Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #107

Title: “Ten Rings Hath… the Mandarin!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Syd Shores

Editor: Stan Lee

The Hulk stands in front of the child and takes the fire from the Soviet ship, but the shots just bounce off his chest. The man riding Yuri tells him that he knows that the uni-disintegrator is their only course of action. Yuri says that he knows that, but that he doesn’t want to harm the child. Hulk leaps at the ship and Yuri says that he will try one more time with their conventional weapons. Before Hulk reaches the ship he is hit with some kind of zapping ray. Hulk says that the weapon only stings him, but that they can’t stop him. Hulk hits the ship, but then he is hit with the ray again. Hulk drops to the ground and is hit again. Hulk says that their weapons are stronger than he thought, but that they aren’t strong enough to kill him.

Yuri realizes that he can’t put it off any longer. He realizes that it is either the Hulk and the boy or his ship and crew. He says that he has no choice but the use the disintegrator.

Hulk tells the ship to go ahead and fire more bullets. He says that he is not afraid. He says that they try to hurt him and his friend, but that it won’t do them any good. He says that no weapon on Earth can hurt him.

Yuri is told that the disintegrator is ready to fire. Yuri says to begin the countdown, but then he smells smoke. The ship is rocked by an explosion. Yuri orders all men to the escape hatch.

SHIELD’s ship follows the Soviet ship down. Fury orders the vortex beam to put the ship down gently. Dum Dum asks why they’re shooting them down and then saving them. Fury tells Dum Dum that he is running the show and for him to shut up.

Hulk sees the SHIELD ship safely lowering the ship that was shooting at him and decides that it means that the other ship is his enemy too. Hulk says that they will only help the other ship until he can get his hands on them. He says that they captured him and brought him to this strange land. He says that they tried to kill him, and that he is going to make them sorry. Before the Russians can flee their ship, Hulk grabs it and starts ripping it apart and shaking it. The men are tossed out as the Hulk destroys the ship. Hulk says that they tried to destroy him and that now he will destroy them. He says that they shoot at him with guns, but that without their guns all they can do it fear him. Hulk sees Yuri on the ground and recognizes him as the leader. Yuri tries to tell Hulk that he didn’t want to hurt him, but Hulk says that Yuri will get no more pity than he tried to show him. Hulk is about to smash him when Yuri is hit with the vortex beam that pulls him skyward.

Fury asks Yuri how things are. Yuri says that it was nice of Fury to stop by. Dum Dum asks if he knows him. Fury says that it was a good thing that he was stopping by. Yuri says that he supposes that it would be ungrateful for him to ask why Fury was flying over Soviet territory. Fury agrees. He tells Dum Dum to take the prisoner to his quarters.

Hulk says that someone cheated him out of his revenge, but that it won’t be for long. He says that he will go after them and that nothing will stop him.

Mandarin watches the Hulk holding the small boy through a view screen globe. He says that he has finally found a way to achieve his eternal goal. He says that with the unwitting help of the Hulk that the world will be his. Mandarin uses his ultra-high frequency ring to lock the Hulk’s every movement onto his screen so that he can summon him when he needs to. Mandarin tells one of his men to follow him to the teleportation center and that there is work to be done. He says that in a few short hours that the recolonization of Earth will begin.

The moon casts its light across a modern complex within the Gobi Desert. A modern complex becomes a beehive of activity with an aura of evil.

Hulk is thousands of miles away. Hulk carries the boy and thinks to himself that the boy is tired and hungry. Hulk sees a village and decides to go look for food there. He says that even if the people hate him there that he must think of the boy first. Hulk sees the men coming out to attack him. The people think that Hulk has captured the boy and think that they are coming to his rescue. They yell for Hulk to put the boy down and to stop using him as a shield. Hulk realizes that they think that he is going to hurt the boy. He puts the boy down so that he won’t get hurt. The men shout to finish the monster off. Hulk picks up a large wagon overflowing with rocks. He says that if they want a fight that he will give it to him, but the boy asks him not to. He says that Hulk is his friend, but that so are the people. He asks him not to hurt them. The people see that the boy isn’t afraid of Hulk. The people step aside as the Hulk lumbers away. Hulk is far away, but the people still see the flash of light as Hulk disappears.

Suddenly Hulk appears in the Mandarin’s stronghold. Mandarin sits and watches him. He says that he is more magnificent than the hoped. He says that he can see his size, strength, and the hatred in his eyes. Hulk asks who is playing tricks on him. Mandarin tells Hulk to be patient. He says that all will be made clear, but that first he wants to test him. Hulk says that no one tells him what to do. He grabs the two prods that teleported him there and crushes them. Mandarin says that is where Hulk is wrong. He says that he will test his reflexes as soon as he uses his power ring to activate a lever. A large metallic spiked object is dropping on Hulk. Hulk says that he didn’t ask to come there and says to send him back. Hulk hits the object and splits it in two. Hulk says that he fooled him and that he thought he had Hulk trapped. Hulk says that he will show Mandarin. Mandarin says that Hulk’s reflexes are without equal, but that he must be tested further. Mandarin tells the Hulk’s resistance to the unknown as he engulfs him in an invisible electronic force field. The field starts closing around Hulk. Hulk strikes out and destroys the field. Hulk says that he is sick of these traps. Mandarin says that he isn’t finished yet. Mandarin says that they will see if Hulk can handle sudden shock. Mandarin uses a ring to open a hole beneath Hulk. Hulk falls in and Mandarin says that he should have known that Hulk had a weakness. Hulk leaps out of the hole and says that it wasn’t deep enough to hold him. Mandarin says that he was wrong and that the Hulk is truly the one he has been looking for. He says that all he has to do now is teach Hulk obedience. Mandarin says that he will immobilize him. A coat of solid cement starts to surround Hulk. Hulk slams himself against the floor and breaks the concrete. Hulk says that he doesn’t even know him and that still he tries to kill him. Hulk tells Mandarin that he is just like all the other men. Hulk says that he isn’t taking it anymore. Hulk tears up the floor and lifts Mandarin into the air. Hulk says that Mandarin is his enemy and that he can’t rest while his enemies live. Hulk throws the floor against the wall and shatters it. Mandarin lies on the ground broken in pieces. Hulk realizes that Mandarin was a robot. Hulk says that the man that tried to kill him still lives.

Mandarin watches from another part of the citadel. He says that Hulk has exceeded all his expectations, but that he can’t take him until he passes all the tests. Mandarin says that they will see how Hulk fares against one bigger and stronger than he is. Mandarin says that it is only an android, but that it will serve its purpose.

Hulk sees a giant yellow monster coming through the wall. Hulk says that at last there is something real for him to fight. Hulk leaps into the monster’s face. Hulk says that the monster can’t hurt him if he can’t see him. Hulk grabs a large bowl-like object on the floor and throws it into the monster’s face. Hulk grabs the monster’s feet and knocks the monster to the ground by lifting his feet off the ground. Hulk says that he has won again. The monster swats at Hulk, but misses and hits the ground. Hulk says that the monster is as strong as he is and that he is getting up again. Hulk leaps and pulls down a giant drape. He pulls the drape over the monster as it comes down. Hulk quickly wraps it around the beast before it can break free. Hulk swings the drapes around and around. Hulk throws the monster through the wall. Hulk tells Masked Man to show himself if he dares. Mandarin might have second thoughts as he watches the android launched into outer space. Mandarin’s visage comes onto the screen. He tells Hulk to listen. He says that he has passed all his tests, and that he will let him become his ally. Hulk says that he sides with no one. Hulk smacks the screen and breaks it. Hulk plows through the wall and machinery. He says that Masked Man tried to kill him, but that he will get him first.

Mandarin says that it is as he feared and that the Hulk can’t be controlled. He says that he is prepared and orders his troops to stop the Hulk.

Hulk says that Masked Man must be crazy. He thinks that he just beat a giant monster and that now he is sending puny soldiers after him. Hulk says that no army is big enough to stop him. Hulk walks into a narrow hallway. The soldiers start firing at Hulk, but Hulk just pushes against the two walls of the hallway and brings the whole roof down. Hulk says that he will find Masked Man now. Hulk sees a locked iron door. He smashes through it and sees Mandarin. Hulk says that no one hides from him. Hulk says that Masked Man was waiting for him, but that he will wait no longer. Hulk charges right at Mandarin, but Mandarin doesn’t move. Hulk asks why Mandarin doesn’t move, but as Hulk hits Mandarin, the Mandarin fades from sight. Hulk falls forward into a pit filled with what Hulk recognizes as quicksand. Mandarin says that is perceptive for one with such a primitive brain. Mandarin says that Hulk’s only chance is to agree to be his unquestioning slave. Hulk says that he would rather die, and Mandarin says, “Then so be it, you helpless fool!”

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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