Turning Point!

The Hulk returns from the Beyonder's Secret Wars. His intellect is greatly diminished, and his demeanor is more in line with that of the old savage Hulk. Further, he is nursing an injured leg, and requires a technologically advanced crutch to support his weight. He stomps through Central Park, and blusters past two pedestrians. He goes to the penthouse apartment of aging crime lord, Max Hammer. Inside, Hammer's underling, Boomerang, has Kate Waynesboro held captive. The Hulk leaps through the window and sends Boomerang sprawling across the skyline. Kate tries to talk to Bruce, but immediately recognizes that something is wrong with the Hulk. The Hulk catches up to Boomerang, who tries to fend him off with his rocketrangs. The Hulk smashes Boomerang across the back of the neck, rendering him unconscious.

The Hulk calms down slightly, and Kate and he return to Northwind Observatory. When they arrive, they discover that Max Hammer has been using the Gammascope to cure dozens of terminally ill patients. Like Hammer, all of them have developed green skin as a side effect. Banner is shocked. He warned Hammer that the process had never been tested on human subjects. There is no telling what kind of long term side effects that technique may have.

As if in answer, a man enters the laboratory. It is Mister Douglas, the owner of Sirius the dog, whom Banner had cured of bone disease a short time ago. Douglas stands holding Sirius in his arms. The dog is dead. He tells Banner that days after Sirius’ treatment, he began acting feral and attacked the children, so Douglas had to put him down.

Moments later, Max Hammer begins convulsing and falls to the floor. When he rises, he is a snarling, large, green monster.

Recurring Characters

Hulk, Kate Waynesboro, Boomerang, Max Hammer

Continuity Notes

• This story begins following the events of the Secret Wars, which took place in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1-12 and Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars #1-4.

• The Hulk also appears in Fantastic Four #266-268 and Marvel 1985 #1-2 between page 11 and 12 of this story.

• Bruce Banner has been losing control of the Hulk since Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1 thanks to the manipulations of Nightmare who has been imposing bad dreams on Banner since Incredible Hulk #292. His involvement is not revealed until Incredible Hulk #297.

• The Hulk's leg was broken during the events of Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #12 and hence why he is carring a crutch.

• In Incredible Hulk #294, Max was identified by surname, Stryker. In this issue and in issue #296, he is referred to as Max Hammer.