The Green Room - 06.20.2007
By Sal Loria

IRON MAN #19
Christos N. Gage (W)/Butch Guice (A)

THE LEAN, GREEN SUMMARY
NOTE: This issue takes place before and during the events of World War Hulk #1.

• Tony Stark, during a meeting to discuss the funding for S.H.I.E.L.D, is made aware of the Hulk’s arrival.
• We’re taken through the motions as Tony was: making his orders clear with Dugan, arranging back-up with both the New Avengers and the Mighty Avengers, readying a new Hulkbuster armor, releasing the broadcast as to why he himself is to blame for all of this, and ultimately, the showdown with the Hulk himself.
• Of course, Shell Head took a beating of mass proportions.

I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SAY THAT…

Once Stark’s stealth armor went offline in outer space, the grim situation fully dawned on him, prompting the “Get me the President” line. 4 to 1 odds that Tony, as a youngster, practiced that line over and over again, keeping it in his back pocket for such an occasion, and is now beaming at how serious he came across.

DUGAN, YOU OLD SOFTY…

Dum Dum Dugan shows off his kinder, gentler side when he offers (jokingly?) to schedule massages for the unregistered heroes who’ll be aiding in the Hulk situation. He’s also available for baby showers and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.

MISSION CONTROL, READY FOR LAUNCH…

An awe-inspiring full page image that reminds us just how cool, and determined, Iron Man can be. Sadly, this tank with a jet pack couldn’t put much of a dent in the Hulk’s wrath.

INCREDIBLE HULK #107
Greg Pak (W)/Gary Frank (A)

THE LEAN, GREEN SUMMARY
NOTE: This issue takes place before, during and after the events of World War Hulk #1.

• Amadeus Cho, with Hercules and Angel, get on board a submarine (funded by the $1.2 billion Amadeus “borrowed” from Warren Worthington III) and head for Atlantis, to get Namor to join the Hulk’s side. Namor proceeds to tell Amadeus just how stupid he is, refuses to help, and while throwing a classic bratty tantrum, damages the submarine in the process. Amadeus fixes the sub and leaves, but not before accepting Namor’s recently resurrected cousin Namora’s help to side with the Hulk.
• When the ship carrying the Hulk and his Warbound allies arrives, Amadeus contacts the ship to let the Hulk know he has friends who want to help. The ship responds by releasing an EMP, rendering Amadeus’ ship useless. Apparently, the Warbound have no interest in help from Earth’s people.
• While trying to evacuate people from the area during the Hulk and Iron Man’s battle, Angel comes across civilians who are heading towards the battle. Among them is Tom Foster, Bill “Goliath” Foster’s nephew, who is eager to witness some payback dealt to Iron Man and the rest of those “heroes.”
• Following the conclusion of the Hulk/Iron Man tilt, Amadeus approaches the Hulk to offer his support. The Hulk responds that he doesn’t need an army of “puny humans” and proceeds to attack, only to face Hercules instead. Despite Hercules’ pleas for the Hulk to stop, the Hulk gives the mythological god a beating, until he looks around and sees a large group of civilians, with Amadeus, Angel and Namora included, standing by, ready to help. Will he accept their offer?

TOO MUCH INFORMATION!

When Angel questions Hercules on his knowledge of email, Hercules drops the bomb (literally) of how he’s “mastered the intricacies of the flush toilet.” One: Herc should have kept that to himself. Two: what the heck has he been doing all of these years instead? On second thought, nevermind…

I’VE COME UNDONE

Namora’s willingness to help the Hulk seems noble at first, but one look at the sea beauty’s stark raving mad eyes should be taken as a possible sign of things to come. Clearly, she’s not dealing with a full deck, and Namor should be wary of what his cousin will do next.

“YOU AIN’T SO BAD! YOU AIN’T SO BAD!”

Just like Namora in the background, it’s hard to watch Hercules, and more specifically his face (doing its best impression of ground beef) take anymore punishment from the Hulk despite his constant pleas for the fighting to stop, channeling his inner Rocky against the Hulk’s Clubber Lang.

HEROES FOR HIRE #11
Zeb Wells (W)/Clay Mann (A)

THE LEAN, GREEN SUMMARY
NOTE: This issue takes place during the events of World War Hulk #1.

• Having completed their mission of retrieving Moon Boy from the Savage Land, the Heroes For Hire return to New York to be greeted by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Scorpion. After being brought up to speed on the current Hulk situation, the gang is asked to assist since they are, in fact, “heroes.” Paladin refuses to help since he won’t get paid, and leaves.
• Black Cat tries to communicate with a Hiveling—offspring of Huk’s Warbound allies Miek and the Brood—unsuccessfully, so Humbug (who’s not exactly himself these days and believes that these insectoids are here to take over the Earth) takes matters into his own hands…literally. Ripping the bug apart resulting in the gang being covered by its innards (eww), Humbug explains that the scent of the slain Hiveling will enable the Heroes to infiltrate the aliens’ lair. Next stop: the Hulk’s ship.

THE SAVAGE LAND… LEAVE ALL YOUR WORRIES BEHIND…

Reminding us readers once again that something is definitely kooky about the Savage Land, this exchange and Misty’s reply pretty much sums up the fact that the Savage Land will never have a five star resort.

WITH SOME FAVA BEANS AND A NICE CHIANTI?

Black Cat has obviously been waiting, much like the rest of us, for the next issue of Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk. What else could have possibly inspired her to utter that line? The 616 Hulk may be pissed, but we’re pretty sure he’s not into longpig…

“HEROES PARTY, YOUR TABLE IS READY”

Clearly, Humbug missed the part of the class that dealt with table manners! His decimation (Marvel just collected 5¢ for the use of that word) of the Hiveling and subsequent spraying of his teammates pretty much cemented the fact that he’ll get no love from this group. Misty Knight says it all, doesn’t she?

GHOST RIDER #12
Daniel Way (W)/Javier Saltares (A)

THE LEAN, GREEN SUMMARY
NOTE: This issue takes place during the events of World War Hulk #1.

• While on route to Buffalo, Johnny Blaze is run off the road by vehicles using both outgoing and incoming lanes as a means to escape. Stopping at a diner, he sees the newscast with the Hulk’s ultimatum concerning Mister Fantastic, Iron Man and Doctor Strange while dropping the limp body of Black Bolt.
• Heading back for his bike, Johnny fights off his inner demon’s unwillingness to help out in New York, ignites, and hammers down for the Big Apple.
• Upon arriving in Brooklyn (and using some creative means of short cuts), Ghost Rider comes face to face with the Hulk.

FUTURE FAN CLUB PRESIDENT

I may be a little too sentimental here, but seeing the look of awe on the young boy’s face as he watches Ghost Rider tear away on his bike brings me back to the days when I was a kid, reading up on my favorite heroes, and uttering the word “awesome” quite a few times. I’m going to need a moment here…and a tissue…

SHOW OFF!

Oh sure, launching yourself off a bridge with a gazillion feet of nothing between you and asphalt is a piece of cake, huh? Where was this nifty little trick in your movie?!? It sure could have used that punch in the arm you know…

ON SECOND THOUGHT…

Ghost Rider just landed arguably one of the craziest bike stunts of all time, only to come face to face with HIM. Spirit of Vengeance or not, he has to be thinking he should have stayed in bed that day.

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