HULK! MAGAZINE #17, #18, & #20

”NIGHTS BORN TEN YEARS GONE” | “SHADOWS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY”
”A LONG WAY TO DAWN”
Script: Doug Moench | Art: Bill Sienkiewicz
Inks: Klaus Janson (#17-18) | Colors: Olyoptics® | Editor: Rick Marschall

The Plot: (issue 17) A serial killer called the “Hatchet Man” buys a hatchet and mask and murders a nurse, the ninth in a string. Jake Lockley learns that the latest victim had a note pinned to her body, threatening “Lisa and her lover” and realizes who the Hatchet Man is. Later, Steven Grant explains to Marlene that ten years ago Marc Spector found himself hunting an unstable fellow mercenary named Rand who killed a nurse. Spector beat Rand, but caused him some brain damage in the process.

Marlene insists on helping Moon Knight draw out the Hatchet Man and dresses as a nurse. She walks a path proscribed by Moon Knight and sure enough, the Hatchet Man assaults her. But the police arrive and open fire, winging Marlene. Hatchet Man escapes with her and Moon Knight gives chase into Central Park, where his quarry delivers a hatchet to Marlene’s back. As the Hatchet Man escapes, Moon Knight vows vengeance on him, invoking his real name: Randall Spector.

(issue 18) Leaving Marlene with the police, Moon Knight pursues his brother deeper into Central Park. Hatchet Man kills a wino and takes a nurse’s assistant hostage. Moon Knight saves her, but is injured in the process. Hatchet Man then escapes into a rocky ramble. Moon Knight unmasks himself to appeal to his brother, but the Hatchet Man charged madly at him. Unable to properly counter the attack due to his wound, Moon Knight dodges instead. Hatchet Man is impaled on a gnarled tree branch.

Moon Knight travels to the hospital, where he is informed that Marlene is in critical condition and may not survive the night.

IRON MAN #129

"DREAD NIGHT OF THE DREADNOUGHT!"
Script: David Michelinie | Plot: D. Minds | Pencils: Sal Buscema | Inks: M. Hands
Colors: George Bell | Letters: John Costanza | Editor: Roger Stern
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

The Plot: Tony Stark presents Nick Fury with the resignations of his entire staff, then tells Fury he's going on a nine month-long vacation. Realizing he's been out-maneuvered, Fury agrees to relinquish control of Stark international.

Tony and Fury attempt to make peace over dinner, but Fury is called away by a priority signal. Tony changes to Iron Man and follows Fury to a remote complex in the mountains, where a Dreadnought is on a rampage. Iron Man destroys the robot and departs.

Continuity Notes: Bethany, Rhodey, and Mrs. Arbogast all make cameo appearances following Tony's recovery of Stark International. It is also revealed that the resignations of Stark's entire staff were faked. Fury agrees to sell Jarvis's stock back to him, and put the rest out on the open market. Mrs Arbogast also informs Tony of trouble at Stark's Hong Kong branch.

The complex Fury investigates is called Project 13, and it once housed something called F.A.U.S.T., which was only defeated by all of the Avengers. There is absolutely no indication of what F.A.U.S.T. was, but two separate footnotes refer readers to THOR #271 for details.