Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #137Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #137
Title: “The Stars, Mine Enemy!”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Mike Esposito
Editor: Stan Lee
Hulk leaps at the Abomination. He shouts
that he knows him. Abomination says that of course Hulk knows him
and asks who after seeing him once could ever forget him. Hulk
hits Abomination. He says that Abomination’s name means
nothing to him, but that he knows his face and he hates it.
Abomination punches Hulk off of him and asks him if he remembers
why he hates his face. Abomination brings both of his fists down
on Hulk and says that it is because he is far stronger than him.
Hulk says that he didn’t know that back then and that he
doesn’t know it now. Hulk says that nobody is stronger than
him. Abomination says, “Nobody, you lumbering lummox? What
about…” Hulk nails Abomination in the face and says,
“I said… nobody! Did you hear? Nobody!” 
Hulk swings two
fists around and hits Abomination. The galley slaves are watching
the fight. One says that he would bet a day’s food rations
on it. Abomination kicks Hulk off and the slave says to the other
slave that it is too bad for him that he didn’t take him up
on the bet. Abomination tells Hulk that they will see who is
master of the Andromeda. A shadowed figure tells both Abomination
and Hulk to stop. He says that there is no fighting on the ship.
Hulk says that he can hear a voice, but that he can’t tell
what they are saying. Hulk leaps at Abomination and grabs him by
the throat. He says that no talking will help him. Abomination
says that Hulk overestimates himself and that his next blow will
make him regret it. Xeron blasts Hulk in the back and repeats
that there is no fighting. He says that maybe when their newest
rower awakens maybe he will have learned to act like a slave.
Xeron tells Abomination that he is lucky that he didn’t aim
the harpoon at him as well. Abomination says that Xeron goes to
far and that he is first mate. Xeron says that he is the Star
Slayer that tracks Klaatu. Xeron asks Abomination if he wants to
tell Captain Cybor that he threatened his cosmic quest. Xeron
says that he didn’t think so. Xeron says that he has to go
tell Cybor of how Klaatu nearly fell to him. Xeron tells Cerexo
to take care of the prisoner.
Cerexo leaps over to Hulk and says that he knows what to do. Hulk says that suddenly understands all the voices that he hears. Cerexo says that is his power and why he is not chained like the others. Cerexo says that if Hulk behaves maybe they won’t chain him either. Hulk says that no one had better try to chain him and asks Cerexo to tell him more. Cerexo asks if he wants to hear about Xeron, the quest, or Klaatu. Hulk says to tell him everything since he is confused. Cerexo tells Hulk that Cybor is their captain and that they can only guess why he chases Klaatu across space. He goes on and tells Hulk that when they encountered the Abomination, not long ago, that he was battling an armored creature that was much larger than him on a nameless asteroid. He says that because Abomination defeated the beast that Xeron brought him on board. Cerexo says that Abomination was supposed to be an oarsman like Hulk is, but that he challenged the former first mate to a death duel and won. He says that on the Andromeda that if you kill a man that you must take his place and so Abomination became first mate. Hulk says that no one is going to chain or kill him. He says that he will leave the boat anytime he wants. Cerexo says that might be, but he asks Hulk if he leaves where will he go.
Hulk realizes that he has no answer and so he joins in the ship’s tasks. Hulk works along the other slaves. He carries large machines into place. Hulk eventually gets used to Abomination watching over him at every opportunity. Hulk eats with the others and sleeps in the top bunk in his quarters.
One night, Hulk is unable to sleep. He rises to go for a walk and the Abomination is lurking and following. Hulk looks down at the Earth which the ship still orbits. He wonders why almost no one has seen the captain of the ship. He wonders why he chases after Klaatu, and he wonders if his captors will release him when their search is done. Hulk wonders if he would even want to be free. He feels a sense of belonging in the community of outcasts. Hulk is lost in thought and doesn’t hear the Abomination coming up behind him. Abomination is holding a spare harpoon and bashes the Hulk with it from behind. While Hulk is stunned, Abomination picks him up and throws him overboard. The watchman in the crow’s nest spots the Hulk and calls for all hands to go deck side. Xeron orders them to row and says that if anyone shirks their duties that they will answer to him. Hulk bounces from meteor to meteor. Xeron says that Hulk may be in trouble if he hits a meteor that his bulk can’t smash. Xeron says that he only has one charge in his harpoon, but that it must be enough. Xeron fires his harpoon and hits Hulk’s back. Hulk is dragged back on board. Abomination appears and compliments Xeron’s work. He says that he just heard the lookout’s shout now. Xeron calls Abomination a liar and asks if he thinks he is blind. Xeron says that only the Abomination has the strength to throw him overboard and that he will pay. Hulk gets up and says that he doesn’t need anyone to do his fighting for him. He says that he will smash. Xeron holds Hulk and Abomination apart and says that this is a matter for the captain to decide. Abomination asks if Xeron thinks Cybor cares about what happens to “this space-scum?” Xeron says that they will soon know as Ztlol, Cybor’s personal assistant, appears and says that the three of them are ordered to the captain’s quarters.
As Hulk, Abomination, and Xeron walk to
Cybor’s quarters Hulk says that he has been wondering what
the captain looks like. Abomination says that not even he knows
that. Xeron says that they slept more soundly for not knowing.
Xeron says that seeing him once long ago was enough for him.
Cybor glows and appears before them. 
Half of
Cybor’s body is made of machinery. He tells them all to look
at him. He asks them why they don’t mock him as a freak.
Xeron reminds Cybor that they didn’t come to mock him, but
that it was him that summoned them. Cybor says that he remembers
now. He says that he also remembers what he saw on his
vizi-screen. He says that he saw the first mate tossing the new
oarsman over the side. Abomination tries to tell Cybor that Hulk
attacked him first, but Cybor asks Abomination if he thinks that
he wants to hear his lies. Cybor says that all he wants in
results… results of revenge on Klaatu. Cybor says that he
will tell them why their squabbles threaten his life’s
mission. Cybor tells them that he was once an oarsman like Xeron
and that he was fully human. He says that he was a brazen youth
and that he dared to face Klaatu alone. Cybor says that Klaatu
turned on him and destroyed his craft like an eggshell. Cybor
says that he floated in space. He says that he was rescued but
that it wasn’t until the half of his body that was facing a
nearby star was burned beyond recognition. Hulk realizes that is
why Cybor is half machine, but says that all he cares about is
smashing the one that hit him. Cybor says that there are no
personal fights on the ship. He says, “Xeron… escort
this brute back to his quarters!” Hulk is ready to attack
Cybor, but Xeron stops him and says that he can’t. Xeron
tells Hulk that Cybor’s machine half is what controls the
craft. He says that if Hulk hurts him that none of them will ever
get home. Cybor tells them to get out again.
Hulk lays in bed and doesn’t realize that Cybor’s crew is mostly comprised of monsters because they don’t remind him as much of the humanity he lost. As Hulk sleeps he finally changes back into Bruce Banner. Bruce wakes up startled. He says that he thought that he was having a nightmare, but that now that he is awake he sees that his nightmare was real. The other monsters want to destroy the stowaway, but Bruce says that he is the Hulk. Cerexo examines Bruce and realizes that he is telling the truth. Xeron wants to know what is happening, but suddenly the alert goes off for all men to report for Condition Omega.
Cybor is waiting by the stalk boats. He says that Klaatu has been sighted and that he left his place on Hulk’s world. Xeron says that Cybor is leading them so they are staking everything on this. Bruce is forced to row in Hulk’s position. Bruce thinks about how ridiculous it is for him to be “rowing” an oar in order for the oar to collect light rays that come off the stars. He wishes that he had stayed the Hulk so he could have remained small-minded enough to accept anything without going mad. Cybor tells Xeron that his blasts may wound Klaatu, but that it must be his blow that slays the beast. Cybor says that Klaatu thought that he could outlast him on the planet below, but that he knew that Klaatu could not live for long in an atmosphere rich in oxygen. He says that he knew that it would have to come up from the air. Xeron and Cybor both hit Klaatu with energy beams. Xeron tells Cybor that his boat is drifting too close to Klaatu. Cybor tells him to be silent, but history repeats itself and Klaatu destroys Cybor’s ship. Klaatu is mortally wounded, but this time as he is plunging toward escape he is not alone. Cybor lands on Klaatu’s back. Cybor shouts for someone to help him.
Abomination sees that Xeron’s ship is being pulled along behind Klaatu’s descent. He says that he wouldn’t help Xeron if he could. Abomination manages to drift close enough to Bruce Banner to grab him. Abomination says that now he can get his revenge on the pitiful being that the Hulk has become. Bruce says that he had forgotten about the Abomination. Abomination calls Bruce a fool and asks him if he thought that he could avoid his fate. Abomination says that he only wishes it was the Hulk he was crushing. Suddenly Abomination is no longer holding Bruce Banner, but the Hulk. Hulk tells “Ugly One” that he got his wish, but that he won’t be crushing anyone. Hulk breaks free of Abomination’s grip. Abomination double pounds Hulk’s head. He says that Hulk’s memory is bad. He says that he beat Hulk once on Earth and that now he will do it on the edge of space. Hulk says that he was weaker then, but that now he is stronger than anyone. Hulk punches Abomination in the face.
The crew shouts for Xeron to save them. Xeron says that he has no choice but to cut his line. He says that it is clear that Klaatu is mortally wounded and that he has begun his death drift into the Sun. Xeron says that he is taking his first victim and his destroyer with him. Klaatu plunges into the Sun. Xeron says that now they are stuck in an eternal orbit around the same Sun that will last much longer than their air-shield will. He says that they are Cybor’s only mourners and the ship is his only monument.
Abomination and Hulk have been trading punches back and forth. Abomination says that he is too weak to strike again, Hulk says that means he wins. Hulk punches Abomination and sends him hurtling to the Earth below. Hulk’s final blow also exhausts him and gravity manages to pull him down to Earth with Abomination.
A man is walking with his daughter at night. He tells her that it is too late for her to make a wish on a star. He says that it has to be the first star she sees or a shooting star. Suddenly the pair seems to spot two shooting stars. The little girl says that it looks more like two men falling. She says, “Two men who fell off a star… and fell so far… they can’t ever get back again…!”
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
Another strong story and artwork. Klaatu plays the cosmic Moby Dick to Cybor’s cosmic Ahab. A strong story based on another strong story. It’s kind of funny that the Hulk seemed to find peace with the Andromeda, and that Bruce Banner, in a fashion, was disappointed to be himself on the adventure. Herb Trimpe does another outstanding job and even delivers what I consider to be the best pictures of Hulk and Abomination ever.