Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #146

Title: “And the Measure of a Man is… Death!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Basic Plot: Roy Thomas

Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Inker: John Severin

Editor: Stan Lee

Hulk runs through the desert alone.

In another desert, Jim Wilson stands with Thunderbolt Ross, Betty Ross, and Doc Samson. They watch the construction of the base. Jim asks Ross if that is where Ross is going to trap the Hulk. Ross says that if the “brain boys” have done their jobs well that Project Greenskin might just be the salvation of Robert Bruce Banner. Betty says that if only she could believe that her father meant that. Doc Samson says that everything is at stake and that no one knows it better than he does. Ross tells Samson that they have all done their bit to help Bruce Banner, but that sometimes there is a deeper duty than saving a single life. He says that sometimes a man has no choice. Jim says that he thinks that it is time for him to be hitchhiking again, and that all this nobility makes him jealous. He says that he is leaving Presidential inspection or not. Ross tells Jim that is up to him. He says that he will see about getting Jim a ride as far as LA, but that Jim knows he can’t promise anything. Jim says that he is glad and that he was getting sick of promises anyway. Betty points out a light in the sky, but Ross tells her that they have more to think about.

Hulk is confused as the sky grows dark despite the fact that it is daytime. Hulk notices that the air is getting cold and then sees a sandstorm coming right at him. Hulk walks into the wind and says that he wants to go home. He asks why he can’t go home. He says that everything hurts him and tries to stop him. Through the shriek of the tossed sands the Hulk, through some sorcery, hears people that he thinks he knows. Hulk calls out to the voices and asks them who they are and why they follow Hulk. Hulk asks why he always sees them. Hulk sees Betty’s face and says that they don’t answer him. He says that they stare at Hulk, but that they are someplace else. Hulk asks why he can’t think. Hulk’s anger grows and grows. He slams his hands together.

Ross says that tomorrow the President and the Vice President will be expecting the best, and that they will be expecting Samson to give it to them. Ross says that is if Samson can tear himself away from his daughter. Samson says that he will try. Ross tells Samson that he better do more than try. He says that he is sick to death of carrying around dead weight, and that he had better make himself count. Betty says, “Dad!”, but Samson says that it is all right. Samson tells Ross that he understands. Talbot drives up and Ross asks him where he has been cringing. Jim thinks to himself that Ross has flipped out. Talbot asks Ross if he doesn’t remember when they talked about him planning the reception for the President. Talbot says that it is going well. Ross says that of course it is. Ross tells Talbot that they better get to the front line. Betty calls out to her father, but he doesn’t even hear her.

After six hours of sandstorm, the winds start to die down. Hulk sees a figure with long hair. He wonders if it is Betty, but when she comes in view Hulk sees that it is not Betty, but a woman holding a gun. Hulk asks why everyone has guns and why they all shoot at him. The woman sees Hulk and says, “Abraham’s sword! Some sort… of monster!” The woman shoots and hits Hulk. Hulk says that she hurt him and that he does not like being hurt. Hulk says that he has walked for hours and that he is tired, but that he will stop her. Hulk says that even here where all is bright and dead that they won’t leave him alone. Hulk says that he doesn’t like to hit women, but that maybe this time he will change his mind.

Back at the base, Ross tells Jim that it is done and to get his hide off the base. Jim says that is very nice and that he doesn’t know what he would have done if Ross hadn’t been so kind. Ross says that Wilson is in no position to be sarcastic. He says that he wanted a ride and he got him a ride. He tells him to move and Jim replies, “Yas suh!””

Moments later, Jim is thinking to himself that he can’t figure Ross out. He says that one minute he is the nicest bluecoat in the world, and that the next he is Uncle Scrooge. Jim thinks that he has seen livelier dummies in store windows than the guy who is driving him. Jim tells the soldier to watch his speedometer and that he is hitting seventy. He says that the cliffriders aren’t meant for drag racing. The soldier pulls a gun on Jim. He tells him not to speak and that if he moves his end will be painful.

Hulk follows the woman and finds that she is running toward a bunch of soldiers and tanks. Hulk says that he has been tricked, but like he was tricked by the ones with bright lights and strange boxes. Hulk says that they used a girl too, and that he is always tricked by a girl. Hulk says no more and that now he will smash all of them.

The soldier fires at Jim, but Jim picks up a suitcase and the bullet ricochets off the suitcase and into the soldier’s head. The car speeds toward the cliff as the driver can no longer steer the curve. Jim leaps out of the car just as it drives off the side of the cliff. The car crashes and explodes. Jim thinks to himself that the driver may still be alive and that he has to go find out. Jim says that after all those years in a Los Angeles slum that he never thought he would be playing St. Bernard to a white man that tried to kill him. Jim gets down to the wreck and then spots something.

Hulk pauses because his head hurts from confusion. He wonders why the army gave guns to girls. Hulk is unaware that he is facing the army of Israel, but the soldiers open fire nonetheless. Hulk says that he doesn’t want a fight, and that he can’t fight women. Hulk says that he doesn’t understand.

Jim Wilson stares down into the wreckage of the crash and sees that his driver was a robot.

Part Two- Man-Trap!

Hulk stands there for a bit, but then he starts fighting back. He says that he doesn’t know why they try to hurt him, and that he doesn’t care. He says that even women try to stop him from getting home. Hulk says that he is going home, and that he will crush anyone who stands in his way. One of the female soldiers says that the Hulk talks and asks what he is saying. One of the men says to forget his words and that his actions speak louder than words. Hulk sees the woman and says that she is the one that set them against him. He presses a tank over his head and says that he will give her the tank hard. Hulk says, “No. Hulk… never wants to fight… and yet… Hulk always does.” Hulk puts down the tank and leaps away. Hulk asks why he should stay there and fight when he doesn’t have to.

For hours Hulk leaps along. He finally grows weary and stops only to find a plane coming right at him as it takes off. The pilots see the Hulk, but it is too late to do anything about it. The plane pulls up, but Hulk catches hold of one of the engines. The captain says that it looks like they have an unscheduled passenger. The co-pilot says that there are winds of five hundred miles her hour and asks how he can stay out there. The pilot says that it is the Hulk. The tower in Tel Aviv contact the US Pentagon and let them now about the Hulk. One man in the tower says that they have special plans for the Hulk.

Later that night, Jim knocks on Ross’ door. Ross sees Wilson and starts to tell him that he told him to go, but Jim says that he knows what he was told. He says that now he has some things to tell Ross. Jim says that the man he sent with him was an android. Ross says, “Was?” Jim says that now he is dead. Ross says that he didn’t realize. He says that Jim must have been through a terrible ordeal. Ross says that he is going to find out what is going on. Jim says that is all he ever asked.

Jim walks outside, and then when he gets out he realizes that he must have been in shock to go to the man that ordered the android to take him for a ride. Jim says that he fouled things up and that now he has to straighten them out. Jim climbs down into a building through a window. He wonders how he is going to straighten things out when he can’t even find the office he just came from. Jim says that he was going to sneak up and eavesdrop, but that now he is lost in the basement. Jim sees something in the shadows. Jim freaks out when he sees the President and Vice-President standing inside glass tubes. Jim turns and runs to find someone to show, but he literally runs into Major Talbot. Talbot tells Jim to calm down. Jim tells Talbot that he has to come with him. Talbot says that Jim looks like he has a fever. Jim takes Talbot down and shows him the President and Vice-President and asks if a fever can explain that away. Talbot says that he is afraid that it can’t. Jim asks Talbot if he knew about this. Talbot says that they are part of an overall plan. Jim asks if Talbot is listening and starts to tell Talbot, but Talbot interrupts and tells Jim that they are android duplicates of the originals. Talbot takes his hat off and says, “And who should know better than I? For… did I not make them?” Talbot starts to transform, “Is not mine the intellect supreme? Yes, Jim Wilson… I heard you… and you’ll pray I never did!” Jim freaks as he watches Talbot transform into the Leader. Jim starts to run. Leader tells Jim that he can run if he wants, but that he only provides him amusement. He says that he has not forgotten the debt he owes him, and that the debt will be amply repaid. Leader asks Ross if that isn’t correct. Ross holds a gun on Jim. Jim says that it can’t be.

A car takes Leader, Ross, and Jim Wilson deep into the Arizona mountains. It drives until it enters a lit area hidden deep in the mountains. A door opens in the side of the mountain and “Ross” tosses Jim into a room with the real General Ross, Talbot and Colonel. Ross asks Jim if they got him too. Talbot says that they’ve had it. Leader says, “Please, Major… excuse the General’s ignorance. You were the first to be replaced…and the General can’t possibly remember the spray of gas that immobilized them all this past afternoon… a spray from my nearby landing craft… that allowed us to land unnoticed… and summarily replace General Ross with an android… one whose temperament proved ill-suited to the task, I might add.” Leader says that was the first step, and that Jim Wilson might be able to guess at the next step. A robot walks into the room and tells Leader that Pentagon scramblers report that the Hulk is on his way to the base. Leader says that this should be amusing, and that if things proceed the way he thinks that tomorrow before the President and Vice-President that they will kill the Hulk.

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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