Future Imperfect #2

Title: “Future Imperfect Conclusion”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: George Perez

Inker: George Perez

Colors: Tom Smith

Editor: Bobbie Chase

People gather around the tunnel the Maestro dug down to the rebels’ base. Suddenly the ground begins to shake the Hulk is sent hurtling back up to the surface through the ground. Hulk bounces along as he lands. The people think that he is the Maestro and say that someone is tossing him around like a stone. One person asks if that is the Maestro then who is that overhead. The Maestro leaps after the Hulk. He hits the ground and knocks Hulk back off his feet. Maestro asks Hulk what he thinks and says that he isn’t bad for an old man. Maestro hits Hulk and tells Hulk to come on. He says that Hulk is the first challenge he has had in decades and not to make it too easy on him. Maestro calls Hulk “puny Banner”. Hulk hits Maestro. Maestro says that isn’t bad for him considering that he was still a snot nosed punk that knew nothing about nothing… :”least of all his own potential.” Maestro tells one of the people to come to him and that her Maestro needs her. Maestro lifts the girl into the air. He holds one of her legs in one hand and one of her arms in the other. Maestro tells Hulk to surrender ore he will turn the girl into a bloody pulp right in front of him. The woman shouts for help, but the Maestro says that only the “good doctor” can help her. Hulk says that Maestro is afraid of him. He says that he is resorting to threatening helpless females instead of taking him on. Hulk tells Maestro to go ahead and rip her in half. He says that she is better off than living in the pit Maestro has created. He says that Maestro will just be showing everyone how gutless he is. Maestro says that he is bluffing. Hulk just smiles. Maestro says that he is trying to use reverse psychology on him and that it is truly pathetic. Maestro raises the girl high above his head and says that he expected better of him. Maestro starts to smash the girl into the ground. He says that he doesn’t bluff that easily. Hulk leaps to save her, but Maestro pulls the woman back and kicks Hulk in the face. He says that Hulk is so predictable.

The rebels are watching the fight. They say that Maestro has tossed the girl aside and is going after their man again. Janis asks how the fight is going. She is told that it could go either way, but that the Maestro looks to be in control.

Janis, Skooter, and some others are stealing the weapons from the dead troops. Skooter says that they have it all and that they should head to the new location. He asks Janis if she thinks the green studly can take the Maestro. Janis says that she thinks doesn’t matter and that they can only hope and count on the plans to see them through.

Minister crawls out of the tunnel from the rebels’ hideout. He says that he never thought his job would be so exhausting. Minister watches the battle. He says that he doesn’t like this and that no one in memory has ever presented a serious challenge to the Maestro. He says that he thinks the longer it goes the more the fight favors the challenger. Hulk is sent flying into a building. Minister decides to head back to the palace until things settle down.

Maestro looks up at Hulk and says that his presence is an indication of his foes’ short-sightedness. He says that if they had summoned Thor from the mists of time that he might have matched him in strength, or Reed Richards’ brilliance may have stymied him, or perhaps the Wild Man through his sheer heroics, but then Maestro remembers that Hulk probably hasn’t encountered the Wild Man yet. He says that it doesn’t matter and that the point is that there is nothing Hulk can do that he hasn’t already done. Maestro says that back then he was incredible, but now he is just redundant. Hulk leaps off the building at Maestro. He asks if he got to be in charge by talking his opponents to death. Maestro jumps up in the air as Hulk misses and hits the ground. Maestro says that he beat them to death. Maestro says that it all went so quickly that he is sorry he didn’t prolong it. He says that he is making up for it now. Maestro lands on Hulk and drives into the ground. Maestro says that Hulk doesn’t get it and that he knows every move that he is going to make. He says that he has a hundred more years being practice at being them than Hulk does. He tells Hulk to take his best shot. Hulk says that he thought Maestro was insufferable, but that now he thinks he will just suffer. Hulk swings, but Maestro just moves out of the way. He says that was a nice play on words, but that it is too bad he won’t be able to back it up. Hulk throws another punch. Maestro catches it and says that he saw that one coming a century away. Maestro twists his arm and drops Hulk to one knee. He asks Hulk if he thought he would just sweep in and triumph waving his righteousness like a flag. He says that Hulk is not in his right time or place. He says that he is going to put him in his place. Hulk tells Maestro to sing soprano and then hits him in the groin. Hulk hits Maestro into a building and says that maybe he forgot that he is an inventor and can be inventive when he wants. Hulk watches in horror as the building collapses and lands on at least two people. Hulk starts throwing debris aside looking for people. He finds one just as the man dies. Hulk says, “Oh hell.” Maestro grabs Hulk from behind and says, “Hell indeed, Banner! And I’ll send you there… personally!” Maestro breaks Hulk’s neck. As Hulk starts to go black, Maestro says that he bets Hulk thinks he is going to die and that if he dies that Maestro won’t exist. Maestro says that is wrong on both counts.

Rick asks how bad it is. Janis says that it was real bad. She says that Maestro hurt him real bad and that a bunch of soldiers scarfed him away to the castle. She says that they scanned it all. Janis says that she knows the plan, but that he is hurt so bad. Rick says so much for Plan A. He says that he has seen him come back from the dead and that he will come back from this. He says that he won’t let them down. One of the men asks how Rick can say that when the Hulk is the one that became the Maestro in the first place. Another guy says that Gramps is starting to lose it if you ask him. Janis says that no one asked him. He says that if Gramps says that the Hulk is good enough that he is, and that what he says is still what goes here. Rick babbles that Janis was named after Janis Joplin. Janis says that she knows that and asks Gramps about the Hulk. Rick says, “Who?”

Hulk starts to open his eyes. He sees a female face and calls out to Betty. He says that Maestro did kill him and that now they are together. He calls out to Betty again. The woman there says that if that is what he wishes to call her that she is now Betty. Hulk’s eyes refocus. He sees the woman and says that of course she isn’t. He says that Betty isn’t anymore and that she is in an urn in Rick’s memorabilia room. The woman says that his words are so strange. Hulk says that his words are the least strange thing about him. Hulk asks who she is. The woman says that she is Betty. Hulk asks for her real name. The woman says Betty again. Hulk says to forget it. He asks what her function is. Betty says that she is one of the Maestro’s favorites. Bruce says that he bets she is. He says that he can’t move. Betty says that the Maestro broke his neck or his back or something. She says that he told her that he would get better, but that it just takes time. She says that in the meantime she is there to help however she can. Hulk tells her to get him a truck and a tow chain to get him out of there. Betty says that he seems tense and that she knows how to make him relax. Betty takes off her clothes. She asks if he is relaxing yet. Hulk says that it is the exact opposite. He asks her not to do this. She climbs on top of Hulk and says to let Betty handle everything. Hulk shouts for her to stop.

Minister hears the screams and tells Maestro that their guest seems to be in great pain. Maestro says that he is, but not the kind Minister thinks. He says that he is powerless, and that he is experiencing sensations that he does not wish to. He feels guilty over feeling them, but cannot terminate the situation. Maestro tells the six women sitting on him that their guest needs more relaxation and to go be of assistance. As the women walk by Minister he says that he doesn’t understand why he doesn’t just kill him. Maestro says that he is killing him kindness.

A body is tossed out of the castle. Some scavengers walk over to the body as it lands. One says that he has some good stuff on him and that the Minister didn’t strip this one bare. A blaster goes off and the scavengers are told to ‘flark off’. The scavengers say that they found him first. Skooter says that what he says goes and that he says that they go now. One asks if the body is Pizfiz. Skooter says that it is, or at least what is left of him. He covers up Pizfiz and says that he was the best. Skooter shouts up at the castle that they will pay for this. One of the others tell Skooter to be quiet or someone will hear. Skooter says that even if they hear him that they won’t care. He says that to them they are nothing but meat.

Maestro walks in. Hulk is immobile in a wheelchair. A nude woman feeds him. Maestro tells Hulk not to get up on his account. Maestro says, “Oh, now why such a sour face? Don’t appreciate my humor? Or do you just get on your nerves sometimes?” He says that Hulk should thank him for getting this chair so he could get around while he heals. He says that he arranged for his “therapy” earlier. Maestro references the nude woman and wonders if she calls herself Betty now. Hulk says that if he could kill himself right now that he would because it would put an end to Maestro. Maestro asks if he is still clinging to that. Maestro asks Minister for his gun. Maestro puts the gun to Hulk’s head and says that he should have enough control back to pull the trigger. He says that blowing your brains out is something the even their formidable healing power can’t overcome. Hulk says that Maestro is bluffing and that he wouldn’t put himself at risk. Maestro says that he isn’t at risk. He says that he has no recollection of these events and that when the outlaws went back in time that they created an alternate timeline. He says that one timeline will lead to him, but that Hulk’s future is his own. Hulk says that Maestro could be lying. He says that maybe this already did happen to him and that what he was saying worked before and he is hoping it will work again. He says that maybe he was sent back with his memory wiped and that maybe he isn’t as safe as he thinks. Minister says that he is getting a headache. Maestro says that is the hazard of time travel theorizing. Maestro says that he believes in his hypothesis firmly, but if Hulk is willing to throw his life away on his that he won’t stop him. Maestro tells Hulk to go ahead and do it. Hulk struggles, but drops the gun. Maestro says that they are two of a kind, and that what he wants is for Hulk to come to realize that.

In the Wastelands, Maestro takes Hulk along on his visit. Hulk rides along on a beast with his hands manacled. Maestro’s troops walk around them. Maestro calls out to, and greets, Boz, the leader of the Wastelands. Maestro asks him how it goes. Boz says that it goes and that it has been a while. Maestro says to be precise that it has been a year. Maestro asks Boz how his daughter is coming along. Boz tries to plead with Maestro that since his wife has died that he needs his daughter with him. He tells Maestro that she is malnourished and unimpressive anyway. Maestro says that he will judge that and to bring her to him now. Boz’s daughter tells him that it is okay and that Maestro is who he is. Boz sadly says that Maestro can see she is just a scrawny thing. He says that she is just a baby. Maestro sees no head lice and says that is a good start. He asks her name. Char introduces herself. Maestro tells Char to disrobe. Maestro sees no open sore, firmness, and good teeth. Maestro tells Boz that he has done well. He says that he has invested quality years in her and that he will protect his investment. Maestro says to show his appreciation that this food should hold them over until their crops come in. As they ride away, Char rides with Maestro. Hulk says that those people are starving and asks why they don’t live in the city. Maestro says that his resources are not infinite. He says that besides they are by and large fairly hideous and asks who wants them hanging around. He says that it is depressing, but that he isn’t heartless. He says that he has been reintroducing nutrients into the ground. He says that at the moment they are surviving and that some day they may even prosper. Maestro says that all he asks is what they can give and that all benefit.

The rebels watch Maestro and the Hulk. Skooter says that they should attack now. Janis tells him to stick to the plan. Skooter says that Hulk and Maestro are looking way too chummy. Janis says that she sees that, but that Gramps says that they have to have faith. Skooter says that Gramps couldn’t remember his own name that morning and that he was calling him “Elvis”. Janis says that she knows and that he was calling her Marlo. Skooter asks why don’t they go back in time and get some of the other studlies Gramps was always talking about. Janis says that the time machine is held together spit and bailing wire. She says that plus it is a major drain on the juice and that they have to use it sparingly. She says that for better or worse that they have to count on the green studly. Skooter says that he just hopes it doesn’t turn out worse.

“Betty” brushes her hand over Hulk’s stubble. She says that he should let his beard grow out and that the Maestro is so handsome with his. Maestro says that was sweet of her and asks Hulk if that wasn’t sweet. Maestro asks Hulk if she reminds him of someone. Hulk says that he noticed the passing resemblance to Betty, but that she lives to please and has no mind of her own. Maestro says that “a mind” was always Betty’s major drawback. He says that she did what she wanted instead of what he wanted and was always prattling about her feelings. Maestro says that it wasn’t always so. He says that when they first met that she loved him unreservedly. He says that it was only later that she developed her more annoying traits. Maestro says that he prefers the modern Betty, the slave. Hulk says that he prefers women who are less vacuous and with more guts. Maestro says that he will change his mind in time. Maestro says to come this way. Hulk is walking on crutches. Maestro says that he is healing nicely, and that they have a curious physiology and that some injuries take them longer to get over than others. He says that he unfortunately discovered first hand that a broken neck takes the longest. He says that Hulk will be fully recovered soon and asks if he has thought about what he will do then. Hulk says that he is sure Maestro has. Maestro says that he can see it in Hulk’s eyes that he is repulsed by the world he has created, but that Hulk can’t judge him because he didn’t live the century that brought him to where he is. He says that for as long as he can recall that humanity touted their moral superiority and said he was a monster. Maestro says that when it came down to it that they were the ones that brought destruction upon themselves. He says that as a monster he wasn’t even in their league. Maestro and Hulk sit down at a banquet table. Maestro says that he has spent his life being in the right place at the right time, and that if he had been at ground zero of any of the bombs that dropped that he would have been as dead as any of the puny humans. Maestro says that he managed to be elsewhere and benefited from the radiation laying around like waste material. Maestro says that the radiation killed millions, but that he just soaked it up. He says that he could go where others couldn’t and do what others couldn’t in surviving. Maestro tells Char to pour some drink for their guest. Maestro says that now he is entitled to what the world tried to keep from him. He says that Hulk is too. Maestro tells Hulk to stay there and rule by his side. He says that they don’t owe humans anything. He says that they are takers. He says that they take all they have and give nothing back. Maestro says that they spit in his face. Hulk says that is “bull” and that he has friends, allies, and loved ones. Maestro says that Hulk doesn’t know what lies ahead, but that he does. He tells Bruce to listen to him, and that they are going to take it all away. He says that he will wind up with nothing and no one. He asks why he would go back to that when he can stay there and have everything. Hulk says that Maestro said it himself and that time split off. He says that maybe what happened to Maestro won’t happen to him. He says that maybe things will be different. Maestro says, “Persecution. Betrayal. Hatred, These things don’t change.” He tells Hulk to tell him that he will think about it. Hulk says that he will think about it. Maestro and Hulk raise their glasses toward one another.

Boz cries to himself and says that she was just a baby.

Minister sneaks into Hulk’s room. He aims his gun at Hulk’s head and apologizes. He say that one of his duties is to maintain the status quo, and that his being there upsets that. Janis holds her staff against Minister’s head and says that it isn’t as upset as he is going to be. She tells him that he will drop his weapon on his own or from his dead fingers. Hulk crushers Minister’s weapon. He tells him it was a nice try. He says that he figures that if he gets rid of him that he stops the Maestro’s power base from increasing, and that maybe he might wipe Maestro from existence. Hulk says that Maestro is right though about alternate time tracks. He says that Reed Richards did a paper on that. He says that he was just trying to lull him into a false sense of security. Hulk pushes aside his bed and welcomes Minister to Plan B. He says that the Maestro miscalculated and that he recovered faster than he allowed. Hulk says that he tunneled underground to let the others in. Janis puts her staff right under Minister’s chin. She says that he is going to lead them right to the Maestro. She says that there are too many guards around, but that the Maestro probably has secret passages in and out. Minister admits it. Janis says that he knows where they are. Minister says just to not hurt him. Hulk tells Minister that he is nothing. He says that they are taking out the Maestro and will let him go. Janis says that they might give him a kick or two to speed him along. Minister points out the secret door. Janis says that she doesn’t like this, and that she didn’t expect to find a way in with no guards at all. Minister says that Maestro doesn’t have too many personal guards and that he figures that no one would attack him. Hulk asks if that is a fact. Hulk runs up and kicks the door in. He says, “Oh, Maestro! Knock knock!” Suddenly Hulk is blasted back. Maestro stands with a giant gun in his hand. He says, “Who’s there? It’s Banner. It’s Banner who? It’s Banner really bad day, hasn’t it doctor?” Maestro says that someone named Forge designed this gun with the express purpose of killing him, but that unluckily for him that he never had the chance to aim it. Maestro says that he couldn’t bear to dispose of such a fine weapon, but that he did keep it secured so that no one could use it against him. Maestro asks the rebels if they really thought he could outsmart himself. Maestro says that he knew he had delayed his healing and that he knew he would sneak them in. Maestro’s troops come out and Maestro says that now he can put an end to them once and for all. Maestro blasts two of the guards and tells the rebels to scatter. The rebels start fighting and winning. Maestro asks if he has to do everything himself. Maestro says that he wants Hulk’s body found. A troop says that he is gone, but that there is a trail of green blood. Maestro says that he couldn’t have gone far. Minister begs the Maestro to avenge his wounded dignity, and that they forced him to lead them to him. Maestro tells Minister that he isn’t fooling anyone. Maestro picks Minister up by the head and crushes him. Maestro says that it saddens him that the Minister didn’t think he knew that he would try to kill the Hulk in a pathetic attempt of eliminating him and gaining more power for himself. He says that the Hulk never questioned him giving him a room on the ground floor. He says that Minister was no surprise, but that the Hulk disappoints him. He says that he expected better of him and drops into the tunnel Hulk dug. A large chunk of pillar is about to crush Char. Janis saves her and asks if she isn’t Boz’s kid. Char said that her father always said the rebels would get them killed. Janis tells her to slide him her love. A trooper gets a weapon aimed at Janis. He tells her to put her hands on her head and not to try and tricks. Janis puts her hands on her head. She unhooks her giant ponytail and whips it around to hit the troop in the face with her metal tie. Janis says that it is a pain to wash and dry, but that every so often it is worth it.

Maestro follows the trail of blood. He says that it is getting lighter. He says that Hulk is either running out of blood or healing. Maestro hears music and wonders what it is. He says that it was obviously meant as a distraction, but that it doesn’t matter if he kills Hulk now or five minutes from now. Maestro lifts the door up and sees Rick Jones in his trophy room. Maestro says that out of a misplaced sense of gratitude that he has let him live entirely too long. Rick says to tell him about it. Rick says that Bruce used to be such a fun guy, but that it is too bad he turned out to be such a dirtbag. Maestro says that years ago that he did him a favor and saved his life. He says that he is going to do him another favor and take it. Maestro swings. Rick puts Captain America’s shield up, but the impact sends him hurtling backward and impales him on the claws from Wolverine’s skeleton. Maestro says that is rich and that Jones always was an idiot. He says that he never liked him, and that he only regrets that he didn’t live long enough to see the final chapter. Hulk picks up Captain America’s shield. He throws it as hard as he can and punctures Maestro’s chest. Hulk charges, grabs the shield, and pushes it further into Maestro. He says that they will see if he heals after he cuts him in half. Maestro struggles. He tells Hulk that he only gets one chance with him and that he blew it. Maestro pushes Hulk off and hits him with the shield. He says that you only get one chance with him, and that he just blew it. He says that he could have snuck up, gotten in close, and hit him before he knew what was happening, but for a moment he reverted to type. Maestro says that is going to cost him his life. Maestro throws Cap’s shield at Hulk. Hulk blocks the shield with Silver Surfer’s surfboard. The shield ricochets and smashes open the container with Thor’s hammer in it. Maestro says that is a thought. He says that Cap’s shield was never a threat before because Cap couldn’t hurl it with enough force to penetrate, but that Thor’s hammer was always lethal. Maestro goes to pick the hammer up, but finds that he still can’t. He says that he doesn’t believe it. He says that he is stronger than ever, and Thor is long gone, but that he still “can’t lift the damned thing!” Rick lies impaled on Wolverine’s claws. He says that you have to be worthy and that the only “damned” thing there is Maestro. Hulk says no more weapons, no more tricks, no more insanity. He leaps into Maestro’s face. Maestro falls backward into all the urns of ashes. They break open and get in his eyes. Rick looks at Betty’s broken urn on the ground and says, “Nice, goin’… Betty…” Hulk hits Maestro over and over. He says, “The Leader… the Abomination… the U-Foes… I’ve hated them all… but none of them… NONE of them… has made me as sick as you do!” Maestro hits Hulk and says, “You’re complaining to me? I tried to talk some sense into you!” Maestro hits Hulk repeatedly and shouts, “Tried to warn you! And you… you buffoon… you closed your eyes to it! Imagine how sickening it is to see someone so brilliant and yet so stupid! And imagine when that someone is you! We could have been gods together!” Hulk lies on the ground bleeding. He says that he should have remembered that the madder he got the stronger he got, and that Maestro is completely mad. Hulk crawls away leaving a trail of green blood. Maestro says that Hulk could have been worshipped, but that now he will just be mourned… provided there is anyone left to mourn him. Maestro walks after Hulk. He says that Hulk is fighting the inevitable. He says that he is the final product of natural selection. He says that the strong survive, and that he is the strongest. He says that when he goes against him that he goes against the laws of nature. Maestro tells him to admit it. He says that he is going to die momentarily anyway and to let his last words be honest ones. Maestro shouts that he is the future! Hulk says, “Wrong. You’re history.” Hulk pushes a button. Maestro asks him what he is doing. Hulk welcomes Maestro to plan C. As Maestro is transported he shouts, “The time machine! Doom’s time machine! Stop! Wait! You can’t do this! I’m the Maestro, you brainless fool! I order you to stop! I order you to…”

Janis and the others rush in to find Hulk holding the dying body of her Gramps. Rick asks if they got the bad guy. Hulk says that they got him, and to just hang on. Rick says that he has to be yanking him and that he saw everything he needed to see. He says that he always loved him. Janis walks over. Rick says, “…Hey… look it’s the kids… kids bet me… wouldn’t have the nerve… t’sneak past the guards… wouldn’t want ‘em t’think I was chick…” Rick dies. Someone asks where the Maestro went. Hulk says that he went to face the music.

Maestro says, “…stop!” He looks around and sees that he is in the desert. He says that it doesn’t matter where he has been sent. He says that if it is the past that he will live to face him again, and that if it is the future that he will just conquer as he has in the past. Suddenly Maestro sees something off in the distance and says that it looks like a jeep racing toward … a teenager…” Maestro can barely hear Rick asking Bruce if he wants the other kids to think he is chicken. Bruce says that they have to reach the protective trench before the bomb goes off. Maestro says, “Bomb?” He turns and sees that he is standing feet away from the original gamma bomb. The gamma bomb explodes. Bruce Banner is drenched in gamma rays as the Maestro is blown into pieces.

Boz sits with his daughter Char and asks if she can tell that the morning has a scent of freedom to it.

Back in the castle, one of the rebels asks where the Hulk is and says that they have the time machine powered up. Skooter tells shushes him and says, “Not now, man.” He motions to Hulk and Janis standing outside together.

Hulk tells Janis to trust him and that this is what Rick would have wanted. He says that moldering in the ground wouldn’t have been his style. He says that he would have wanted one last shot at adventure. He asks if Janis spread the special adhesive on the shield. Janis says that she did it. Hulk holds Rick’s urn and says, “Ashes to ashes, Rick. Dust to dust.” Hulk pours Rick’s ashes onto the shield and then hurls it off into the sky. Janis asks where Bruce thinks it will land. Bruce says that god willing it will be somewhere exciting. Bruce says farewell to Rick.

No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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