spoilers:end of spoilers
It starts with Banner still unconscious while Annihilus is lying down on an operating table with Blastaar and Dr. Bultar standing by. Bultar states that the substance they seek only appears for a brief window of time when Banner transforms. He does so and with the substance extracted, operation Annihilus begins starting with the removal of the carapace starting with his face. (Can you say ewwww)
The substance, the Cosmic Control Rod, and Annihilus all begin to react with each other and he begins to cry out in pain and some cosmic energy nearly flash fries Pip who has been spying on them from the ducts. Bultar tells Blastaar not to remember Annihilus’ cries of pain to which the latter retorts “what cries”? Annihilus stands up looking like a hulking gargoyle.
Pip sneaks down and removes the cerebral inhibitor from the Hulk, who finally decides to wake up and SMASH!!!!!
Blastaar blasts him out of the building, calls for back-up, and puts on his flight boots. Annihilus wants Bultar to finish implanting his carapace back on him. (Guess he feels naked without it? ) Meanwhile poor Pip is out cold.
Blastaar and Hulk throw down. More like Blastaar stays out of the Hulk’s range and blasts him with his cosmic energy. The Annihilation Wave appears and get decimated. Blastaar is beside himself watching it.
Bultar finishes putting the carapace on Annihilus while Pip wakes up from his impromptu nap.
Blastaar compares Hulk to fish in a barrel. But as the Hulk eloquently puts it: “This fish had enough!” “This fish smash!” and he smashes the ground under a building and the tremor sends it hurtling towards Blastaar who is unable to dodge it.
As Blastaar attempts to get up, Hulk punches his face into the pavement. The now souped up Annihilus appears to face off with the Hulk.
“I assume that you’re experiment was a success, Doctor Bultar. Because all of you now look so… Insignificant.”
I like some of the lines Starlin has been giving Annihilus throughout this mini.
Also, I liked this one too:
Hulk: “Hulk hates Bugs!”
Blastaar: “And the Annihilation Wave hates resistance!”
I would have liked Hulk to do some thunder claps so maybe next issue hopefully?
After last issue, I’m sure you’ve figured out that this entire mini is more about setting up Starlin’s Infinity Relativity graphic novel where Annihilus is souped up rather than being an all out brawl between Hulk and Thanos.
So next issue: Angry Hulk vs Hulked out Annihilus