Infernal Hulk vs. Fantastic Four (2026 series) #1

The Infernal Hulk’s mutates, resembling transparent pink blobs with skeletons visible inside, have invaded Manhattan. Reed Richards records his experiment for Iron Man, Spider-Man, Vision, and Amadeus Cho in case he doesn’t get to finish it. He has created the Immaculate Engine, a quantum projector powered by the Sanguine Tree which will undo the effects of Hulk’s contamination around the world, while he is wondering whether there would be side effects. Thing, Invisible Woman, and Human Torch arrive, bearing a captive mutate that resembles a dog inside one of Sue’s force fields. Reed looks it over, wondering if it was once human, a fate Johnny can’t bear to think of. Suddenly, just as Reed was about to start the Engine, the lights go out. Reed suggests they head downstairs to see what’s going on and restore the power….

So they head downstairs, Reed holding onto the Sanguine Tree for its safety and they see something like tree roots around, coming from below, which means they have breached the Baxter Building’s foundations. Thing discovers that the pink mutates are emerging from the roots. Then they are confronted by the Infernal Hulk. Reed flashes the Sanguine Tree, causing Hulk to recoil while Thing hurls himself at the foe. Hulk thunderclaps them all away. He then destroys the foundations, causing Reed, Sue and Johnny to fall out of sight, leaving only Ben to face him. As they fight, Ben discovers that his body is slowly turning darker and harder until he collapses, powerless. Hulk seizes Johnny and emits a fire that burns even the Human Torch. Sue fights Hulk with a force field shaped like a huge hammer but Hulk causes her to mutate into a force field shaped like a giant snake. Reed finally locates the Tree where it fell but Hulk is upon him, a touch causing Reed to slowly become unstable. Reed takes the tree and rushes upstairs, pursued by the giant serpent that was Sue. Reed crashes through a window on a top floor, plummeting to splatter in the street, unable to pull himself together. The Baxter Building is now black rock at the bottom, fire at the top, and a giant snake coiling about the middle.

Meanwhile, in Texas, Nick Fury approaches a small trailer park; he approaches a boy named Leo, asking about his Uncle Sal and presenting Leo with his uncle’s Purple Heart. He’s asking Sal to come out and play because there’s a garden that needs to be burned and there’s only one fire hot enough to do it. At this the antique motorcycle nearby bursts into flames….