Hulk stops in New York City on his way to Connecticut, afraid that if he leaps so close to dawn, he will change into Banner in midair. A weird light display draws Hulk into an apartment building. Namor, the Sub-Mariner, watches Hulk from the shadows.
Inside the apartment, Hulk sees Dr Strange in astral form fighting a huge creature of darkness emanating from a closet. Hulk's appearance distracts Strange, and both heroes are sucked into a black nether realm.
Hulk throws Strange to freedom but is caught by the dark creature. Before Hulk is dragged away from the closet doorway forever, Namor grabs his hand and pulls him to safety. The Hulk shuts the door and discovers that Strange has disappeared!
Hulk and Namor chat about the good old days until daybreak when Banner picks up the conversation. When the astral Strange returns to his home and body, he finds Namor and Banner waiting. Strange expresses concern over a scar on Banner's neck.
The next day, Banner wakes to a painful itch on his back. The three former Defenders meet, and Banner explains that the nether realm was full of "strange matter," infinitely more dense than real matter. And the closet may be a portal to a "strange universe" which must be sealed. Namor is afraid that if the three work together, an old curse on the Defenders will destroy the Earth, but Strange explains that the curse was a hoax.
Satisfied, Banner permits Strange to create a mystic pathway by which Banner can speak to the Hulk inside his mind. Banner urges the Hulk to help Strange and Namor, but the Hulk believes that Banner is just stalling to avoid seeing Betty again. Just then, they notice a huge, golden door in their mind that was never there before. While they argue over who should open the door, a piece of the "strange matter" creature leaps out of Banner and grabs the Hulk!
In the real world, Banner transforms into a horrible "strange matter" version of the Hulk that threatens to conquer the universe.
Elsewhere, Doc Samson meets a hospitalized family that encountered Hulk. Samson learns that strange men with a red rocket car also seek the Hulk. Shortly thereafter, Samson sees the red car (driven by Prometheus, a member of the Pantheon), which runs him over, knocking him unconscious.