A Man-Brute Berserk!

After the scientists at Gamma Base failed to save the life of Jarella, the Hulk is heading to New York City to seek out Doctor Strange in the hopes that magic will be able to save her. General Ross sends out a pair of planes to try and stop the Hulk before he can get out of the desert, but the jade brute manages to easily dispatch the aircraft and continue on his way. This anger General Ross, who is being observed by Doc Samson. Samson points out that Ross has become obsessed with stopping the Hulk and suggests that perhaps its time to finally leave the Hulk alone and let him live his life.

Soon the Hulk arrives outside of New York and where he recognizes the Statue of Liberty. He decides to use it as a look out to try and find the home of Doctor Strange. However, his search is interrupted by the authorities who have come and ward him off the statue. The Hulk fights back, ripping off the torch from the statue and tossing it at the arriving helicopters and bounds toward the city to continue his search elsewhere. Landing in an alleyway, the Hulk encounters a homeless man who offers him a sip of his bottle of cheap booze. The Hulk takes a swig and finds it tastes terrible. Thinking the man attempted to poison him, the Hulk then begins to go on a rampage through the city.

Back in New Mexico, Glenn Talbot awakens from the same nightmare he has had since he was cured of his catatonic state. His screams wake up his wife Betty and the two get to talking about how this is impacting their marriage, leaving both to wonder if they still have a future together. Meanwhile, in Greenwitch Village, the Hulk finds Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorium. However, when he tries to enter the building he discovers a mystical barrier barring his path. The Hulk tries to smash his way through it, but to no avail. Filled with sorrow, and with nothing else he can do, the Hulk sits on the curb and waits for Doctor Strange to return home.

Later, as dawn rises at Gamma Base, Clay Quartermain meets with Doc Samson to discuss what they are going to do about the Hulk. When Quartermain asks what needs to be done, Doc Samson points out that the Hulk needs help and he is the one who will give it to him. At that moment in New York, the Hulk's presence is discovered by the NYPD who surround the Hulk. The commanding officer tells his men to stand ready and not to fire unless the Hulk makes any rash moves. In spite of his commands, a rookie panics, and fires a shot at the Hulk, causing the man-monster to lash out against the police. The Hulk begins trouncing the officers who send panicked calls to the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. Unfortunately, neither team is available to answer the calls for help.

The Hulk then leaps to the waterfront in the hopes of continuing his search for Doctor Strange, but the police continue to pursue him. When the Hulk prepares to attack again, the debris he is holding is disintegrated by a mystical bolt. The Hulk turns around and sees that not only has Doctor Strange found him, but he has brought their fellow Defenders with him. Doctor Strange orders the Hulk to stand down or the Defenders will have to put a stop to him.

Recurring Characters

Hulk, Betty Ross, General Ross, Major Talbot, Clay Quartermain, Doc Samson, Defenders (Doctor Strange, Nighthawk, Red Guardian, Valkyrie) Edwin Jarvis

Continuity Notes

• The Hulk recalls how he once previously slept on the Statue of Liberty. This happened in Incredible Hulk #142.

• Glenn is haunted by the catatonic state he was put in back in Incredible Hulk #188. He was eventually cured of this condition in Incredible Hulk #200.

• The reason why the Fantastic Four are unavailable is because, at the time of this story, they were busy preventing Galactus from consuming Counter-Earth as seen in Fantastic Four #171-175.

• Likewise the Avengers are unavailable as they are battling Doctor Doom on Hydrobase as seen in Avengers #154-156 and Super-Villain Team-Up #9.