1602: New World - Plot

Plot

The issue begins with this world's Hulk apparently killing King James. When David awakens, he remembers what he has done and finds himself wondering where his allegiances lie. He also makes friends with a group of Thunder Lizards.

On Roanoke Island the recently empowered Peter Parquagh and Virginia Dare face an invasion of dinosaurs. Peter's new powers are no match for the Thunder Lizards, and Virginia is forced to transform into a T. rex to save him. The final panel shows the Hulk stepping in to stop Virginia.

The second issue starts as Norman Osborne attempts to buy the island from the native Americans. They refuse his offer. Peter interrupts the meeting by charging in on the back of a dinosaur, with several other children, in the ensuing stampede caused by the Hulk. The arrival of the children stops the natives from killing Osborne. Peter races back to the colony and realizes the monster fighting Virginia is wearing Banner's robes. The Hulk and Virginia smash into Jameson's printing press.

Virginia (still in the form of a T. rex) runs into the forest with Peter hanging on her tail. Jameson calls for the arrest of the Hulk. Peter calms down Virginia while the Hulk calms the remaining dinosaurs. The Hulk attacks Jameson, but Peter stops him. He turns back into Banner. As Banner is an enemy of the colony after attempting to kill Sir Nicholas Fury, Dougan attempts to execute him. Governor Dare stops him and Banner is taken away by the dinosaurs.

In a town meeting, Jameson blames the Hulk and all 'superpowered people' for endangering the colony, and calls for a ban. Osborne is quick to blame their arrival on Rojhaz and the natives. Outside, Peter tells Governor Dare that he believes Osborne lied about the natives taking two children captive. The governor dismisses his claims.

Back in London, King James talks to a man in armour powered by electricity about an attack against him by a man calling himself 'The Devil' or 'Diablo' and tells him to retrieve Banner, who the King is worried about. Lord Iron says that if he has betrayed the king, he will kill Banner.

Back in Roanoke, soldiers are chasing Banner. Banner, in a fit of depression, jumps off a cliff. He is saved by Peter, who tells him that their lives belong to God, and to take them before their time would be a sin. Banner says that their lives now belong to the Devil.

Meanwhile, as Dougan, Osborne, and a patrol of soldiers search for Banner, Osborne secretly knocks Dougan unconscious and calls for help, blaming it on the natives. Later, as the soldiers burn a native village, Osborne inquires after something "shiny, or glittering", but is told nothing of the sort was found.

The native Americans start to leave the island with an unconscious Banner as their chief tells Peter that despite Rojhaz's efforts, there will be a war between the natives and the colonists. Peter protests that there is a way to stop it. He discusses with Virginia the possibility of using her power to prevent a war, but she refuses, fearing that the instincts of what she became might make her dangerous.

Jameson summons Peter to the port, where Lord Iron's ship is approaching. Jameson accuses Peter of having no "tingling sense" of when something is about to happen, but it is implied that he does in fact have his spider-sense when he pushes Jameson out of the way of a shot from Iron. Lord Iron is catapulted ashore and grabs Peter, asking where Banner is. Ananias Dare intervenes, but Iron grabs him as well. Osborne arrives with a squad of soldiers who open fire to no real effect. Iron electrocutes Peter into unconsciousness, then draws an electrified sword with which he attacks the soldiers. As Captain Ross (captain of Iron's ship) and his men surround the colonists, Osborne professes loyalty to James I.

Ross accuses Dare of treason, citing his declaration of independence from Great Britain. Although one of the colonists claims that if Dare is a traitor they all are, Ananias takes sole responsibility. Outside, Iron and Rhodes are interrogating the colonists about Peter's whereabouts (since he escaped earlier). Virginia tells Iron that Banner will crush him, but they are interrupted by Ross announcing that Ananias will be beheaded at dawn for treason. Peter approaches Virginia and promises to save her father.

Virginia offers to lead Iron to Banner and he accepts. Osborne tells Ross of his belief that the natives hide something that gave Rojhaz, Banner, and the other metahumans their power, calling it the Source. Ross believes they must destroy it, but Osborne disagrees, since he wants the Source for himself. However, he does not say anything and plays along with Ross's plan. Ross decides that after Banner is captured they will attack the natives. In the woods, Dougan and his patrol run into some English soldiers. Before blood is shed, Peter, disguised and calling himself the Spider, subdues the English and tells Dougan Ross' plans.

Meanwhile Virginia has led Iron and Rhodes to the destroyed native village and threatens to kill them unless they forswear their loyalty to the English, which they do instantly. Iron and Banner do not have much loyalty towards King James and both men share a dream of Banner torturing Iron for the secrets of his weapons. When Banner wakes up, the native chief Marioac encourages him to be the hero that his actions as the Hulk prove he can be. The natives then sail to the colonised island with the Hulk alongside them.

Dougan and his men, disguised as English soldiers, free Ananias from his prison with the Spider acting as a distraction. The natives and the Hulk then arrive, with mammoths, and order the English to surrender. Ross replies with cannonfire, which doesn't hurt the Hulk. The Hulk retaliates by throwing the cannonballs back, and Marioac demands that both the English and the colonists return to England.

Suddenly, Lord Iron attacks the Hulk from a glider, but the Hulk tells him to abandon his vendetta. Lord Iron ignores the Hulk's pleas and continues to attack. With the Hulk distracted, the English begin to fire at the natives. Osborne orders Marioac to give him the Source, but is told that it died when Rojhaz left. It seems as if the fighting and killing will continue until Virginia arrives as a massive, Sphinx-like creature. She orders everybody to stop fighting, or she will "start eating." Both sides surrender, and let Virginia destroy all of their weapons.

After the battle, Lord Iron makes amends to Banner and abandons his quest for vengeance. Lord Iron and Rhodes decide to stay at the colony and start their lives over. Banner leaves with the English soldiers, knowing that returning to England will mean certain death for him. The colonists and natives renew peaceful relations, and Governor Dare invites Marioac and the natives to join in on their council. Osborne is tried and imprisoned for his crimes. Meanwhile, Iron and Rhodes rebuild Jameson's printing press as an automated, electricity-driven machine, while Peter and Virginia are seen sewing a flag that resembles the modern American flag (though with only one star and five stripes) until Jameson arrives and orders Peter to start investigating the mysterious "Spider" character. Osborne, held in the stocks nearby, implies that he knows Peter is the Spider.

Four months later, Banner is about to be burned at the stake in front of King James. When he asks Banner if he will beg for mercy, Banner merely replies, "Nay, King James. I'll leave that to you." as his eyes begin to mysteriously glow green...