Synopsis
Incredible Hulk, The (1968 series) #465 synopsis by
Julio M2
Rating:
At an army base, Bruce Banner, Reed Richards, Tony Stark, plus Doc Samson and... Thunderbolt Ross, play a game of poker?! The unlikely meeting is interrupted by Betty Ross and Colonel Cary St. Lawrence with news about a visit from Gyrich. The US president (Bill Clinton), after consulting his wife (Hillary Clinton), decides to un-officially pardon the Hulk after his heroic acts of recent, in exchange for Banner working for the government as a special agent. Gyrich tells the news to Banner who accepts right away since the alternative is to going back to be hunted. In the meantime, Stark and Richards present Rick Jones with an armor similar to Iron Man's, that will allow Rick to walk again. Testing the armor, Rick flies out of control and ends up hanging from a catwalk. Bruce tries helping his friend but turns into the Hulk. Nobody wants an altercade with the green giant, but he's angry because Rick's state is his fault. Hulk leaps through the wall and is followed by Rick alone. Fortunatelly, their friendship eases the Hulk, and both return to the base. Later, Betty Ross approaches Bruce, trying to relive their love. A strip-poker game does the trick. Bruce seems finally to have it all: Respect from his peers, his wife, his friend. But that scares him AND the Hulk because he, sooner or later, will loose it all. He shares his fears with Rick and Betty but they don't take Bruce seriously.
That night, after spending it with Betty, Bruce wakes up alone in bed. Not hearing her response, Bruce goes to the restroom and finds Betty who, barely speaking, says: "Bruce... Help... Me"; her skin is pale olive and filled with scars... She is suffering a severe case of Gamma poisoning.