A test of strength

Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Shang-Chi had arrived at the Coney Island amusement park. Nearby was the boardwalk, a long promenade of fast-food joints and arcades. Near the boardwalk were various amusement rides--a Roller coaster, a Ferris Wheel, and a Merry-go-round. Scattered among the rides were vendors, games, and other attractions.

At that time of the park was vacant. The Heroes could neither hear nor see anybody. Standing solemnly in the pale moonlight, the frames of the roller coaster and ferris wheel cast skeletal silhouettes. The entire park held an eery quality.

Traveling to the end of the boardwalk, they discovered the New York Atlantic Aquarium. However, the Aquarium was closed, and the only person present was the lonely night watchman.

Because he was bored, and didn't mind showing them around, the night watchman permitted them inside the aquarium. Although the Aquarium was fascinating, and a seemingly perfeft location for one of Fu Manchu's bombs given his previous placements, the guard was slow and a boring tour guide--the Heroes were wasting precious time.

So, the left the aquarium and began approaching the rides. Along with the calming sounds of surf, a soft moaning could be heard. There was a dark shape laying motionless on the ground. As they approached the figure, they saw that it was a Night watchman. He appeared to have been badly beaten.

Rubbing his swollen and contorted jaw, the Night watchman forced himself to sit up and looked at the Heroes. "Some fuckin' punks bushwhacked me!" he spits, his speech impaired by his injury. "Last i saw of 'em before i passed out, they was headed toward the Merry-Go-Round. I gotta call for back-up...Ah, Crud!! They smashed my god damned radio...I've gotta head back to the security station."

Somewhat dazed, the guard stood on shaky legs and tried to hurriedly amble towards the security station. Looking back, he called over his shoulder to the heroes: "I wouldn't hang out here too long, they took my gun!"

-

When the Heroes arrived at the Merry-Go-Round, they saw five street toughs congregating around an amusement named: "Test of Strength".

The amusement device was modeled to resemble a clown with oversized feet and arms, a rotund body, and an incredibly long neck that gave it a height of 12 feet. As its eyes rolled crazily, its head bobbed to and fro on its neck. Between its feet rested a massive cushion. When a customer struck the cushion with a provided hammer, a weighted steel ball slid up the clowns neck. The customer's objective was to exert enough force to send the steel ball to the top ofthe neck where it would ring a gong, in exchange for a prize. Areas along the neck were painted differing colors and displayed a 'score' depending on the effort exerted, such as "weakling", "grandma could do better", and "muscle-man". If the steel ball stopped ascending in one of these coloree score areas it would halt, held in position until a customer deposited another quarter. If the ball rang the gong, it would fall completely back to the ground and allow the customer a free go.

As the Heroes watched, a powerful street punk with the name Hound Dogg tattooed on his face pounded the cushion with the sledge hammer. The steel ball flew up the neck, only to instantly lose momentum at "Muscle Man" and freeze. Bobbing around crazily, the clown head laughed and mocked Hound Dogg, "What are you, a wimp??! You can do better than that! Try again!...Try Again!!..."

All of the Heroes, who recognized a Spirit Bomb, immediately noticed that the gong on the attraction was one.

Hound Dogg and his boys had sneaked into the park to drink, when they saw the test of strength. Unlike everything else in the park, the attraction was powered on. Hound Dogg had shortly thereafter become infuriated by his own failure and the clown's mocking laughter. By the time the heroes became witnesses, he was furious to the point of tears.

Luke Cage attempted to intervene, when Hound Dogg swung the heavy sledgehammer at Luke Cage. The Hammer splintered across Luke's chest, but Luke was unscathed. For a moment, Hound Dogg stared in shocked awe at Luke Cage's invulnerability. As his rage returned he started swinging savagely on Luke Cage.

Hound Dogg's companions leapt to his aid, and were met by Iron Fist and Shang-Chi. While Hound Dogg continued ferociously pounding away at Luke Cage's head, neck, and shoulders, Luke just stood there and watched as the man's impotent blows landed. Iron Fist and Shang-Chi leapt about in an amazing display of the rarest forms of martial arts. The street thugs were no match for their experience or prowess.

Finally, Hound Dogg slowed his attacks as his bidy began to fatigue. In his peripheral vision he saw his friend lying face down on the concrete. When he stopped attacking Luke Cage, who had simply stood still and endured the brunt of Hound Dogg's attacks, he glanced about to see all of his friends had been rendered unconscious or submitted. He looked back to Luke Cage who threw a hard right hook that connected solidly on Hound Dogg's temple. Hound Dogg was snoring before his limp form smacked to the concrete, brain battered with a severe concussion.

Once the fight was over, Shang-Chi retrieved the spirit bomb from the attraction and quickly disarmed it.