The Green Room - 08.01.2007
By Sal Loria

WORLD WAR HULK #3 (of 5)
Greg Pak (W)/John Romita Jr. (A)

THE LEAN, GREEN SUMMARY

• General “Thunderbolt” Ross reflects on the last time the Hulk went on a rampage through New York, and only Dr. Strange had an answer that day as many heroes fell. With Ross’ thoughts turning to the now deceased Betty Ross—his daughter—a hailstorm of adamantium shards bombards the monster as the military begin their attack.
• Meanwhile, Dr. Strange has just finished his incantations and has now entered the Hulk’s mind. As the barrage continues “outside,” Strange pleads for the chance to help ol’ Jade Jaws. Eventually, the Hulk changes into Bruce Banner, who is now thinking of his dead wife Caiera. Thinking the rage has subsided, Strange assists Banner into standing up and returning to the outside world, only to realize it’s a trap—Banner becomes the Hulk once more and crushes Dr. Strange’s hands, leaving him almost complete useless.
• With new-found anger, the Hulk dismantles the army attacking him. Once done, he rounds up even more hostages, including General Ross, and keeps them in Madison Square Garden. It seems that MSG is being fashioned into a gladiator arena, much like the ones found on Sakaar in which the Hulk and his Warbound were forced to do battle.
• Elsewhere, the President of the United States tries to enlist the Sentry’s help, but he’s unresponsive.
• Hiroim, Elloe and a couple others arrive at Strange’s hidden sanctum, having followed Rick Jones there. Hiroim is able to sense the magic that disguises the sanctum as a run-down, uninhabited building. The New Avengers’ Iron Fist, Ronin and Echo file out to make a stand now that their cover is blown. Within minutes the three heroes are being fitted with obedience disks and led to MSG. Inside, Hiroim begins breaking through each spell Strange had set up, closing in on the injured magician. Strange, meanwhile, asks his assistant Wong for the one artifact he had hoped would not be needed, much to his assistant’s chagrin. As Hiroim enters the room, Strange calls on the demon known as Zom and drinks the potion.
• The Hulk is now sitting on his makeshift throne, perched within MSG, as Miek and Rick Jones are once again debating what it means to be a hero. Impassively, the Hulk just sits and watches. It’s at that moment that a beaten Hiroim is dropped from out of nowhere as Strange appears, more demon than human at this point…

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

With the current destruction being done to New York, it’s only fitting this flashback is shown, from the pages of Incredible Hulk #300, released 23 years ago. The heroes didn’t do so well then, either.

EMPTY THREATS

In the first of many gorgeous full-page layouts, Dr. Strange attempts to let the Hulk know just how easily he could snuff him out. Unfortunately for the good doctor…

THE HULK GETS THE UPPER HAND

In doing so, he shatters both of the magician’s hands, rendering him virtually useless where his incantations are concerned. Even in his own mind, you can’t escape the Hulk.

WHEN THE CAMERAS ARE OFF

While the President pleads to the Sentry to get into the fight with the Hulk, the Sentry merely stands around in without uttering a single word. Met with silence, the President eloquently gives us readers a situation update.

DON’T MAKE ME MAD…

Invoking the demon Zom, Strange comes back for round two against the Hulk. This time, the gloves are off as Strange is clearly not in his “happy place” anymore.

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