The Leader chooses the quiet village of Middletown as the target for detonating the gamma ray bomb stolen by Rock and Redeemer. Rick Jones, Clay Quartermain, and the Hulk race to stop the impending disaster.
Despite their efforts, the Leader succeeds in detonating the bomb while the Hulk is still holding it. The explosion obliterates the entire city. However, the damage is contained, as the Leader had erected a force field around Middletown to isolate the blast.
Betty Ross, Rick, and Clay were outside the force field and remain unharmed. Believing the Hulk perished in the explosion, they are left in shock and grief.
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