Incredible Hulk #71

The INCREDIBLE Hulk #71

Date: June 2004
Title: Big Things Part 1
Writer: Bruce Jones
Penciler: Mike Deodato, Jr.
Inks: Mike Deodato, Jr.
Letters: Randy Gentile

Colorist: Hermes Tadeu
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover Artist: Mike Deodato, Jr.

The story starts off with a woman writing in her diary to Tony Stark (Iron Man). She says how she admired Tony's intellect and loved him. But that love blinded her to the fact that Tony was becoming obsessive in his work and getting reckless. She know that no friends or coworkers could change how he was behaving so she was going to kill herself so that he would learn what road he is going down. Cut to a newscast showing footage of Iron Man fighting the Rhino and the announcers talking about Lisa Cummings, Stark's girlfriend, killing herself in her apartment. Bruce watches the news through the window of a store as the announcer says that Stark will be holding a news conference to talk about his relationship with Lisa. Bruce sees the police chasing some people so to avoid being seen by the Police, he walks around the corner right into Stark's news conference.

Stark tells the reporters that Lisa's death was tragic and that they were only social acquaintances. A reporter asks if they were actually engaged to be married but Stark has no comment. Another asks if Stark is working on a new armored suit but Stark does not answer that question either. Another reporter asks if Stark Enterprises is experimenting with gamma photons and then mentions how Bruce Banner had a bad run-in with a gamma bomb. Stark says he does not deal with wild speculation and ends the conference.

Bruce spies on Stark Enterprises at night and observes that they are dealing with gamma photons. He then goes to an electronics store to buy some merchandise.

Back at Stark Enterprises, Stark talks to an assistant about how late he has been staying out. Bruce listens in with listening equipment. His assistant says that Lisa's death is not his fault. The assistant tells him he needs to concentrate on the project and a gamma bomb is a very unforgiving thing. Stark makes a comment about sitting there and watching Lisa die.

Later in the night, Bruce spies on Stark partying in a disco form an alley. Someone steps up behind him and says that he looks like him. Bruce turns around to see Stark holding a gun on him. Stark tells Bruce that he uses body doubles for security purposes. Stark, not recognizing Bruce, asks if he is the competition spying on him. Unbeknownst to him, a man is on top of the building with a rifle aimed at them. Bruce tells Stark he has really changed, getting reckless than suddenly Bruce is shot in the shoulder. Bruce says that was a mistake but Stark tries to explain he didn't do anything but it is too late as Bruce turns into Hulk and hits Stark. The Hulk stands over the pile of bricks and rubble and Stark comes out in full Iron Man gear and addresses him as Dr. Banner. The Hulk and Iron Man start a fight but when they hear police sirens, the Hulk suddenly turns into Bruce and Iron Man into Tony Stark. Both are surprised as to how quickly the other one changed. Stark picks up some dirt and throws it into Bruce's face as the police tell them to freeze. Stark recognizes the cops and tells them it was just a bar disagreement and that he vouches for the man. He hands the cops some money and says to go have a drink on him. Stark takes Bruce back to the bar, where he picks up two woman and takes them along with Bruce back to his mansion. Stark tells his butler to set up "Mr. Smith" in his own room with fresh clothes. Stark takes him to his room and leaves him there as Stark walks back with the butler who advises having Dr. Banner on site is reckless. Stark mentions that Bruce may be the only person who can exonerate him. Bruce sits in Stark's room, thinking it was too convenient that the only room available was Stark's. He looks in the drawer and finds a gun along with Lisa's diary. He reads the diary and notices the last page is torn out. A man dressed in black sneaks into the room and shoots the bed. He pulls back the sheets to see the Iron Man suit. Bruce steps out of the shadows with the gun saying that the man is too green to be from Home Base and too sloppy to be corporate rivalry. Bruce mentions that with this and the alley, the shooter has missed him twice. The shooter surprises Bruce and says that he was not aiming at him. Bruce suddenly turns into the Hulk and grabs the shooter who looks very surprised. Stark looks on from a video screen in another room.

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