Charlie has
donned the skin of the girl she murdered to join a pickup basketball game under
the name of Becky….
Meanwhile, the goblin
who stole Charlie’s skin is attempting to convince Hulk that it is Charlie, his
friend. But Hulk isn’t stupid and he tries to capture this little thing, who
admits it is Norgul, the last surviving Rutling, a sort of forest sprite. But
it claims the Old Laws that a found skin becomes the property of the finder. Hulk
tries to grab it but it sprouts wings and flies away to find friends among men….
Norgul in
Charlie’s skin perches on a dumpster near the basketball game asking if it can
join the game. But everyone is creeped out and Charlie recognizes that her skin
has been stolen. Hulk hurls a car at the thing while everyone runs. One of the
group recognizes “Charlie” from the news (good trick!) and calls the police.
Charlie challenges the thief but she no longer has her werewolf powers and can
do nothing. Norgul taunts her now that it is strong but Hulk tears up the
ground; Norgul attacks Hulk in a burst of overconfidence. Hulk grabs it and
squeezes it out of Charlie’s skin. As Charlie resumes her skin, Norgul pleads
with them, claiming it can help them against the Eldest or to find Doctor
Strange. Werewolf Charlie just bites Norgul in half and devours it. Hulk leaps
off, Charlie flies after him….
That evening,
Hulk and Charlie are walking along and Charlie confesses that she is having
trouble controlling her powers and it is scaring her. She mentions that Banner
told her about Dr. Strange in New York City. Hulk grows angry at the mention of
Banner’s name then he falls into a fit, telling her to leave him alone and go with
Banner to see Strange—and he transforms back into Bruce Banner. The confused
Banner asks if Hulk is gone….
That night in
Chicago, Crusher Creel is on his way home from a bar when the voice of Eldest
calls to him; he recognizes it and she drags him down under the sidewalk, to
use him against Hulk….