Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #118
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #118
Title: “A Clash of Titans”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Herbie Trimpe
Inker: Herbie Trimpe
A ship rises out of the water near Bruce Banner’s unconscious body. Lady Dorma opens the ship. She says that even though he is a surface dweller that she can’t let him die. She fishes Banner out and say that she is in time since he still lives. Dorma gives Bruce a tablet that allows him to breathe underwater for the next 24 hours. She says that he needs medical attention that he can only receive in Atlantis.
Dorma submerges as Bruce grows weaker. She figures that maybe if the man she rescued were a person of some importance that maybe she could put the surface dwellers in their debt. She says that if she can win their gratitude that maybe she can bring peace between their two worlds. She says that she wants the peace for her beloved Namor. Dorma pulls into Atlantis and summons the guards. She tells them that she has come upon a stranger in dire straits. She tells them to take him to her chamber and that she will tend to his wounds.
Fara watches from a hiding spot. She says that it seems that Dorma is playing good Samaritan again, but that she is also playing into her hands. Fara says that she has been waiting for an opportunity like this. Fara says that Namor has never even seen fit to notice her, but that soon Namor will love her and not Dorma. She says that it all depends on the Prince’s temper. She says that she will strike at this pride and that it will enflame him.
Vashti tells Namor that he has to forget about the surface dwellers. He says that they live in their own worlds. Namor says that he loathes the surface dwellers and that they think that their world is the only one. He says that humans fear them and that they fear anything they find strange and alien. He says that in their cowardice they try to destroy that which they fear. Namor says that it is only a matter of time before they attack. Namor sees Fara and asks what she wants. Fara introduces herself and says that though she would rather die than tell him this that she has follows her duty. Namor tells her to come out with it. Fara says that it concerns the Lady Dorma and her treachery to the throne. Namor shouts, “What do you say?” Fara thinks to herself that it is working and that he is already raging. She says that Lady Dorma, in secrecy and stealth, has brought a surface dweller to her abode. Fara says that they’re plotting together sure that he will never learn the truth. Fara says that though Dorma has betrayed him that she is still loyal. Namor starts yelling, but Vashti tells Namor to think and that he has only heard hearsay. Namor says that she wouldn’t dare tell him this tale if it were not true. Fara says that they need not doubt her word and that eh man is in Dorma’s chambers right now. Namor tells them to stay put and that he is going alone. Vashti tries to calm Namor, but he charges off in a huff.
Namor pushes the guards in front of Dorma’s room aside and barges through the door. He shouts, “Dorma! Stand you forth!” Dorma asks Namor what the matter is and that she has never seen him so angry. Namor asks where the surface man is. Dorma is surprised that Namor knows. Namor says that his worst fears are realized and that Dorma has betrayed him. Dorma tells Namor to let her explain, but Namor asks how you explain deception.
Bruce hears Namor and Dorma arguing and wakes up. He wonders what has happened to him. He remembers falling into the sea as the Hulk, and recognizes that he is now in danger. Bruce’s pulse speeds up.
Dorma asks Namor how one can deceive her heart and soul.
Namor says that he will see the surface dweller and that he will then deliver
his judgment. Dorma says that the man is to ill. Namor says that he can hear the
man inside raging like a dynamo. Dorma says that isn’t possible.
Hulk
smashes through the wall and says, “Anything is possible!” Namor recognizes the
Hulk. He asks Dorma’s forgiveness. He says that he sees that she was being held
hostage and wasn’t free to speak. Namor says that Hulk will learn the folly of
threatening a Prince’s lady. He tells Hulk to prepare to feel his might as he
runs at him. Hulk asks Namor what his might is compared to his. Hulk claps his
hands and knocks Namor backward. Namor tells Dorma to take cover, but she says
that she can’t since she is being buffeted about. Dorma’s house crumbles beneath
the pressure. Namor says that Hulk did this and so the Hulk must die. Hulk
stands up in the rubble. He asks where the girl is and that he didn’t mean to
hurt the girl. He says that he only fights those that attack him.
Namor sees that Dorma is unconscious, but only stunned. He says that it is better this way and that he doesn’t want her to see that he is going to do next. Namor says that a monster has been loosed in his realm, but that he will strike no more. Namor picks up a giant slab of the house. He goes to hit Hulk with it, but Hulk sees him and leaps through the slab. Hulk shouts that he is the strongest one there is. Namor tells Hulk that it is more than his strength which will be his undoing. Namor say that he is the master of many skills. Hulk says that he is the master of greatest power. Namor asks how Hulk can even understand the meaning of the word. Namor starts swimming around and around Hulk. He says that his power has allowed him to create a shattering whirlpool. Namor says that with each passing second that the air is being drawn from his lungs. Namor says that beneath the sea that he is power. Hulk spins around and around. He can’t see or move. He fells nothing but pressure. Hulk says that he has to break free before the air is gone. He says that he has to break through the wall of water, and that no matter how strong the pressure is that he must be stronger. The pressure grows stronger and stronger. Hulk says that Namor doesn’t think that he can use his strength against the pressure, but that he can. Hulk grabs Namor’s ankle. Namor says that no one has ever broken through his whirlpool before. Hulk says that no one else is him.
Fara watches Hulk and Namor fight. She is holding a gun and says that while they are locked in battle that she will make sure that Namor stays hers forever. She says that Dorma lies helpless and that it will be easy.
Namor sees Dorma in danger and shouts out to her. Hulk says that if Namor wants her that he will send him to her. Hulk punches Namor into the last standing wall and knocks it over. The wall falls onto Fara and Dorma. Namor swoops down and starts tossing the rocks aside. He says that she must be alive. Namor uncovers the two women. He sees that Dorma lives, but that Fara has taken a fatal blow. Namor helps Dorma up. He says that she didn’t want him to battle and that maybe she was the wiser. He says that a prince must employ mercy as well as might.
Hulk says that he will push himself off of a wall and that it will allow him to be as fast as Fish-Man. Hulk launches.
Namor tells Dorma that he will find the Hulk and make his peace. He says that she will not be menaced again. Dorma says that Namor has lightened her heart, but then tells Namor to beware. Namor hears the Hulk racing toward him.
Hulk blasts through a wall and says that nothing will save the Sub-Mariner now. Namor sees Hulk coming at him and says that it is too late to speak of peace. She says that first task is to stop Hulk. He says that he has to bring Hulk down before he reaches the “city proper”. He says that there must be no other victims except themselves.
Hulk sees Namor coming at him. Namor tells Hulk to turn back, but Hulk says that he doesn’t turn back for anyone.
Hulk and Namor collide. The city of Atlantis shakes as if from an earthquake.
For hundreds of miles ships are battered about.
Tidal waves are created along the coastline.
Namor is sent rocketing.
Hulk is sent hurtling out of the sea.
Namor recovers and rights his swimming. He says that he has to find out what happened to the Hulk. Namor swims up to the surface and sees an object falling out of the sky. Namor starts to swim toward it.
Hulk falls from the sky and hits the ground hard.
Namor walks onto the land to where Hulk landed, but he finds instead a man.
Bruce Banner lies on the ground as Namor returns to the sea.
No Excuses rating: 5 out of 10
In this issue of Sub-Mariner… wait a minute! This is the Hulk’s book! Well in this issue the Hulk kills a woman, thinks nothing of it and attacks again, and is beaten by the Sub-Mariner. A true low point in the Hulk’s history and in Stan’s writing. The issue gets a 1 out of 5 for the Hulk breaking Namor’s whirlpool. Trimpe however does a really nice job with the art. Getting to ink his own art really helps Trimpe’s overall presentation.
Review and pictures by The Leader