The Next Avenger is… Red Hulk?!

While the Heroic Age: Avengers panel was extremely light on announcements this year, Brian Michael Bendis and Joe Quesada did solve one small puzzle for the fans--literally. The back pages of certain Marvel comics have been teasing the arrival of a new Avenger in the ongoing "Avengers" series by Bendis and John Romita, Jr. by way of a word puzzle. After the Powerpoint presentation sped by a little too fast, Bendis finally announced that Red Hulk, better known as General Thunderbolt Ross, father of Betty and antagonist of Bruce Banner, is joining the team.

Red Hulk (also known as Rulk) joins the team as a character in need of redemption, which is obvious considering the past two years of fighting and villainy he's gotten down to, and Bendis is also going to give him a place in the greater Marvel Universe. Bendis made it a point to thank Jeph Loeb and Jeff Parker for the use of the character. Loeb is the co-creator of Red Hulk, of course, and Jeff Parker is the new writer on Hulk.Though, the announcement may not have gone as well as the guys at Marvel expected. There was brief smattering of quiet applause in one of the largest rooms in the con, which led to something of an... awkward moment, to say the least.

Look for Red Hulk to join "Avengers" with issue seven.