Dreams of Iron... Dreams of Steel

Trying to find work, Bruce Banner lands a job working at a school for the mentally challenged in Apponeag, Connecticut. The administrator Headmistress Blickers warns Banner that the job is difficult because the demands of the children, but it is rewarding. Still, Bruce fits well into the job, but is heart broken that even here some of the children are treated cruelly.

That evening, Bruce meets Earl Slocum, a mentally challenged man who grew up at the school and now works at the local metal shop. Needing some extra work to supplement his income, Bruce agrees to take up a job working with Earl. There, Banner takes a disliking to Guno, one of Earl's coworkers who makes fun of Slocum for his disabilities. After work, Bruce goes to Earl's home and the man shows off his family photos and a scrap of paper that Earl first wrote his name on, telling Bruce that it was his the time his mother was most proud of him. Later, both climb a tree, but a flimsy branch snaps causing Banner to fall down. He is saved from injury thanks to a quick transformation into the Hulk.

Earl is not frightened by the Hulk and the two become fast friends due to their similar mental capacities. Earl takes the Hulk back to his home and helps the man-monster re-learn how to write his name. Eventually, the Hulk calms down enough to revert back to Bruce Banner, who gets Earl to promise to keep this a secret. After Bruce leaves, Earl notices that a light is on at the metal plant. Peering in the window he sees a man working there. However, when Earl tries to tell people what happened the only people who believe him are Blickers and Bruce. Bruce suspects corporate sabotage, and decides to go and see what more he can learn. Meanwhile, Herny Silva, the owner of the company calls Earl up to his office. Banner then fills in for him at the metal press.

Not recognizing Banner wearing Earl's protective gear, Guno begins teasing him, triggering a transformation into the Hulk when Banner is accidentally injured. Meanwhile, in Silva's office, Earl learns that Bobby Gerber -- son of a rival metal maker -- was responsible for sabotaging the metal in the hopes of Silva's factor losing its contracts and he is about to eliminate Earl to keep it quiet. However, the Hulk's rampage prevents this and when the police arrive, Berber and Silva turn themselves in. When the Hulk reverts back to Bruce Banner, he tells Blickers that he must go before the authorities arrive and tells him to let the children down easily. As Banner moves onto the next town and the next job, Earl is now treated with respect among his co-workers.

Recurring Characters

Hulk

Continuity Notes

• The Hulk mentions that he once knew how to spell his own name and forgot. He was first tought how to write his name by Crackerjack Jackson in Incredible Hulk #182.

Carnival of Fools

Bruce Banner finds himself at a carnival where he asks a ride operator named Bonnie if they have work. The cynical woman doesn't think much of Bruce and accepts him anyway, warning him that the job is rough and hard. On the job, Bruce discovers that the other carnies don't trust him and regard him with suspicion.

When a fight breaks out between two of the workers during tear down, Banner intervenes as does Bonnie. Ultimately, the fight is stopped by Bonnie's father, who runs the carnival. The experience causes Bonnie to warm up to Bruce and the two get to talking during dinner that night. When a drunk carnie crashes his truck into the mess tent, he causes the propane tanks to explode and the tent to catch fire. As everyone tries to get out, Banner starts to panic, triggering a transformation into the Hulk. When everyone gets out, the Hulk rips free and escapes into the woods.

Later, when Banner reasserts himself he returns to the carnival and tries to explain that he hid out in the forest. However, Bonnie's father doesn't buy it an deduces that he is really the Hulk, he then convinces Bonnie to help him lock Banner in a cage so they can profit off having the Hulk.

Bonnie complies, tricking Bruce into cleaning out a cage she locks him inside. Her father then douses Bruce with drugs that will trigger a transformation into the Hulk on contact and electrifies the cage. He then sends in gawkers to take photos of the Hulk in his cage. The brute is confused and tries to get free, straining the electrical generator.

Eventually, the Hulk manages to break free and with the generator about to blow, Bonnie's father shuts it off, but is fatally electricuted. With her father gone, Bonnie continues to run the carnival on her own, having learned a bitter lesson from the entire experience.

Recurring Characters

Hulk

Slay Bells

New York, Christmas, 1937

Dominic Fortune, his companion Sabbath Raven, and his informant Acey Dugan area ringing in the holidays at a bistro in Times Square. Suddenly, Dominic is attacked by two men who accuse him of being an Irish assassin. One is a costumed individual calling himself the Silhouette, who is most certain that Fortune is going to murder British Ambassador Sir Reginald Fortesque. Fortune, having no clue what this is about, easily tosses the Silhouette outside of the bar. After comparing notes with his companions, Dominic decides to go and prevent the assassination of Sir Reginald.

Soon Dominic and Sabbath are at the ritziest hotel in Manhattan. On their way up, they are attacked by the Silhouette again. Dominic easily fights off his attacker again but his tuxedo is ripped. Fortune has his adventurers costume and changes into that instead. During the party, a blimp lands outside of the party and out comes a man dressed up like Santa with a bevvy of female elves.

Upstairs, Dominic meets the host of the party, Lamar Cransfield, who is clearly the Silhouette. After dealing with Cranfield's distractions, Dominic notices that both the hired Santa Claus and Sir Reginald have gone missing. Rushing to the blimp, Dominic is attacked by the Silhouette again. Fighting him off, Fortune manages to get hold of a rope and climb up onto the blimps passenger car. There he fights it out with the would be Irish assassin. Although Dominic wins the fight, a stray bullet hits the fuel tank to catch fire. Over the Hudson River, Dominic bails out with Sir Reginald. It's a miracle they land on a pile of Christmas trees, cushioning their fall. They are quickly joined by Sabbath, and watch as the blimp explodes, slaying Sir Reginald's assassin.

Recurring Characters

Dominic Fortune, Sabbath Raven