Incredible Hulks #618
Inferno
As the Hulks return to Earth after saving both it and K'ai, Skaar invites his father to get back inside the ship. Then suddenly, they receive an astral warning from Doctor Strange about the Chaos King. Already he has unleashed apocalypse upon the Earth. The Hulks return to New York, where they find various people, including a Hulked-Out Lyra unconscious and quickly work ground control.
A-Bomb deduces that when Strange mentioned that Death herself has fled, meaning no one can die. And he remembers how his wife Marlo was possessed by Death. Then suddenly, they are ambushed by demons led by Abomination. He fights against A-Bomb. Though Death has been banished, Abomination decides to tear off A-Bomb's shell. He attacks the Hulks, demanding to know where Marlo is.
Luckily, they have a timely save from Strange. As they hide in the Empire State Building, Strange explains to everyone that Marlo still has a spark of Death within her, which can be used to end the lives of all on Earth. When A-Bomb whispers to Hulk that Marlo's in Phoenix, Strange is revealed to have been possessed by Zom.
Recurring Characters
Hulk, A-Bomb, She-Hulk, Red She-Hulk, Skaar, Korg, Doctor Strange, Lyra, Chaos King, Abomination, Zom
Continuity Notes
This story takes place after the events of Chaos War #1-4.
Korg recognizes Doctor Strange as the mage who summoned Zom during the Hulk's attack on New York. The entity known as Zom merged with Doctor Strange during the events of World War Hulk after having his hands broken by the Hulk. Since then, Strange has kept Zom mentally suppressed until now. These events occurred in World War Hulk #3-4.
Doctor Strange states that he was stripped of his title of Sorcerer Supreme. That happened in New Avengers #54. Strange eventually reclaim this title in New Avengers Vol 2 #34.
The Hulk is angry at Strange because he exiled him from Earth on two occasions. The first was when Strange exiled the Hulk to the Crossroads Dimension from Incredible Hulk #300 to 313. The second time was when Strange and the Illuminati exiled the Hulk to Sakaar from Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #91-105.
The Abomination was murdered by the Red Hulk in flashback as retaliation for the death of Betty. Betty had died of radiation poisoning in Incredible Hulk #466, although he was resurrected in Fall of the Hulks: Alpha #1. The Red Hulk shot the Abomination to death in Hulk Vol 2 #1
A-Bomb mentions how Death has been banished. That happened in Chaos War #2.
Rick mentions a few facts about his wife Marlo:
That she and Betty Ross used to be roommates. This lasted from Incredible Hulk #381-418.
He also mentions how Marlo was once possessed by Death itself. That happened in Captain Marvel Vol 4 #17-19.
How I Became the Bomb
With a hostage situation at the Los Angeles International Airport, A-Bomb is dispatched to try and defuse the situation. Meanwhile, Bruce Banner watches a video put together by Rick that details the origins of his A-Bomb powers and how his powers work. It discusses how he was transformed by the Leader and MODOK using DNA taken from the Abomination spliced with the camouflage abilities of the cuttlefish and chameleon.
Meanwhile, Rick manages to get into the air traffic control booth and learns that the man holding people hostage is a disgruntled employee. When A-Bomb tries to convince him to disarm the bomb and surrender, the man reveals that he is the bomb and he is set to blow. With moments to spare, A-Bomb tosses the hostage-taker into the air where he explodes without harming anyone.
Witnessing this, Banner is convinced that Rick will be a welcome addition to the team that he is putting together.
Recurring Characters
A-Bomb, Bruce Banner
Continuity Notes
Rick's video recaps the origin of the Hulk from Incredible Hulk #1, as well as his transformation into A-Bomb which was explained in Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk #3.
