After all went as planned, The Leader used the Green Doors to take control of the Hulk.
Unfortunately for the Leader, the United States Hulk Operations had came in and began dissolving all he had created. The Leader eventually through the Hulk back through the doors, causing the angry Devil Hulk persona to come free. The Devil Hulk tried to fight him, but the Leader disguised himself as Banner. This caused the Savage Hulk persona to restrain the Devil, and the Leader killed him. The Leader brought brain to a plant-like operating table so that he could try and channel Brian's energy to One-Before-All. Brian mysteriously knew how to use it, which was revealed to be due to the fact that he was possessed by One-Before-All. The Leader realized this much too late, just as One-Before-All took control of his body.
Powers and Abilities[]
The Gamma Radiation significantly affected the Leader's brain. It gave him unimaginable advances in all fields of his brain, seemingly making his intellect limitless. He was able to fathom concepts that the modern world wasn't even yet close to grasping. His probability calculator gave him a sort-of future sight, allowing him to know of the most probable outcomes (similarly to Doctor Strange). This advanced brain also gave him super abilities, such as telepathy, being able to take control of the minds of others, fire psionic blasts powerful enough to put down gamma mutates and even some forms of telekinesis.
Being a Gamma-Mutant, there are a few given powers that all (or most) gamma-mutants share. For starters, he has the ability to manipulate gamma energy at his will, absorbing and projecting gamma energy. Secondly, he has the ability to resurrect himself, passing through the Green Doors instead of onto the afterlife. Many times in the series was The Leader killed in some way or another, but he was always able to be brought back through the doors. This even ended up building his character, becoming more enlightened because of his many visits to the after life. This makes him virtually immortal.
The Leader also has the ability to absorb beings physically and mentally. As seen when he was in the Below Place, he can split his face apart and have a tentacle come out to attach itself to the head of its victim. As seen other times, he was also able to spiritually absorb beings. During the explosion in Freehold, he was able to combined himself with one of his followers. On another occasion, he was able to combined himself with an Artificial Intelligence being that he teamed-up with.
Other abilities include flight, teleportation, and excessive knowledge of the after life.
Dr. Samuel Sterns, later to be known as the Leader, is a recurring character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is a supporting character in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, and is set to return as the main antagonist of the 2024 film Captain America: Brave New World. Initially an ally of Bruce Banner, Sterns is a cellular biologist and Grayburn College professor, who developed heightened mental abilities after his brain was infected with Banner's gamma-irradiated blood.
In The Incredible Hulk, he is not seen until near the end of the movie and plays the role of a supporting character. Sterns directly corresponded with Banner under the online alias "Mr. Blue". While Banner was on the run, Sterns collaborated anonymously with Banner to search for a cure for his condition.
After meeting Banner and Betty Ross in person, Sterns reveals that he has created a suppressant that could cure Banner of his mutation. However, he also confesses to synthesizing a cure for all diseases using Banner's blood sample, without Banner's knowledge. Banner is horrified and pleads with Sterns to destroy the work, warning that General Ross and his unit plan to weaponize it. But before anything can be done, Emil Blonsky arrives and attacks Banner, taking him into custody to the horror of both Betty and Sterns.
As Banner and Betty are apprehended, Sterns attempts to justify his actions to Major Kathleen Sparr, stating that he only wanted to help find a cure for Banner's mutation. Though Sparr begins to believe Sterns, Blonsky arrives and apparently kills her, then forces Sterns' compliance to inject him with the Super-Soldier serum and Banner's blood, mutating him into the Abomination. As the Abomination breaks free from the lab, he injures Sterns in the process. From a leaking canister containing Banner's blood, a few drops of his blood begins to contaminate an open cut on Sterns' forehead, causing a rapid mutation and expansion of his cranium.
According to the tie-in comic The Avengers Prelude: Fury's Big Week, Sterns was discovered by Natasha Romanoff after the Abomination's capture, with enhanced mental abilities as a result of the mutation. Romanoff incapacitated Sterns and brought him into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s custody.
The Leader briefly appears in the M.O.D.O.K. Hulu series. He is seen mocking M.O.D.O.K., who was trying to come into a club. He suggested that M.O.D.O.K. just wasn't a "big bad" supervillain anymore.
Wolverine and the X-Men & Avengers: EMH![]
In the Wolverine and the X-Men & Avengers: EMH! series, the Leader is an antagonist that's actions largely revolve around gamma-radiation. he planned to make the world into a gamma-filled utopia, but he was thwarted by the Hulk and other Avengers.
1990s Marvel Action Hour[]
In the 1990s Marvel Action Hour, the Leader planned to absorb the Hulk's energy in an attempt to become a god-like being. He succeeded in taking the Hulk's strength, but found it to be too overwhelming, so he returned it. He began to transform back into his former self, and so his colleagues brought him back to his lab to restore his energy. The Hulk later showed to to destroy it.
Super Hero Squad[]
The Leader briefly makes an appearance in the Super Hero Squad series among other intelligent being present at a meeting called by M.O.D.O.K.
Days of Future Smash[]
In Days of Future Smash: Smashguard, the Leader overthrew Odin and became the new All-Father of Asgard. He spent centuries taking over other universes, but he was ultimately overthrown by the Avengers with the help of Thor and Loki.
In Days of Future Smash: The Hydra Years, the Leader went back to the year 1944 and assisted HYDRA in building weapons to help them win the war. They then took over the world, with the Leader as their ruler. He was eventually stopped.
Marvel Super Heroes: What The--?![]
The Leader makes several appearances in the Marvel Super Heroes: What The--?! series. These appearances are usually comedic and out of the ordinary as opposed to his usual character.
1980s Spider-Man and Hulk cartoons[]
In the 1980s Spider-Man and Hulk cartoons series, he was a dimwitted janitor whom was exposed to gamma-energy. Much of his actions and behavior are similar to that of his source material.
2010 Animated Universe[]
The Leader makes several appearances in the 2010 Marvel Animated Universe, primarily serving as one of the two main antagonists (alongside the Abomination) of Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.. In his first appearance, he was responsible for giving Annihilus mind-control technology. At the end of the episode he talked about his past. IN his next appearance he uses Hulkbuster armor to attack the Avengers. He rigged it to explode and blame it on the Avengers. In his next appearance he uses a shrink ray to threaten the Avengers and their leader. He ends up being thwarted yet again. In his last appearance, he followed the Hulk and the Thing to the Negative Zone. Here the Leader revealed that he had been spying, and his plans to find Ymir so that he could gain equal control over the world. He ended up being defeated yet again, and this time imprisoned.
In this series, The Leader had a close connection with Skaar.
2003 Hulk video game/Hulk: Gamma Games[]
In the 2003 Hulk video game and the comic book series set after it, the Leader is the main antagonist. He tries to use a "Gamma Orb" to take over the world. In this series, he has a brother named Madman.
Other Appearances[]
The Leader makes an appearance in Avengers Academy, Avengers Alliance, and in the Lego Marvel Universe.
Gallery[]
Classic The Leader.
Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns in The Incredible Hulk.
The Leader in The Incredible Hulk (1980s).
The Leader in The Incredible Hulk animated series.
The Leader in The Super Hero Squad.
The Leader in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
The Leader in Ultimate Spider-Man.
The Leader in The Avengers: Ultron Revolution.
The Leader in Wolverine and the X-Men & Avengers: EMH!.
The Leader in the Hulk videogame.
The Leader in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
The Leader in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
The Leader in the M.O.D.O.K. Hulu series.
The Leader in Days of Future Smash: The Hydra Years.
The Pride Magistrate |
Leslie Dean |
Tina Minoru |
Robert Minoru |
Geoffrey Wilder |
Catherine Wilder |
Victor Stein |
Janet Stein |
Dale Yorkes |
Stacey Yorkes
Television Season 1: The Pride: Magistrate | Leslie Dean | Tina Minoru | Robert Minoru | Geoffrey Wilder | Catherine Wilder | Victor Stein | Janet Stein | Dale Yorkes | Stacey Yorkes Season 2: Magistrate Family: Magistrate The Pride: Leslie Dean | Victor Stein | Janet Stein | Tina Minoru | Robert Minoru | Geoffrey Wilder | Catherine Wilder | Dale Yorkes | Stacey Yorkes
Others: Frank Dean | Darius Davis | Detective Flores | Topher | Anthony Wall/AWOL Season 3: The Coven: Morgan le Fay | Cassandra | Bronwyn The Pride: | Victor Stein | Janet Stein | Leslie Dean | Tina Minoru | Robert Minoru | Geoffrey Wilder | Catherine Wilder | Dale Yorkes | Stacey Yorkes Magistrate Family: Magistrate
.png "The Leader (Hulk vs the World).png (125 KB)")
.jpg "Samuel Sterns (Earth-13122).jpg (17 KB)")
_from_Marvel_Avengers_Academy_002.png "Samuel Sterns (Earth-TRN562) from Marvel Avengers Academy 002.png (297 KB)")
Villains
Villains
