The Avengers publicize their interest in recruiting the Hulk. While they await a response, Captain America takes new recruits Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch on a tour of Avengers Mansion, including the Playroom, where Hawkeye and Quicksilver engage in a training exercise. Realizing Hawkeye and Quicksilver seek to challenge his leadership, Cap tries to teach them teamwork and respect for his seniority and experience. Rick Jones offers Cap quiet encouragement, though he resents being passed over for full Avengers membership. Mole Man’s giant robot attacks the team while claiming it can lead them to the Hulk. The Avengers wreck it, but follow its instructions by seeking Hulk in the desert, where Mole Man awaits. Unknown to all, the Hulk actually is nearby, captured by his enemy the Leader. While Hulk battles his way to freedom, the Avengers enter the Mole Man’s trap, defeating his monstrous Minotaur. Quicksilver is captured by Mole Man and tortured when he refuses to cooperate, but his teammates soon free him. The assembled Avengers quickly overwhelm Mole Man and his Subterraneans, so the villain sends them back to the surface. Convinced by this victory that they do not need the Hulk, the Avengers decide to stop searching for him.
Honorary member Rick Jones ceases to be a regular cast member after this issue and does not reappear in the series until Av #72, ’70; tired of being passed over for full membership, especially after seeing three brand-new recruits promoted over him, Rick drifted away from the Avengers around this time, renewing his association with the Hulk as seen in TTA stories. Avengers Mansion’s training facility is given a name in this issue, the Playroom, largely forgotten until the name was revived in Av #5, ’98. The Minotaur in this issue is presumably a Deviant mutate, like most of the Mole Man’s monsters, and not the creature of Greek legend. This issues events overlap with the events of Tales to Astonish v1 #069.2, with the Hulk appearing in this issue during the TTA issue. The links below are to make it easier to follow the Hulk's story.
