WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Immortal Hulk #38 by Al Ewing, Joe Bennet, Ruy Jose, Belardino Brabo, Paul Mounts & VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.
The Leader has always been one of the most dangerous Hulk villains. What he lacked for in brute strength he more than made up in ruthless brilliance. He's even found a way to try and turn the events of Immortal Hulk towards his favor, coming closer to victory over Bruce Banner than perhaps he's ever come before.
Despite having his enemies right where he wants them, the Leader just took a serious series of devastating injuries that could set up his greatest defeat ever.
The Leader has been manipulating events throughout the course of Immortal Hulk, with the long-time villain gaining several potentially massive upgrades thanks to his experimentation into the energies and influence of the One-Below-All. On top of his control over the gamma-empowered bodies of Rick Jones and Del Frye, the Leader has even managed to get a foothold within the mind of the Hulk himself, taking the form of the World-Breaker Hulk and easily beating down the other personas within Banner's mind. Gloating over the captured personas within Banner's mindscape, the Leader seems poised for a victory -- only for triumph to slip through his fingers.
The Leader is primarily operating from the Below-Place, using his control over the Green Doors to poke around within the Hulk's mind as well as the minds of Jones and Frye. But this leaves his body in the Below-Place vulnerable to physical attacks from within that realm -- which is what happens when a weakened Doc Samson finds a piece of concrete and cracks it against the Leader's skull. The blow actually bashes away some of the Leader's brain matter, leaving the Leader mumbling and injured. Samson escapes before Leader can do anything to get back at him. This blow is enough to slow his avatars as they try to corner Charlene McGowan. This gives the doctor the perfect opening to utilize the transporter within the Shadow-Base.
An unsuspecting Rick Jones happens to be hanging over the transporter but not fully on it. The Leader only realizes this just as the teleporter turns on, cutting Rick Jones' body in half. The feeling of being bisected rocks all of the Leader's bodies, including his mental avatar within Bruce Banner's mind. Furious with his injuries but clearly showing weakness, the Leader decides to cut to the chase and drag Bruce Banner's chief persona into the Below-Place. But this finally sets off the Devil Hulk, who breaks free of his chains to confront the Leader -- leading to his new Hulk form likely being beaten into nothingness.
It all began with the Leader in a strong position, poised to gain full control of his long-time enemy and turn his powers to his service. But by the end, he's lost one of his avatars, his body has been severely injured, and his attempt to control the Hulk has just unleashed the most dangerous version of him ever. It's all shaping up to be a historic loss for the Leader, and potentially the final one if Devil Hulk gets his way.