Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #126Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #126
Title: “…Where Stalks the Night-Crawler!”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Herb Trimpe
Editor: Stan Lee
Bruce Banner lies unconscious on the ground. The gathering of people, from last issue, now stand beside him. One says that it was lucky that they saw Absorbing Man battling Bruce in his alter ego of the Hulk. A girl says, “Yes… lucky…” She says that there is no more time to waste with words. She tells them to take him to the car and then to the cliff-house. She says that he will need all the Hulk’s power when he stands… where stalks the Night-Crawler!”
They walk into the cliff-house carrying Banner. One says that if they hadn’t leaned that the Hulk was in the vicinity that their urgent mission would have been in vain. He says that as it is Van Nyborg will be pleased. Van Nyborg says that he is indeed pleased. He tells them to get Banner to the sacred chamber at once. He says that they must act swiftly and surely.
In the sacred chamber, Banner lies on a platform. The girl from before says that she knows that she has gone along with all of this, and even taken the lead in some of the rites performed, but that she is starting to have some doubts. She says that they are toying with a man’s life. Van Nyborg tells Barbara that it is too late for regrets and that she knows the oath that they all swore. She says that they only took it as a lark. Van Nyborg says that it is useless to talk about it and that Banner’s eyes are opening. Bruce asks where he is and who the figure he sees through the haze is. Van Nyborg, now in full dressed up garb, tells Banner to be silent. He say that the time for questions has passed and that the Hulk has been chosen. Bruce asks what he means by “chosen” and says that if he knows that he is the Hulk that he is playing with fire just having him there. Van Nyborg says that it is necessary to play with fire that the world might be consumed. He tells Barbara to have Banner breathe the Vapors of Valtorr. Barbara does so reluctantly. Bruce says that he doesn’t know what kind of pagan set up they have, but that he has a girl to get back to. Bruce finds that the vapors have made it impossible for him to move. Barbara says that Bruce is no longer his own master. Van Nyborg says that he hasn’t been his own master since they had a use for him. He says that Bruce was born to serve the Undying Ones, and that if it is written that he will die for them.
Ross is up on crutches. He asks Talbot what he means that they haven’t found the Hulk yet. Betty says that Bruce was blasted into space and that they still don’t know if he has returned alive. Talbot says that actually they do know. Talbot says that Banner begged him not to tell them that he came back and risked his life to destroy the comet, and that maybe he shouldn’t have because of the way he feels for Betty. Talbot says that there is something that he hasn’t told them. He says that a lone reconnaissance plane was flying over a gorge when they spotted two human forms. Talbot shows them the photo the plane took which shows the Hulk fighting the Absorbing Man. Talbot says that a scouting party, a few hours later, didn’t find anything. Ross says that he knows Betty is thinking that Banner might be dead, but he tells her to remember something that the army has learned from experience… “almost nothing can harm him… as long as he remains the Hulk!”
Banner is now restrained on a circular table that has gears under it. Van Nyborg says that they need the Hulk, and that only he can destroy the greatest enemy of the Undying Ones to clear the way for their triumphant return to Earth. Banner tells Mandrake to forget it, and that the vapors have him so groggy that he couldn’t become the Hulk even if he wanted to. Mandrake says that they will see when he faces the one called Night-Crawler. Banner’s wheel begins to spin and spin. Mandrake calls out, “Let the spinning disk be whirled, like the winds of wild Watoomb… let the man who thus is hurled, usher in a planet’s doom! Let Satannish grant thee power… and Dormammu give thee speed… that ere long may sound the hour, the Undying Ones are freed!” Banner is sent hurtling through space and time. He asks where he is going.
Dr. Strange floats helplessly as a captive of the Undying Ones. An Undying One says that the mortal still will not speak. He says that he refuses to help them pass into the outer world so they can regain their rule over mankind. The other Undying One tells his other self not to be dismayed. He says that he cannot withstand them forever. The first says that they cannot wait forever and that soon the stars won’t be right any longer and they must begin another thousand year wait. The second says that the first forgets that Van Nyborg has sent a champion to battle the dreaded Night-Crawler, whose dark dimension might become their new alternate pathway to reality. The Undying One says that if the Hulk fails that he dies, but that if he succeeds that the Earth dies.
In an adjacent dimension, Bruce is standing
up on an island floating in the air. Bruce says that he
doesn’t care where he is so much as why. Bruce says that his
captors want him to fight someone as the Hulk, but that he
won’t become the Hulk if he can help it. Bruce sees a
pin-point of light. The light grows and grows until it seems to
fill the entire universe with light. The light then seems to draw
unto itself all the sinister life-force that pervades the
atmosphere. Banner says that all the particles seem to be taking
form before his eyes. 
The
Night-Crawler stands before Banner. Bruce says that this must be
the one that they want the Hulk to destroy, but that he will die
before he becomes the Hulk again. Night-Crawler says that the
intruder speaks strange words, but that they don’t matter at
al. He says that all that matters is that he will die at the
hands of the Night-Crawler.
Van Nyborg, Barbara, and the others watch back at the house. Van Nyborg says that he can feel that Banner would rather die than become the Hulk again. He says that they must overcome this somehow. Barbara says that they can’t do this. She says that she sees how wrong they have been in their mad quest. She says that Van Nyborg treats human life as if it were a toy, and that he must be stopped. Van Nyborg says that she would defy one that serves the Undying Ones. He says that he always sensed that she was only curious about the cause, but that she was not devoted. He says that she will serve the cause now… in the most important way of all. Barbara asks what he is going to do to her. Van Nyborg says that he isn’t going to do anything, but that the Night-Crawler may have his own ideas. Van Nyborg orders Barbara seized and thrown into the circle to join Banner.
Banner says that the Night-Crawler keeps circling him. He says that he wish he would just strike and get it over with. Night-Crawler tells Bruce to tell him why he came there and who sent him there to match his puny strength against his. Suddenly Barbara appears before Bruce. Night-Crawler says that it is only another weakling. Night-Crawler recognizes Barbara’s clothes as belonging to the ones that serve the Undying Ones. He says that they sent them across the void and that there is great enmity between them since their dimension is a pathway. Night-Crawler says that he has destroyed all those that have been sent against him. Night-Crawler grabs Barbara in one hand. Bruce thinks to himself that he would have rather died than become the Hulk, but that the girl is so helpless. Banner transforms into the Hulk. Hulk grabs Night-Crawler’s wrist. Night-Crawler says that a larger creature has taken the place of the smaller one, and that the Undying Ones aren’t as foolish as he thought. Night-Crawler says that he will die like all the others. Hulk says that he is not like the others. He says that he is only like himself. Hulk punches Night-Crawler. Night-Crawler says that the strongest blow he has felt in a while, but that this is his world and that he won’t have it taken from him. Hulk says that he doesn’t want his world. He says that he just wants to go home. Hulk says that if he shows him the way home that he will go and take the girl with him. Night-Crawler says that it doesn’t matter if Hulk is telling the truth or not. He says that he has crossed the forbidden border and that he must pay the price. Night-Crawler says that first both of them must writhe helplessly in the Sceptre of Shadow, and that only death will release them. Night-Crawler uses his scepter and traps Hulk and Barbara in a ray of all blackness. Hulk says that he is blinded. Barbara tells Hulk that the has to fight back. Hulk says that he will fight, but asks how he can fight an enemy he can’t see. Night-Crawler suggests that he listen to the sound of his voice. Hulk swings behind him where Night-Crawler’s voice was coming from, but when he does Night-Crawler pushes Hulk off the floating island. Hulk says that he isn’t falling, but that he is drifting. Night-Crawler says that he will drift for all eternity and that his strength will be of no help to him. Hulk says that he still can’t see, but that if he could only touch something. Hulk’s hand brushes up against the bottom of one of the floating island. Hulk grabs hold. He says that he has never felt so alone before. Hulk says that he may not be able to see, but that he can still hit. Hulk smashes the island into pieces. The impact causes an explosion of heat and light that illuminates the long dark cosmos. Night-Crawler shouts that his eyes are in pain and says that he has never fought a foe with such raw power.
Hulk holds onto a fragment that is left of the once large island he held. Hulk says that he can see again, but that he can’t reach “the one who crawls… or the girl!” Night-Crawler says that Hulk never will either. He says that his scepter has more powers than just spreading darkness, and that he will show them now. Barbara says that the Hulk doesn’t mean any harm and that he is just trying to protect her. Night-Crawler asks why he should care and says that one blast will end his troubles. Barbara picks up a rock and manages to smash Night-Crawler’s scepter’s globe. Night-Crawler says that his scepter was destroyed by one of the fragments of the island, and that only their light energy could have done it. He says that what millenniums of foes couldn’t do the girl did in one unthinking moment. He says that she will not savor her victory for long though. He says that she will pay the price. Barbara shouts for him to keep away from her. Hulk says that he is menacing the girl. He says that the girl saved him, and that he must do the same for her. Hulk leaps off the remainder of the island like a rocket. Night-Crawler grabs Barbara’s hand, but Hulk lands a punch and separates them. Hulk lands and says that he saved the girl. Night-Crawler says that he is mistaking momentary success with an irreversible victory. Night-Crawler says that Hulk’s strength is all that he has, but that he has much more. From Night-Crawler’s crown comes sonic beams for incredible force. Hulk reels from the pain. Night-Crawler says that never again will Hulk act as a pawn for his immortal foes. Hulk says that he can’t take much more, but that he is no man’s pawn. Hulk asks Night-Crawler if he heard him and slams his hands together. Hulk clap deflects Night-Crawler’s sonic waves and causes them to attack his own cosmos. Every island in the cosmos shatters. Hulk says that he didn’t know his own strength. Barbara says that they are doomed. Night-Crawler tells her to be silent, and that death is not for him. Night-Crawler says that his immortal aura, which surrounds her and the Hulk as well as he, can transport them to one of the other dimensions alongside his. He says that they are going to the universe of the Undying Ones.
Night-Crawler, Hulk, and Barbara land upon the prison of Dr. Strange in the Undying Ones dimension. One of the Undying Ones says that the Night-Crawler has arrived. The other says that if they free the mortal that they will have to stay in their barren world for another thousand years. Night-Crawler tells the Nameless One that their exile is assured then because they are the ones that caused the Hulk to destroy his domain. Night-Crawler says that if his cosmos is no more that he will have theirs. Night-Crawler leaps towards the Undying Ones’ hordes in order to conquer. Dr. Strange says that what he has wished for has occurred. He says that by the time the battle is over that the stars will no longer be aligned and that the Earth will be spared for centuries more. Strange says that he can die happy now. Hulk asks if the “Weird One” wants to get out. Barbara says that even the Hulk’s fists would be useless against the mystic poles. She say that the only way he can be freed is if someone takes his place. Barbara starts to climb in. Strange asks her what she is doing. Strange is freed. Strange asks Barbara why she sacrificed herself to save one she has never met. Barbara says that Van Nyborg told them of his sacrifice and asks how she could do less. She says that she sent Bruce Banner into unknown realms and that it is better that she perishes over anyone else. She says that they must go and that they must hurry. Hulk asks why they must hurry and where they can go. Strange says that Hulk doesn’t need to know and tells him to be quiet while he casts a spell since the Undying Ones are too busy to stop him. Strange says, “By the seraphim’s silent chant… and by Munnopor’s mystic moon… may omniscient Oshtur grant… this fateful boon!” Strange and Hulk vanish from the Undying Ones’ realm. Hulk says that he feels funny.
Strange and Banner arrive outside Strange’s sanctum sanctorum. Strange notices that the Hulk has turned into Bruce Banner. Banner says that he is all right, but that Strange should leave him for his own good. Strange helps Banner inside and says that the world has called him many things, but that he has never abandoned a friend or feared to help to help a fellow human in need. Strange gets out some old clothes. He says that these will make both of them feel normal again. He says that when Banner’s dizziness passes that both of them will leave. Banner asks if this isn’t his home and why he would leave. Strange says that it has been for years, but that with the Undying Ones locked out of their cosmos for many lifetimes that maybe Dr. Strange is no longer needed. He says that maybe the world is ready for a regular Stephen Strange, a former surgeon that can still be useful as a medical consultant. Banner shakes Strange’s hand and thanks him for everything.
Outside, Bruce and Strange walk in different directions. Bruce thinks to himself that he can sense that Strange has known torment and the scorn of the masses. Bruce says that he wishes that he could be in his shoes though to be able to walk away from it all. He wishes that he could be rid of the Hulk forever.
No Excuses rating: 7 out of 10
Hulk and Dr. Strange against the Undying Ones. This issue serves as a prelude to the Defenders. Those of you in the know might recognize Barbara Norriss as the woman that would be transformed into the Valkyrie. I love the Night-Crawler and only wish that he has been more of a player in the Hulk’s lore. Trimpe does a decent job storytelling, and though the darkness effect is pretty cool, he doesn’t have many good shots in this issue.