GEN. T.E. ROSS
(of Earth-721)

Real Name: T.E. Ross

Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Earth-721) human

Occupation: United States Air Force general

Group Membership: United States Air Force

Enemies: Earth-6212 residents, Human Torch (Johnny Storm of Earth-616), Thing (Reed Richards), Thing (Ben Grimm of Earth-616)

Known Relatives: Bruce Banner (son-in-law), unidentified child

Aliases: "T-Bolt," "Thunderbolt"

Base of Operations: Presumably mobile throughout the USA

First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#162 (September, 1975)

Powers/Abilities: General T.E. Ross did not display any superhuman powers but he has years of military experience and leadership.

He has been known to carry a military-issued handgun in battle.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'2")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 230 lbs.)
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: White

History: (Fantastic Four I#162 (fb) - BTS) - T.E. Ross was an United States Air Force general.

(Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four I#10 - BTS) - General Ross took to using the nickname of "Thunderbolt."

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 - Earth-A entry - BTS) - General T.E. Ross was a significant inhabitant of Earth-721.

(Fantastic Four I#162 (fb) - BTS) - General Ross became the father-in-law of Bruce Banner.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 - Earth-A entry - BTS) - When Earth-616's Thing, who had traveled to Earth-721 to check in on his captive Earth-721 counterpart, was betrayed by his own Earth-712 counterpart to government forces under General Ross' command, Thing-616 was captured by the general.

(Fantastic Four I#162/Fantastic Four I#163 (fb)) - As Earth-721's Thing and Earth-616's Thing escaped captivity, they emerged from their captivity to find Earth-721's General T.E. Ross and a squad of soldiers waiting for them. Ross ordered Earth-616's Thing back inside but was shocked when another Thing, the Reed Richards of Earth-721, emerged behind Thing-616. Thing-721 attempted to reason with Ross, explaining how he had been held captive without Ross' knowledge, but Ross told Thing-721 to shut up and commented on how Reed-721 sounded like his "milksop" son-in-law Bruce Banner. While Thing-616 suggested they simply clobber Ross and his forces, Thing-721 insisted they still try to reason with Ross and Thing-721 informed Ross of a plot to manipulate three worlds into warring with one another. Ross refused to believe Thing-721's claims, prompting the two Things to prepare an attack. Ross responded by drawing his handgun and muttering that the appearance of two Things was likely done with mirrors. Before any fight could begin, however, Earth-721's Ben Grimm ran up to the two Things and Ross and revealed a dimensional portal through which Earth-616's Human Torch was preparing to lead Earth-6212's forces in an attack on Earth-721. Ross then watched as Human Torch-616 emerged from the portal and Thing-616 leaped to attack his misinformed teammate and bring him to his senses. Thing-721 managed to down the Human Torch and Thing-616 revealed to the Torch how they had been duped by Arkon as Ross approached the three heroes and ordered them to stand aside. Ross remarked on how it was war but before he could do anything, the Human Torch, acting as commander of Earth-6212's forces, ordered his soldiers back through the portal to Earth-6212. As the soldiers departed, an angry Ross exclaimed that he had heard enough shenanigans and ordered the three heroes to come with him for questioning. Human Torch responded by generating a wall of flame to hold back Ross and his men while he talked things over with the two Things. Held back by the flames, Ross and his men could only watch as Earth-616's Mister Fantastic contacted his teammates and Thing-721 and informed them that they needed to destroy a dimensional nexus between all three worlds to prevent Arkon from ever plotting to utilize the energies of the three Earths again.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler, Joe Sinnott and Dan Adkins.

While we don't have an in-story confirmation, it could be assumed that General Ross' first name is Thaddeus, much like his Earth-616 counterpart. The Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four I#10 also suggests the possibility that the "T" in General Ross' first name could stand for a name other than "Thaddeus."

While not credited, the Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four I#10 confirms that Dan Adkins was the inker of the last two pages of Fantastic Four I#162 so I have listed him as one of the creators and in the issue credits below.

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Earth-721's "Thunderbolt" Ross should be distinguished from:

• Ross, Gen. Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" - this character's Earth-616 counterpart--Incredible Hulk I#1
• or any other Generals or "Ross" characters or counterparts
  

Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#162 (September, 1975) - Roy Thomas (writer, editor), Rich Buckler (pencils), Joe Sinnott, Dan Adkins (embellishes)
Fantastic Four I#163 (October, 1975) - Roy Thomas (writer, editor), Rich Buckler (pencils), Joe Sinnott (embellishes)
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four I#10 (September, 1986) - George Olshevsky (compiler, designer), Michael Higgins (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 (2005) - Jeff Christiansen (head writer, coordinator), Sean McQuaid, Stuart Vandal, Mark O'English, Eric J. Moreels, Michael Hoskin, Bill Lentz, Chris Biggs, Anthony Flamini (writers), John Buscema, Rich Buckler, Joe Sinnott (Earth-A entry art), Pond Scum (art reconstruction), Jeff Youngquist, Jennifer Grunwald (editors)

First posted: 07/20/2022
Last updated: 07/20/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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