Must the Hulk Die?

The savage Hulk is rampaging through the town of Jericho, and the She-Hulk's attempt to talk the man-monster down have failed. Now the combined east and west coast Avengers now must consider that the only way to stop the Hulk is to kill him. Meanwhile, at a nearby hospital, Bruce Banner raves about letting the Hulk die. The process that separated him from the Hulk was imprecise and now he is beginning to lose molecular cohesion. Dr. Fisher takes Betty Banner to his office to discuss their solutions and fears that the only way to save her husband's life is to merge him with the Hulk once more. He wonders if the Hulk has been suffering ill effects yet.

In Jericho, the Hulk continues to fend off the Avengers. When Captain America is knocked back toward the injured Doc Samson, he calls out to the star-spangled Avenger. Samson points out that even though he took quite the thrashing, the Hulk didn't kill him, suggesting that the savage is weakening somehow. With the town in shambles, Captain America mulls over the fact that they might just have to kill the Hulk for the damage he has caused. When the National Guard arrive, Cap orders them to keep people clear while the Avengers handle the Hulk. The two Avenger teams then renew their effort to take down the Hulk, but the gamma-spawned monster is still too strong for them. Back at the hospital, Betty goes to Rick Jones for advice on what to do about Bruce. Rick suggests that perhaps letting Bruce die along with the Hulk is the best thing to do as saving Banner will also save the Hulk. Betty refuses to just let her husband die and is about to storm out, but Rick decides that he is going to help as well and goes along with her. They are watched by Betty's disgraced father, Thaddeus Ross. Hearing how they are planning to save the Hulk, Ross returns to his hospital room and accepts Clay Quartermain's offer to get revenge against the Hulk.

Back in Jericho, the Hulk is finally starting to weaken from the constant assault from the Avengers. When Betty and Rick arrive, they are allowed through by one of the soldiers who recognizes Betty. By this point the Hulk is beginning to weaken while all those gathered begin calling for the Hulk's death. Suddenly, the Hulk falls the Avengers are about to land the killing blow when Betty Banner steps in the way. She explains that in order to save her husband, they need to merge him with the Hulk once more. Captain America is touched by her bravery and orders the Avengers to stand down. They then pick up the Hulk and begin carrying him away. While at the hospital, Bruce Banner wakes up from his fevered state and realizes that the Hulk is still alive.

Recurring Characters

Hulk, Betty Ross, Rick Jones, Doc Samson, Dianne Bellamy, General Ross, Clay Quartermain, Hulkbusters (Samuel La Roquette, Craig Saunders, Armand Martel, Hideko Takata), Avengers (Wasp, Captain America, Hercules, Sub-Mariner, Captain Marvel, Black Knight), Avengers West Coast (Iron Man, Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Tigra, Wonder Man), She-Hulk

Continuity Notes

• Bruce Banner is separated from the Hulk in Incredible Hulk #315. However, this separation proves hazardous to their continued existence and Banner is forced to merge with the Hulk again in Incredible Hulk #323.