Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #136Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #136
Title: “Klaatu! The Behemoth From Beyond Space!”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Sal Buscema
Editor: Stan Lee
Bruce Banner is flying on a 707 across the Atlantic back home with General Ross and Major Talbot. Ross asks Banner if he is still feeling all right. Bruce says that the tranquilizer booster that he gave him is still working. Ross tells Banner that he is a brave man and that he is more brave than he ever gave him credit for. Not long ago, Bruce Banner awoke from his weeks of imprisonment within the Hulk to find himself in Central Europe. Banner flagged down an armored vehicle and was lucky enough to have it be one of America’s. Ross tells Bruce not to blame the NATO boys for watching him like a wild beast, he says that is what the world-wide alert says that he is when he becomes the Hulk. Ross says that it was lucky that the NATO base had facilities to put him under sedation while an officer contacted him. Ross says that he had to cut some red tape to get the jet to bring him back to the states. Banner says that he appreciates the trouble that Ross went through. Bruce asks about Betty and Jim Wilson. Ross says that they are both fine at the same hospital. He says that Betty says that Jim is becoming a good chess player. Ross says that fortunately Jim wasn’t hit full force by the rays that bounced off the Hulk’s chest, and that Betty is fully recovered from the nervous breakdown that she had when she thought Bruce was going to be trapped in the Hulk forever.
The plane lands in America and Ross, Talbot, and Bruce board a helicopter headed for the Pan Am Building in Manhattan. Bruce thinks how Ross has arranged for some of the nation’s top doctors to check him out. Bruce says that is fine with him, but that he can’t stop thinking that Ross isn’t telling him the whole truth about Betty. Suddenly something starts to happen to Bruce. Ross asks him what is wrong. Bruce says that he is just feeling dizzy. Ross says that he can’t take the chance and orders Talbot to get the needle. Bruce says that it will pass in a minute. Bruce says that a little blue pill will work just as well. Bruce says that maybe it is just thrill of being back in the states and in the human race. Ross says that he is trembling and white as a sheet. Bruce says that Ross is right. He says that it all started when they passed the Empire State Building. Talbot starts coming back with the shot. Bruce says that he doesn’t want to go under again. Bruce grabs his head and says that his head is splitting. Ross asks Talbot what he is waiting for. Talbot points out that it is too late. Bruce turns into the Hulk.
The helicopter starts spiraling around. Hulk jumps through the copter to get out. Hulk says that soldiers won’t let Hulk be free and that they are always trying to chain him. Hulk notices the helicopter coming right for him and catches it because he won’t let the soldiers try to crush him. Ross walks Hulk stomp off and says that he saved their lives in pure self defense. Ross wonders what went wrong.
At Consolidated Edison, New York’s power company, they are also asking what went wrong. There is a tremendous, inexplicable power drain located in mid-Manhattan. One man says that whatever it is that it is sucking up the power like a sponge and that they have to do something about it fast.
Hulk is climbing up the side of the Empire State Building. Hulk says that there is something in his head. He says that it doesn’t say anything, but that it is calling him there.
In space, two cosmonauts float 200 miles
above Russia when a sleek golden ship steams towards them. The
cosmonauts manage to activate their thruster just in time to
avoid being hit. From the larger ship, a small ship detaches and
descends towards the Earth. The ship pierces the upper atmosphere
and holds steady towards its destination. 
Standing on the
front of the ship is Xeron the Star-Slayer. Xeron is holding a
large staff over his shoulder. In his alien tongue he tells the
rowers of the vessel to push onward. He says that their quarry
has been found in the building before them. The ship is heading
straight towards the Empire State Building. Hulk stands atop the
Empire State Building. Hulk spots the ship coming towards him.
Below the police are frantically running about. Suddenly, as the craft descends, a giant shadow frees itself from the Empire State Building. The form is power incarnate. The “brutal, nearly brainless beast” is Klaatu, the behemoth from beyond space. At that moment, all of New York is plunged into darkness. Klaatu starts to move. Ross spots Klaatu and says that he is even a bigger threat than the Hulk. He says that they have to do something, but he can’t think of what. Talbot draws Ross’ attention to the small ship flying straight at the monster.
Hulk is confused
with everything that is happening. Hulk decides that since he is
confused that he might as well fight. Hulk dives at Klaatu. At
that same moment, Xeron is firing a bolt of crimson energy at
Klaatu, but because of the Hulk the shot goes awry. Xeron wonders
if the Hulk is actually trying to hurt Klaatu physically. Hulk
starts pounding and pounding on Klaatu. Punch after punch goes
unnoticed until Klaatu’s hand moves around to his shoulder
and flicks the Hulk off his shoulder with a flick of his fingers.
Hulk is sent flying into a building. Hulk gets up holding his
head. He says that the monster thinks that he is finished, but
that he will fight back. Hulk says that he just needs to clear
his head and think of what to do.
Klaatu looks at his radiation detector and sees that his reading on Klaatu is fading. He looks up to see Klaatu fading away. Klaatu says that now he is dispersing his atoms among the lights of the city to feed on the electrical energy. Xeron says that Klaatu has hidden from them again. He says that they have journeyed so far only to fail again. Xeron swears that Klaatu will fall before his harpoon. He says that in the meantime he has plans for the “green-skinned savage who unwittingly aided Klaatu’s escape!” Xeron orders the ship brought towards the Hulk. He says that perhaps his harpoon won’t be necessary. Xeron is about to try and grab the “epidermal grapple” when the Hulk charges the ship and punches it. The ship is sent flying. Xeron is amazed and says that it is lucky the creature only hit their force field. Xeron orders the crew to row and says that it seems the harpoon will be necessary. He says that he had hoped to spare the being needless pain. On of the crew points out that the Hulk is leaping towards them. The ship dodges Hulk’s leap and Xeron says that his presumptuousness defies belief. Hulk lands and the ship moves towards him. Hulk picks up a large truck and throws it at the ship. Xeron says that he is stronger than he thought possible, but that it won’t help him. Xeron has the ship blast the truck and causes it to explode. Xeron fires his harpoon and the crimson energy hits Hulk in his back. Hulk says that something is burning and hurting him. Hulk starts to run and starts smashing down walls. Hulk says that it isn’t working. He notices that he is feeling weaker. Xeron says that the Hulk is stronger than anyone he has ever recruited. He fires a second blast into Hulk’s back. Hulk continues to run and asks how he can smash light. Hulk leaps, but before he can land the Hulk falls unconscious and hits the ground hard. Xeron says that if he could feel pity that he would pity the brute. He says that Hulk could be the king of this planet, but that it was nothing compared to Klaatu’s might or of the “eons-old science that dares to hunt even the bestial behemoth itself!” Xeron picks up the Hulk and carries him onto the ship. The smaller craft returns to the large craft that it broke from.
Hulk wakes
aboard the ship and struggles to his feet. Hulk says that his
head is spinning, but that he has to fight back. Some of the
galley slaves are gathered around Hulk wondering about him when a
voice booms, “Silence slaves! I am first mate here… and
I will deal with this miserable specimen! So, Hulk… I see
the glint of recognition in your piggish eyes! Do you know
me?” Hulk says that he knows him from somewhere, but that it
was so long ago that he can’t remember. Abomination
introduces himself and says that he will never see his world
again.
No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10
Now this is fantasy as I like it. Xeron and Klaatu are great characters that really should have had more appearances. I love the story and the interaction. The issue also has a great surprise ending that beings back what will become a classic figure in the Hulk mythos. Herb Trimpe does a great job with the visuals in this issue. Klaatu and Xeron are cool designs and the storytelling of pictures is very strong. 4 out of 5 for the artwork.