Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The Hulk, Miek, and group, are sent to the Maw, the empire's "most lethal gladiatorial training school", where they face a lava-like being. The Hulk hurts the living volcano with a boulder. But the thing burns Jade Jaws seriously on the face, arm, and shoulder. After this encounter, Primus Vand, a former gladiator now working for the Emperor, obliges the Hulk, Miek and their group to fight another group of slaves. The Hulk and the rest have to obey, since they have been implanted with Obedience Disks that when activated, can cause irreversible damage to their brain. The fight is gory, leaving only 7 standing: The Hulk and Miek from Hulk's group, and from the other group: Korg (a strong tall stone monster), Brood (demon-wasp-like creature), Hiroim (Shadow warrior), Captain Lavin Skee (former Imperial Guard), and Elloe Kaifi (whose father was Congress Representative Ronan Kaifi, and was murdered by Primus Vand before the battle).
Primus Vand declares them to be a fighting team and locks them in a cell. Korg becomes their leader and the Hulk, their strong fist. Next day, the "Team" is sent to face new adversaries: beings from Korg's race! Korg first refuses to fight, but Skee makes him realize that his brothers are mindless. The Team wins, thanks mostly to the combined might of the Hulk and Korg. The victory earned them the title of "Gladiators", and equipped with corresponding uniforms, the Hulk's team is sent to their first battle.
The enemies are the Wildebots, powerful killer robots. The fight takes place in the Chaleen Plains amidst helpless Sakaar farmers. The fight is watched by members of the high society from a flying Imperial Pleasure Cruiser, and broadcast on "national TV". It was another victory for the Hulk's team. The highest point of the battle was when the Hulk with a single blow, destroyed the Eggbreaker, the Wildebots' leader.
Primus Vand calls the team the "Green Scar and his Mighty Gladiators" and welcomes them to the Cruiser with a great feast (Skee is granted special female companionship...) As the Hulk dines, he notices that the Emperor's green-eyed Shadow Lieutenant, Caiera, is watching him. She informs the Emperor that the Hulk is alive, but the Emperor laughs saying "What difference can one slave possibly make?".
Suddenly, rebels from the Sakaar Democratic Insurgency, who've been watching the Hulk for days, burst into the place, and ask the Hulk to help them liberate the Sakaar planet from the evil Emperor.