Appearing in "Broken Reed"
Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #5
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Alyssa Moy
- Isabel Aguirre
- Gordon Clay
Antagonists:
- Crucible
- Genoshan Freedom Brigade
Other Characters:
- Franklin Richards
- Dr. Doom (Victor von Doom) (Mentioned)
- Monks of Doom
Locations:
- Sweden
- Stockholm
- Arlanda International Airport
- Cosmic Ray's Symposium
- New York City
Items:
Vehicles:
- Iberia Airplane
Synopsis for "Broken Reed"
Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #5
The Thing and Mister Fantastic are taking a commercial flight to Stockholm, Sweden, where Reed is expected to make a keynote speech among a gala of famous scientists. As they deal with the starstruck passengers they are suddenly on alert when some terrorists try to hijack the plane. Thanks to the two members of the Fantastic Four they managed to subdue the terrorists without anyone getting hurt. Because Reed saved the life of a beautiful woman who was being taken as a hostage, she thanks him with a kiss on the lips. This embarasses Reed who tells her that she need not do anything to repay him. Meanwhile, Crucible is waiting for Richards to arrive in Stockholm. Watching from the top of a building he is informed by one of his minions that the two members of the Fantastic Four have safely landed in the country. Suddenly the heads of the gargoyles at either side of Crucible crumble revealing that reporters Isobel Aguirre and Gordon Clay are trapped in the states to bare witness to the next phase of Crucible's plans.
At the airport, Reed and Ben disembark from their plane and Ben is surprised when the woman who is to cheauferr them suddenly rushes and kisses Reed on the lips. Reed explains that the woman is an old friend, Alissa Moy. Outside they find Alissa's old 30s model car. Reed recalls how they once used it in a road rally from London to Cape Town. The story is more harrowing than Reed lets on, but he tells Ben to remind him to tell the tale some other time. As they speed through the street Reed takes the moment to call Sue and see how everything is doing back in Manhattan. She tells them things are fine until Johnny uses his flame powers indoors accidentally setting off the sprinker systems. As they arrive at the gala, they are unaware that they are being observed by Aguirre and Clay.
After getting ready for the gala, Reed goes down ahead of Ben and Alyssa hoping that he can learn more about how recent transdimensional happenings are having a strain on the fabric of reality. When he rounds the corner he finds all the guests have been rendered unconcious by Crucible. Seeing that Crucible has some kind of bomb, Reed slips into costume and attacks. He quickly summons Ben who comes crashing through the wall with Alyssa in tow. When the Thing gets hold of Crucible's weapon he tosses it out a window. Suspecting that there might be danger to the public, he tells Ben to go and get it recover it. Alyssa speeds after Ben telling him that they can use her car. Outside Ben is surprised to learn that Alyssa has converted her classic roadster to conver for flight. As Reed battles it out with Crucible, Ben and Alyssa find the device and realize that it is a dud. As they rush back, Alyssa notes that it is a powerful piece of technology that is apparently used for some kind of technological telepathy and that it was used to transmit something. When they arrive back at the gala, Crucible appears to have fled. Finding Reed among the rouble Ben asks what happened. Reed wakes up and uses an uncharateristic way of explaining how the battle went, saying that he beat their foe "real good".
Appearing in "In Deep"
Iron Man (Vol. 3) #6
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Doreen
- Jurgen Hauptmann
- Tuatara (Commander Araoha Tepania) (First appearance)
- Lars (a Security Guard) (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Avengers (Mentioned)
- Edwin Jarvis (Mentioned)
- S.H.I.E.L.D.
- G.W. Bridge (Only in flashback)
- Death Squad (Referenced)
- Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (Mentioned)
- Arms Merchant (Andreas Kapelos) (Referenced)
- Dr. Nigel Dabuta (First appearance)
- Count Luchino Nefaria (Behind the scenes)
- Mandarin (Behind the scenes)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- Pacific Ocean
- Great Barrier Reef (First appearance)
- Australia
- Sydney
- Canberra (Mentioned)
- United States of America
- Kenya (Mentioned)
- Pacific Ocean
Items:
Synopsis for "In Deep"
Iron Man (Vol. 3) #6
The Black Widow meets up with Iron Man near the Great Barrier Reef and tells him about her S.H.I.E.L.D. assignment. He accompanies her to Sydney, Australia as Tony Stark to serve as bait. Back at Stark Solutions, Doreen plants a bug in the offices without Happy and Pepper noticing. In Sydney, the Black Widow is distracted by Iron Hand Haupman, who has been sent by another party to slay Tony; while she defeats them, Tony is kidnapped. Tony finds himself in a remote compound overseen by Tuatara where the captured engineers are made to assemble parts; Tony recognizes what they are constructing as similar to the Arms Merchant's work. Tony manages to sneak out a distress signal to the Black Widow who arrives with S.H.I.E.L.D. back up; reunited with his Iron Man armor, Tony helps drive Tuatara off and release the engineers. Tony is determined to find out who Tuatara's employer is.
Appearing in "Reconciliations"
Incredible Hulk #462
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- USAF
- General Crawford (First appearance)
- Henry Gyrich
- United States Army
- Perelli (First appearance)
- Doc Samson (Leonard Samson)
- Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards)
- Tony Stark
- President Clinton (Topical Reference)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- United States of America
- Nevada (Mentioned)
- Area 51 (Mentioned)
- New Mexico
- Washington, D.C.
- California
- San Francisco
- Hope Hospital (First appearance)
- San Francisco
- Nevada (Mentioned)
- Canada
Synopsis for "Reconciliations"
Incredible Hulk #462
After surrendering himself to the United States Army, Bruce Banner is contained and brought to the secret facility known as Area 102. Inside the facility, General Ross explains to the gathered brass, and Henry Gyrich, that he didn't kill Bruce Banner because he saved his life. When he explains that he sedated Banner per his request, they are all shocked. However, General Ross explains that he took a different approach to containing the Hulk, doing something Bruce Banner asked them not to do: attack him. He goes on to say that perhaps if they sweeten things for Bruce Banner, he might be less of a problem for them. When Gyrich expresses his opinion that he thinks that Ross is treating Banner differently because he is married to Thaddeus' daughter Betty, the General responds by blowing cigar smoke into the CIA agent's face. He then confirms that it doesn't just have to do with that, but has everything to do with that fact. As he says this, Betty Banner is being airlifted into Area 102 to be reunited with her husband.
Meanwhile, at the secret society of Freehold located in Alberta, Canada, the Troyjans have taken over the society. One of the alien invaders reports to their leader, Armageddon, and informs him that the Hulk has been located. He also explains that the Hulk has changed since their last encounter, he is only the Hulk part of the time. Armageddon orders his minions to bring Bruce Banner to him immediately.
Back at Area 102, Bruce Banner is placed in a specially constructed cell. As soon as Betty Banner arrives she demands the guards let her in to see him. Under the authority of General Ross, they allow her into the cell where she and Bruce are happily reunited. However, the excitement of seeing his life triggers a transformation into the Hulk. Ross orders the soldiers to stand down for fear that the bullets might hit his daughter. The General then tries to calm Banner down, but it is too late, the transformation completes itself. Betty is happy to see the Hulk is here and begins scolding him for pretending not to know her the last time they saw each other. The Hulk isn't interested in listening to her and decides to leave. Colonel St. Lawrence tells the Hulk that they won't stop him from leaving and that they won't chase after him like he wants. Still, the Hulk smashes out of his cell and leaps out into the desert. To test St. Lawrence's claims, the Hulk leaps out to some soldiers on guard. When they ignore him, he lifts up a tank and threatens to crush them, but they don't even react. They then say nobody will chase or attack him and they will arrange a place for him to stay where he can be alone. They even offer him to leave where he of his own free will. This causes the Hulk to pause, and he decides that he is going to stay.
Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Doc Samson reports to the President of the United States in an attempt to get the Hulk pardoned for his past acts of destruction. However, after learning that Bruce Banner's transformations are now occurring at random, the President is not convinced that pardoning Banner is the right idea. He also thinks that General Ross is letting his daughter's marriage to Bruce Banner affect his judgment, something he cannot allow. Meanwhile, the Hulk has changed back to Bruce Banner and he gets to work on trying to restore Rick Jones' mobility. He contacts Mister Fantastic and Tony Stark to assist him on building an exoskeleton that will help Rick regain his ability to walk. After securing their aid, Betty convinces her father to arrange for Bruce to go to San Francisco to see Rick Jones in the hospital.
It's a happy reunion, although Marlo is shocked to see General Ross alive and well, believing him to have died. When Bruce visits Rick, he asks him if he remembers how he was injured, however, Rick can't remember. This depresses Bruce, who knows that the Hulk is responsible for Rick's condition. Suddenly, the hospital begins to shake. Suddenly, massive robotic suit of armor appears in the window and smashes its fist through the window and grabs Bruce. Caught in its grip, Banner tries to will the Hulk to come out so he can fight off this attacker. However, the Hulk refuses to take control, not liking being told what to do. Bruce suddenly realizes that he is in big trouble.