We open in Greenwich Village (I guess Rick stuck around New York after the events of Avengers #72) where Rick is playing his guitar in a basement coffee house. Give us some mood, Rascally One: "The mood is electric... the sound is full of quiet fury... and who's to say if it signifies nothing... or everything...?" In fact, the women in the audience seem to be swooning over Rick's singing as though he were Elvis. "No doubt about it... that's the sound of the seventies!" One claims. "Boy, would I like a meaningful relationship with him!!" states another woman, woodenly. As Rick exits the shop, he finds Mordecai P. Boggs waiting for him, still trying to hire Rick as a client. Rick brushes him off again, although he admits to himself he's not sure why he doesn't get a manager.
Back at Rick's apartment, Mar-Vell's voice summons Rick to look in a mirror, where Rick sees Mar-Vell's face instead of his own. Mar-Vell has to remind Rick that they're still bound together and he needed to "shock" Rick into paying attention to him. Apparently it's been weeks since Rick let Marv out of the Negative Zone, which is a bit cruel to poor Mar-Vell. Rick seems to be having an identity crisis, so Mar-Vell reminds Rick how much he longed to be a super hero back when he first met the Hulk (specifically referencing the events of Incredible Hulk #3, where Rick had temporary control over the Hulk's mind), as well as his time with the Avengers and Captain America, then recaps how Rick donned the Nega-Bands and bested Yon-Rogg (having been 6 months since the last issue, Roy the Boy must have felt a recap was in order).
Before Rick and Mar-Vell can finish sorting out their issues, Rick hears a scream from the apartment below and he races downstairs, where he finds two men roughing up an elderly man. Rick tries to fight off the men despite Mar-Vell's insistence that they switch places. After repeatedly getting pummeled, Rick finally concedes and strikes his Nega-Bands together, releasing Captain Marvel. Mar-Vell easily bests the two men, then he and Rick have a mental conversation about how to solve their problem and release themselves from the Negative Zone. Rick suggests they look up his old pal Dr. Bruce Banner, otherwise known as the Hulk, figuring Banner would have an idea on how to liberate them. Rick directs Mar-Vell out to the deserts where Banner's secret laboratories were established so they can begin their hunt.
The search is waylaid when Mar-Vell spies a tornado, which had just ravaged a nearby town. Mar-Vell flies in to help rescued injured people, not noticing a band of green-clad men in masks who come moving into the town. They're a team of looters called the Rat Pack. The Rat Pack are not only after money and jewels from the banks and jewelry stores, they're also targeting the hospitals to get valuable medical supplies. As Captain Marvel is carrying an injured little girl to safety, the girl sees the Rat Pack below and draws the hero's attention to them; once the girl is returned to her mother, Mar-Vell flies back to confront the Rat Pack. The Rat Pack's leader (the only member without a mask) draws his gun while berating his men: "You spot a fancy costume--and you think Captain America's on yer tail! Well, he ain't Captain America--and he ain't Thor--and another thing I'll bet he ain't--is bulletproof!" Mar-Vell seems to agree, which is odd, considering his skin is tough enough to shrug off laser blasts from Kree pistols. Are Kree handguns less lethal than a Saturday night special?
Well, I guess we won't learn whether Mar-Vell is bulletproof today, as he throws one of the Rat Pack members at the leader before he can shoot the gun. With that, it seems the Rat Pack are all washed up. Mar-Vell sees more Red Cross trucks coming to help the wounded so he spends more time digging through rubble, helping them reach trapped people. "You can't hear me--but you understand, don't you, Rick? This is all that really matters--not our names in the papers--not a rock music career--but this--a chance to save a life--or dry a child's first tear! This is why I renounced my Kree heritage--my membership in a people without pity! And, this is how I'll spend the rest of my life--once I'm forever free of the Negative Zone!!" I have to say, Mar-Vell had a reputation as being a noble hero which wasn't really borne out through his earlier adventures, but with this moment it feels like his nobility has finally been made firm. When the Red Cross have things under control Mar-Vell continues on to Banner's laboratory, but his three-hour time limit runs out and he falls from the sky, then switches places with Rick. Rick, of course, is driven unconscious as he still inherits Marv's exhaustion.
From inside his lab, Bruce Banner sees Rick. The Hulk had just recently fought the Avengers and Banner wonders whether Rick is still affiliated with them and might be leading the Avengers to his doorstep. Overwhelmed by paranoia, the frustrated Banner transforms into the Hulk, who smashes his way out of the lab then takes a jump towards Rick, intending to crush him beneath his feet. To be Hulk-tinued!!!
Thoughts: Captain Marvel is becoming more comfortable with guest stars in its pages as the Hulk's involvement flows pretty naturally for the characters, whereas other guest stars like the Black Widow and Iron Man came out of left field. The Rat Pack were spotlighted on the cover, but were very easily bested in this story. Despite this, they've gone on to many more appearances in odd places, like as the primary foes of Tigra during her Marvel Chillers stories and fighting the Thunderbolts in their first issue. A team of professional looters who follow natural disasters is a pretty good fit for the Marvel Universe, considering the upheaval super hero battles usually create. They should appear more often.
Gil Kane drew the Hulk's adventures for a while and his Hulk is kind of wonderful. His action sequences continue to be energetic; Kane is the MVP of this Captain Marvel revamp.
Next: Captain Marvel versus the Hulk in Captain Marvel #21!
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