Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #113

Title: “Where Fall the Shifting Sands?”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Herby Trimpe

Inker: Dan Adkins

Bruce Banner strains to breathe. He says that the aliens that sent him didn’t dream that he could transform into the vulnerable Bruce Banner. He says that where the Hulk can live in this environment that he cannot. The pressure increases and Bruce falls to the ground. He says that it is like being pushed down by a big hammer. Each breath is a struggle and he can barely move. Bruce lies on the ground and thinks that this is the way that it is going to end. He says that there is still a chance for him to become the Hulk. He says that he can’t give up now. He says that he is too weak for the transformation to occur at will, but that there is a way to make it happen. Bruce says that this ship is more advanced than anything on Earth and that it is powered mainly by gaseous gamma energy. Bruce struggles to crawl to the controls. He is getting dizzy, but he manages to reach the controls and cause a release… an overflow. Bruce collapses on the ground, but he is bathed in gamma energy. Hulk gets up and asks what is happening. He says that he is in a ship coming through space, but that something is wrong and too much force is coming through the open door. Hulk says that he will close the door with his bare hands.

On a dark and stormy night, Sandman buys a newspaper at a stand. He sees the headline “New AF Space-Warp Ship to be Tested”. Sandman says that he has been waiting for a ship that could bridge the gap between dimensions. He says that now he can reach the Negative Zone and bring back Blastaar, the most powerful ally of all. He says that then he can at last seek his revenge against the Fantastic Four. He says that he had thought that he had beaten them when Reed Richards was hurled into the Negative Zone. He was rescued by the others in the Fantastic Four and the Inhuman Triton, but that they didn’t return alone. They also brought back Blastaar, the living bomb burst. He says that the two of them became allies, but that luck was against them and the Fantastic Four won. Sandman says that Blastaar found refuge in the Negative Zone, and that he escaped into the sea. He says that he has been searching for a way to contact Blastaar again, and that now all he has to do it get his hands on the ship.

Betty cries. She can’t sleep and can only think of whether there is any news about Bruce. She says that he must be alive, and that if something bad had happened to him that she would feel it. Betty picks up the phone. Thunderbolt Ross tells Betty that he told her that he would call her if there were any news. She tells her to get back to sleep and that the doctor said she needs lots of rest. He tells her to forget Bruce Banner.

A short time later, Betty drives in a car towards the missile base. She asks how she can sleep when she doesn’t know if the man she loves is alive or dead. She says that her dad told her to forget about Bruce Banner, but she asks how she could forget her heart or soul.

Hulk’s ship crashes into the ground. Hulk walks off the ship and says that at last he is back where he belongs. He says that nobody will ever bother him again. He lifts the ship over his head and destroys it. Hulk says that he is still alone and that he always will be. Hulk walks away from a machine he destroyed which would have let him control his transformations at will. Hulk goes to lie down, but he feels something crawling over him. He says that it feels like sand, but that it grows thicker and thicker. He says that it sounds like the sand is trying to speak. Sandman takes his form and says that Hulk is very perceptive. He says that he saw his ship crash and decided that he will serve him. Hulk says that he serves no one. He tells him to go away or he will attack. Sandman says that Hulk has finally found someone that can out-fight him. Sandman’s arm extends and wraps around Hulk’s neck and body. Hulk says that no one out-fights him. He swings his hands and breaks up Sandman’s arm. Hulk says that now Sandman will see what he can do. Sandman sees the boulder that Hulk is putting his hands on and tells Hulk that no one could lift that. Hulk says that he can and does so. Hulk says that he can throw it too and hurls the boulder at Sandman. Sandman creates a large sand hand that smacks the boulder down. Sandman turns himself into a steamroller and rolls at Hulk. Sandman asks Hulk if he realizes that he isn’t in his class yet. Hulk leaps right through him. Hulk says, “You fight better than Hulk… with your mouth!” Hulk says that he doesn’t need to talk and that he can do anything. Sandman tells Hulk to stop fighting, and that this is over. Hulk says that Sandman gives up. Sandman says that he isn’t giving up. He says that Hulk has proven himself worthy and that instead of commanding it that he wants to ask the Hulk for his help. Sandman says that they are both powerful outcasts. He says that their common enemy is at the missile base. Sandman tells Hulk to think of how they’ve hunted him. How they turned the world against him. Sandman says that Hulk can prove his worth. He asks Hulk to help him seize their ship and that he will see that he made a hero. Hulk says that Sandman talks fast and that he doesn’t understand. He says that if Sandman will make people stop hating him that he will help him. Sandman thinks to himself that he thought he could confuse Hulk.

Sandman gives Hulk his orders and sends him off. He thinks to himself that there is no reason for him to take a risk when the Hulk can do it for him. Hulk comes to the base. He realizes that he can’t attack that place and that Betty might be hurt.

Inside the base, one of the soldiers finds the Hulk standing outside using a radar scanner. All forces are alerted to condition red.

Hulk says that again men attack him before he can explain. He says that Sandman was right and that they are his enemy. Hulk says that they must be smashed. Hulk leaps up and hits the artillery. Ross orders Hulk to give up and that they don’t want to hurt him. He tells Hulk not to make him use atomic force. Hulk can’t hear Ross however and rips up the artillery. He throws it at the base and brings part of the building down. Suddenly Hulk stops. He says that this isn’t what he wanted. He asks why he is fighting and why he listened to Sandman.

Sandman sees that the Hulk was the perfect diversion. The area with the ship he wants to steal is left almost completely unguarded. Sandman wraps his arms around the two guards and takes them out. He forms his fist into a giant hammer and smashes the wall down. Sandman sees the ship and says that there is the prize he seeks.

Sandman is driving the truck with the ship on the back. He says that he will be long gone before anyone notices, but then he sees two headlights coming straight at him. He says that he can’t stop now and that he will have to ram it. Hulk sees Betty in the oncoming car. He says that the truck will kill her, but that Sandman isn’t even trying to stop. Hulk says that he will stop him. He leaps into the truck and smashes it while turning it over on its side. Sandman calls Hulk a fool and says that he was supposed to be helping him. Hulk says that Sandman tried to kill that girl, and that it makes him Hulk’s enemy. Hulk says that he is the one that he must fight and destroy.

Talbot tells Ross that his daughter is safe, and that the missile is still intact. He says that he has a chance to go grab Betty while the two of them battle. Ross says that if they are lucky that the two of them will finish one another off.

Sandman says that since he no longer needs the Hulk that he is done pulling his punches. He hits Hulk with a full force sand blast. Hulk says that Sandman’s power might stop anyone else, but that Sandman is facing the Hulk now. Hulk grabs the ground and throws the entire area Sandman is standing on into the air. Hulk says that no matter who he is or how strong he is that nothing can stop the Hulk. Hulk says that when he comes back down that he will be waiting. Sandman says that he is counting on that and is coming back as a solid block of granite. Hulk raises his fists into the air and destroys the block. He says that not even that can hurt him. Sandman says that he will regroup in that case since Hulk only has brute strength, but that his power is limitless. Sandman says that the only question is how fast he should kill Hulk. Hulk says that he isn’t scared by talking and that he never stops fighting. Sandman tells Hulk to save his breath for a final prayer. Sandman pushes a button on his belt and is suddenly transformed into a sandstorm. Sand gets into Hulk eyes, nose, and mouth. He says that he can’t breathe. Hulk slams his hands together and disperses Sandman away from him. Sandman reforms and grabs Hulk by his arms and legs. He says that Hulk’s reprieve is only temporary and that he can trap his that easily. Hulk says that Sandman will never take away his air again. Hulk says that it won’t happen so long as he can leap. Hulk jumps into Sandman and scatters him all over. Hulk says that he had better do something before it comes back together. Then he realizes, “What if it can’t come together again?” Hulk picks up a large metal chunk and starts swinging it around fanning the entire area. Hulk keeps swinging until all the sand and people are blown far away.

Hulk stands alone, but he sees that men are coming. Ross is running toward Hulk. He says that they saw the whole thing. He says that Sandman was trying to steal the missile, but that the Hulk stopped him. Betty says that at last her father understands, but just then the Hulk leaps away. Ross says that they are too late and that Hulk must have thought that they were coming to attack him. Betty asks how they will ever get a chance to explain.

Sandman reforms far away. He says that the Hulk thinks that he has beaten him, and that the Hulk doesn’t suspect that his hours of life are numbered.

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

 Review and pictures by The Leader

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