Be Thou God, or Monster!

Finally free of the mind of Bruce Banner, the Hulk has become a creature of pure rage.[1] After destroying a forest the monster sleeps. However, the monster is awoken when he overhears some farmers assessing the damage and attacks them.

Meanwhile, in New York City, Thor stops a gang of bank robbers. Bored with such mundane battles, the thunder god learns from a police officer that the Hulk has been on the rampage west of the Mississippi River. Deciding to finally learn if he is more powerful than the Hulk, Thor heads west to face the monster.

He finds the Hulk on the rampage in the town of Lansdale and confronts the gamma spawned monster. Sure enough a battle breaks out causing untold amounts of property damage and threatening the lives of the innocent bystanders who live in town. The Hulk boasts about how strong he is, mocking Thor for needing a hammer to fight. The Hulk then threatens to harm a woman if Thor doesn’t agree to toss away his hammer. Not wanting an innocent to get harmed, the thunder god complies by tossing Mjolnir as far away as possible.

As the battle rages on, Thor becomes more and more determined to beat the Hulk in battle. This prolongs the fight and causes even more destruction and puts more lives at risk. The pair batter each other until they are bloody and bruised. Eventually, the Hulk runs out of anger but Thor still wants to fight. Just as Mjolnir is returning, the Hulk says he only fights when he is angry and since he’s no longer enraged the gamma spawned monster departs. Thor decides not to go after him because he is horrified to discover that he was driven to beat the Hulk out of pride, making as much a monster as the Hulk.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Hulk

Continuity Notes

1. Chronologically, this story takes place before the events of Thor #341 for Thor and after Incredible Hulk #296 for the Hulk. It occurs during a period where the Hulk’s savage persona takes full control of the body it shares with Bruce Banner.