Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #116

Title: “The Eve of… Annihilation”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Dan Adkins

A giant robot walks onto the missile base. Leader tells everyone to stand back and that his super humanoid has arrived in answer to his summons. Ross says that there won’t be any super humanoid on a base he commands. Talbot asks how they know that Leader can control that thing. Leader says that he imprisoned the Hulk for them, but that the super humanoid can guard him better than any army. He says that his skin is composed of indestructible plasti-thene. He says that they never need fear the Hulk again. Talbot says that it sounds plausible, but that he doesn’t trust Leader. Ross says that Leader is the only one that has kept the Hulk imprisoned so he will go along with it, but that he doesn’t like it. Leader tells them that they have nothing to fear. He says that he only desires to serve and make amends for his past deeds. Ross tells Leader that he and the robot are restricted to the lab area for now, and that if the Hulk breaks out that he will answer to him.

Hulk says that Leader has him trapped like a rat. He says that he can’t break the cage, and that the harder he hits it the more it bends. Hulk says that is only weapon is strength, and that if it can’t free him that nothing can.

Leader stands before his super humanoid. He says that his plan has gone off without a hitch so far. He says that with the Hulk powerless that the base will soon be his, and that means that America’s mightiest missiles will be his to control. Leader says that he will use them to start World War III. He says that the mightiest armed forces in the world will destroy one another in a war that he has created. He says that he will wait in a prepared fallout shelter waiting for the carnage to end. He says that then with most of mankind virtually annihilated that only his gamma powered brilliance will be at full strength. Betty stands outside the door while Leader speaks. He says that he will finally realize his destiny. He says that with the power of the super humanoid and the world’s greatest brain that he will become Master of the World! Betty thinks to herself that he is mad, but that he does mean it. She says that she has to warn the others. Leader says that with his equipment that no one can stop him.

One of the soldiers tells Talbot “that Leader creep” ordered all personal out of Sector G. Talbot says that Leader thinks he can give orders and that they will see about that. Betty sees Glenn and thanks god that she found him. She says that they have to stop the Leader and that he is planning on starting World War III. Glenn tells her to get hold of herself and to tell him what happened. Betty explains that she heard Leader talking to his humanoid. She says that it was all a trick to conquer the planet. She says that he only imprisoned the Hulk so that he couldn’t interfere with his plans. She says that she knows that it sounds insane, but that he meant it. She says that he plans to weaken mankind with an atomic war and then take over the planet. Glenn puts his arm around Betty and says that he believes her and that he has suspected it all along. He asks how they will convince the General and wonders where they can get proof.

At base control, Glenn and Betty look in on the Hulk. Talbot tells the guard there that they have no time to explain and that they have to free the Hulk. The guard says that he couldn’t even if he wanted to. Betty says that only the Hulk can save them. Glenn looks at the Hulk and sees the hatred that Hulk watches them with. Betty says that Hulk thinks that she betrayed him.

Hulk says that they watch him like an animal in a cage. He says that they feel safe because they know he can’t get out, but he wonders why they look so frightened. Hulk says that he doesn’t care about Talbot, but that he trusted the girl, and that she helped them do this too her. Hulk says that he will never trust anyone again. Hulk hits the cage.

The electronic viewing circuit shatters and Betty and Talbot’s view of the Hulk goes to static. Talbot says that they have to find Ross and that only he can give the order to stop the Leader.

Ross sits down to his desk. He says that he has to write the Pentagon about what has happened. He wonders to himself how he is going to write it so that it makes any sense. He says that explaining the Leader will be hard enough, but wonders what he will do to explain the super humanoid. Talbot barges in and says that there is an emergency. Ross asks Talbot how many times he has to tell him that he doesn’t like to be bothered when he is writing a report. Talbot says that it concerns the Leader. He says that Betty has learned that Leader plans to use their missile and that only the Hulk can stop him. Ross asks Talbot if he let Betty con him with a story like that. He says that Talbot is supposed to be an intelligence officer. Betty says that she heard the Leader talking, and that he intends to use the missiles to start a global war. Ross pounds his fist on his desk and tells them both to be quiet. He says that he isn’t an idiot and that he sees through Betty’s scheme. Betty asks what he means. Ross says that she loves Banner and that she is trying to free the Hulk and hoping he will turn into Banner again. He says that Talbot believed her because he is in love with her. Ross tells her to go to her quarters and not to bother him again.

Talbot walks out with Betty. He says that maybe Ross is right. He says that maybe he is making a fool of himself because of the way he feels about her. He says that he still believes her story. He tells her to return to her quarters and to leave the rest to him. Betty asks what he can do. Talbot leaves. He says that it is best that she doesn’t know. He says that if he is wrong that it will cost him his career, and that if the plan fails that it could cost him his life. Talbot shows his identification and gets into the war room. Talbot orders all personnel to evacuate the area. Everyone leaves except the two men working the equipment. They ask Talbot by what authority he has assumed command. Talbot pulls his gun and says that this is his authority. He tells them to get up and then not to move. He says that he is doing this for all of them, but that there isn’t time to explain. Talbot turns on the microphone that speaks to the entire base. He orders everyone to apprehend the Leader and to immobilize the giant humanoid.

Leader stands before a rocket musing how he will be master of the Earth. He hears footsteps coming and turns to see an armed platoon surrounding him. They order Leader to stay where he is, but Leader gives super humanoid a mental command. He says that they are on to him, but that the fools are too late. Leader tells the super humanoid that he doesn’t have to kill them yet, and that a simple stun blast will do. Two soldiers fire a bazooka into the super humanoid, but it just bounces off him. Leader asks if they cannot see that he is just toying with them. He says that nothing can stop his super humanoid. The soldiers realize that they need to take out the Leader to stop the humanoid. Leader says that once again they have “grievously miscalculated. He says that they think that he is weaponless, but that his mental force field would have shown them how wrong they are if they were still conscious to savor the sight.

Betty watches through the door and sees that Leader and his super humanoid defeated an entire heavily trained task force as if they were helpless puppets. She says that her first fear was correct and that not even the Hulk can stop the Leader. Betty thinks to herself that the Hulk is still human and feels pain, but that the humanoid does not.  Leader tells Betty to stay where she is. He says that if anything should go wrong that she will be his hostage. Ross walks into the doorway and asks what is going on. He sees the unconscious men and realizes that Betty and Talbot were right. Leader says, “There is no right or wrong for you now! There is only the supreme will… of the Leader!” Betty tells her father to watch out, but Leader says that it is too late and that nothing is faster than a mental blast. Ross falls to the ground. Betty asks what Leader has done and Leader says that Ross is only sleeping and that he is about to do the same thing to the entire post. He says that there is no need to subject her to such an indignity and hands her a head device that will shield her from his mental emanations. Leader puts his hands to his head. He says that he is enlarging his force waves and expanding them in all directions until no one can escape them. All over the base soldiers are falling over asleep. Leader turns to Betty and tells her to leave him alone, but not to try and flee the post. He says that he is maintaining a mental barrier around the base and that trying to escape is useless.

Betty walks over to the Hulk’s prison. She says that the Leader is so confident, but that maybe he has good reason. Betty says that if only she could free the Hulk. She says that Hulk’s strength might save them, and that his sluggish clouded brain may not be affected by the Leader’s force waves. She wonders how she can free Hulk. She looks at the sealer beam. She says that she can hear what Bruce would say to her. He would say that if firing the weapon at full strength permanently seals the plasti-thene then try firing it at reverse power and seeing if that does the opposite. Betty fires the sealer beam and the Hulk is free. Hulk walks up to Betty and says that she betrayed him and helped them trap him. Betty says that it isn’t true and asks why she would free him then. She tells Hulk that she has to listen to her and that there isn’t much time.  Leader says that there is less time that she thinks. Betty turns and sees Leader standing with his super humanoid, Ross, and Talbot. Ross tells Betty to do as the Leader says. Talbot says that they must not resist. Leader tells Betty to stand aside and that there is nothing more she can do. Hulk says that he doesn’t know who to believe, but that he knows that the Leader is his enemy and that he must be destroyed. Hulk picks up a large machine and throws it. Ross and Talbot duck under it, but when it hits the super humanoid it just bounces off him. Hulk says that Leader will fall after he beat the giant. Hulk pulls up the floor and flips it over on the humanoid and Leader. Leader says that his super humanoid is indestructible and that he will protect him. Leader says that now it is time for Hulk to be imprisoned again. Hulk says that he will never be trapped inside the cage again. Hulk is about to leap, but Leader orders the humanoid to strike him down. The super humanoid shoots a beam at the Hulk and knocks him to the ground. Leader points a weapon at Hulk. Hulk says that it can’t hurt him. Leader asks why he would hurt Hulk. He fires the gun and creates a living coat of plasti-thene around the Hulk again. Hulk shouts, “No! no! Not the rubbery cage again!” as the plasti-thene seals over him. Leader says that Hulk will find it more cramped than before, but equally effective. Leader says that he has a nuclear holocaust to create so he can become ruler of Earth. Betty says that Leader can’t do it. Leader says that he can do anything. He takes the key and arms the missiles. Leader’s finger hovers over the launching button. Leader says that nothing on Earth can stop him.

No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10

 Review and pictures by The Leader

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