Incredible Hulk Annual #19

Mar 4

Mar 4 Incredible Hulk Annual #19

Dead Man's Hand

IMG 2020 20 03 04 14 25 14 oek08.png — Credits

While spending time in the wreck room of the Mount, the Hulk gets a report from Hector. He tells the Hulk how he was overseeing a recent purchase of equipment through one of the Pantheon's dummy corporations from Hunter Technologies. Suddenly, the crates of equipment suddenly begin to float into the air and crashes into the ground. Suddenly the equipment begins to form into a crude humanoid. Hector tried to attack the creature but he is easily subdued. The being introduces itself as Lazarus and warns Hector against dealing with Hunter Technologies in the future. Suddenly, the amalgam of equipment goes inert and crumbles to the ground. The Hulk decides to look into this further and tells Hector to put him in touch with Hunter Technologies. Speaking to Hunter Technology's owner Jack Cameron. The Hulk learns that Hunter Technologies has been subject to a series of other bizarre incidents of sabotage. After hearing this, the Hulk sets up a fake shipment to catch Lazarus in the act.

Soon, Ulysses is planted as a shipment driver to McCarthy Industries airfield. Suddenly, the truck is attacked by Lazarus himself, who appears in armored form. As Lazarus incapacitates the truck, he pins Ulysses arm preventing him from contacting the Hulk who is waiting in hiding nearby. Utilizing his energy weapons, Ulysses breaks free and tries to attack his foe. However, Lazarus is able to take control of his weapons just as he had done to Hector earlier. Before Lazarus can bring harm to Ulysses, the Hulk arrives on the scene. The Hulk tries to fight their foe but has the shipping truck dropped on him. When Ulysses tries to resume his fight with Lazarus, he finds himself tosses far away from his trouble. Lazarus then continues his fight with the Hulk, using Ulysses' weapon against him. Lazarus warns the Hulk against getting involved in something that doesn't involve him. The Hulk refuses to back down but is stabbed in the leg with the sword. Lazarus decides to spare the Hulk, telling him that he will not be forgiving in the future and flees.

That night at Hunter Technologies, Jack Cameron goes to his office to find Lazarus waiting for him there. Clearly having a vendetta against Cameron, Lazarus incapacitates the man and is about to kill him when Rosalind Hunter, the widow of former business owner Todd Hunter walks in on the scene. Roseline quickly discovers that Lazarus must be her deceased husband, as Lazarus accuses her of having an affair with Cameron and taking over the business after his death. Suddenly, the Hulk comes smashing in and tosses Lazarus out of the building. As the two fight it out in front of the Hunter Technologies building, Jack and Rosalind recover from the attack. Rosalind tells Jack that Lazarus is somehow her dead husband and knows everything about their shady business dealings. Although the woman fears that the truth will be revealed, Jack refuses to let it be exposed.

Outside, the Hulk manages to incapacitate his foe by tossing a spoon into the eye slot of his armor and then knocking Lazarus into a nearby electric fence. The Hulk then demands answers but hears about how Todd Hunter was killed by his partner and wife. Before he can explain anymore, he is shot in the shoulder by Jack Cameron. Realizing that there is something up, the Hulk gets between the two men to prevent Lazarus from being fatally shot. Recalling how Todd Hunter died when his mansion exploded, the Hulk orders Jack to explain himself. That's when Rosalind admits to everything. Recovering from the attack, Lazarus then uses his powers to affect the structural integrity of the Hunter Technologies building. While the Hulk is busy saving Rosalind, Lazarus recovers Jack's gun and shoots him between the eyes, killing him. When the Hulk returns, he finds Lazarus gone and Jack dead. With the authorities on their way, the Hulk tells Rosalind to tell the police everything then leaps off to continue searching for Lazarus. Having tagged Lazarus with a tracking device, the Hulk follows the signal to the grave of Todd Hunter, where it has been left by his foe.

Recurring Characters

Hulk, Hector, Ulysses

Still Dead

Hank Hunter, the son of the late Todd Hunter, arrives at the ruins of his family home where his father supposedly died. Hank a trust fund child has returned home to get help out of a jam but given the circumstances, he wonders what he can do next. Not far away his father, in his costumed identity of Lazarus, watches from afar. Suddenly, two of the properties guard dogs -- left unattended since the explosion that seemingly took his life -- try to attack him. Lazarus then removes his gauntlet, allowing the dogs to get his scent. Recognizing Lazarus as their master, the dogs cease their attack. When Hank leaves the scene, Lazarus follows after him. Not long on the road, Hank is surrounded by cars being driven by men whom he owes money.

When Lazarus tries to save the life of his son but he is suddenly attacked by the Hulk who has been tracking him since their last encounter. As Hank races for his life, the Hulk and Lazarus crash in the middle of an amusement park and fight it out. Needing to get to Hank, Lazarus damages a Ferris wheel and then takes off while the Hulk saves the lives of the people trapped on the ride. Meanwhile, the men after Hank force his car to crash and then demand payment. When Hank tells them that he doesn't have it, one of the men tries to shoot him in the head. However, Lazarus uses his powers to stop the bullet in mid-air then the gun explodes, in the hand of the would-be assassin. When the Hulk arrives on the scene, Lazarus and Hank are gone and the killers beg to be spared. Elsewhere, Lazarus drops Hank off at a hospital. Unaware that his savior is actually his father, Hank asks Lazarus if he could loan him some money. Todd punches his son in the face, then tells him to grow up and get a job before flying away.

Recurring Characters

Hulk

A Town Called Hulk

The town of Dustpit, Arizona attempts to revitalize itself as a tourist destination. As such the mayor of the town decides to rename the town to honor the Hulk. While everyone celebrates the mayor and the town of Hulk, the celebrations are suddenly crash with the arrival of the Abomination, Titania, and Gargantua who have come to trash the town in search of the Hulk.

As the trio of supervillains trashes the town the local police try and stop the carnage, but their weapons have no effect against their foes. The villains don't realize that the Hulk isn't there until after they have destroyed the entire town. Discovering the truth, they then make a hasty retreat to plan anew. With their town in ruins, everyone turns against the mayor and chases him out. Not long after the Hulk arrives, having heard the news that a town was being named after him. However, when he finds the ruins he dismisses it as some sort of practical joke. He leaps off wondering who would be foolish enough to name a town after the Hulk.