Incredible Hulk Annual #20
Story Time
A woman named Sandy has come to Central Park late at night and sits on a bench waiting for trouble. When a gang of thugs approaches her and questions why she would do something so stupid, she laughs, takes a drink from a bottle and tells them that this is exactly what she wanted to have happen. The men oblige her, pulling her off the bench and are about to rape her when suddenly they are interrupted by a massive man in a trench coat and hat. He attacks them, and when they witness this massive brute's strength and invulnerability they flee. However, Sandy is none too happy about the rescue and lashes out at her savior. This creature deduces that there must be some story behind this woman's woe. She admits that things have gotten very bad for her. She recounts how she and her long time boyfriend Jack went on a trip to consider the idea of getting married. While Jack wanted to go to France, Sandy insisted on going to Scotland where they stayed at an inn along Loch Ness. It was there that she and Jack were held hostage by the Madman during his battle with the Hulk. During the fight, Madman broke Jack's neck, killing him instantly. Jack's death was the end of her world and after his funeral she decided that she couldn't continue living in this world. Hearing all this, the stranger tells her to come with him. Not caring what happens to herself, Sandy follows her rescuer.
This massive man takes her to a nearby manhole cover which they used to climb down into the sewers. Along the way, they meet the Angel, who welcomes her to their secret sanctuary and tells her that it is about to become storytime. Sandy is led deeper into the sewers where she discovers a society of homeless people living there. This interests her in the capacity of her career as a social worker. It's here that the mystery man devests his coat and hat, revealing himself to be the Hulk's old foe the Abomination. As it turns out, the Abomination has become a protector to the people who live in the sewers and on nights like tonight, he entertains them with stories. The Angel convinces her that she is safe here and invites her to sit down and listen to the Abomination's tale.
The Abomination tells a tale about a mythical kingdom ruled by King Josef and how it was terrorized by a horrible creature calling itself the Banner. Wanting the creature to be destroyed, he sent word that anyone who could vanquish the Banner would win the hand of his daughter, Princess Nadia, in marriage. Nadia did not like the idea of being married off and she decides to slay the Banner herself. Putting on a suit of armor and arming herself with a sword called Gamma and a shield called Bomb she rode out to the Banner's castle. When the King learned of this he told his barber Blonsky about what happened and how his daughter is gone and presumed dead. Blonsky decided that he would rescue her, going riding out to the Banner's castle armed with nothing save his mirror and shaving blade. Meanwhile, Nadia is easily overpowered and defeated by the Banner. However, when the Banner sees that he has captured a beautiful woman he decides to keep her his prisoner instead. Soon, Blonsky arrives at the castle and challenges the Banner to a battle. However, instead of fighting the Banner, he shows the creature his reflection. Instead of the monstrous creature, the Banner sees the image of his human form causing the Banner to break down. The Banner then begs Blonsky to kill him to end his curse. However, when he learns that the curse can be lifted in exchange for someone willingly taking the Banner's place, Blonsky agreed to do so. Much to everyone's surprise, the Blonsky wants the curse so he might live in peace. Upon accepting the curse, Blonsky is turned into an abomination while the Banner is restored to his human form, Robert Bruce. Robert and Nadia left and were soon married. Blonsky then lived forevermore in solitude.
With the story over the Abomination sees that Sandy has fallen asleep. That morning, Sandy is woken up by a police officer on a bench in Central Park. He tells her that it is illegal and unsafe and sends her on her way. As Sandy gets up to leave, she finds a note in her pocket from the Abomination. It tells her that storytime is every full moon and she is welcome to come back at any time, as they could use the skills of a social worker. Sandy contemplates throwing the letter away but instead decides to keep it and heads back home.
Recurring Characters
Abomination, Angel
Psychobabble
Doc Samson is called to a post office where a hostage situation underway. The SWAT team is hoping that they can utilize his expertise to talk down the man inside. Samson identifies himself as a psychologist and asks to come inside. The man wholding the people inside appears to be a postal worker and refuses to give his name. This man is confident that his gun will protect him from any threat. To Samson's surprise, the glowing gun fires a bullet that pierces his skin. Suddenly, the shooter's gun turns from a shotgun into an uzi and he begins opening fire on the hostages. Samson manages to pull the shooter aside and wrestle him to the ground. However, much to his surprise the shooter suddenly changes form into a massive wrestler. He then kicks Samson outside.
The two fight it out on the street Samson is able to subdue the attacker, dubbed Psychobabble, to the ground. Suddenly he transforms again, into three subserviant butlers who agree to help Samson out. However, before they can they suddenly merge into a new form, that of an abusive father. When Samson tries to talk this violent man down he is attacked, but when Samson takes away his belt, Psychobabble transforms again this time into a conjoined married couple. He witnesses as the wife domineer over her husband. When Leonard tries to calm them down again, Psychobabble then splits into all of his different personalities who begin to fight it out. After disarming the postal worker, Samson witnesses as a female form suddenly appears. He learns that this is the most submissive personality and convinces it to draw in all the others. When she does, all the portions of this personality are drawn together and they change into a harmless-looking teenaged boy. Exhausted from his ordeal, the boy faints, landing in Samson's arms. Doc Samson vows that he will do whatever it takes to make this boy whole again.
Recurring Characters
Doc Samson, Psychobabble
Desert Storm
The Hulk has send Achilles and Ajax back into Trans-Sabal to meet up with their operative the "Arabian Night" to prevent the displacement of Muslims in the region. Along the way their ship is shot down by government jets. When reporting in to the Hulk, who tells them that if they cannot find their contact in five minutes to abort the mission at their own discretion. Suddenly, Achilles and Ajax are attacked by Mandroids. They are soon joined by the Arabian Knight, the operative that they had been seeking.
When they arrive at the site where the Muslims are about to mobilize, Achilles and Ajax are shocked to discover that the Arabian Knight actually wants them to be taken to France so that they might be used as warriors to stop religious persecution in a nearby country. This causes a clash between the Knight and Achilles. As the two fight it out, the Arabian Knight points out that Achilles is a hypocrite considering that he is a Holocaust survivor who is not willing to stop the ethnic cleansing in this other country. However, Achilles points out that the soldiers are ill-equipped for warfare and this could be the equivalent to the United States entering into the Vietnam War and losing. However, their arguments about war is interrupted when the Muslim troops are eradicated by an airstrike.
Realizing that he made a mistake, Ajax and Achilles go to help the Arabian Knight help the survivors.
Recurring Characters
Pantheon (Achilles, Ajax, Arabian Knight), Mandroids, Hulk
Continuity Notes
The Arabian Knight makes a few references here:
The Pantheon's failed attempt to liberate Trans-Sabal in Incredible Hulk #380-382 and X-Factor #76
He mentions how he infiltrated the group known as Desert Sword in New Mutants Annual #7, Uncanny X-Men Annual #15 and X-Factor Annual #6.
You're Invited!
Photos from the wedding of Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler.
Recurring Characters
Hulk, Rick Jones, Marlo Jones, Keith Chandler, Ray Chandler, Elsa Chandler, Betty Ross, Suzi Berengetti, Mona, Drax, Lyja, She-Hulk, Thor, Doc Samson, Adam Warlock, Spider-Woman, Impossible Man, Teen Brigade (Bill Bishop, K.C. Ritter, Mike Armstrong), Sub-Mariner, Fantastic Four (Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing, Ant-Man), Avengers (Captain America, Black Knight, Quicksilver, Thunderstrike)
