The Ultimates 6
From Ultimarvel
[edit] "Giant Man vs The Wasp"
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: Bryan Hitch
Inker: Andrew Currie
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Publication Date: August 2002
• The Triskelion is used as an emergency site for persons injured during the Hulk’s rampage (The Ultimates 5). Betty Ross confides to Nick Fury that she feels that the incident was her fault. She says she had been talking to Bruce Banner like dirt and flirting with Freddie Prinze Jr. and feels that she pushed him over the edge. She states that nonetheless, she finds it flattering that Banner would do this for her.
• Betty Ross states that she is going to hush up the Bruce Banner connection to the Hulk so that the Ultimates receive positive PR from the incident.
• The Ultimates are all interviewed in the Hulk aftermath and treated as heroes. Thor announces publicly that he has not joined the group.
• Janet Pym converses with Nick Fury about the positive press she has been receiving. She does this while preparing to attend a dinner at Tony Stark’s place with Thor and Steve Rogers. Janet mentions that Tony and Thor really hit it off after meeting and talked for about an hour and a half after the Hulk was put down.
• At Tony Stark’s place on Park Avenue, Thor and Steve Rogers arrive to Tony’ dinner event. They note that the Hulk incident was a few weeks back and that the S.H.I.E.L.D. tapes covering the fight were converted into a DVD and have sold 15 million copies. Steve states that he is very uncomfortable about the cover-up of the Banner/Hulk connection.
• At Hank and Janet Pym’s home, Janet prepares to go to Tony’s dinner. Hank tries to blow off going, still suffering from embarrassment from being knocked unconscious by the Hulk (The Ultimates 5). He tells Janet that he just wants to work on his Ant-Man helmet as he is supposed to present it to Fury later in the week. Janet tells Hank that he did was amazing in the Hulk fight, Hank accuses Janet of patronizing her and insinuates that she only wants to go to the dinner because she is attracted to either Steve Rogers or Tony Stark. Hank then expresses jealousy and asks her what Captain America would say if he knew Janet was a mutant. Janet gets defensive; she reveals that Hank took credit for her powers, passing them off as a genetic enhancement. He also used her blood sample to develop his Giant Man formula and is using it as the basis for his Ant-Man technology. She states that Bruce Banner is twice the scientist that Hank is.
• Hank loses his temper and hits Janet. She hits him back and the two engage in an episode of domestic violence. Janet shrinks to wasp size and uses her stings against Hank. He responds by spraying her with bug killer. This burns Janet and causes her to retreat under a desk while in wasp size. Hank then puts on his Ant-Man helmet and orders his group of test ants to attack Janet. As they bite and attack her, he states “You shouldn’t have made me look small, Jan”.
• At Tony Stark’s place, Thor confides to Steve and Tony that he is “God made man… the living incarnation of a Norse thunder deity sent by his father in Valhalla to purify the Earth again.” Thor states that he has known who he was since he was 12, but it wasn’t until his nervous breakdown that everything became clear.
• Thor tells Tony and Steve that he is not interested in joining the Ultimates, believing the hype and government to be corrupting. He does say however that he is always just a phone call away for a genuine problem that threatens people’s lives. Steve Rogers states that this great, because it means that they get Thor’s services for free.
• Tony Stark reveals that the reason for his involvement in the Ultimates is due to an inoperable brain tumor that has given him only 6 months to 5 years in which to live. He says he wants to use his resources and abilities to make the world better for everyone else during this time.
• Tony presents Steve with a present. It is the original helmet that Steve wore in 1945 during his last mission before being frozen in the ocean. Tony says he got it from a woman named Ellen Kowalski. Her father had brought it home from the war and said it belonged to the bravest man he ever knew. Kowalski was the name of the soldier in The Ultimates 1 that constantly questioned Captain America’s abilities.
• Hank Pym is shown in the remains of his and Janet’s home, asking himself what he has done.
Notes:
- Captain America received cracked ribs, a broken nose, and a dislocated left arm. He states to a reporter that it should be healed in a day or two. This demonstrates his increased healing factor due to the Super Soldier serum.
- Nick Fury comments to Janet Pym that he and Banner tried to get Thor to join the team for six months and the one thing they never tried was inviting him to dinner.
- Tony Stark references that he once had a collection of Captain America trading cards.
- Tony’s butler Jarvis expresses attraction to both Thor and Captain America.
- Hank Pym reveals that Janet eats caterpillars and hides in a larval nest when frightened. He also says that she lays eggs in their bed every six weeks.
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