The Green Room - 07.20.2007
By Sal Loria

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #4
Dan Slott (W)/Stefano Caselli (A)

THE LEAN, GREEN SUMMARY

• Roger Brokeridge (Hardball), one of the Initiative program’s young superheroes-in-training, was approached by a shady character who had all the info on him. Using that as leverage, he “convinces” Hardball to provide a sample of Tony Stark’s S.P.I.N tech—a nanobot solution that removes a person’s powers permanently.
• The next day, an omega-level threat, also known as the Hulk, has been spotted in Manhattan. Once all of the trainees have been assembled, they’re given their orders, and sent out to do what they can amid the chaos in the city. Other higher ranking members of the Initiative are preparing for the Hulk scenario as well: Hank Pym (Yellowjacket) has Project Achilles (the S.P.I.N. tech) prepped and Stark is readying his new Hulkbuster Iron Man armor.
• Later on, when the Initiative trainees are on the street following their orders, the Iron Man battle with the Hulk appears on all the television sets. Cheering on their boss, the group explains to Hardball that one shot of the S.P.I.N. tech Iron Man has armed will stop the Hulk. Unfortunately, thanks to his handiwork, the one shot fails. Iron Man is quickly dispatched of soon thereafter.
• The trainees, some of whom are not willing, disobey orders and head for the battle zone to help the rest of the heroes. One turn around the corner shows what they are up against, however, as the Hulk and his Warbound are dragging the fallen heroes, New Avengers, Mighty Avengers and others among them, through the streets. And they’ve just spotted the Initiative trainees…

TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL

Stark actually believes that the Hulk will reunite all of the heroes for a single goal, but Rhodes, as always, calls it like he sees it. While ‘Brass Man’ isn’t as cool of a name, I’m sure Alec Baldwin would love to adopt it for his own use.

WE DO HAVE SOME LOVELY PARTING GIFTS FOR YOU THOUGH…

While watching the television feed, Hardball realizes his grave error, and feels like Howie Mandel just opened up the $1,000,000 brief case. Even his thoughts are perfect for this moment: screwed.

THE NEW GENERATION

Regardless of how they got there, or the circumstances that led to this very moment, the trainee named Elvin knows exactly what’s needed to take on a seemingly unbeatable foe. A rally cry that is all to familiar…

I DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR THIS

Seeing the pros dragged through the streets of Manhattan cannot be a motivator to join the battle. I’m not ashamed to say I would have ran and never looked back.

GHOST RIDER #13
Daniel Way (W)/Javier Saltares (A)

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

• Johnny Blaze pleads with the Hulk, attempting to relate that he, too, knows a thing or two about vengeance and having that inner drive to act on it. Not caring at all, the Hulk begins the fight anyway. After toppling an entire building, moving in and out of a subway, and towing a subway train through the streets of Manhattan, the battle is seemingly over, with Green Genes standing triumphant.
• Elsewhere, Dr. Strange and Reed Richards are watching closely. Reed relays his doubts about the Ghost Rider standing a chance, but the good doctor informs him that the Ghost Rider himself has limitless, godlike powers and only the human host, Blaze, can keep that power reigned in. It’s at this point, with the Hulk looking over the fallen Rider, that Strange realizes Johnny Blaze is no longer in control of the Ghost Rider. Wave upon wave of fire erupts through the street, directly at the Hulk, who is having difficulty dealing with the barrage. Then, abruptly, it ends, and the Ghost Rider leaves.
• Richards doesn’t understand the departure, but Dr. Strange does. The Ghost Rider only avenges the innocent, and in this case, it’s not the Hulk who is guilty but those whose actions led to this moment who are.

ROUND ONE… FIGHT!

That didn’t take long. After the build up in Ghost Rider #12, the main event took all of 2 pages (and the Hulk’s applause) to get things started.

DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING

Showing just a portion of his power, not to mention ingenuity, Ghost Rider topples a building on a surprised (and probably impressed) Hulk.

NO MORE MISTER NICE GHOST

You know that if Dr. Strange himself is wide-eyed with terror, then a Ghost Rider without his human host controlling him must mean he’s one serious badass.

UNRESTRAINED POWER

An awe-inspiring sight of a fully-engulfed-in-flames Ghost Rider staring down the Hulk. We’d like to think that even ol’ Jade Jaws himself would think a moment before continuing the battle, but the odds are slim.

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