Synopsis
Iron Man (1968 series) #131 synopsis by
T Vernon
Rating:
Tony Stark has returned from his trip to Hong Kong (last issue) and Bethany Cabe is driving him back to the factory when they run into a massive traffic jam. Seeing people running away from the jam, Tony goes to investigate and discovers that the highway is blocked by the Hulk, who has overturned a fruit truck and is having a snack. Tony sends Beth to look for a phone to call the Avengers so he can suit up as Iron Man in the privacy of a nearby van (labeled “Love Machine”). Meanwhile, the angry truck driver tries to mace the Hulk but gets swatted for his troubles. The police open fire on the Jolly Green Giant but he sends a tremor through the ground knocking the cops off their feet. A National Guard helicopter arrives but Hulk shoots it down with a tanker full of milk. Iron Man arrives and tries to talk to the Hulk but Jade Jaws punches him through a line of cars. Hulk dodges a bazooka blast that wrecks an overpass and a van is ready to topple. Seeing a kid aboard sends Hulk to the rescue; the boy’s sincere gratitude and kindness calms him enough so that Hulk changes back to Bruce Banner. Crying for help, Banner collapses into Iron Man’s arms and Shellhead takes him back to Stark HQ and puts him to bed….
The next morning, Mrs. Arbogast enters to awaken Tony and discovers Bruce Banner. Recognizing him as the Hulk, she panics and flees. Tony calms her down and checks on Banner. Bruce shows him the design for a miniaturized, nuclear-powered pulse regulator that would stabilize his heartbeat when he becomes excited and prevent him from transforming into the Hulk. Tony calls in Scott Lang to help develop the device and famed surgeon Dr Erica Sondheim operates on Bruce to implant the device. When Bruce recovers they put him through a series of tests, confronting him with horrifying images of monsters and disasters and the device keeps him calm throughout. As they leave the medical building, they are met by police with a warrant for Banner’s arrest. Bruce panics and runs but a grenade explosion tosses him through the air. When the smoke clears, there stands an angry Bruce Banner—with the mind of the Hulk….