The Leader solves the mystery of how a planetoid missed
collision with Earth while Hulk was battling the X-Men: it was the doing of
Professor Charles Xavier. And now his scheme is set….
In the Nevada desert, Hulk is being bombarded by the
Hulkbusters’ most powerful weapons; he overcomes them all and leaps away to
live in peace. Hulk sits and stares at the stars until he returns to his
Bruce Banner form….
Professor X is studying the device created by Bruce Banner to
treat mental exhaustion. Having used it to recover from trauma, he realizes
that Bruce developed it to deal with his own problems with Hulk. It had always
failed for Bruce and Professor X thinks it must require a telepathic component.
The use of the machine has created a psychic link between Xavier and Hulk and
he can’t rest until he has done all he can to free Banner from the Hulk….
The X-Men locate the desert lab they have recently visited
and move in, setting the place up to treat Bruce. Xavier increases Marvel Girl’s
telepathic focus so she can more easily sedate Hulk. Cyclops, Havok,
Angel, Iceman with Jean go off to locate Hulk while the others (Xavier, Beast,
Polaris) stay behind to finalize preparations. But they are watched by a lizard
who is clearly a mechanical spy device….
Bruce is found searching through a dumpster for clothing by a
kindly old fellow named Jeb, who invites him back to his camper for supper.
During the meal, violent military sounds in the background agitate Bruce who
advises Jeb and his wife Dorothy to leave quickly….
The X-Men detect a strong Gamma reading heading toward them,
pursued by the military. They prepare to meet the Hulk but end up facing the
Abomination….