Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #155

Title: “Destination: Nightmare!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artists: Herb Trimpe and John Severin

Editor: Roy Thomas

Bruce Banner falls through a sub-atomic cosmos screaming though there is no atmosphere to catch his sound. The serum that is making him smaller and smaller works on. Banner’s arm flails and smashes an entire planet into pieces. He arrives on a planet little more than an insect beneath the feet of what are giants to him. Banner screams not only because of his personal insanity of being the Hulk, but because the descent through worlds within worlds goes on. Finally as Banner continues to shrink and fall through the sub-atomic cosmos he is given the release of unconsciousness as he head smashes into a tiny planet. Bruce remains unconscious until his descent finally stops.

Bruce awakens on a concrete sidewalk. Bruce looks up and sees the Empire State Building on fire. Bruce realizes that he is somehow in New York though the city is in flames. Bruce says that this isn’t the New York he knows and that it is like the place is under siege. He says that it reminds him of pictures of London during the blitz during World War II. Bruce falls silent as he sees an airplane and hears the clatter of a .50 caliber machine gun. Bruce dives for cover and looks up as the plane flies away. Bruce sees a Nazi swastika on the back on the plane and asks how that can be. He wonders what Henry Pym’s serum has done to him and what kind of place it has trapped him in. Bruce hears the plane circling around and wonders if he is in some crazy future or an impossible past. The thought of being killed by the approaching plane causes Bruce to transform into the Hulk. Hulk says that if men flying plane want a fight that he is willing. Hulk picks up a truck and smashes the plane apart when he throws it. Hulk says that they will never use the funny plane again, but then he is hit by a tank’s cannon. Hulk gets up and sees soldiers. He says that he should have known and that there are always soldiers. Hulk notices that their uniforms are different, but that they are still the same since they only want to hurt him. Hulk tells the soldiers that they can try. The German soldiers open fire on the Hulk, but the Hulk charges them. Hulk grabs the tank and pulls it apart as he lifts it over his head. Hulk says that nothing stops him when he is mad, and that soldiers with guns makes Hulk mad. Hulk throws the tank at the soldiers. The soldiers lie on the ground dead. Hulk says that maybe now the shooting will stop, and that he will be able to find peace. Hulk watches one of the soldier’s bodies as something happens to it. The soldier is transformed into a bloody worm like creature. Hulk says that it isn’t a man at all. Hulk wonders what this place is and says that it looks like a city he knows, but that the planes are funny and that the soldiers are not the ones he usually sees. Hulk says that he got small to reach a different world, but that he doesn’t want this one. He says that he wants the world of Jarella who loves him. Hulk looks up and sees that the sky is full of planes. He thinks that they might be coming for him, but then he sees that the planes are fighting one another. He sees that some with stars fight the ones like the one that attacked him. Hulk says that it seems stupid and that everything on this world seems strange.

Back on Earth, Ant-Man explains, on the news, that while the Hydra agents were defeated that the Hulk changed back into Bruce Banner. He says that Bruce was caught under the heel of the Chameleon or sent plunging into some infinite microcosm by his serum. He says that in any event a fine man has been lost. General Ross tells Betty that it is no good her watching this over and over. He says that it doesn’t change what happened to Bruce, and that it tortures her for something over which she had no control. Betty, crying, says that she knows, but that she keeps thinking about how nasty she was in deciding that he only cared for Jarella and not her. She says that if she hadn’t run away to find herself that she could have stood by his side. Ross tells Betty that she is doing exactly what he said she shouldn’t be doing. The doorbell rings and Ross wonders who it could be at this hour. Glenn is at the door. He tells Betty that he heard this afternoon that she had returned to the base. He says that he didn’t want to barge in, but that he saw the lights on, and that at times like this that it can be good to have someone to talk to. Ross asks if he looks like wallpaper. Betty hugs Glenn and says that right now she needs someone very much. Ross chastises himself and reminds himself that sometimes she needs someone that isn’t him.

Back on the other Manhattan, a plane from the fight goes down and crashes. Hulk sees the pilot inside is alive, but knows that he won’t be if the smoke and fire grow. Hulk says that it was a plane like this that tried to kill him, but that he needs someone to talk to in order to find out where he is and how to get to Jarella’s world. Hulk grabs the pilot and carries him to safety just as the plane explodes. Hulk says that the pilot is still, but that he hasn’t turned into a worm yet so he must be alive. Hulk says that he needs to find a quiet spot and make the pilot better so that he can talk. Some American troops confront Hulk and tell him to hold it. Hulk says that it is more soldiers with guns and that he is sick of it. Hulk says that he can smash them, but the soldier tells him that they don’t want any trouble. He says that they saw what he did to the Nazis and that they heard what he said while saving the “Kraut pilot”. They say that he is an off-worlder like the Fuhrer. The soldier tells the Hulk that this is the world of the Shaper. He says that the Shaper kind of rules them and that he takes their dreams and gives them shapes into life. He says that Shaper got tired of their dreams and then when the other out-worlder appeared that Shaper latched onto his. He says that is what this war is about. Hulk drops the pilot and says that he doesn’t need him anymore since things have been explained. Hulk says that if Shaper has the power to make dreams real that he has the power to help Hulk find Jarella’s world. The soldier tells him there is no chance and that the Shaper never gives up on a dream until it has played through to the end. He says that this one isn’t going to end until most them wind up dead in the Fuhrer’s war. Hulk asks what if he joins in the fight. The soldier says that he was just going to suggest that. He says that no one has fought the Shaper and won, but that it sure would improve their chances of surviving. Hulk says that he will end war quick and make the Shaper help him.

Hulk fights in the battles.

At one of the German high command headquarters, a troop runs up, salutes, and says, “Heil. Kronsteig!” Kronsteig asks if he has dispatches from the front. The man says that he does, but that he has to warn him. Kronsteig tells him to just deliver them, and that his Fuhrer will interpret their meaning for himself. Kronsteig is stunned that there are more losses and that his invasion is being rolled back. Kronsteig says that it seems to be the work of the Hulk. He says that this should not be and that the Shaper promised. He says that Shaper looked into his mind and saw his dream of America losing World War II, a dream of Nazi jackboots crushing the “land of the free” and vowed to make it live.

Otto Kronsteig was let down by Hitler, whose sick dream Kronsteig embraced, when he lost the war. Kronsteig was turned from one of the Reich’s most brilliant scientists into a hunted fugitive for war crimes. Years later, aged and broken in body, Kronsteig sought refuge in Latveria under the employment of Von Doom. Doom wanted Kronsteig to create with him a size-reduction ray for him to use against the Fantastic Four. Kronsteig worked and worked until he awoke to find himself the first victim of the new invention. Kronsteig asks Doom why he is doing this to him. Doom says that he knows the Nazi mentality and that beneath his façade of subservience he dreams of new Reichs, new Fuhrers, and in time the overthrow of Doctor Doom. Kronsteig fell through universes within molecules to this world where the Shaper appeared to him. Shaper tells Kronsteig that in his minds he sees visions amusing and challenging.

Kronsteig says that with the Hulk there that challenge seems to be too great. He says that there have been losses and that his invasion will fail. Suddenly Shaper appears and asks Kronsteig how he dares to doubt him. Shaper says that the reality that he creates cannot falter until he decides that it is enough. Kronsteig says that this is the Hulk and that no weapon or force subdues him. Shaper says that there will be something and that there is always something. He says that it will be torn from Kronsteig’s own doubting mind. Shaper says that his curse is to have unparalleled power to shape and build, but to be denied the gift of imagination or creativity. He says that since he has no dreams of his own that those he shapes are precious to him and will not be torn asunder by some off world monster. Shaper says that the Hulk will be stopped. Shaper says that he sees within Kronsteig’s mind an experiment that was cut short by the war’s end… an experiment to produce, through genetic-surgery, a Nazi super-being to equal the heroes of the Allies. Shaper says that they will produce that being right now.

The Allies stand outside the Nazi headquarters and they wonder if Shaper had a different ending in mind for Kronsteig’s dream. They advance, but are fired upon by German troops on the roof. The diversion in the front allows a plane to land on the headquarters’ roof. Hulk smashes out of that plane and attacks the Germans. Hulk tells Shaper that he has come, and that this is the end of his stupid dream and stupid war. Hulk says that all his soldiers and guns can’t make him quit. A voice says, “Nothing, you grotesque gargoyle? Turn and see how wrong you are!” Hulk turns and sees a transformed Kronsteig. Hulk asks who he is. Kronsteig says, “I am Kronsteig! I am Fuhrer of the new Reich , and now… thanks to the Shaper… I am more! The Nazi dream of the obermensch… the super being… the answer to the Captain Americas, the Sub-Mariners, who dared to fight against us… I am Captain Axis! And I can crush the Hulk!” Axis hits Hulk and then kicks him in the face. Axis asks Hulk if he perceives the truth in what he said. Hulk says that he doesn’t even know what perceives means, but that long after the man in red underwear runs out of fancy words that he will still be smashing him. Axis catches the Hulk’s fist and says that he won’t be doing any smashing when he reduces his fist to pulp. Hulk says that Axis is strong, but not that strong. Hulk and Axis topple off the top of the headquarters. Axis calls Hulk “dummkopf” for making them fall. Hulk asks Axis if falling scares him. Hulk asks what he will do when they land. Hulk lands on his back and Axis hits with his head. Hulk says that he will not groan or cry, but that pain and hurt make him madder so that he grows stronger and hits harder. Hulk smashes Captain Axis. Hulk stands over Axis and says that he never gives up and that is why he always wins. Axis says that this can’t be happening. He says that the powers he envisioned must be enough to defeat such a brute. He kicks Hulk off of him. Axis says that even that took such effort. He says, “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Captain Axis could be put to such a challenge. Not in my wildest drea…” Then Kronsteig notices his hands getting smaller. Kronsteig realizes that he did it to himself when he used the words ‘never in my wildest dreams’. Hulk grabs the old withered man. Kronsteig says that Captain Axis cannot possibly defeat the Hulk. Hulk says that he could have told him that. Hulk drops Kronsteig and says that he doesn’t fight puny old men. Hulk watches and sees the buildings disappearing. Kronsteig says that he is finished and that his dream is ruined.

Above the now barren and neglected reality of the planet, the Shaper’s face appears angry. He asks how dare Hulk. He says that for his own insignificant needs that he stopped him from the pleasure of fulfilling Kronsteig’s dream. Shaper says that Hulk has cost him a dream, and that he will provide him with another. Suddenly Jim Wilson, Talbot, and Ross stand beside Hulk. Hulk punches Talbot’s head off and says that he doesn’t believe that it is really them. He says that he doesn’t want to be part of a dream. He says that he wants something real. He says that he really wants to go to Jarella’s world. He tells Shaper to use his power for that or he will keep smashing this dream like he did Kronsteig. Hulk says that even if it looks like he is hurting friends like Jim or Betty. Suddenly Jarella is there. She tells Hulk to stay his hand and asks if he would strike her. Hulk says that it sounds and looks to real, but that he won’t give in for even dream Jarella. Hulk strike the false Jarella. He says that someday the dream would end and that he would be left with nothing. Hulk says that he wants the real Jarella and that her love is a love that he can never lose. Shaper says that the Hulk will not respond. He says that he has never seen a creature of such brute stubbornness. Shaper wonders if the real girl could be so much better than what he shapes. He wonders if the Hulk would fight so hard if she were not. Shaper tells Hulk that is enough and that he surrenders. Hulk feels something striking him. Shaper says that it is his power in a way that has never been used before. He says that it will take Hulk to his dream instead of brining the dream to Shaper. Shaper says that only Hulk will know for sure if his power is so great.

As Hulk vanishes, the Shaper’s home, a giant mechanized moon begins to move. Shaper tells his former subjects that he plundered their dreams so much that he was willing to accept the nightmare of Kronsteig. He tells them that he must depart and that from his encounter with the Hulk that much of what he had forgotten has been relearned. He says that for there to be dreams that there must be reality. He says that he must leave them to rebuild their world and that he goes to discover new realities and perhaps to find his own dream. The planet of worm people watch the Shaper’s ship depart.

Hulk travels again through the subatomic cosmos.

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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