That really doesn't seem like enough food...

We saw the previous issue a couple months back, and we're not going to get anywhere near all the way through the AvX crossover; but we'll check out another one today: from 2012, Avengers #28, written by Brian Michael Bendis, pencils by Walt Simonson, inks by Scott Hanna.

This was midway through the crossover, when Cyclops, Namor, Emma Frost, Colossus and Magik each had a piece of the Phoenix Force; and things were looking bad for the Avengers. Through the skirmishes with the mutants, the Red Hulk, former general "Thunderbolt" Ross, wonders what he brings to the proverbial table. Is he just a blunt instrument, or does his military experience give him something else to offer? Since Ross decides he can do what Captain America or Wolverine couldn't, maybe; but since he decides to assassinate Cyclops, maybe not.

Changing back to human, Ross infiltrates Utopia Island, but runs into Emma before he can kill Cyclops. Emma's mental powers shut him down, and she nearly forces Ross to slit his own throat before he Hulks out again. Facing the Phoenix Five (and Magneto, for good measure) the Red Hulk is outgunned, but they also know he would be too tough to contain or kill. They settle for sending him back to the Avengers in Wakanda, with a big 'X' carved into his chest. Still, Ross feels like Cyclops and his team just lost, by not killing him.


Since the previous issue featured Protector washing out of the team, I had half-expected this to be Red Hulk's swan song, but he wasn't out yet. Still, if you're asking yourself, what do I have to contribute? and the answer's murder; you may want to reconsider your life choices. Also, Ross's ego must be visible from space; since how could he consider his military experience the equal of Cap's? Ross lost how many campaigns against the Hulk?