Warning: contains spoilers for Avengers #41!
The Avengers are currently fighting for possession of the Phoenix Force, but they're not the only ones - villains like Hyperion and the Orb are also part of the ongoing Phoenix Tournament, alongside surprising additions like Howard the Duck and the Man-Thing. But while there can only be one winner of the tournament, every character embroiled in the fighting is getting a fiery upgrade from the Phoenix Force, and none make it look cooler than Marvel's cult hero Devil Dinosaur.
Created by Jack Kirby and first appearing in Devil Dinosaur #1 (1978), Devil Dinosaur was a tyrannosaurus almost killed by the hostile Killer-Folk, whose attack triggered his mutation and gave him above-average strength, increased intelligence, and his signature flame-red skin. After many adventures, alien technology opened a portal through time and space, and Devil Dinosaur met the hyper-intelligent Lunella Lafayette. The newly-empowered Inhuman became his new partner, and the new Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur became a prominent superhuman duo, combining Devil's prehistoric size and savagery with Lunella's intelligence as the smartest person on Earth.
In Avengers #41 by Jason Aaron and Javier Garron, the "Enter the Phoenix" storyline continues the Avengers' struggle to deal with the Phoenix Force's continued presence on Earth, searching for a new host. Upon awakening, the Phoenix Force called an assembly of Earth's heroes to its other-dimensional White Room, where they realized they were to fight each other while given a portion of the Phoenix's power. Although those waiting try to figure out a plan, others are forced into a Mortal Kombat style battle, where the power of each loser is distributed among all competitors. As a number of fights take place, Devil Dinosaur is seen separated from Moon Girl, empowered to fight Shanna the She-Devil and her sabretooth tiger Zabu on the Blue Area of the Moon, and a Phoenix-Force empowered Devil Dinosaur is truly a sight to behold.
Devil Dinosaur was already a mutant Tyrannosaurus Rex, and you don't have to be Ian Malcolm to understand how impressive and dangerous a cosmically-powered dinosaur would be, especially as an opponent. The dinosaur is shown decked out in golden armor with crackling energy all over as it bellows cosmic fire from its prehistoric jaws. Considering the Tyrannosaurus Rex that readers saw in Avengers #28 acting as Earth's first Starbrand, this would mark the second time Marvel has seen a god-tier dinosaur hero stomping around. However, Devil Dinosaur's opponent is a resident of the Savage Land who is used to surviving and defeating dinosaurs like him, not to mention her and her companion have also been upgrade by the Phoenix Force. As impressive as Devil is here, this battle isn't as one-sided as it may seem.
Although battles between other heroes ended quickly within the same issue, the outcome of Shanna and Zabu vs Devil Dinosaur will likely be revealed in next month's Avengers #42. But the real credit to Devil Dinosaur is maintaining his relevancy within a Marvel Universe that has changed drastically since his inception. Apparently, life really will find a way.