She-Hulk #6

Title: “The Big Picture part two: Minor Complications”

Writer: Dan Slott

Penciller: Paul Pelletier

Inker: Roland Paris

Colors: Avalon Studios

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Awesome Andy wakes up and turns off his alarm. He leaves the house without waking up Ditto. The people all say hello to him. He helps a local shopkeep with his gate. The man gives Andy an apple, but as Andy walks away he realizes that he has no mouth. Andy drops it in the guitar case of a street performer. He walks to Timley Plaza. As he works the people tell him to keep up the good work. At the water cooler, one worker asks Andy which game he is watching tonight the Mets of the Yankees. Andy holds up the Mets symbol on his chalkboard around his neck. At the end of the day, the people are saying goodnight to Andy. Mallory Book comes out and tells Andy that she needs him to stay late tonight. She asks if that is going to be a problem. Andy points to his Mets symbol. Mallory says that she doesn’t know what that means. She says that here is lots to do and to come with her. She says that she needs him to bring up some long boxes from the basement. Andy’s shoulders slump.

In a helicopter en route to Timely Plaza, She-Hulk asks Holden if he really started a new legal division, pioneered superhuman law, and hired her all so he could get his granddaughter out of prison. Holden says that is it. She-Hulk says that she is a super-villain. Holden says that she is a superhuman who has made some really bad choices. As the helicopter lands, Holden says that superhumans are sometimes treated in extremely inhumane ways. He asks what right they have to shrink a person and throw a child into an adult corrections facility. She-Hulk says that she is a super-villain… committing crimes with super powers. She-Hulk says this all makes her skin crawl. She-Hulk scratches her hand.

The microscopic super-villains run from She-Hulk’s scratching fingernail.

Yellowjacket says that this is preposterous. He says that no one has ever suffered any ill effects from being exposed to Pym Particles. Mallory Book says that her firm has been putting together an extensive list of documents that say otherwise. Pym says that they are comic books and asks if they are really making a motion to shut down the Big House because of comic books. Mallory says that they are verified by the Comics Code Authority, a federal agency, and will hold up in a court of law. She says that users of Pym Particles have experienced multiple personalities, violent mood swings, and the onset of cancer. Pym says that the particles had nothing to do with that. Holden arrives carrying Southpaw with She-Hulk. He says that if Pym doesn’t return his granddaughter to her rightful size that it will be enough to shut down his prison for a lengthy legal battle. Hank says that he can’t believe that She-Hulk is a party to this. She-Hulk says that she is with Pym on this one and is thinking about quitting. Sasha fights Holden’s grip. She remembers Thinker telling her that she had to put up a fight when they take her to see Dr. Pym. He tells her to fight until the She-Hulk herself restrains her. She-Hulk grabs Southpaw. She tells Hank to do what they ask and that tomorrow she will help him find a legal way to fix this. Sasha sees the other inmates on She-Hulk’s hand and realizes that this is going to be good. Hank sprays Jen’s hand with the particles that only return things to their previous size. Southpaw grows to her normal height, but all the inmates are also returned to their Big House shrunken sizes. They leap off She-Hulk.

As they run away, She-Hulk asks where they all came from. Yellowjacket says that they came from the Big House. He says that they must have gotten a hold of the temporary shrinking gas. He asks Holliway if he is happy now that he has helped pull off the biggest super-villain break out in history. Holden says that they haven’t gotten away yet. He pushes a button that seals every exit, vent, and opening with a force field. Mallory says that now when the temporary gas wears off that they will all be stuck in there with them. She-Hulk says that it means that they are stuck in there with her. She-Hulk rips off her business suit. She tells Holliway to keep an eye on the brat. She tells Awesome Andy and Yellowjacket to come with her. He says that they have to take out as many as they can while they are still “pitching for the munchkin league”. She tells Hank she meant no offense.

As the three of them rush off, Ironclad asks Vector why the U-Foes are hanging back. Vector says that the real prize of this venture is on the other side of this door.

She-Hulk walks through the office looking for super-villains. She thinks to herself that the tough talk and the bad girl attitude comes back so easily. She realizes that it has been months since she stayed the She-Hulk for so long. She says that it feels odd to be her in “Jen’s world”. She thinks about the people that she has helped and the friends that she has made and realizes that she is going to miss it. Absorbing Man absorbs some steel and leaps at She-Hulk. She-Hulk grabs him out of the air. She bends him so far that she practically folds him backward. She-Hulk sees the others coming out and asks if they can speed this up. She says that she never was one to play with dolls. 8-Ball insists that he is an action figure. Tiger Shark leaps at She-Hulk, but She-Hulk just swats him away. Tiger Shark lands in the fish tank. He comes up and says that the water just replenished his strength. He tells her to prepare to meet her doom. She-Hulk picks up Electro, tells Tiger Shark to prepare to meet Electro, and drops him in the fish tank. She-Hulk thinks to herself that everyone expects this of her, but that maybe she is just looking for an easy way out.

Sandman is thinking about escaping through the mail drop when Awesome Andy sucks him up in a vacuum. Thinker tells Andy that was well done, but that he would expect nothing less from one of his creations. Thinker says that it is time for Android to proceed to the next stage of his programming. He says that first he developed sentience, sought out this law firm, and found gainful employment. He says that his presence triggers the next phase where Android crushes his resistance, retrieves his minions, and helps him escape with his newfound army of superhuman followers. Andy stops to think.

Yellowjacket finds Vermin digging in the trash. Vermin tells Yellowjacket that it is all his. Yellowjacket’s sting barely phases Vermin so Yellowjacket takes Vermin and throws him into a mouse trap.

Southpaw smashes a hole in the wall and says that she has to get out of there. Holden asks her where she will hide. Mallory quietly tells Holden to let her go. Southpaw tells him to drop the field. She tells him not to think that she won’t hurt him. The tiny U-Foes stand below. X-Ray asks when they make their move. Vector says that they are just waiting for the right moment. Suddenly the U-Foes start growing.

She-Hulk stands as Dragon Man. Rhino, Powderkeg, and 8-Ball start to grow. 8-Ball says that in a second that she won’t stand a chance. She-Hulk says that all she needs is a second. She grabs 8-Ball by the head and throws him. She hits Dragon Man and it ricochets into Rhino and Powderkeg. 8-Ball hits the wall hard and Powderkeg asks him if he is okay. 8-Ball says weakly, “reply hazy… ask again later…”

As Mad Thinker grows he tells Android to follow his programming. He tells him to seek out She-Hulk and Yellowjacket and destroy them. Andy thinks about fighting the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the Avengers. He thinks about Thinker always yelling at him. He thinks about the people at work and how they appreciate him. Thinker shouts that he gave him an order. He yells for him to do something. Andy punches Thinker and destroys his robot double. Thinker says that is impossible. He says that wasn’t part of his programming.

Vector tells Ironclad to keep hold of Holden’s arm. He says that he is their billion dollar hostage and the man that is going to open the shield for them. Holden says that he will never do it. Vector says that they will just have to twist his arm then… all the way off. Southpaw looks at her grandfather and softens. Southpaw grabs Ironclad’s arm with her gauntlet and bends his wrist. She tells him to get his hands off him and that he is family. Vapor tells Southpaw that she is going to get a face full of cyanide. Yellowjacket says that it smells like hydrogen cyanide and combusts her. Southpaw punches X-Ray. Yellowjacket stings Vector and asks Southpaw if she is one of the good guys now. Southpaw says that she is just ticked off. Mallory asks Holden if he is okay. Holden says that is his Sasha.

She-Hulk stands over Dragon Man and Powderkeg. She says that she needed that and that it feels like she went five months without pounding anyone. Rhino emerges from the wreckage and says that he isn’t done with her. She-Hulk asks if Rhino knows Powderkeg’s super power. Rhino says that he doesn’t care. She-Hulk throws Powderkeg at Rhino and right after they explode she tells him that it is explosive sweat.

Damage Control looks over the office. Mallory Book asks the man with the clipboard if his decimal point isn’t in the wrong place. The man says that it should be further to the right. She-Hulk tells Holden that they need to talk about yesterday and her position there. Holden says that he understands and will support any decision she makes. He says that he has something important to do first. She-Hulk watches as Holden goes over and hugs Southpaw. She-Hulk thinks again about the new friends. About helping real people with real problems. She decides that maybe it is worth another shot. Pug sees that they are rebuilding the office again and that it must be Wednesday. He asks Mallory if she has seen Andy and that he was supposed to pick up his dry cleaning. Mallory says that she gave him the morning off and that he had a long night.

Ditto is eating cereal. He tells Andy not to worry and that he taped the game for him. He asks if it was the Yankees. Andy lays in bed. He has the Thinker’s head with him. Thinker says that he has figured it out. He says that he is malfunctioning. He says that he needs to fix him and that he is broken. Andy ignores him and Thinker calls him a piece of junk.

Site for Sore Eyes rating: 7 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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