Avengers West Coast MAX Vol 1 12


 * Publication Date: December 2014


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Appearances
Clinton Barton (Earth 199916) 'Four' (Earth 199916)
 * Heroes:

the Red Skull
 * Villains:

Russia
 * Locations:

Synopsis
This issue is told without speech bubbles or text. While the three nuclear warheads are soon to detonate in the Arctic Ocean off Russia, killing almost everyone in the country, Hawkeye, the 'Avengers West Coast', Nick Fury, and SHIELD agents confront the Red Skull in the nighttime streets of Russia.

While Nick Fury and the remaining SHIELD agents fight the remaining CTE (Cross Technological Enterprises) mercenaries employed by the Red Skull, Hawkeye tries to kill the Red Skull himself.

But, the Red Skull has escaped in the confusion, running through allyways to try to get away. The Red Skull's lieutenant The Scourge of the Underworld, who can relate to Hawkeye because his love was also killed by an enemy, helps Hawkeye track the Red Skull down.

But, while they run after the Red Skull, Nick Fury and the SHIELD agents with the 'Avengers West Coast' fight the CTE operatives. Nick Fury is killed in the battle, and eventually the 'Avengers West Coast' are all killed too, including Greer Grant aka Tigra, Hawkeye's girlfriend. The SHIELD agents and CTE operatives then end up literally killing each other.

Hawkeye and The Scourge track the Red Skull into an alleyway where the brutally beat him. Despite the Red Skull using two AK-47s against them, he is no match for The Scourge's .50 caliber machine gun and Hawkeye's archery skills. The two new allies end up winning this final battle. They unmask the near-dead Red Skull to reveal that he is in fact Albert Malik, the same man who bought CTE, who SHIELD thought was being held hostage by the Red Skull. Hawkeye shoots an explosive arrow at Albert Malik aka the Red Skull, apparently killing him.

Hawkeye and The Scourge return and realize they are the last survivors of the battle, both get in a different helicopter and fly their separate ways.

The Red Skull did, in fact, survive, his face turned in to a burning bloody literal red skull. This does not matter, because the three nuclear warheads soon detonate, destroying most of Russia including The Red Skull, and all remains of the battle, including the bodies of fallen enemies and friends.