Essential Hulk #1
"The Coming of the Hulk, Part 1" kicks off with a high-stakes mission as the Secret Empire sends Boomerang to steal the Orion missile plans, setting off a chain of events that plunges Rick, Betty, and Glenn into danger beneath the surface. With the Mole Man and Tyrannus locked in battle, Banner races through the chaos, desperate to reach his friends—only to find his only way out in an unexpected transformation. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated by the legendary Jack Kirby and Bill Everett, this pivotal issue features dynamic art and bold storytelling, with a cover by Bruce Timm that captures the moment’s intensity.
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The Secret Empire hires Boomerang to obtain the plans for the Orion missile and the new bad guy on the block heads for gamma base. As Rick, Betty and Glenn are returned to the surface from the underground subterranean kingdom, Boomerang captures Betty to use as a bargaining chip for the missile. Banner frantically makes his way through a pitched battle between the forces of the Mole Man and Tyrannus, trying to find a way to return to the surface and help his friends but it is only when he once again becomes the Hulk that he accidentally stumbles on the right machine that accomplishes the task.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).