WAR BELOW THE WAVES (1973)

Hawkeye has quit the Avengers and he's determined to make it on his own. But let's face it, he's a team guy. And it looks like there just might be a place for him among the Defenders if he can survive a run-in with the Hulk. Wannabe-king of Atlantis, Attuma, teams up with Heihachi lookalike, the Red Ghost, in an attack on the surface world, giving Hawkeye a shot at making new friends.

The real purpose of WAR BELOW THE WAVES is to set up for the AVENGERS/DEFENDERS WAR which follows immediately after...

Minor Crossover: Hawkeye's team-up with the Hulk flows gently into his interactions with the Defenders, though it's not an official crossover event.

• Incredible Hulk #166
• Defenders #7
• Defenders #8[1/2]

Incredible Hulk #166
When anti-government eco-warriors try to shut down a power station, the unleashed energy creates a being made of living electricity calling itself Zzzax, which starts consuming the life forces. Bruce Banner comes under threat from the rampaging Zzzax and is saved by Hawkeye whose arrows provide enough of a distraction to allow Bruce to regain his senses and Hulk out. Hawkeye uses a cable arrow and nearby water to short-circuit the creature, but the public believe the Hulk defeated Zzzax as he was more visible. In Russia, Colonel John D Armbruster and Major Glenn Talbot successfully rescue General Thunderbolt Ross, but Talbot is shot and taken prisoner in his place.

Defenders #7
Hawkeye tags along with Hulk when he reunites with his fellow Defenders. The group head to Atlantic City when they learn of Attuma's assault on the surface-world. The small Atlantean army and their giant crabs keep the Defenders busy, while the Attuma's ally, the Red Ghost, manipulates dolphins and a giant squid into defeating and capturing Namor the Sub-Mariner. The bored Hulk bounds off, leaving Hawkeye and Valkyrie to surrender. Hawkeye and Valkyrie escape their Atlantean cell, only to find out the Red Ghost has taken control of Namor's mind...

Defenders #8[1/2]

The raging, mind-controlled Sub-Mariner defeats Hawkeye and Valkyrie with ease. The Red Ghost reveals his plan to use his mind-control technology to take over the world. Two weeks later, the newly appointed Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange, has figured out a cure the Black Knight who's been turned to stone. He and the Silver Surfer rush to Atlantis when they hear of the Defenders' capture. The Surfer breaks the Red Ghost's control over his allies and the Defenders defeat him and Attuma. Namor even gets to punch Attuma in the face for stopping him from saving the life of his late wife, Dorma.

Defenders #8 (1973)
Doctor Strange's efforts to cure the Black Knight bring the Defenders into conflict with the Avengers during AVENGERS/DEFENDERS WAR.

Incredible Hulk #176 (1974) 

'Glenn Talbot' is revealed to have survived the mission to Russia.

Incredible Hulk #183 (1975) 

Zzzax is accidentally resurrected by Soul-Star Research Ltd during a science experiment.

Giant-Size Avengers #2 (1975) 

Hawkeye rejoins the Avengers during THE CELESTIAL MADONNA SAGA.

Incredible Hulk #185 (1975) 

John Armbruster learns 'Glenn Talbot' is a fake (he's actually Gregori Kronski, a Russian spy who has had surgery to look exactly like Talbot and had Talbot's memories imprinted in his mind by the Gremlin's Psiclone device); Armbruster and 'Glenn Talbot' die when Armbruster saves President Gerald Ford from the Kronski's attempt to assassinate him by blowing himself up.

Incredible Hulk #187 (1975) 

The real Colonel Glenn Talbot is revealed to be alive, but he believes himself to be Gregori Kronski.

Incredible Hulk #188 (1975) 

The Gremlin blasts Glenn Talbot with a Cerebro-Ray that wipes his mind, leaving him catatonic.

Super-Villain Team-Up #1 (1975) 

Attuma makes his next play for Atlantis.

Iron Man #82 (1976) 

The Red Ghost continues to break his word and work with Super-Apes again, renewing his conflict with Iron Man.

Incredible Hulk #200 (1976) 

Doc Samson cures Glenn Talbot and brings him out of his mindless state.

Doctor Strange #36-37 (1979) 

The Black Knight statue is briefly possessed by Ningal.

West Coast Avengers #12-13 (1986) 

Zzzax joins the super-villain group Trouble (alongside Quantum and Halflife), clashing with Hawkeye again.

Incredible Hulk #325-327 (1986-1987) 

An accident allows Thunderbolt Ross to influence Zzzax and attack the Hulk, but he relinquishes control when he almost kills his daughter, Betty Ross-Banner.

Essential Hulk vol.4

Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk vol.9

Both include...

Incredible Hulk #166

Essential Defenders vol.1

Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders vol.2

All include...

Defenders #7-8

Defenders Omnibus vol.1

Includes...
Defenders #7-8

Incredible Hulk #166