What If? Vol 1 45

The Watcher revisits the origin of the Hulk and how Banner saved Rick Jones from the Gamma Bomb explosion. In an alternate reality, Bruce Banner takes slightly longer in his attempt to rescue Rick Jones and is unable to push him into the hole that shields him from the blast. In this reality, only his body shields Rick Jones and they both take a substantial dose of the gamma radiation.

Afterwards, they’re both lying in beds being treated by doctors who are seeking to recommend halting all gamma research. Rick Jones becomes aware that he can hear Banner’s thoughts and Banner transforms into the Hulk and smashes out of the infirmary. Rick Jones tells Army personnel that the Hulk took Bruce Banner instead of them being one and the same while Hulk seeks to get away from the noise and lights. He wrecks a helicopter when it spots him and underestimates his strength.

Thunderbolt Ross tries to seal all of the research to avoid a panic and focus his resources on capturing the Hulk. Additional military units are tossed away by the Hulk’s might and he smashes multiple tanks after Rick Jones is injected with medication by an inexperienced soldier and Hulk detects his pain through their psychic rapport. Ross realizes that the Hulk is aware of pain inflicted on Rick Jones and uses that knowledge to inflict additional torment on Rick hoping to lure the Hulk back to the base. Due to the torture and his radiation sickness, Rick Jones ultimately dies and Hulk goes even more berserk when he detects this, destroying numerous military helicopters and tanks in his quest to seek out Ross for revenge.

Eventually, Ross calls the Fantastic Four to help with the situation and they travel from New York City on their Pogo Plane. Upon their arrival, a conflict ensues between the Hulk and the four superheroes. Despite their best efforts, they are mostly overwhelmed by the Hulk’s rage and eventually, a delivery system rocket explodes during a fight between Hulk and The Thing. After the explosion, Hulk is knocked unconscious and both the Hulk and The Thing revert to their human forms. Ben Grimm carries the unconscious body of Bruce Banner across the desert but Bruce suddenly awakes and immediately reverts back into the Hulk. When he does, he snaps Grimm’s neck which kills him instantly.

Back in New York, Donald Blake sees a news report about the Hulk and transforms into Thor to offer his help to the situation. He encounters Iron Man and they team up to fight the Hulk. Thor combines his power to control lightning with the energy channeling ability of Iron Man’s armor but they’re amazed as they’re unsuccessful in neutralizing the enraged Hulk. He eventually grabs Iron Man and crushes him to death. Thor fights with the Hulk and loses Mjolnir in the process. In desperation, knowing that he’ll probably die if he reverts to Donald Blake after 60 seconds without his hammer, Thor acts decisively and snaps the Hulk’s neck, killing him in the process as he reverts to a lifeless Bruce Banner.

Thor is distraught for the actions he’s been forced to take and suggests that he will make amends while Thunderbolt Ross and Glenn Talbot survey the aftermath and realize they’ll have much to answer for.

Solicit Synopsis

In this tale of an alternate reality, Bruce Banner fails to save Rick Jones from the gamma explosion that creates the Hulk! How does this cause the Hulk to become a murderous killing machine? Guest-starring the Fantastic Four, Thor and the original Iron Man!

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What If? Vol 1 45

Appearing in "What If the Hulk Went Berserk?!"

Synopsis for "What If the Hulk Went Berserk?!"

Solicit Synopsis

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