Hulk (Vol. 2) #25 — Nick Peron

Mar 16

Mar 16 Hulk (Vol. 2) #25

Singularity

Now

The offices of Omnisapient Systems in Santa Clara is under attack, as their Synthigraft subjects run amok. Not only are these subjects attacking everyone, they spread the transformative properties of their technogranic synthesis to whoever they touch. Watching this is project director Parul Kurinji and her assistant Jacob Feinman. As she scrambles to shut down the network, the Red Hulk arrives and challenges the Synthigraft zombies to try him on for size.

Three Days Ago

The Hulk and Captain Rogers have come to Gamma Base to see if the Red Hulk is willing to help them out with a mission. When they enter his secure cell, the Red Hulk remarks about how he was waiting for them to ask for help. Rogers thinks this is the wrong attitude for him to have and the two leave. For the next few hours, the Red Hulk rages, beating the walls of his cell until his knuckles are bloody. When Bruce Banner is informed by the Gamma Base operatives, he orders them to activate the anti-gravity systems in the cell and then forces Ross to watch footage of his defeats at the hands of the green Hulk and leaves him that way for the next three days when Captain Rogers comes back to talk to Thaddeus again.

When Steve arrives and confronts the Red Hulk, he discovers that Ross is ready to listen and follow orders. Satisfied, the Captain orders the gravity restored, but orders the Red Hulk to return to human form as he wants to talk to General Ross, not the Hulk. Thaddeus complies and no soon has he done so, a device comes down from the ceiling and fires an object into the back of his neck. Ross wakes up to find himself in a lab being examined by Bruce Banner. Banner explains that the device he implanted in the General's neck cuts off the Red Hulk's ability to absorb bio-energy from others. When Ross believes that this is just to give Banner an edge over him in battle. Banner angrily tells him that his war with the Hulk is over but if he wants proof they could both transform and he can prove it. When Ross stands down, Banner explains the real reason: This ability was eventually going to burn out his body and kill him. Banner also explains that he has done the same on Betty Ross as well.

That's when Captain Rogers enters the lab and brief Thaddeus on his mission. They have been looking through MODOK's files and learned that if the Intelligencia had failed in their bid on world domination, they have set up a series of doomsday weapons dubbed Scorched Earth, so if they could not rule the Earth, nobody would. While Rogers has sent various teams to deal with the first wave of Scorched Earth, he wants Ross to atone for his actions working with MODOK and his allies. At first, they are going to send him to San Diego to stop the approach of a monster from the ocean, but Banner notes that Rick Jones is there and sends him instead. They then send the Red Hulk to deal with the impending disaster at Omnisapient. Banner explains that they were developing cybernetic replacement limbs that are created by synthetic and metallic alloys that introduced via a virus, and the communications have just gone down at the facility. Before he leaves on his mission, Rogers gives him a communicator and expresses his inability to trust Ross, telling him that he is sending an operative to watch over him on this mission. However, Ross insists that he works alone, and turns into the Red Hulk and leaps away on the way to California. Rogers still has faith that Ross will prove himself and contacts Tony Stark to tell him that he will be working with the Hulk.

Now

The Red Hulk is swarmed by the Synthegraft zombies, and while they try to infect him with the virus, his body can fight off the effects. At that moment, Iron Man is arriving on the scene just as Banner tries to contact him. He ignores the call because his armor detects the Red Hulk as a hostile. Thinking that Ross is responsible, Iron Man rockets onto the scene and attacks the Red Hulk. As Iron Man bombards him with his weapon systems, the Red Hulk tries to tell him that they are working together, but the armored Avenger won't listen. With the Hulk incapacitated, Iron Man is then attacked by the Synthegraft zombies. They quickly swarm him and begin infecting his armor. When the Red Hulk pulls himself out of the crater created by Iron Man's ambush, he is determined to beat the life out of the hero. However, he is shocked to see the Synthegraft zombies around Iron Man's now empty armor.

Recurring Characters

Red Hulk, Bruce Banner, Steve Rogers, Iron Man, Parul Kurinji, Thunderbolts (Juggernaut, Man-Thing, Crossbones), Thing, Agents of Atlas (Jimmy Woo, Namora, Gorilla-Man, Uranian)

Step Up

As A-Bomb makes his way to San Diego, Bruce Banner monitors the approach of the monster that is due on its course, relieved that a cruise ship was evacuated before the monster crossed its path. Flying into the region on a jet-cycle, A-Bomb tries to attack the creature before it gets to shore, but it swats the A-Bomb away, destroying his vehicle and sending him crashing on the beach. When Rick pulls himself out of the sand, he tries to calm the people gathered around him, but the people are frightened by his monstrous appearance. He tries to stop the monster by tossing a massive statue at the creature, but it only serves to anger the monster as it reaches the shore.

As A-Bomb battles the creature, two ghostly figures observe the battle. One of them identifies Rick Jones and explains his origins to the other. They believe with enough time they A-Bomb could gain the power that they can use for their purposes. By this time, soldiers have arrived on the beach and begin attacking A-Bomb instead of the monster. Still, A-Bomb takes it on stride, understanding that this is exactly the same sort of treatment that the Hulk experienced when he was trying to do something good. Rick ignores the soldiers and fights back against the monster that is truly threatening them.