Incredible Hulks #628
Live and Let Smash
Crypto-Mythologist Sofia di Cosimo and the Subterranean warlord known as Tyrannus have been captured by the Knights of Rome, who are seeking to claim Pandora's Box for themselves. High over the city of Rome, the Knights are confronted by a United Nations aircraft piloted by General Gladwell. However, the Knights blast the ship out of the sky with their mystical powers. The ship is about to crash on the city below, but it is caught by the Hulk and the Red She-Hulk. General Gladwell thanks the Hulk for the save and deputizes him as a UN Special Operative. The Hulk is unimpressed with the title, only wanting to smash the Knights of Rome. Gladwell tells the Hulk he should smash their ship first, pointing out a massive saucer-sized vessel floating over the city.
Meanwhile, the Knights of Rome take their prisoners aboard their ship, which is actually a massive flying castle. They explain that they have been charged with protecting the Holy Land of Rome from Pagan threats. Placed in a Pagan mystical circle. When Sofia points out the irony here, the leader of the Knights agrees, and hence why they were excommunicated by Pope Gregory the 9th centuries earlier. However, they believe that the end justifies the means, even at the cost of their immortal souls. The knight removes his helmet revealing a desiccated corpse, swirling with mystical energies. He grabs Sofia and demands to know what is inside Pandora's Box. At that moment, Amadeus Cho equips the two Hulks with weapons that include Hydra blood tipped bullets for their mission to recover Pandora's Box from the Knights of Rome. After General Gladwell expresses his concerns about the Hulk going after mystical foes so soon after being beaten by Zeus, they continue on their way. The Red She-Hulk asks what Sofia di Cosimo means to him. He questions why she would care. The two exchange barbs about the Red She-Hulk's lack of class, and Banner's obsession with her. When Red She-Hulk asks why the Hulk is still hanging around if this was all Banner's idea, the Hulk says that the world needs saving and he finds this fun. Soon they are launched out of the UN-carrier along with a barrage of missiles.
The missiles fail to smash through the mystical barriers regardless of the fact that the missiles were Adamantium tipped and blessed by eight different religious denominations. When that fails, the two Hulks revert back to human form to slip past the barrier and return to Hulk form after. They are suddenly attacked by the Knights of Rome, which they easily knocked away. The leader of the Knights then uses his power to summon a flaming bird that is composed of energy from Zeus. The Hulk is looking forward to the challenge, but the creature is more powerful. He tells the Red She-Hulk to make him angry. But when she cannot say anything bad enough, Tyrannus tells the Hulk that he slept with Betty. The Hulk is furious and begins gaining ground. The Red She-Hulk joins in, jumping up and shooting the creature in the face with her gun, the Hydra blood tipped bullets seriously harm the creature. Inside, the leader of the Knights tries to open Pandora's Box, but he is hit from behind by Tyrannus and reclaims the Box for himself.
While outside, the two Hulks suddenly forget their squabbles and kiss for the first time since the Hulk discovered his wife was still alive. However, Tyrannus takes control of the Knight's ship, merging his soul with it, and transforming it into a massive form of his body, and grabs the two Hulks.
Recurring Characters
Hulk, Red She-Hulk, Sofia di Cosimo, Amadeus Cho, Tyrannus
Continuity Notes
Amadeus Cho gives Red She-Hulk Hydra blood-tipped bullets, saying they once almost took down Hercules. He is referring to the events of Incredible Hercules #113-115.
