Incredible Hulk #166
The Destroyer from the Dynamo!
Drawn by residual magical emanations from Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, the Hulk manages to find his way back to New York City. Confused as ever before, the Hulk decides to find his comrade in the Defenders, but stops to rest and think about what to do if Strange is not around. Sleeping, the Hulk changes back into Bruce Banner.
Elsewhere a group of terrorists attempting to disrupt the government plant a bomb at the local nuclear power plant. Things go awry however when their bomb causes the energy in the atomic pile to gain sentience and start consuming everything in it's path. This sentient energy takes on a human form and dubs itself Zzzax and goes on a rampage, consuming all the humans it encounters.
On the upper west side o the city, Hawkeye just recently having quit the Avengers laments over the amount of inaction he's experienced since he left the group. When he sees a news report about Zzzax's rampage across the city, he decides to go into action to prove that he is a capable solo adventurer. Elsewhere in the city, Bruce Banner is roused from a nightmare by a police officer who warns him to clear out of the area of Zzax's rampage. Banner goes to investigate and is attacked by the creature.
Meanwhile, over Russian airspace, Glenn Talbot and Colonel Armbruster are gearing up for their covert operation to rescue General Ross from the Russians. They airdrop secretly into the country and then trek to the location where Ross is being held captive and begin preparing their rescue attempt.
Back in New York, Zzzax is about to consume Bruce Banner when Hawkeye intervenes by shooting an arrow at the creature. Bruce revives and gets worked up enough to cause a transformation into the Hulk. The Hulk begins to fight Zzzax, however, Hawkeye -- wanting all the glory for himself -- attempts to restrain the Hulk. This only proves temporary and allows for Zzax to escape. Furious that the creature is able to hurt him, the Hulk rushes off to battle it again. Try as he might, the Hulk proves to be incapable of fighting off the creature. Ultimately their fight takes them to the pier where Hawkeye manages to destroy Zzzax by running an arrow with a metal cable through the creature and into the water short circuiting it. Although it is Hawkeye who destroys the creature, the crowd cheer on the Hulk much to Hawkeye's chagrin.
Finally, back in Russia, Armbruster and Talbot manage to free General Ross, however as they are escaping Glenn is shot and seemingly killed by the Russian guards and the others are forced to flee the country without recovering his body. They are completely unaware that Glenn survived and that he is now the prisoner of the Russians in place of General Ross.
Recurring Characters
Hulk, Hawkeye, General Ross, Major Talbot, Jack Armbruster, Zzzax
Continuity Notes
Hulk was drawn to New York by residual magic used by Doctor Strange, something that has been known since Marvel Feature #1.
This story takes place after Hawkeye quit the Avengers in Avengers #109.
Banner's last recollection was from being aboard Captain Omen's ship in Incredible Hulk #164.
Although Zzax is seemingly destroyed here the creature returns in Incredible Hulk #183.
Although everyone assumes that Glenn Talbot is dead, they learn otherwise in Incredible Hulk #176, however, they end up "rescuing" a spy named Gregori Kronski. The real Glenn Talbot is not seen again until Incredible Hulk #187.
