Late at night in Times Square, Daimon Hellstrom,
Son of Satan, is walking the streets, brooding over some personal problems when he
senses evil. He sees a man standing over a fallen victim and attacks him, assuming
he is the killer; the other guy, Luke Cage, assumes Son of Satan is the villain.
They recognize each other and cease fire. Cage explains that the old man was a
former teacher of his, Tyrone D. Gus, who had called him for help. Hellstrom
casts a spell over him to keep him alive until they can get him to a hospital
but the man bursts into flames and burns to ash in seconds. Cage explains that
Tyrone was the one teacher who saw the good in Cage as a kid but had fallen on
hard times and as such, he vows to hunt down the old man’s killers. Asking
around they learn that Tyrone had become interested in the occult so Hellstrom
uses his powers to pick up the mystic trail which leads to a warehouse. They
find the Sons of Satannish inside, working an arcane ritual. The leader unleashes
the Wreaths of Ravenna on them and they are overpowered….
The heroes awaken and the leader unmasks to reveal he is
Tyrone Gus, who explains that Evil made him a firm offer to bring him out of
his misery and so he has gathered other poor and downtrodden men for the Sons.
The demon Satannish appears and announces that the time of alignment has come
and he will cross over to their realm by possessing Luke’s body. The two heroes
pool their talents to escape from their bonds and fight the cultists. Tyrone
calls on Satannish who punishes him for his failure by crushing him in a giant
hand. He dies holding Luke’s hand, repenting of his deal with evil.
“The Obligation”
Writer: Jim Shooter. Art: Tomoyuki Takenaka. Colors: Bob
Sharen. Letters: Jim Novak.
Synopsis: Hulk is on a rampage in Manhattan and the Police Swat Team is there
to stop him. In a crowd of bystanders is Peter Parker, who changes into his Spider-Man
costume, hoping to stop the destruction and also snap a few pictures for the
Daily Bugle. Spidey engages Hulk in battle and lures him away to a deserted
warehouse district. Spidey then hides until Hulk calms down and changes back to
Bruce Banner. Spidey takes the opportunity to don his civvies and, as Peter
Parker, offers to help Bruce escape from the police. Peter gives Bruce his last
five dollars, explaining that a total stranger gave him the money when he was
in need, obligating him to use that money to help out another in need. As Bruce
heads out of town, he encounters an old man who was the victim of muggers;
calling for help he runs into the muggers who start to beat him up. Turning
into the Hulk he scares off the punks then turns to the old man. The old man’s
despair strikes a chord of compassion deep within the Hulk, so the Green Giant
hands the old man Peter’s five dollars and walks off, having further paid off
the obligation..