Villain: Davy Cannon/The Human Top

Guest Appearance: General Thunderbolt Ross, Betty Ross, Bruce Banner/The Hulk

Cameo: Spider-Man (in flashback), Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Avengers

Gadgets & Technology: Portable Projector, Tiny Carbon-Dioxide Power Rocket

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Giant-Man and the Wasp land in New Mexico, with Davy Cannon trailing them, and head for the Air Force base manned by General Thunderbolt Ross, as this is the last place the Hulk was seen. Through his Avengers clearance, Giant-Man is able to quickly talk to Ross, who recommends he talk to Bruce Banner. But Banner is in no mood to discuss matters with the Avengers, and he brushes off Betty Ross and heads into the mountains to try and get away from those who seek his monstrous alter ego. On his way there, his stress levels rise and he turns into the Hulk, and as the Hulk he decides instead of waiting for Giant-Man to find him, he will find Giant-Man!

As the Hulk menaces a nearby town, Davy Cannon figures out a way to exploit the situation to his benefit. Betty Brant, meanwhile, finds Bruce Banner's jeep on the outskirts of town, with his glasses and shreds of his clothing left behind. Giant-Man and the Wasp arrive and tell her they're going to do their best to find the Hulk. The Human Top tries to chase down the Hulk, but finds it a very difficult task. As the Hulk begins his approach to another small town, Giant-Man races ahead of him and calls out to the townspeople to evacuate. He is there to as the town depopulates to try and convice the Hulk to not consider the Avengers his enemy.

But before the Hulk can hit the city limits, the Human Top catches up to him and tells him that Giant-Man is waiting in the next town to ambush him. This enrages the Hulk even more, and he takes off to face Hank Pym. General Ross also drives up with his military convoy, and the Human Top tells him that the town ahead has been completely evacuated except for the Hulk. Ross takes this as an opportunity to destroy the Hulk once and for all, and authorizes the firing of a nuclear shell at the town.

The Hulk bounds into the town and immediately faces off against Giant-Man, who tries to explain he doesn't want to fight, but to no avail. As they bash away at each other, the shell is fired. The Wasp is there to try and stop it, grabbing hold of the shell and hitching a ride, but not being able to deactivate it. She warns Hank Pym through her cybernetic helmet, and he tells her to jump off and get away as fast as she can. Giant-Man then turns to the Hulk and points at the shell coming their way, and he tells the Hulk it's going to kill them both if he doesn't stop it. The Hulk jumps into the air and catches the shell in mid-air and hurls it into the distant hills, where it explodes without harming anyone.

The Human Top runs away before he can be found out, and the Hulk turns into Bruce Banner, who is reunited with a joyful Betty Ross. Giant-Man is left only with the knowledge that he tried- and failed- to get the Hulk to rejoin the Avengers.

Next issue blurb: Message to the "Hulk Lovers of the World," announcing that the Hulk, by Lee and Ditko, will be a regular feature starting in the next issue of Tales to Astonish

--synopsis and panel images by Gormuu

--house ads provided by Justin Fairfax

Issues Reprinted
Giant-Man from Tales to Astonish #59
& Incredible Hulk from Tales to Astonish #60-79

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.