Incredible Hulk, The (1968 series) #365

In this second installment of the Countdown story, Mr. Fixit (aka the Hulk) is carted off, presumed dead after his battle with the Abomination. Suddenly, he snaps out of it, fights off the scientists and workers, and leaps away from the research facility—just as Doc Samson arrives to assess the situation.

The scene shifts to a science convention in Phoenix, where Reed Richards is giving a speech. Ben Grimm and Ms. Marvel (in Thing form) are also in attendance. The Hulk crashes the convention, searching for Richards. Mistaking his arrival for a rampage, Ms. Marvel attacks him. Fixit mocks her, believing she is Grimm mutated into a female form. After extensive destruction, Ben Grimm jumps on Hulk’s back. At that moment, Ms. Marvel regains her strength and hurls Hulk—Grimm still clinging—into a wall. Reed Richards, seeing Ben in danger, uses his own body to cushion the impact.

Meanwhile, Doc Samson interrogates Phil Sterns about the events at the Yucca Flats research lab. Back in Phoenix, Hulk tries to revive Richards, who was knocked unconscious after shielding Ben Grimm. Ms. Marvel attacks again, joined by the Invisible Woman. Hulk suffers more chest pains and is blindsided by Ms. Marvel.

Reed Richards recovers and theorizes that Hulk may have been seeking help from the Fantastic Four. They transport Hulk to a nearby hospital and take blood samples. While Richards and a fellow doctor examine Hulk’s blood, Fixit walks to a bar to confront Ben Grimm. They reminisce about their first encounter, when the Fantastic Four mistook Hulk for the villain Wrecker. Ben apologizes for wrongly attacking him. The crafty Hulk replies, “Remember all those times I beat you up?... I was going easy on you.”

Back at the hospital, Reed informs Hulk that he has been poisoned by an artificially created AIDS virus, and that once he reverts back into Bruce Banner, he will die.