Hulk! #26
Namaste
The Hulk is on the rampage in New York City once again. Escaping the authorities, the brute reverts back into Bruce Banner in an alleyway. When Bruce wakes up he decides to get out of time and goes to the Port Authority. There he bumps into a woman named Ruby who convinces him to accompany her and her friends to the retreat of Baba Shanti, a religious guru that lives in the small town of Olive in Sullivan country. Even though it sounds like a cult, Banner decides to accompany her. Along the way, Ruby tells her life story and how she found Baba's religion. On the way they are accosted by some local drunks who chase after their bus and toss beer bottles at it.
Soon they are at Baba Shanti's commune and Banner can't help but notice how large he place it. In the town below, the people of Olive are upset that their town is dying and the sheriff works up a plan to drive Baba Shanti and his followers out of town so the land can be turned into casinos that will revitalize their community.
Back in the commune, Bruce is surprised that Baba Shanti is none other than his cold college roommate Randy Cantor. Bruce is surprised to see his old friend as a spiritual leader since last he saw him he was studying to be a lawyer. As Baba Shanti is giving a sermon, a mole planted by the people of Olive stars are fire. The communers panic in the flames and Banner turns into the Hulk. He manages to save Ruby from the flames and then flees. When Banner reasserts control of himself, he goes back to Shanti, Banner wants to know how Randy Cantor founded his religion. Randy explains that he was a successful lawyer before his wife died. After she was killed in a car accident he gave up on his worldly possessions and was trained by an spiritual leader while travelling India. After his training was done, the future Baba Shanti was sent back to the United States. Upon learning that the wise man died on his return trip, Shanti founded his religion to continue on his master's teachings.
That night some of the local sneak onto the commune and kidnap Ruby. When Banner later wakes from a nightmare, Shanti reveals that he knows that Bruce is really the Hulk. He offers to try and make peace between Bruce and the Hulk. Through some apparent mystical abilities, Shanti makes both Banner and the Hulk's spirit forms confront each other and accept the light that exists in both of them.
Upon learning that Ruby had been kidnapped, Baba Shanti led his followers into town to protest leading to a clash between the commune and the citizens of Olive. Caught in the middle is Bruce Banner who transforms into the Hulk who breaks up the fight. As the Hulk leaves, the people of Oliver come to terms with the fact that Baba Shanti's people were allowed to live in peace. However, Randy has realised that he has allowed his ego to get the better of him and shuts his commune down and decides to go back out into the world and learn the true meaning of the lessons his teacher brought him.
Recurring Characters
Hulk
Continuity Notes
The mayor of New York City is identified as Ed Koch in this story. This should be considered a topical reference relative to the date of publication, per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.
Where Troops Are Encamped
Bruce accompanies is friend Suzette Classon up to Meadowlark Hunting Lodge to convince Suzette's sister Gizette Michaels not to live in seclusion on this compound. Suzette explains how the people up at Meadowlark, led by Gizette's husband Jeff, believe that the end of the world is coming and are preparing to fend for themselves. After visiting Gizette, she assures her twin sister that everything is fine. Soon enough, Bruce and Suzette overstay their welcome and are asked to leave.
However, on their way back Suzette's car gets a flat tire, and without a spare, the pair are forced to go back to the Hunting Lodge for help. There they witness the men of this private milita using illegal weapons purchased from Africa. Seeking to keep this quiet, they open fire on both Bruce and Suzette. While Suzette catches bullets in her legs, Banner transforms into the Hulk and fights off his attackers, but retreats into the woods, leaving Suzette behind. Gizette manages to convince them to spare her sister, but they refuse to bring her to a hospital as it would alert the authorities to the weapons they have.
Meanwhile, the Hulk eventually falls asleep and reverts back to Bruce Banner. Awakening in the morning, Banner walks back to the compound to find out what happened to Suzette. Fearful of Banner, the militants allow him to go to the main house where Gizette tells him of Suzette's condition and that she needs medical attention. Inside the house, Bruce picks up Suzette and is prepared to leave when he is stopped by Jeff Michaels. When Jeff threatens Banner, he warns him against getting him angry, reminding him of what happened the night before. With no other opposition, Bruce takes Suzette to a station wagon outside, and they are joined by her twin sister and niece who have decided to leave the compound as well.
Recurring Characters
Hulk
Continuity Notes
The private milita states that their muntitions were left over from "that Uganda mess." During the period in which this story was published, the nation of Uganda was increasingly unstable following the 1971 coup d'état that saw the removal of Idi Amin. Although this region of the world has continued to go through turnoil and unrest well into the 21st Century, this should be considered a topical reference none-the-less.
The River
Bruce Banner has set up camp next to a tranquil looking lake for the night. However his evening goes from serene to dangerous as a violent storm hits causing flooding. Swept away in the flash flood, Banner transforms into the Hulk who struggles against the currents and tries everything he can to not drown.
Through sheer determination, the Hulk not only manages to survive the flood himself, but also manages to save a young fawn in the process as well.
Recurring Characters
Hulk
