Earth Space, Late September 1963
The silent darkness of Earth space, occupied only by the occasional primitive satellite lazily making it's way through orbit, is suddenly shattered as a flash of sickly yellow light appears out of nowhere, hovering above the planet below for a moment, like a predator observing it's prey, before finding it's target, and in a streak of lightning, darts towards the planets surface. An old drifter walking along a set of traintracks stretching out across the plains of Texas sees the light drift eastwards across the sky on it's way to it's goal, and mistakes it for a shooting star. He couldn't be more wrong.
Finally, the "star" reaches it's destination, and touches down in the dark Pine Barrens of New Jersey, not too far away from New York City where a new team of heroes have only recently joined forces to fight the forces of evil. If anyone other than the local wildlife had been around, they would have seen the light hover just above the ground, before beginning to take on humanoid shape. Slowly, the light dissolves into a hideous figure with gnarled elongated limbs, clawed hands, pointed ears, and spiked hair, it's oversized eyes glimmering with a malevolent power.
"Ah, excellent, I've finally arrived on Earth" a slimy voice says with no one to hear it "Phase 1 of the plan is complete. It's time to begin setting the groundwork for Phase 2 and prepare this world for invasion. Now, let's see..." The figure reaches inside the purple bodysuit it's wearing, pulling out a strange, blinking device "Yes, the city where the miserable do-gooders protecting this mudball are based is nearby! For now, I'll just observe, but as soon as I find the weakest link in their alliance, I'll begin Phase 2, and not even the Earths Mightiest Heroes can stand in my way!"
....
"Hey guys, why is there a 12 foot tall man in the living room?"
The occupants lounging around inside the mansions living room stop their conversation as I walk in, the giant man in question kneeling next to an armchair where a strikingly pretty woman with short, brown hair is sitting, her hand on his massive arm. I realize this is the first time I've seen Janet Van Dyne at her normal size, not to mention wearing regular clothing, albeit an obscenely expensive-looking dress, rather than her Wasp costume. The giant, dressed in a familar red and blue costume, is hard to mistake as anyone other than Hank Pym in the first of his many identity crisises.
Banner peaks around from behind Pym where he's been examining his teammates sudden growth spurt "Hrrm, well, it seems like Dr. Pym felt me might be of better use to us as extra muscle rather than his other ability of talking to insects. We're just making sure there aren't any added side-effects of reversing the use of his Pym particles this way."
"Look, I know it seems a bit silly, but it just felt like I'd be of more use to the Avengers this way, I don't think we'll be fighting a lot of ants in the future, so some extra strength on our side can't hurt."
Janet shakes her head "I still don't like it, Hank. You haven't tested the long term effects of using the particles this way. Banner's right, we don't know if there are any side effects we haven't figured out yet..."
"Ah, you worry too much, Janet!" Stark adds, poking curiously at the oversized boot in front of him "Sometimes science is just more art than science, you know? Gotta take risks if you want to see results!"
Okay, no.
"Stark, with all due respect, that's BAKING! BAKING can be more art than science! It cannot possibly have any positive influence on actual science!" Stark looks up, blinking in surprise at my sudden outburst. I clear my throat, looking away awkwardly "...sorry about that, but you get my point, right? I mean, I like crazy sci-fi science as much as the next guy, but I think the world has seen enough whacky science accidents as it is without causing even more of them on purpose."
Pym frowns "Well..."
"Look, I'm not a scientist, I barely got passing grades in any of the hard subjects in school, I'm just saying, I think between everyone in this room, we've probably used up all our good luck when it comes to lap accidents giving us a positive result rather than just killing us or giving us cancer. I don't think tempting fate at this point is a good idea."
That, and if I can nip Pym starting to play musical chairs with his different superhero identities in the bud, all the better. I know they were just a symptom of his mental deterioration rather than the cause, but I'll have to start somewhere.
Better keep an eye out for him trying to make a self-aware robot too.
Both Janet and Banner look relieved that I decided to side with them on the issue, while Stark almost looks like he's about to pout over being denied a new science playmate as reckless as he is. Pym looks like he's about to say something, when we're interupted by a knock on the door, and a balding, middle-aged man dressed in a tuxedo walks in.
"Ah, Master Stark and associates? I'm afraid I've got some urgent news."
Stark looks up "What is it, Jarvis?"
"I've just recieved a communication over the emergency radio" The man who's been revealed to be Edwin Jarvis answers "There's been an attack on the Worlds Fair construction in Flushing Meadows park, and according to reports, Master Thor has already engaged the assailant. And, ah..." He trails off.
Stark jumps to his feet "Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's go give him a hand! Do they have any information on who the attacker is, Jarvis?"
"That's just it, sir." Jarvis says uncertainly "The attacker has been identified as the Hulk."
The room goes silent. Then Banner speaks.
"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that!"
....
The 1964 Worlds Fair had been the brainchild of business magnates, architects and artists who had fond memories of the legendary 1939 New York Worlds fair, which had been held in the same location almost 30 years before. Hoping to recapture the magic of that event, dreamers from across the world had come together to display the wonders of the Space Age, even in the face of an uncertain decade.
Hopefully, they had insured the place.
"You'll regret turning your back on your comrades, villain!" Thor yelled, smashing his way out from the rubble of one of the many exhibition halls littering the fairgrounds, now in ruins, a victim of the clash between two behemoths. Gripping his hammer, he flung himself towards the beast he had once fought with side by side.
Though, even in his mid-battle fury, somewhere deep in Thors mind, some part of him told him there was something... off about his former ally.
"Why hast thou done this, Hulk?! You called yourself an ally, why have you brought ruin to New York?!"
The Hulk grinned viciously, yellow teeth standing against green skin "THIS IS WHO HULK IS, WHAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN! HULK IS DONE PRETENDING TO BE A MAN! HULK WILL SMASH PUNY GOD!"The green juggernaut snarled, launching himself towards Thor again, only barely missing the god as he dodged to the side, landing a blow across the Hulks back with his hammer in the process.
Not to be deterred, The Hulk grabbed the twisted remains of a metal railing that had once held the light fixtures for a stage, and swung it like a makeshift club, slamming into Thors chest and sending him skidding across the cracked and ruined concrete ground. Struggling to get back to his feet, Thor found himself crushed back down as a giant green foot slammed down on his chest, pinning him in place. The Hulk towered above him, the railing held over his head.
"PUNY GOD WAS A FOOL TO TRUST HULK! HULK THE STRONGEST THERE IS!" And he swung the railing down.
Or rather, he tried to.
The Hulk paused, as if dumbfounded why his weapon hadn't budged, tugging again just as fruitlessly. Finally, he turned around, and spotted a familar green fist holding it in place.
The other Hulk frowned, glaring at his double "NO, HULK IS THE STRONGEST THERE IS!"
Thor blinked, staring up at the two giants above him "...I must've been hit harder than I thought..."815