THE AVENGERS MEET THE SUB-MARINER!

The Avengers gather for their monthly meeting at the luxurious home of Tony Stark, unaware that their host is secretly one of their own members—the armored hero known as Iron Man. During the meeting, the team discusses the growing threat posed by their former ally, the Hulk. Iron Man warns that as long as the Hulk remains at large, there is no telling what destruction he may cause. Thor agrees that the Hulk must be found, while the Wasp and Giant-Man question how they can possibly track down a creature as powerful and unpredictable as him.

Iron Man reveals one of Tony Stark's latest inventions: an advanced electronic image projector capable of transmitting a lifelike image of himself anywhere in the world. The projection is not merely visual—it can see, hear, and communicate with people at its destination. Using this technology, Iron Man begins a search for allies who might know something about the Hulk's whereabouts. His first stop is the Baxter Building, home of the Fantastic Four. His image appears before the Thing, who is unimpressed by the interruption and refuses to help, claiming he has his own personal matters to handle. Iron Man then contacts Mister Fantastic and the Human Torch, but they are too occupied with their scientific experiments to assist.

Continuing his search, Iron Man reaches out to Spider-Man, who is busy capturing criminals. The young hero is startled by Iron Man's sudden appearance and initially believes he is seeing things. Although Spider-Man declines to join the search because of his own responsibilities, Iron Man continues looking for assistance. His final attempt leads him to Professor Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, where the X-Men are undergoing training. Professor X agrees to notify the Avengers if they discover any information about the Hulk, but he cannot interrupt the team's important training session.

Returning his projection to Avengers headquarters, Iron Man admits that his search was unsuccessful. However, Thor suggests that they contact Rick Jones, the one person who has historically been able to calm and communicate with the Hulk. Since Rick is a skilled radio operator, the Avengers send out a message asking for his help. The signal reaches Rick in the American Southwest, where he agrees to begin searching the region, knowing that it is one of the Hulk's former hiding places.

Rick soon discovers evidence that the Hulk is nearby. An elderly man warns him that a monstrous creature has been seen in the area, and Rick realizes he may have located his friend. Racing ahead of the authorities, Rick finds the Hulk pulling a jeep from a lake. The Hulk explains that he is not causing trouble—he is simply recovering a vehicle abandoned by someone who fled after seeing him. Rick tries to convince the Hulk that people fear him and that remaining hidden is the only way to avoid a violent confrontation. Reluctantly, the Hulk listens and returns with Rick to a hidden underground cavern.

Inside the cavern, Rick uses a gamma-ray device originally created by Dr. Bruce Banner to transform the Hulk back into his human identity. The powerful radiation reduces the Hulk's massive body into the exhausted form of Bruce Banner. Banner believes the nightmare is finally over, but Rick warns him that each transformation is becoming more dangerous and difficult to control. Banner asks Rick to remain with him and guard the cavern in case the Hulk returns.

As the night passes, Banner struggles with his inner conflict. Unable to sleep, he feels the Hulk's presence growing stronger within him. The gamma-ray treatment was not powerful enough to permanently suppress the transformation, and Banner begins questioning why he should remain as a weak, ordinary scientist when he could be the strongest being on Earth. His resentment and frustration trigger another transformation, and the Hulk bursts free from the cavern. Rick realizes that the creature is stronger and more uncontrollable than before.

Desperate to prevent further destruction, Rick races to a nearby Teen Brigade radio station and sends an emergency message to the Avengers. He reports that he has found the Hulk in New Mexico and warns them that the creature is on the rampage. Thousands of miles away, Tony Stark receives the transmission and immediately prepares for battle. He secretly activates his Iron Man armor, knowing that his fellow Avengers still do not know his true identity.

Iron Man contacts Giant-Man, the Wasp, and Thor, informing them that the Hulk has been located. Giant-Man and the Wasp, assuming their miniature forms, begin traveling toward New Mexico while Thor leaves his civilian identity as Dr. Donald Blake behind and transforms into the Mighty Thor. Each Avenger races toward the confrontation using their unique methods of transportation, determined to stop their former teammate before he can cause further harm.

Iron Man arrives first and discovers Rick Jones desperately trying to warn him away. Before Iron Man can react, the Hulk attacks him from behind. Protected by his armored suit, Iron Man survives the devastating blow and attempts to reason with the Hulk rather than fight him. He uses his repulsor technology to knock nearby rocks out of the way and create distance, but the Hulk refuses to listen. Believing the Avengers hate and fear him, the Hulk declares that he will never trust them.

The Hulk attacks Iron Man using the environment around him, ripping a cactus from the ground and launching its sharp needles like weapons. Iron Man shields himself with his armor and continues trying to convince the Hulk that the Avengers want him to return to the team. Before the battle can continue, Ant-Man and the Wasp arrive. Ant-Man, however, believes brute strength will not defeat the Hulk and chooses a more strategic approach. Using his ability to communicate with ants, he orders them to block an underground stream, causing the ground beneath the Hulk to collapse.

The plan fails when the Hulk's incredible strength allows him to leap away from the trap. Iron Man then uses his magnetic technology to spin the Hulk through the air, attempting to temporarily incapacitate him. When Thor arrives, the Hulk faces an even greater challenge. Thor demands that the Hulk surrender, but the creature refuses and declares that he will defeat both the armored Avenger and the Thunder God.

The Hulk escapes by leaping into an abandoned mineshaft and using the underground tunnels to evade pursuit. He eventually discovers a passing train and climbs aboard, hoping to lose the Avengers. Iron Man and Thor follow, but the Hulk uses his incredible strength and intelligence to stay ahead of them. He throws a train car at the pursuing heroes, swings heavy machinery as a weapon, and even traps Thor with steel cables. When Giant-Man joins the battle, the Hulk uses bags of flour from the train to create a blinding cloud, allowing him to escape once again.

The Avengers continue searching for the Hulk, but the creature proves nearly impossible to capture. Eventually, the Hulk hides inside a truck carrying gravel and is unknowingly transported toward the coast. He escapes into the ocean, using his incredible endurance to survive underwater for days. Eventually, exhausted and weakened, the Hulk is discovered floating in the Atlantic Ocean by sailors, who pull him aboard their ship.

Unknown to the Hulk, his movements have been observed by another powerful figure: Namor the Sub-Mariner. From an underwater chamber, Namor watches the Hulk's journey and decides that the two outcasts would make a powerful alliance. When the Hulk eventually reaches a deserted island, Namor confronts him and proposes a partnership. Both characters share a hatred of humanity—Hulk because he feels rejected and feared, and Namor because of humanity's past treatment of Atlantis.

The Hulk and Namor agree to work together, although neither truly trusts the other. Hulk secretly plans to betray Namor once he is no longer useful, while Namor intends to use the Hulk's strength before eliminating him. The two powerful beings travel aboard Namor's command ship toward their target: the Avengers.

When the Avengers receive word that Hulk and Namor have joined forces, they prepare for their most dangerous battle yet. Traveling to Gibraltar aboard an experimental deep-sea vehicle designed by Tony Stark, the team enters abandoned World War II caves where the two enemies await them. Namor and Hulk attempt to use the environment and their combined abilities to defeat the heroes.

The battle begins when Namor uses an old artillery weapon as a distraction, but Iron Man redirects the shell with his magnetic technology. Namor then attacks Iron Man with an emery dust weapon that temporarily freezes the mechanisms of his armor. While Giant-Man works to restore Iron Man's mobility, Thor battles against Hulk and Namor, using his enchanted hammer to hold them back.

As the battle intensifies, Hulk unleashes a devastating sonic clap that shakes the cavern walls and nearly injures the hidden Wasp. Giant-Man and Thor eventually turn the battle against Namor, but the underwater warrior remains a formidable opponent. Hulk watches Namor struggle against the Avengers, secretly waiting for an opportunity to turn against his temporary ally.

The final confrontation comes when Hulk challenges Thor and attempts to lift his enchanted hammer. Despite his incredible strength, Hulk cannot move Mjolnir because only those worthy can wield it. Thor briefly releases his grip on the hammer to prove the point, causing it to return to him instantly. Before Hulk can continue fighting, the stress of battle triggers another transformation, and he reverts into Bruce Banner.

Realizing he has become human again, Banner chooses to flee rather than continue the fight. Without the Hulk's strength, Namor quickly loses his advantage. The Avengers defeat him by combining their abilities, trapping him with Iron Man's magnetic technology. However, when Namor manages to escape after regaining his strength from contact with water, Thor chooses not to pursue him, respecting his courage and warrior spirit.

The Avengers return home victorious but uneasy. They realize they may have underestimated both Hulk and Namor, two powerful beings driven by anger, isolation, and resentment toward humanity. The battle ends with a warning that this encounter is only the beginning of greater challenges ahead for Earth's Mightiest Heroes.