Incredible Hulk (2023 series) #27

In the Tennessee woods, a little boy named Petey comes across the Hulk. He points out his family and the bus they live in and wants to be Hulk’s friend. Petey warns Hulk not to go near the Falling-Down Tree. He explains that they live in a bus and have to move whenever his Dad gets angry….

Petey keeps hanging around Hulk, letting Hulk figure out that his Dad is a shady character, dealing in stolen goods. Example: They own several Gamestations but have no electricity. Petey loses his ball and it rolls near the Falling-Down Tree so he can’t get it. When Hulk asks why he cares about the tree, he can’t answer….

The following week, Hulk can’t find Petey. Banner’s voice, coming from an animal skull, tells Hulk the family needs his help but Hulk can only think of Charlie who is now a monster because of him. Banner reminds him that Charlie thought he could be a hero too. Hulk goes close to the family and hears that an associate of Dad’s is dead and they must flee. The baby girl is sick and Mom doesn’t want to leave Petey out there “under the tree.” Dad hits Mom and Hulk investigates the Falling-Down Tree…and finds Petey’s grave. Mom finds Hulk and begs him not to kill her and the baby, promising to tell the police what Dad did. Dad flees in the bus; Hulk outruns it and throws the vehicle off the road. He rips the bus open and kills the monster who killed Petey….

Later, after the police have recovered his body, Petey tells Hulk he is going with his mother and sister and Hulk is a hero….