Hulk Annual (UK) Vol 1 2005

General Ross shows a video presentation to military leaders, providing a threat assessment of the incredible Hulk. Major Talbot supplements the presentation by showing a pictorial history of the Hulk's origins, including the initial Gamma Bomb explosion. Suddenly, an officer enters the room interrupting the presentation. He tells General Ross that Bruce Banner has been sighted outside Chicago. Ross tells him to mobilize the troops.

In Chicago, Bruce Banner sneaks into a laboratory at a Brand Corporation facility. Hiding under a false identity, Bruce works at the Brand Corporation as a janitor. He begins modifying a device called the Gamma Accelerator in the hopes that it might cure him of turning into the Hulk. Something goes wrong however, and Bruce begins to change. His metamorphosis halts in mid-transformation, and he is stuck in a half-Banner/half-Hulk form.

Ross, Talbot and a squad of army personnel arrive on the scene and open fire on him. Although his strength is greatly weakened, Banner/Hulk is still tough enough to resist gunfire. Talbot somehow manages to fire a tranquilizer dart into Banner/Hulk's back, knocking him out.

When he awakens, he is still stuck in mid-transformation and contained within a special holding cell. Inside the creature's mind, a war of egos takes place. Banner's psyche battles that of the Hulk. On the psychic plane, Banner is every bit as strong as the Hulk, but the Hulk still manages to overcome him. The physical result is that Banner/Hulk transforms completely into the Hulk. He pounds his way out of the holding cell and leaps away into the desert.

Appearing in "Monsters in Our Midst"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Rampaging Hulk (Vol. 2) #5

Featured Characters:

Hulk (Bruce Banner)

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Fantastic Four

Other Characters:

Abby Davis
Mr. Ward
Franklin Richards (Mentioned)
Major Reeves

Races and Species:

Humans

Locations:

Earth
- North America
  - United States of America
    - New Mexico
      - Gamma Base
    - Colorado
      - Crystal Falls (First appearance)
      - Denver (Named only)
    - Utah
      - Salt Lake City
    - Rocky Mountains (Mentioned)
    - Pentagon (Mentioned)

Items:

Fantastic Four Uniforms
Gamma Tracer
Encephalo-band (Destroyed)

Vehicles:

Fantasti-Car MK II (Destruction)

Synopsis for "Monsters in Our Midst"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Rampaging Hulk (Vol. 2) #5

General Ross has called the Fantastic Four to Gamma Base to assist in his most recent attempt to capture the Hulk. Reed Richards hopes that he can effect a cure on Bruce Banner so that he can live out the rest of his life in peace. With the pleasantries out of the way, the Fantastic Four take off in their Fantasti-Car to begin their hunt for the Hulk. At that moment in the town of Crystal Springs, Colorado, Banner is in a local diner mulling over ways of curing himself. However, Bruce has come to learn that the Hulk is a reflection of the dark side of his personality and it will be much harder to cure himself it than he previously thought. He soon begins chatting it up with Abby Davis, the waitress working at the diner who has nothing but nice things to say about Crystal Springs. Bruce admits that he doesn't know where he's going and is told that this couldn't be a nicer place to set himself up. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four are closing in on Bruce's location thanks to a gamma-ray tracer build by Mister Fantastic.

Back at the diner, Bruce and Abby's conversation gets flirty and she eventually gives him her number to call that evening. Since he hasn't been interested in a woman since Betty got married to Glenn Talbot, this is a refreshing change and he decides that he should call her when he gets back to his motel room. However, just as Bruce leaves the diner, the Fantastic Four arrive in town. When Bruce overhears Mister Fantastic asking people if they have seen the Hulk recently he decides to slip away before he is spotted. However, as Bruce slips out of town his anger gets the better of him and he starts to transform into the Hulk. The transformation sets off Mister Fantastic's gamma tracer and soon the Hulk arrives. The Fantastic Four attack, with the Human Torch trying to contain the Hulk in a flame lasso, but the Hulk puts it out by smashing a fire hydrant. After dispatching the Torch, the Hulk falls victim to the Invisible Girl's invisible force-fields which cut off his air supply. Reed then comes in with a device based on the Encephalo-Helmet once constructed to allow Bruce Banner's mind to operate in the Hulk's body. However, the Hulk manages to crush the device and begins harming Reed. This prompts the Thing to rush into the fight, screaming his battle cry "It's Clobberin' Time".

Back at Gamma Base, Major Reeves calls for another meeting with General Ross and Major Talbot. He demands to know why he wasn't consulted when they brought in the Fantastic Four to assist in the capture of the Hulk. He goes on to say that he expects full cooperation from Gamma Base for his report to the Pentagon. Back in Colorado, the battle between the Hulk and the Fantastic Four rages on. The Thing and the Hulk get into a skirmish, and the Hulk is knocked near Abby. She is pulled away by the Torch who has his offer of going out on a date shot down. Eventually, the Hulk becomes fed up, especially after hearing the Thing tell him that he doesn't hate the Hulk. Having finally had enough, the Hulk suddenly leaps away. In the aftermath of the battle, the Thing confides in Reed that he thinks the Hulk isn't evil, just misunderstood. Reed agrees, thinking that Banner's fate could have easily been his. With the battle over, the Fantastic Four pack up and prepare to leave Colorado.

Links and References

References

Hulk Annual (UK) Vol 1 2005

Appearing in "The Monster or the Man?"

Synopsis for "The Monster or the Man?"

Appearing in "Monsters in Our Midst"

Synopsis for "Monsters in Our Midst"

See Also

Links and References

References

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