Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #114

Title: “At Last I Will Have My Revenge!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Dan Adkins

Mandarin watches as the Hulk leaps away from his fight with the Sandman. Mandarin says that he will finally have his revenge. Mandarin says that Sandman is a fool. He says that Hulk possesses more strength, but that Sandman should have won the fight. Mandarin says that Sandman needs his brilliance to guide his battle strategy. He says that the next time Hulk and Sandman meet that the outcome will be different. Mandarin uses his ring and causes his video scanner to find the Sandman. He says that now that he knows where he is that he will go to join him. Mandarin says that both he and the Sandman were “within a hairsbreadth of total victory… by attacking together… we cannot fail!”

Hulk says that soldiers can’t catch him now and that no one can follow when he leaps. Hulk says that there is something that he had to do or someone that he had to find, but that he can’t remember now. He says that his head hurts when he tries to think. Hulk says that he remembers now. He says that first it was Mandarin and then it was Sandman. Hulk says that they are both enemies and both tried to smash him. Hulk says that it is too hard to think and decides to lay down and close his eyes. He says that he must try to forget the General’s daughter. He asks why he always sees her face everywhere he looks. He wonders why she doesn’t hate him like everyone else. As Hulk lies on the ground he begins to change back to Banner. Hulk says that he can’t sleep and that there is a pounding in his brain. Hulk says that his blood feels like it is on fire. He says that he is shrinking and that he can’t fight it anymore. Hulk changes back into Bruce. Bruce says that he is back, but that everything is so hazy. He wonders what happened when he was the Hulk and that all he remembers is fighting and more fighting. As it becomes clearer, Bruce remembers Betty being in a car accident and that she could have been killed. He says that he has to find her and make sure that she is all right. He says that maybe he can get her to help him and that together they can find a way to be rid of the Hulk forever.

Mandarin flies his helicopter over the area where he pinpointed Sandman’s location. Sandman sees the helicopter and wonders how the law could have found him so quickly. He says that it won’t do them any good. Sandman realizes that the helicopter isn’t from the police. Mandarin announces himself. Sandman says that he never thought the Mandarin was real. Mandarin says that they both have a score to settle with the Hulk and that combined they can’t fail. Mandarin says that he awaits Sandman’s decision. Sandman says that Mandarin talks big, but that talk won’t hurt the Hulk. Sandman reaches up and grabs the helicopter out of the air. He tells Mandarin to come down there so he can see what he can do. Mandarin says that his power far transcend Sandman’s. He uses one of this rings to paralyze Sandman. Mandarin says that he isn’t dependant on his rings and that he is the world’s greatest master of karate. Mandarin hits a large rock and shatters it. Mandarin uses a ring to hold a large rock over Sandman’s head and asks if he is going to join him or if he is going to have to finish this. Sandman says, “Cool it, Fu Manchu! I’m sold!”

At missile base, Ross says that Betty will be safe there until the Hulk is caught. He tells her that she isn’t to leave the room without a guard. Betty says that she knows that the Hulk would never hurt her. Ross says that he isn’t speaking as her father. He says that he is giving her an order as commanding general of the entire installation. He says that she is blinded by love for the traitorous Banner and that she can’t even think straight. He says that he will keep her protected in spite of herself. He tells her to get some sleep and leaves. Betty throws herself on the bed and asks how she can sleep when the man she loves is hunted like a beast. She says that as the Hulk the entire world is after him, and that as Banner he is answerable for another’s actions. Betty says that with Bruce’s genius that he tried to help mankind, but that because of one accident the entire human race has turned against him. She says that if only she could help him. Bruce says, “You can, my love, you can!” Betty looks up and wonders if she was dreaming, but finds Bruce standing before her. She says that she was so sick with worry over him. Bruce says that he had to see her and that there is so much he needs to explain. He says that first they have to find a way to get rid of the Hulk forever. He says that he needs a lab so that he can find a cure for the gamma radiation in his blood. He says that he has to be sure that no harm will ever come to Betty from the monster that he may become again. Betty says that even when he is the Hulk that he never tried to harm anyone. She says that he is only striking back. Talbot walks into the room and says that the guard saw someone at your window. Talbot sees Banner and says that he should have known. He shouts for the guards. Bruce tells Talbot that calling the guards will only make it worse. Talbot says that he isn’t a fool and that Banner isn’t getting away from him again. The guards swarm around Banner. Banner says that he wasn’t concerned for himself. He says that all the tension is causing his pulse to race. Bruce says that he is becoming the Hulk again. One of the soldiers tells Bruce that they aren’t buying it this time. He tells Banner to come along. Bruce says that he tried, but that it is started now and that he can’t control himself. In mid-transformation, Bruce tosses the soldiers away. Bruce says that he has to get outside before all trace of him is gone again.

Outside, Hulk picks up a lamppost. He says that he has to protect himself against guns. Betty tries to reach Hulk to stop him, but suddenly a bomb is dropped from above. It hits the Hulk and the area is filled with gas. Hulk wants to know who did this, but his head starts to swim and he becomes dizzy. Talbot shouts for the men to get in there and that the General’s daughter is in there. He calls for gas masks.

Mandarin flies his helicopter. He says that he told Sandman that Hulk was helpless against gas. Mandarin tells Sandman to lower the retriever. Sandman says that Mandarin is starting to reach him and that this partnership is going to be okay. A giant metal claw descends from the helicopter and grabs the Hulk and Betty. As the claw starts to rise, the soldiers start shooting at the helicopter. Mandarin says that his ship is too well armored. Mandarin says that it is time for the second part of his master plan. Sandman asks if Mandarin knows how strong the Hulk is. He asks how they are going to hold him when he wakes up. Mandarin says that is the cleverest part of the plan.

Talbot orders everything that can fly into the air. He says that he wants a radar fix on the ship immediately.

Minutes later, Mandarin approaches a hidden cave. He says that they will never find them here. Sandman says that he still wants to know how they will hold the Hulk. Mandarin says that Sandman will find out when Hulk does. Mandarin says that Hulk is starting to come to. Sandman says that he was afraid of that. Mandarin tells Sandman that he doesn’t need to be so tense. Sandman says that he will believe it when he sees it. Hulk wakes up on a table. He sees that there is nothing holding him down except beams of light. Hulk asks why he can’t get up. Mandarin says that they are his greatest invention- contra-power rays. Sandman asks what it does. Mandarin says that the rays harness the Hulk’s own power and turn it against him. He says that the more Hulk struggles the more force is hurled against him. Mandarin says that as strong as he is that he can’t overcome himself. Mandarin says that Hulk could only escape if he counter-acted his own strength and that he pain would be too unbearable. Hulk sees Betty being held and starts to go nuts. Mandarin says to think of the pain he must be going through and asks why he would do such a thing. Sandman says that maybe it is because he loves her. Hulk strains and smashes out of his prison. Hulk says that now it is his turn. Mandarin tells Sandman to stand his ground and that they can still win. Sandman tells Mandarin to hurry up and do something. Hulk says that this cave is filled with machines and that machines always hurt him. Hulk lifts a gigantic machine over his head. Mandarin says that it took him years to construct that power center. Hulk throws it at them. Sandman says to blazes with his power center. He swats the thing down and says that they are fighting for their lives. Mandarin says that it is too bad that Sandman is not as philosophical as the Orientals are. He says that he never falls prey to fear. Mandarin tries a shot with a ring, but misses. Hulk hits the ground and sends Mandarin and Sandman into the air. Sandman starts firing rock hard sand-blasts at Hulk, but Mandarin tells him that he is just wasting his time. He says that they need to plan a new strategy. Sandman tells him to get to it then because he is busy. Hulk reels from the barrage of sand rocks. Sandman then forms his hand into a giant box and puts it over Hulk. Hulk says that nothing can stop him, but Sandman asks if he wants to bet. Hulk says, “Hulk doesn’t have to bet! Hulk knows how strong he is!” Hulk smashes through Sandman’s box. Mandarin hits Hulk with gas from a ring and tells Sandman to bury him. Sandman starts laying it on. He tells Mandarin to open the door and that he will add the tons of soil outside into his supply of sand. Sandman stops once the pile hits the roof. Sandman says that will hold him, but Mandarin tells Sandman to make the mound bigger and rock hard. Sandman does so and says that is all he can do. Mandarin says that the mound is already trembling from within. Sandman says that if Hulk escapes again that they will have to use the girl against him.

Hulk breaks out of the mound. He looks up to see that Mandarin and Sandman have Betty on a high above level. They are standing over a giant heated “pressure cooker”. Sandman tells Hulk to give up or he will throw her in. Hulk says that he will wreck everything first. He claps his hands and causes a giant machine to come falling from the ceiling into the machine below. Mandarin says that they still are no match for Hulk. Sandman says that the girl has to die now. Mandarin says that hurting her won’t help them. He uses his ring to slow the descent of the machine, and uses another machine to knock Sandman into the pressure cooker. As Mandarin runs to his escape route he says that is the price that all who fail him must pay. Hulk wonders if they call him a monster what that makes Sandman and Mandarin. Hulk wonders if Sandman is dead, but then the door to the pressure cooker opens. Sandman walks out, but the heat and pressure from the vat has turned his sand molecules into glass. Hulk says that Sandman can’t run from him now. Betty stops Hulk and says that he can’t kill him. Hulk says that he was going to kill her. Betty says that she knows that he is not a murderer. Hulk says, “Hulk… is not… a murderer!” Sandman walks off. Hulk says that he has to go again. Betty tells Hulk to wait. She starts to say that she has so much to say, but Hulk is hit in the back by a neutralizer gun. Talbot tells Betty that she did good work and that they wouldn’t have gotten Hulk if she hadn’t delayed him. Hulk slumps to the ground. He says, “She made me stay… she kept me back… It was Betty… who… betrayed me…” He falls unconscious. Betty says that Glenn made Hulk think that it was her that betrayed him. She says that she was his only friend, but that now he will hate her. Glenn says, “I had to do it, darling! It was the only way! The fate that we have planned for him… will leave no room… for you!”

No Excuses rating: 6 out of 10

 Review and pictures by The Leader

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