Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Rampaging Hulk, The / The Hulk! #8 Synopsis by
Harold Holt
Just outside of Rome, Rick Jones, Bereet and The Hulk witness several alien ships soaring overhead. The trio investigates and manages to stumble upon the Krylorians' base in Rome. After further investigation, they overhear the Krylorians' plans for the total conquest of earth. The Krylorians are abandoning their bases scattered about the globe to attend a convocation at a hidden base in New York from where the final assault upon earth will be launched. Hulk destroys the Roman base, after which Rick suggests that New York is where they need to be.
At the Krylorian convocation in New York, the Krylorian leader orders his "transformers" to be ready to act on a moment's notice as their plan of conquest relies heavily on their abilities to physically mimic humans. Meanwhile, having just flown to New York inside of Bereet's banshee-mask-turned-space craft, an exhausted Hulk becomes Bruce Banner. Banner decides to show Bereet some of the sights of New York while Rick tries to secure the Fantastic Four's help in stopping the Krylorian invasion.
The commander of the Krylorian forces briefs his troops on certain specific earth locations he wants them to hit. Among them is the Stark Munitions Factory. However, the Commander is hesitant when he sees a recording of the factory's protector, Iron Man. It is decided that one of the Krylorian transformers will assume Iron Man's form then cause a disturbance to draw the real Iron Man out into the open where he can be dealt with. Wearing armor to mimic some of Iron Man's abilities, the transformer obeys. He destroys a bridge in plain sight, apparently killing several. Immediately, the radio stations are flooded with reports that Iron Man has gone on a rampage.
Having located Bruce and Bereet at a museaum, Rick shares the news about Iron Man, not realizing that his report is overheard by Ant Man and The Wasp, who are in their civilian identities. Rick, Bereet and Banner travel to where the faux Iron Man is still causing destruction. Of course Banner becomes agitated at this sight and transforms into The Hulk. He immediately engages 'Iron Man' in battle, both of them causing more destruction. Meanwhile, Dr. Donald Blake overhears another radio report of the battle. He strikes his mystical cane upon the ground and becomes Thor, God of Thunder. Simultaneously, the true Iron Man returns to Stark Munitions Factory from a routine patrol. When the Stark employees react fearfully to his presence, he corners one of them and learns about his 'rampage.' Armed with this knowledge, Iron Man heads toward the battle site.
As it happens, Iron Man, Thor, Ant Man and the Wasp all converge at the battle site where the Hulk is still battling the Krylorian transformer wearing Iron Man's form. The false Iron Man is suddenly caught off guard, the 'pre-Avengers' stand ready to fight, and the Hulk wonders if he should just "--smash everyone."