Title: “The Hulk”

Part 1- “The Coming of the Hulk”

Part 2- “The Hulk Strikes!”

Part 3- “The Search for the Hulk”

Part 4- “Enter… The Gargoyle!”

Part 5- “The Hulk Triumphant!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Jack Kirby

Inker: Paul Reinman

Colors: Andy Yanchus

In the desert stands a gamma bomb. Miles away inside solid concrete bunkers a task force waits to perform the gamma bomb’s first test. Bruce Banner, the bomb’s inventor, says that in a few moments they will no if they have succeeded. Igor says that he is against the test because Banner never shared the secret of the gamma rays with his fellow scientists for them to check. Banner tells Igor to be quiet as General Ross is approaching. Ross says that his men have been stationed there for weeks and asks if Banner is ever going to test the gamma bomb. Bruce says that he just has to be sure that every precaution has been taken. Bruce says that they are tampering with powerful forces, but Ross says that a bomb is a bomb. Ross says that if they had put him in charge that the test would have been done by now. Betty Ross arrives and tells Bruce not to mind her father, and that he feels like he has to live up to his nickname as “Thunderbolt” Ross. Banner excuses himself to begin the final countdown.

Igor says that this is Banner’s last chance to share the secret. Banner says that the secrets are locked away in his room and that they will stay there. Igor grabs Banner by the coat and says that if Banner made an error that he might blow up half the continent. Bruce says that he doesn’t make mistakes, and that he will talk to Igor later as he knows that Bruce detests men who think with their fists.

Bruce looks out on the testing area with a pair of binoculars. He spots a teenager driving. Banner tells Igor to delay the countdown until he can get to the boy. Banner drives off in a jeep and Igor thinks to himself that all he has to do is keep his finger off the “hold” button and it will mean the end for Bruce Banner.

Bruce runs up to the teenager’s car and tells him that this is a forbidden test area. Rick tells Bruce to cool it, and that the other kids bet him that he wouldn’t have the nerve to sneak past the guards. Bruce grabs the boy and says that they have to reach the protective trench before the bomb goes off. Bruce throws the boy into the trench, but before he can get in too the bomb goes off. Although Bruce is miles away from the actual detonation he is bathed in the full force of the gamma rays. Banner’s world seems to stand still. Bruce screams.

Hours later Bruce is still screaming. He finally starts to come out of it. The doctor there says that it is a miracle that Bruce is alive. Bruce asks how he got there. Rick Jones, the boy from the test area, introduces himself and says that he brought Bruce there. He says that he figured it was the least he could do for the man who saved his life. Rick says that he is an orphan and that nobody but Bruce ever did anything for him before Bruce.

Later, as the sun is going down, Rick asks Bruce how long they are going to keep them there. Bruce says that they must be waiting for him to die. He says that it isn’t possible to take so much radiation and not have something happen. The moon is visible in the dark sky behind Bruce as he says that his head is throbbing. Bruce says that this must be the end. Bruce hears the Geiger counter going wild. The Geiger counter gets louder and louder as Bruce begins to transform. Banner is transformed into a giant gray monster. Rick Jones says, “Hey! Look at you! You changed…”, but Rick is cut off when the monster smacks him and says, “Get out of my way insect!” The monster wonders where he is, and why he is locked inside. Rick Jones watches as the monster breaks through the wall as if it were cardboard.

Four soldiers in a jeep are driving and spot the monster. They don’t have enough time to stop however and they crash into the monster. The soldiers go flying as the jeep stops dead against the monster. The thing that was once Bruce Banner decides that it had better get away and hide. As the monster walks away Rick Jones follows him. He says, “You saved my life! You need me now… wait! I’m goin’ with you.”

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