Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #122

Title: “The Hulk’s Last Fight!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Editor: Stan Lee

Hulk stands alone on a hillside somewhere in the south. He stands trying to think of where he wanted to go as he watches a train barrel north-bound. Hulk says that there was someplace where he could be free and no one would bother him. Hulk says that everywhere he goes there are men and the machines they make. Hulk says that the machines are always hurting him or carrying soldiers to where he is hiding. Hulk decides that maybe the train is carrying soldiers, tanks, or “the rockets that sting!” Hulk leaps down to the ground and splits the railroad tracks with his impact. Hulk says that if it does it won’t get where it is going. Hulk says that it won’t if he can do anything about it, and that he can. Hulk grabs the broken rails and whips them. The train is tossed off the tracks and into the air. Hulk says that maybe men will remember his strength now and leave him alone. Hulk says that is all that he wants. The two men on the train spot the Hulk stomping away. One man says that it is lucky that they are only a cargo train with no passengers and the other man says that they are lucky to be alive themselves. He says that they should run before Hulk comes back.

Hulk sees and says to let them run like rats. He asks why he should care. Hulk says that at least his foot is better now and that he can walk again. Hulk says now if he could only think and remember where he wanted to go. Hulk says that he has been awake too long and fought too hard. He asks why it is so hard for him to think. He grabs his head and passes out on the ground.

While he sleeps the Hulk transforms back into Bruce Banner. When Bruce wakes up it is night. Banner says that he is back, but asks what difference it makes when the slightest excitement or exertion will cause him to become a monster again. He says that what is worse is that he can’t seem to remember what he did as the Hulk this time. Bruce recalls a train and then he looks down the hill. Bruce sees the train demolished. He says that he must have killed someone or at least caused their death. Bruce walks down to the train. He calms himself and says that if he doesn’t remain calm that the “green-skinned grotesquerie will be back”. Bruce says that it looks like no one was hurt this time, but that sooner or later the Hulk will become a murderer. Bruce spots a bunch of clothes on the ground and figures that the train must have been carrying men’s suits. Bruce puts one on and says that if only he could control his changes as easily as he changes clothes. He says that he would do anything to control the changes. Bruce starts walking down the tracks. A newspaper is blowing around. The headline reads, “FORMULA TO CURE HULK FOUND”. Bruce reads the headline. He hears a train coming down the tracks and hops into one of the boxcars.

At the Baxter Building, Sue asks Reed if he thinks that Bruce Banner will see the headline. Reed says that he has to for his own sake, and that is why they have been blanketing the media with their message. Torch announces that the security guards have arrived. Thing sarcastically says that they will be a lot of help against the Hulk. Reed says that isn’t the point and tells Torch to let them in. Reed tells the guards that when Banner shows up that he is to be let through without any questions. He says that their job will be to keep away the “curiosity-seekers”. One the guards asks what if Banner shows up as the Hulk. Reed says that they are to take no action except to alert him at once to prevent any innocents from getting hurt. The guard says that they won’t let him down. Another guard, Andrews, shows up late and says that he is reporting for duty. The sergeant asks why he wasn’t at the briefing. Andrews says that his wife just delivered their baby, and that he would like to go back there right now to see his son. The sergeant says that he can’t dismiss him right now and that there are lives at stake.

Bruce rides along in the boxcar. He thinks to himself that while he is human that he has to write down what he has guessed about Richards’ formula to cure him. He thinks that how if they are right that he may never have to become the Hulk again. Bruce looks over at the two “bindlestiffs” that hopped into the baxcar a few miles back. He says that he doesn’t like the way they are looking at him and whispering to each other. Bruce says that he can’t become frightened or menaced. Bruce quickly writes down a few basic formulas and folds them into a handkerchief which he then ties onto his rope belt. Bruce says that even if he becomes the Hulk now the formulas might make it to the Fantastic Four. One of the bums asks Bruce what he put in his pouch. He says to let him see. Bruce tells them to stay back and that they don’t know what they are doing. The bum says that it is Bruce that doesn’t know what is going to happen if he doesn’t hand over the pouch. The bum pulls out a knife. Bruce tells them to get back, but the bum asks if Bruce is going to bleed all over them, The other guy tells “Charlie” to back off and says that there is something wrong with the guy. He says that he looks kind of pale. Bruce says that it has already begun and that it is too late to stop it now. The two bums watch horrified as Bruce changes into the Hulk. They leap off of the moving train.

Charlie asks what happened, but the other guy says that he is lucky his eyesight is so bad because he has never seen anything so horrible as when Bruce turned into the Hulk.

Hulk stands alone on the train. He asks why he is on a train when he can leap anywhere he wants to go. Hulk is about to get off when something deep inside his brain tells him to stay on. He doesn’t know why, but Hulk sits down in the boxcar. As Hulk stays on the train the rhythms of the train calm the Hulk and change him back into Bruce Banner.

A USAF jet flies over the train. He informs General Ross that there is a train down there like the one the Hulk wrecked earlier. Ross tells him not to bother and that the Hulk isn’t going to sit on a train. He says that the Hulk will be out there leaping and smashing. The pilot says that he understands Ross and that he is headed southward toward sector three.

Ross says that the Hulk is out there somewhere and that they have to find him. Talbot says that they will. Betty asks if they are just going to kill him in cold blood when they find him. She says that they know that the Hulk saved her from that creature in the Everglades, but that they won’t admit that the Hulk could be cured and changed back into Bruce Banner. Talbot says that they don’t even know that there was a creature and that both of them could have been suffering from some kind of hysteria. Ross says that he suffered from cold feet and let the Hulk go, but that he will never do that again.

The jets continue to search though they will find nothing.

Bruce Banner walks along the stormy New York streets in a coat and hat. He says that he has come this far, and that he won’t let anything stop him. Bruce walks into the Baxter Building. In the lobby, Bruce says that the top lights where the Fantastic Four lives were on so he is home free. The guard standing at the elevator thinks to himself that there is another weirdo coming. He says that this is his luck for relieving Andrews, but that with his wife having a baby that he couldn’t turn him down. The guard asks Bruce where he thinks he is going. Bruce asks what he means. He says that he is Bruce Banner and that the Fantastic Four are expecting him. The guard says that he and a million other unshaven bums are Banner. He says to wait while he calls up. Bruce says that every second is precious. Bruce tells the guard to stand aside and that he is going up. The guard says that he will over his beaten body. Bruce charges into the guard and says that if that is the way he wants it. The guard says that the guy that replaced him might not have done a good job briefing him, but that nobody pushes him around. The guard draws his gun. Another guard shouts out that he is talking to the Hulk. Bruce says that it is too late, and that his pulse is racing. Bruce changes. Hulk says that he goes where he wants to go. The guard’s bullets bounce off Hulk as Hulk rips open the elevator doors. Hulk remembers that the Fantastic Four live on the top, but he also remembers that they are his enemies and decides that he must be there to destroy them. Hulk starts climbing up the elevator shaft by digging his hands into the wall.

Up above, Reed tells Thing that someone has sounded the alert and that can only mean that the Hulk has arrived. Thing says that he knew they would have trouble with him. Thing gets on the elevator and says that he has been practicing for this rematch for a long time. Thing starts to ride the elevator down.

Hulk sees the elevator coming down at him. He says that his enemies must know that he is there and are attacking him first. Hulk punches the elevator and knocks the Thing off of his feet. Hulk says that the elevator has stopped, but that he didn’t smash it. Hulk says that he will hit it again. The elevator flies up the shaft and right through the roof of the Baxter Building. Thing says that he will be back. Hulk reaches the top floor and says that he just wishes that he could remember why he was there.

Reed says that there was a noise in the elevator shaft and says that he is going to open the doors. The Hulk climbs out of the shaft. Torch says that Ben went down there just a few minutes ago and asks where he went. Hulk tells Torch not to worry about the Thing, but that he should worry about what he is going to do to him. Crystal says that Hulk doesn’t remember why he is there. Reed tells Johnny to delay the Hulk for a moment. Torch creates a wall of flame to imprison Hulk. Hulk claps his hands and snuffs out Torch’s flame. Hulk starts to head towards the lab. He says that it is the machines that always hurt. Crystal notices a pouch drop from Hulk’s pants. Sue says that it must be something important and grabs it. Reed has his arms wrapped around Hulk’s body. Sue says that she thinks that there is some secret within the pouch. Torch asks why the Hulk would have something attached to his pants. Sue suggests that maybe Bruce Banner put it there. Hulk tears Mr. Fantastic off of him and shouts, “Banner! Always Banner! How Hulk hates the sound of that name!” Reed tells Sue to open it quickly. Hulk throws Reed against the wall. Reed flattens himself to reduce the impact. Sue says that Reed was right and that it is some kind of formula. Reed says that it won’t do any good if the Hulk destroys his lab. He says that Hulk is halfway through the reinforced wall. Hulk says that soon he will be all the way through because nothing can stop him. He says that no one and no thing has the power to stop him. Thing’s head pops out of the top of the elevator shaft and asks if he heard his name being called. Reed says that Ben is just in time. He says that Ben has to keep the Hulk at bay while he goes into the bio-lab. Reed says, “You can do it, old friend… you’ve got to!” Thing asks why everytime Reed needs something he starts with the “old friend’ rountine”. Thing leaps at Hulk and shouts, “It’s clobberin’ time!” Thing collides into Hulk and says that it is like hitting a brick wall through a brick wall. Hulk says, “You are strong, Thing! But not as strong as the Hulk! Nothing is as strong as the Hulk!” Thing and Hulk clasp hands. Thing says that Hulk needs a new press agent to think up some new lines for him and that his old ones are getting stale. Hulk says that Thing can do the talking while he acts. As Thing and Hulk arm wrestle, Thing asks Hulk to breathe the other way. Hulk says that Thing talks brave, but that he won’t do it for long. Hulk throws Thing away. Thing says that Hulk is too strong for him so he better start using his brain. Hulk says that Thing was easier to beat than he thought and that he isn’t worth fighting anymore. Hulk says that he will finish Thing with a leap. Thing ducks the leap and Hulk breaks right through the wall out of the Baxter Building.

Reed emerges from the lab and says that he entered both his and Banner’s formula into his sonic blaster, and that if anything will cure the Hulk that it will. Reed asks where Hulk is. Thing says that Hulk is pounding the pavement where he belongs and asks where his thank you note is. Reed sees Hulk down on the ground. He stretches all the way down there with the blaster. Reed says that if it doesn’t work that Hulk may get him in his death grip. Reed blasts Hulk with the sonic blaster. Hulk falls to the ground unconscious. Torch asks how long it will last. Reed says that he hopes it is long enough for him to cure the Hulk forever.

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

A cure for the Hulk. Not a really “new” concept, but at the time it would be the greatest success in that department. Always love when the Hulk goes up against the Fanastic Four. Actually I love it when Hulk fights the Thing… because he never really loses. The Hulk has never successfully defeated the Fantastic Four as a unit. Trimpe does a great job with the penciling this issue. His Hulk really shows a mass and power one would contribute to the Hulk. My only real critique is that I would have liked more panels devoted to the Hulk/Thing fight. 4 out of 5 for both.

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