Continued from "Gamma World, part 1"
At the Leader's command, a larger and more powerful version of the gamma emitter from the Cube starts projecting an even larger gamma radiation dome over Las Vegas, mutating all of its inhabitants into monsters. Although the U-Foes and Zzzax remain securely locked up, the Avengers and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in the area are caught without their protective suits and become monsters as well, with the exception of Thor, thanks to his Asgardian physiology, and Doc Samson. Hawkeye and Black Widow are just barely able to escape the dome, which is continuing to expand at a steady rate. In the interest of saving the world, Hawkeye is forced to leave Black Widow behind while he goes to search for the one man who can figure out a solution to this problem: Bruce Banner.
How to find him? Why, just follow the sound of the explosions as the Hulkbusters are still on his trail. Just when it seems like they have finally taken him down, Hawkeye tips the scales in his favor. Once they're all gone he asks Hulk for his help in dealing with the gigantic gamma dome but Hulk is not exactly forthcoming considering some of the crap he's been through.
Hawkeye: I don't need them, smart guy, and I don't need you. I need Banner.
Hulk: Banner's not home. Now leave me alone.
Hawkeye: Listen, Bigfoot! If you don't give me Bruce Banner in the next three seconds, bottom line, I will take you down.
That sounds about as threatening to the Hulk as one might expect, and he starts laughing his ass off. Of course, this is exactly what Hawkeye was counting on and the anger immediately drains out of the Hulk, allowing Banner to reassert himself. But this is no laughing matter and the two of them get straight to business.
Meanwhile, Thor is brought before the Leader to serve as entertainment by squaring off against the Abomination. He calls the Leader out, demanding to know what gives him the right to lead, sending the Leader into a full-on Motive Rant, distracting him long enough for Mjölnir to return to his hand. This is exactly what the Leader wanted him to do and the Absorbing Man appears to take on the properties of the hammer. As Absorbing Man hurls Thor down into the streets below for the other gamma monsters, Hulk squares off against the Abomination and Hawkeye, having been previously inoculated against the effects of the gamma radiation by Banner, shoots the mutated Avengers with specially-designed arrows that revert them to their previous forms.
Absorbing Man appears to have the upper hand but that quickly disappears when Thor asserts control over his body in the same way he is able to command his hammer. He sends Absorbing Man upwards where he smashes into the Leader, who has activated a battle robot in order to fight Hawkeye and the Hulk. Hulk smashes the gamma emitter and hurls it into space, collapsing the green dome and saving the world. Everyone returns to normal and it seems that Doc Samson will survive his ordeal. Hawkeye's sky cycle camera has captured footage proving his innocence and S.H.I.E.L.D. is willing to reinstate him as an agent, but he has learned his lesson after being thrown under a bus. He also refuses to join the Avengers, on account of how easily the Leader took them all out. Thor convinces the Hulk to rejoin the team, on condition that Hawkeye does, and (presumably) there is some sort of agreement.
In what is quickly becoming a Once per Episode thing, the Abomination is picked up by Baron Zemo, the Enchantress, and their rapidly-expanding team of supervillains.
Tropes:
- Advancing Wall of Doom: The Gamma Dome is a spherical version of this.
- Batman Gambit:
- Hawkeye demanding Hulk produce Banner or he'd take him down. Hulk laughs so hard he turns back into Banner.
- The Leader boasts he allowed Thor to retrieve Mjölnir so the Absorbing Man could take its properties. This later backfires, however.
- Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Despite being left tied up before the approaching Gamma Dome, we never see what monster Black Widow transforms into. Probably for the best too, given how she wears a skintight jumpsuit.
- Big "NEVER!": Thor when the Leader boasts that he has lost.
- Big "NO!": The Leader when Hulk starts ripping out the gamma emitter.
- Body Horror: What happens to anyone who isn't immune to Gamma radiation is not pleasant.
- Bound and Gagged: Black Widow is bound by Hawkeye.
- The Cameo: During the Leader's speech, we see Pepper, Nick Fury, Zemo, Amora, Zola, and Hank all watching the broadcast. At the end, we see Abomination greeted by the Masters of Evil (which also now includes Crimson Dynamo).
- Clear My Name: Black Widow is still free, but thanks to his cycle's camera footage, Hawkeye gets the evidence to exonerate himself.
- Cruel Mercy: Hulk is smart enough to know that he doesn't need to smash or kill The Leader. He just needs to destroy the plan he had perfectly crafted in order to truly hurt him.
- Did Not Think This Through: The Leader expected Thor to call on Mjölnir, allowing Absorbing Man to copy its material. He gives Thor a good beatdown but neither of them realize that while Absorbing Man has the properties of Mjölnir, he lacks the "worthiness" to use its true power. Thor concentrated long enough to take control him.Thor: You are foolish to take on the essence of Mjölnir, mortal. The hammer's power is not yours to control. It is mine!
- Didn't See That Coming: Averted. Though disappointed, the Leader saw Hulk rejecting his offer.
- Friendship Moment: Thor commending Hulk as a noble warrior and saying he would trust him with his life.
- Here We Go Again!: All but Thor and Samson are hit with another Gamma Dome and become monsters again. This time, The Leader plans to use the Dome on the entire world.
- Hidden Heart of Gold: In response to Thor's speech about congratulating and trusting him, Hulk sheepishly says he'll stay but only if "Cupid" does.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: Thor tries this after the others turn into Gamma monsters. It fails.
- The Immune: The Leader finds it curious that Thor is the only Avenger not affected by the gamma energy. Thor says it's because he's an Asgardian. Before heading to the city, Banner gives Hawkeye a shot that will offer him temporary protection.
- Megaton Punch: How Abomination leaves Las Vegas.
- Mini-Mecha: The Leader rides around in during the climax.
- New Era Speech: The Leader makes a speech about how the world will change under his rule after the Gamma Dome expands completely, leading into the Title Drop.
- Oh, Crap!: When the Absorbing Man realizes just how much control Thor has over Mjölnir's essence. When we next see the guy, he crashes into the Leader's mecha, screaming all the way.
- Only the Chosen May Wield: The Leader is admittedly intrigued that his empowered Wrecking Crew still can't lift Thor's hammer. Thor tells him that only those worthy can and that doesn't include them.
- On One Condition: Hawkeye and Hulk were planning on going their separate ways, but Thor convinces Hulk to stay with the Avengers. Hulk decides to rejoin only if Hawkeye stays.
- Painful Transformation: Again, mutating via Gamma radiation is not pleasant.
- Pragmatic Villainy: After the Leader gives his New Era Speech, Hawkeye believes Black Widow and HYDRA are backing the Leader's plan. Widow shoots that idea down, pointing out that HYDRA will be in the same boat as everyone else if the Leader succeeds, therefore they have no incentive to help him.
- Race Against the Clock: Banner is certain that the longer this goes on, the more likely the changes will become permanent.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Hawkeye refuses rejoining S.H.I.E.L.D. since they were the ones who imprisoned him.
- Shout-Out: Gamma World was originally the name of a post-apocalyptic RPG from the 1980's, and the mutant-infested hellscape Nevada starts to turn into under the Leader's care looks pretty close. The reference is even sweeter if you know how the same company got the license to make an RPG based on Marvel Comics.
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: Abomination keeps insisting he's superior to Hulk. The first time, Hulk just kicks him through a ceiling onto the roof. The second time...Abomination: I always beat you, Hulk. Do you hear me?! I'm better than you in every way!
Hulk: But I've got something you don't: backup.
(Hawkeye hits him with a modified arrow) - Tempting Fate: After Thor is sent crashing out a window by Absorbing Man, the Leader opines that no one is left to stop him. Cue Hawkeye and Hulk's entrance.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Iron Man snarking about Hawkeye getting into it with Hulk.
- Title Drop: "Welcome to Gamma World!"
- We Can Rule Together: The Leader offers Hulk a place in Gamma World, telling him he'll no longer be hunted and could be a king. Hulk prefers to smash him.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Since the last time they parted was on bad terms, Thor calls Hulk a hero and says he would trust him with his life.
