Warbound, Part 4

Within the dome surrounding Gammaworld, Hiroim has discovered that his Old Power is what is powering the dome. Concluding the only way for the dome to fall is through his death, he tries to convince Korg to end his life. When Korg refuses, Hiroim attacks, trying to force his ally to slay him in combat. Korg refuses to do so because he doesn't care about the humans who are trapped within the dome. However, Hiroim demonstrates how powerful the Old Power has become by smashing Korg's head open and then using his power to heal the damage. He warns his ally that he will not be able to control the Old Power for much longer. He then strikes Korg again, send the Kronan landing before a group of people searching for rescue. Korg warns Hiroim to stay back because of the humans, but the Shadow Priest is not swayed.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Warbound are still battling it out with the Leader, thinking his defeat will bring down the dome. The Leader questions why they are attacking him because he has given them purpose again. The fight sends them crashing down into the lab below. There, the Leader reveals that he has a number of gamma mutated slaves. Pointing out that they will be hunted in the outside world, the Leader tries to entice Elloe Kaifi to stay as these slaves are obedient to the Warbound. The insane genius explains to Kate that he seeks life, telling her that all of his various deaths and resurrections have taken their toll on his body and he had created Gammaworld to create test subjects in the hopes of finding a cure. Suddenly, there is another surge of the Old Power, bringing the Leader a step closer to victory. Checking the equipment, Kate learns that Hiroim was lying about underground generators and that the only way they can take down the dome is by killing their teammate.

Back outside, Hiroim reminds Korg of his promise to protect the humans, regardless of what his thoughts are about them. When the rest of the Warbound tries to stop them, Korg knocks them away. With no other choice, he drives his fist through Hiroim cracking him in half. As Hiroim begins to die, the dome starts to fall allowing the military to drop bombs inside. Korg tells Hiroim about how the Kronans reproduce on his world. However, Kate interrupts and tells them that the Leader manipulated the radiation within the dome that the people who are trapped on Gammaworld will die without it. Hearing this, Hiroim uses his power to heal himself and restore the dome. Deciding to take the fight to the Leader, their foe arrives with an army of military robots that were dropped in to destroy everything inside.

Recurring Characters

Warbound (Korg, Elloe Kaifi, No-Name of Brood, Hiroim), Kate Waynesboro, Leader

Continuity Notes

• The Leader recounts all of his various transformations over the years they are:

  • His original mutation happened in Tales to Astonish #63. This form with the elongated skull lasted until his powers faded away, as seen in a flashback in Incredible Hulk #332.

  • The large-brained Leader, which happened when the Leader drained the gamma energy from Rick Jones in Incredible Hulk #332. He maintained this form until his physical body was destroyed in Incredible Hulk #400.

  • He then went on to possess the body of his minion Omnibus from Incredible Hulk #436 to 442 when Omnibus was exiled by the people of Freehold and fed to a polar bear.

  • The massive "higher being" version of the Leader seen in Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #30-32 which exploded when the Leader's mind apparently evolved to a higher plane.

  • Lastly, the "head in a jar" version of the Leader who secretly ran Home Base from Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #34-69. This form was destroyed by the Hulk in Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #75-76.

Tales of the Warbound, Part 4

Within the Negative Zone prison, Kate Waynesboro continues her interrogation of Miek to learn about the weaknesses of the Warbound. She next asks him about No-Name of Brood, recalling how she defended the members of the Illuminati during the Hulk's battle with the Sentry. When she asks if she can be turned against the Warbound, Miek explains why this would be a foolish endeavor.

He explains that No-Name is the member of the Brood, who were chemically bonded to their queen, their primary goal was to consume and destroy. However, when No-Name and her sisters ended up trapped on Sakaar, she was freed from the hive mind when they all died. She went from being a savage warrior to a maternal creature, telling stories to children. However, her biology was denied among the aliens that lived on Sakaar, that was until Miek himself evolved into a stronger form. The pair had a moment alone where they mated. No-Name became pregnant and laid eggs, which soon hatched shortly after the fall of the Red King.

However, this Brood-Sakaaran Native hybrid became a threat to the children of Sakaar that she had adopted. Fighting against her biology, she was forced to kill her own children to protect the children she cared so much for.

Miek concludes by pointing out that No-Name's greatest weakness is the fact that she is willing to sacrifice her life for her friends. With this story done, Miek mocks Kate for wanting to learn the weaknesses of his former allies when she is so weak herself. Miek then tells her that he has one more story to tell...

Recurring Characters

No-Name of Brood, Kate Waynesboro, Miek,

Continuity Notes

• Miek goes over a number of moments during No-Name's time on planet Sakaar:

  • Her battle in the Maw from Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #93.

  • The scene where No-Name is telling stories to children in Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #96.

  • She mated with Miek in Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #103.