Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #148

Title: “But Tomorrow… the Sun Shall DIE!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Plotting assist: Chris Claremont

Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Inker: John Severin

Editor: Stan Lee

 Ross, Betty, and Talbot stand with Dr. Peter Corbeau. Ross says that Project Greenskin may be a few girders from completion, but that the VTOL transport and the rest of the combat force are ready to move. He tells Corbeau that they will catch the Hulk for him. Ross says that he doesn’t understand how Corbeau’s “orbiting whosis” can change the Hulk back into Bruce Banner permanently. Corbeau smiles as he is used to people who doubt him and his greatest invention Starcore One, the first orbiting solar reactor. Corbeau says that of course Ross is skeptical. He says that he and his daughter have heard many such theories and seen all of them fail. He says that once they have this receiver unit set up that he thinks they will see his plan succeed… provided Ross captures the Hulk. Ross tells Corbeau not to worry about that and that his Hulk-Busters can handle the job. Ross says that the irony is that if they and Corbeau succeed that this base will be obsolete before it is completed. One soldier runs in to tell Ross that the Hulk has been spotted. Ross says to get the alpha section of their search and strike squadron aloft right now.

Hunter jets streak toward the Hulk’s location. The jets buzz by the Hulk reaching him even before their own sound reaches Hulk. Hulk is tosses into the air from the sonic boom. Hulk wants to know where the planes came from. Hulk asks what they did to him and that his ears hurt. One of the gets fires its rocket darts. The mass of tiny sedative tipped darts strike Hulk in the back. The Hulk drops to the ground unconscious.

On another world, Jarella rides at the head of a mounted column. Two hunters after Jarella ride above the column on flying beasts. The flying hunters swoop down on the mounted riders against Jarella and in the name of Lord Visis. Visis has amassed an army of renegades. Jarella tells the men of K’ai not to be driven out into the open where the advantage belongs to the flying hunters. She tells them to stay together and near the trees. One by one Jarella’s riders are cut down. Jarella is left alone to stand against her enemies. Jarella fights the flying hunters herself. She thinks to herself that if only the gods had not stolen Bruce Banner from her. She cuts one of the flying hunters with her sword. She thinks to herself that K’ai needs Bruce Banner if it is to survive Visis’ war as she stabs the other rider in the chest. Exhausted, Jarella wonders how long a warrior queen can fight denied the man she loves.

Jarella retreats to the mountain retreat of Torla, chief sorcerer of the realm. She tells him of the forces Visis has gathered, but Torla tells Jarella that they can plan later. He says that she needs rest and that he has a potion to revive her. Soon after, Jarella drinks her potion. She says that it all began to go amiss when Bruce Banner was taken from them. She says that she doesn’t know where he is, but that if she could find him and bring him back. Torla says that many read it as a sign against Jarella when the one she chose to be king was snatched away by the hand of the gods. Torla says that he will gather the Pantheon of Sorcerers, but that a conjuring of the magnitude it would require could shake the world and the cosmos.

Back on Earth, the VTOL craft lands as the retractable roof of the radiation research complex opens wide. Ross orders that the Hulk be taken down the ramp and into the lab. He says to hurry and that no sedative seems to work long on the Hulk. One of the men delivers Corbeau’s “prize package”. Corbeau says that the man can afford to be flip, but that inside the Hulk is a man that he roomed with at college. He says that he was a man that he drank and laughed with until this. Ross tells Corbeau that there will be plenty of time for memory lane if his theory works. Ross orders Hulk into position so they can find out. Corbeau says that Ross proved that he and his Hulk-Busters could do their job. He says that the rest is up to him and Starcore One. Corbeau says to watch the laser beam transviewer. He says that it is monitoring Starcore in its Sun facing orbit. Corbeau pushes a button and Starcore’s hydrogen-helium reactor is activated. The power of the sun is relayed back to Earth in a concentrated beam that strikes their solar-wave receiver. The receiver filters it down to play over the Hulk. Solar energy is penetrating every atom of Hulk’s body… attacking and neutralizing the gamma radiation that made him what he is. Hulk awakens and says that it is like a shower of fire. Hulk begins to change. He says that he doesn’t want to change, but before too long Bruce Banner is left in Hulk’s place. Corbeau says that it is done. Betty says that he is her darling Bruce again. Talbot asks Corbeau how he knows it is permanent. The boys in the tech room tell Corbeau that their gamma radiation sensors are registering zero. Ross welcomes Bruce. He says that he may have lost a Hulkbuster base, but that he has gained a future son-in-law. One of the men in the tech room tells Ross that there is some kind of solar disturbance. A gigantic solar flare rises up off the Sun’s surface. If the Earth had been lined up in the flare the heat and radiation would have killed millions. Ross turns to Corbeau since he is a prize winning solar physicist. Corbeau says that he can only think that somehow it is connected with their changing Hulk into Bruce Banner.

Moments ago on Jarella’s world, the sorcerers have given Jarella all the mystic aid they can offer. They say that this will be the mightiest magic their triad has ever attempted. They say that though they cannot bring Bruce Banner from where the gods have taken him that they can send Jarella to him. They say that the consequences are far from imagination. They say that if she fears them to speak now. Jarella’s answer is eloquent silence as she fades away.

Lord Visis watches as Jarella fades. Visis asks Fialan if he sees what his task must be. Fialan says that he will serve Visis with the skills that are uniquely his. Visis tells his master of assassins to go after the one that spurned him for an other-worldy monster. Visis says that the magic he has mastered in exile will allow him to ride the currents of Torla’s spell. He says that if Jarella will not return and have him as her husband to kill her.

Back on Earth there are two more solar flares practically on top of one another. Corbeau says that in transferring solar energy to the Hulk that they may have set something into motion, and that he doesn’t like thinking about how far it could go. Bruce says that he is still groggy from the change, but that if what he is saying is true that they have to reverse the process and make him the Hulk again. Corbeau tells Bruce not to be so fast to play the martyr. He says that he doesn’t believe Bruce is that fond of the green skin and the two-syllable vocabulary. He says that they are still in the “if” stage and that before Bruce gives up the life they have won for him that the phenomenon will be checked and rechecked from every available source. Corbeau gives Bruce a key to his place on the coast and tells Bruce to go there until they’ve checked everything. He says that the place is isolated, but that at times like this that it can be a blessing.

After catching a ride from an Air Force jet, Bruce rents a car and drives to Corbeau’s place. Bruce sits on the patio with his feet up and a drink in his hand. Bruce says that Pete was right about this place and that a man could lose himself there. Bruce says that he should have brought Betty with him, but that some vague thought or memory kept him from it. He wonders if it was his or the Hulk’s. Suddenly there is a strange glow on the beach. It starts forming into a girl. Bruce says that it isn’t just some girl, but Jarella. Jarella says that her last fear passes as Bruce remembers her. Jarella says that she recognizes him even though he doesn’t wear the form of the mighty one that strode her world. Bruce leaps off the patio onto the beach and holds Jarella. Bruce says that the memory was hidden, but that he couldn’t ever truly forget their time together. He says that it is the only time that he and the Hulk existed happily as one.

Nearby, Fialan watches Jarella and Bruce. Fialan says that his task will be easy. He thinks that Torla obviously cast some spell to allow Jarella to understand this world’s tongue, but that no spell will shield her from his weapon. Fialan hears a helicopter landing. He says that with unknown factors that he must wait to strike.

Talbot walks off the helicopter. He says that he is sorry. Bruce says that Talbot doesn’t need to go on. He says that Ross wouldn’t send a chopper and his top officer to tell him everything was fine. Bruce says that he and the lady will be right with him. As they take off, Talbot tells Banner that he didn’t want to say anything in front of the woman. Banner congratulates Talbot that the military hadn’t drummed all the curiosity out of him. Talbot asks what the story is. Bruce tells the story of the Hulk in the microverse to Talbot and later to Ross.

Banner walks with Ross and Talbot. Ross says that is incredible. Ross says that he doesn’t blame Bruce, but asks Bruce if he has considered Betty’s feelings if she were to learn about Jarella. Bruce says that he has scarcely had time to examine his own. Bruce says that he is guessing that Corbeau has a problem for them that makes these problems seem petty.

Corbeau tells Bruce that the Sun is going nova. Corbeau says that it isn’t solely because of the energy they transferred into him. He says that tests indicate that probably would have done it eventually, but that the process was sped up by something else occurring at the same time. Corbeau says that some object, or objects from another dimension, has ripped the fabric of the time space continuum. Corbeau says that the Sun’s reaction is the result. Jarella says that sounds so much like Torla’s spell. Corbeau says that he is sorry. He says that having heard the story of her coming that he can’t believe anything else. He says that the Sun is a day from going critical and that if a return is affected before then that balance will be restored and the time-space fissure healed. Bruce tells Corbeau that there is a madman and his army waiting to destroy Jarella in her world. Corbeau says that he knows and that he is working on something, but that if our solar system is burnt to a crisp that her sub-atomic cosmos goes with it. Corbeau contacts Nick Fury of SHIELD.

Eighteen hours later, a SHIELD aircraft is landing at Project Greenskin. Ross tells Corbeau that he didn’t think anything that Corbeau asked for was even possible… much less that there was an outfit that could have it ready in less than eighteen hours. Talbot reminds Ross that SHIELD has geniuses like Tony Stark at their service. Nick Fury walks off the aircraft and Ross asks since when SHIELD’s director played delivery boy. Fury tells Ross that he couldn’t resist getting together with another stogie-chomper. Fury says that he also wanted to be sure that the Life Model Decoy that Corbeau wanted made it. He says that with the Sun at stake that he didn’t want to take any chances. Jarella looks at the LMD and says that it is sorcery as great as Torla’s. Corbeau says that here they call it science. He says that to repair the space-time continuum that they have to restore exactly what was taken from her world. He says that since this LMD duplicates Jarella perfectly that they can send it in her place. Ross says that time is getting short and asks how Banner is coming with the lab equipment modifications.

Bruce, with help contributed from Reed Richards and Henry Pym by radio, finishes. He says that there is no question that they will be able to make the inter-dimensional transfer. He says that it looks like they will be able to pull this off without him becoming the Hulk again or sacrificing a girl that may mean more to him than Betty Ross. Bruce wonders if that is how he truly feels or if it is a last vestige of the Hulk’s emotion making him feel love. Jarella walks up to Bruce. Jarella says that they are brining the amazing effigy of her.

Fialan watches Bruce and Jarella from behind some equipment. He takes his shot, but Bruce pushes Jarella out of the way. Jarella says that she knows that sound and that it is the force blaster of a Ptill Pawob assassin. Bruce says to stay low, but then he sees Fialan floating above them. Fialan says in K’ai that he is using the bands of levitation. Jarella says that master assassins carry weapons that are lost to the rest of the world. She says that they are finished. A bunch of soldiers respond to the alarms caused by Fialan’s weapons, but Fialan begins shooting them. Bruce gets up and says that he can’t stand helplessly and watch more men die knowing that he is coming for Jarella next. Jarella asks Bruce what he is doing. Bruce runs out of the room. Fialan is about to shoot Bruce, but then he catches himself in the heat of battle. He says that it doesn’t matter about where he is going and that it is the Queen that has to die. Fialan finds Jarella and takes aim with his weapon. Suddenly Fialan’s hand begins to shake as the very air about him vibrates. The Hulk smashes through the wall and says that he lives. Fialan recognizes the Hulk as the one that Jarella spurned Visis for. He blasts Hulk and says that if the Hulk lives that it will be but to be slain. Fialan floats into the air and Hulk sees Jarella. He says, “You are… Jarella! You… loved Hulk! Hulk remembers now, you are in danger! That’s why puny Banner let Hulk come back. Why do you look like that? Hulk is here to help you, save you!” Jarella seems unable to speak or shout. Fialan shoots the equipment behind Hulk and Jarella and causes a giant explosion. Fialan is on the ground and says that he thought that equipment would explode, but that it was potent beyond his expectations. He says that neither the brute nor the Queen could have survived that. Hulk steps through the smoke and says, “She is dead. Hulk finally finds Jarella… and you kill her! You!” Fialan is about to activate his bands of levitation, but finds that the blast damaged them. Hulk continues, “You! You kill the one girl who loves Hulk for what he is!” Hulk lifts Fialan over his head. Hulk goes on, “And now… Hulk kills you!” Fialan screams. Hulk puts his hand over his head and says that he did it. He says that it doesn’t bring Jarella back though. He says that he is more alone now than ever. Jarella comes up behind Hulk and says, “No… no my love!” She tells Hulk that what he saw die was the LMD of her. Hulk says that he doesn’t understand, but that Jarella is real and back, and that nobody will take her away again. Ross says to get Corbeau. He says that they lost the LMD saving the young girl’s life. Corbeau tells Hulk that he has to let Jarella come with them. He explains that something terrible is happening to the Sun and that it could destroy Hulk and the world. Corbeau says that with the LMD gone that only Jarella can save them. Corbeau asks if he sees. Hulk says that all he sees is that they want to take the only good thing in his life. Hulk says that he doesn’t care about the Sun… the world… only Jarella. He says that if they touch her that they will see how fast he can smash. Jarella tries to tell Hulk that Corbeau is telling him the truth, but Hulk tells her that he stands with the one that hunts and tricks him. He tells Jarella that this is not her world and that she doesn’t understand, but then Hulk is hit in the back with tranquilizer guns. Jarella says that if they had only waited. Corbeau tells her that time is running out for all of them. Jarella kneels over Hulk’s unconscious body. She says that there is so much she has to say to him. She says that she was trying to tell him as Fialan struck. She says that above all else she is a queen. She says that her place is with her people in their hour of need. She says that she couldn’t stay there and let a replica take her place. She says that she loves him, but that maybe it is best this way and that when he awakes that it will seem as another dream that did not come true.

Minutes later, Ross is told that the girl and the body of the assassin were sent back and that the Sun’s nova condition has already started to fade. Talbot says that they are right back where they started. Ross says that isn’t quite true. He says that the Hulk is at Project Greenskin now and that while they can’t cure him that they can place him in a specially designed cell so that he can never escape.

No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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