How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the A-Bomb

After sending Thundra back to her own time, the Red Hulk is suddenly attacked by A-Bomb. The Red Hulk quickly realizes that the now simple minded A-Bomb has suddenly become loyal to MODOK and the Leader. As the two fight it out, the conscious mind of Rick Jones tries to fight off its conditioning, thinking back to the events that led up to his transformation into A-Bomb.

He recalls how at the end of World War Hulk he was gravely wounded by Miek who stabbed a spear through his chest. He was rushed off the battlefield by what he thought was a SHIELD unit. However, once he was brought to Gamma Base he quickly learned that it was a front for AIM and that he was a prisoner of MODOK and the Leader. He recalls hearing them talk about needing the Abomination's DNA to save his life. Calling out the name of Emil Blonsky, the Red Hulk gets him to think about where that DNA came from, recounting how he was the one who killed the Abomination. As the Red Hulk continues to pummel him, A-Bomb's mind drifts back to after the experiment when he was first transformed. It was then that he was freed by his wife, Marlo, whom MODOK transformed into the Harpy. Thinking back to how he helped the green Hulk defeat the Red Hulk, the Red Hulk reminds him how Samson reigned him in when he attempted to warn the Hulk about what the Intelligencia was up to. Rick recalls how he was taken back to the Intelligencia's hideout where he was mentally conditioned by Samson with a hypnotic suggestion ordering him to kill Bruce Banner. Made to remember, A-Bomb reveals that this was all a ruse to figure out what happened to him and he disappears. The Red Hulk is furious that he had been manipulated once again.

Rick returns to Bruce Banner's cave where he tells everything to Bruce. When Banner feels guilty for sending A-Bomb to fight the Red Hulk, Rick brushes it off, saying that he likes being A-Bomb. Bruce, however, points out that he may have been conditioned to like it. When Rick goes to leave, the Red Hulk arrives, knowing that he would have gone back to Banner. Furious at being attacked, the Red Hulk starts beating into A-Bomb again. But before he can defeat Rick, Bruce Banner emerges from the cave wearing the Redeemer Armor to battle the Red Hulk. The Red Hulk tries to fight back, but A-Bomb pulls him back, explaining that they don't want the armor damaged. When Red Hulk asks why, A-Bomb explains that it is for him, that he still has orders from Samson implanted into his head. This puts an end to the battle and the trio starts a campfire to talk about this recent development. Bruce explains that they are planning to trigger the orders so that they don't have to worry about it later. Bruce deduces that A-Bomb might get triggered if Bruce Banner's life is put at risk. He then asks the Red Hulk to try crushing his head. When Banner calls out for help, it triggers the hypnotic suggestion in Rick's mind and he attacks Bruce.

Protected by the Redeemer Armor, Bruce tries to get through to Rick, get him to fight this mental conditioning. He reminds Rick how he stood up against the Hulk during the war on New York, how he had been manipulated by the Leader in the past, how he felt when Captain Marvel died of cancer. As A-Bomb begins tearing apart the armor, Banner also reminds him of how he was an ally to Captain America and the Avengers. Stripped of the armor, Bruce flees into the cave with A-Bomb not far behind. He suddenly realizes what it is that is driving Rick: the guilt he feels over the accident that turned Bruce into the Hulk. Cornered, Bruce tells Rick that it wasn't his fault, and this act of forgiveness is enough to free A-Bomb from his mental conditioning. With Rick back to normal, Bruce congratulates A-Bomb for helping defeat their foes this day.

Recurring Characters

Red Hulk, A-Bomb, Bruce Banner, Intelligencia (Leader, MODOK, Doc Samson), AIM, Harpy

Continuity Notes

• Rick was mortally wounded by Miek in World War Hulk #5.

• Red Hulk killed the Abomination in Hulk Vol 2 #1.

• Rick tries to warn the Hulk about the Intelligencia's plans in Hulk Vol 2 #6 and was reprogrammed just prior to Incredible Hulk #600.

• Bruce Banner mentions a number of moments in Rick's life:

  • How the Leader manipulated him in the past: This is a reference to when Marlo Chandler was murdered in Incredible Hulk #398, the Leader resurrected Marlo in Incredible Hulk #400.

  • Rick was partnered and shared his life with Captain Marvel in Captain Marvel #17. The pair were freed from their bond in Captain Marvel #50-51. Marvel later died of cancer in Marvel Graphic Novel #1.

  • Rick was a partner to Captain America, taking up the role of Bucky from Captain America #110-113.

  • Rick helped found the Avengers back in Avengers #1.

  • Lastly, Bruce Banner saved Rick's life during the original gamma bomb test that created the Hulk, as seen in Incredible Hulk #1.