Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #159Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #159
Title: “Two Years Before the Abomination!”
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Sal Trapani
Colors: George Rousos
Editor: Roy Thomas
Bruce Banner is trying to return to Earth on the Leader’s ship. He is running out of food and air. The Rhino is in a compartment with enough air to survive, but not enough to regain consciousness. As Banner can see the Earth, the ship suddenly goes off course. Bruce says that if he doesn’t land soon that he will die. He says that if he gets too excited that he might turn into the Hulk and that might be worse.
Leader’s paralyzed body resides inside Omnivac, his space vessel. Leader tells Omnivac that the ship is resisting his mental control and that Banner must be trying to steer it manually. Leader says that his control over the ship should be absolute and that even paralyzed he is still vastly superior here. He wants to know why Banner and the Hulk always manage to beat him. Banner and Leader fight for control of the ship, but in the end Banner manages to wrest control from Leader. Omnivac tells Leader that it believes that there is a residual force of the Leader’s power in the Rhino’s mind, and that residue acting like two like-charged magnets to Leader’s mental control when trying to seize control of the ship. Omnivac asks if Leader agrees, but Leader doesn’t say anything.
General Ross says that he better not have heard what he thought he heard. The soldier says that he is telling Ross that he saw an small UFO dropping out of the ionosphere. He says that it is violating their airspace and that it doesn’t respond on any frequency. Ross thinks to himself that the Hulk was on a small aircraft and that if he returned that it would ruin Betty’s happiness. Ross says that he only knows that it is a UFO and that he knows what his orders are. Ross orders missiles to be fired. Three ground-to-air missiles are fired.
Bruce is just thinking that he is glad that the pressure is off when he spots the three missiles heading straight for him. Bruce jars the steering hard left. He manages to dodge two of the missiles, but the third glances off the ship and veers in another direction. Bruce says that he got through that barrage, but that there will be more to come. He says that he has to think and try to stay calm.
The soldier says that someone is in the ship and that he dodged two of the missiles and is still coming at them. Ross asks if the soldier wants his orders engraved on his headphones. He orders another three missiles to be fired.
The redirected missile hits the ground and
explodes. Under the ground, the Abomination’s eyes open as
he regain consciousness. The ground starts rumbling and explodes
again. 
The Abomination
stands up and says, “I am… the Abomination! And… I
remember! I want to destroy the Hulk!”
The second firing of missiles hit Bruce’s craft. Bruce starts thinking about the missiles, Rhino, Betty getting married, and the Hulk always being there. He tries and tries to fight the change. A final missile destroys the ship and Bruce is hurtling towards the ground. Rhino remains unconscious in the back of the ship as it goes down. Bruce turns to the Hulk as he plummets.
Abomination sees Hulk falling. He says that their battle is not over and that there is still a chance to beat him.
Hulk smashes through a cliff as he hits the ground.
The soldier tells Ross that a man sized object fell from the ship after they hit it. He says that it went off their radar, but that they have an approximate location. Ross tells the soldier that was good work. He orders helicopters into the air immediately. He says that he wants the man, or whatever it is, back at the base as soon as possible. Ross says that if it is the Hulk that he wants him imprisoned away from Betty forever.
The Hulkbuster helicopters fly out. They spot what they think is the Hulk and report to Ross about it. He says that he can’t make him out too clearly, but that “green golems don’t grow on trees!” Four of the helicopters surround their quarry and release the T-gas while the catch-plane gets into position. Abomination sees all the knockout gas around him and looks up to see a titanium cage being dropped on him.
Hulk wakes up to see the helicopters flying away with their capture. Hulk recognizes the helicopters as belonging to Ross. He says that he doesn’t know how he got there, but that he doesn’t care either. Hulk says that he will follow the planes to Ross and that he will smash him,
Twenty minutes later, Ross is telling his soldiers to handle the cage like an egg. He says that it might be unbreakable, but that with the Hulk he doesn’t want to take any chances. Ross, some officers, and the titanium cage sink deep into the depths of Project: Greenskin while riding an elevator down. They arrive at a specially designed “Hulk-proof detention cell”. The cage is opened within the cell and the Abomination wakes up from the gas. He asks where he is. Ross sees the Abomination and says that they got the wrong freak. He says that is the Abomination and to go back and get him the Hulk. Ross thinks for a minute and then tells them to wait on that. He says that he has an idea. He says to open the cell and that he is going inside. One of the other officers tells Ross that he can’t do that. He says that the Abomination is as strong as the Hulk and that he will turn him into hamburger. Ross repeats to open the cell. The cell opens and Ross walks in. Abomination tells Ross that he hasn’t seen him since he was just a scared spy that stepped in front of Banner’s gamma rays to grow muscles on muscles. He says that was when he kidnapped his daughter and says that didn’t make them the best of friends. He asks Ross why he shouldn’t just kill him where he stands. Ross says that there is no reason, but that he had better hear what he has to say first. Ross says that his daughter just left on her honeymoon and that she thinks that the Hulk is dead. Ross says that he doesn’t believe that, but that if the Hulk is captured quickly that Betty won’t know the difference. Ross says that his men could do it, but that he doesn’t want any leaks letting the news out. Ross says that in exchange for curing the Abomination and letting him go that he wants the Abomination to capture the Hulk. Abomination asks if he is serious. Ross says that he is dead serious and that Betty is his life. Abomination asks why Ross doesn’t think that he will blackmail him later. Ross says that no one would believe Abomination. Abomination says that Ross has a deal. Ross tells Abomination to come to his office.
In his office, Ross starts to discuss the plan with Abomination. Abomination spots the calendar on the wall. Abomination sees that the calendar says 1972 when his last memories were of 1970. Abomination says that the Hulk knocked him down from space in 1970 and that if it is 1972 that he would have been out cold for two years. Abomination starts shouting that it can’t be true and demands that Ross tell him that it isn’t true. Ross realizes that Abomination is losing it. He lies and tells the Abomination that it really is 1970, but that since this is a large base with long range plans that he has to plan two years in advance. Abomination seems to buy this. Ross tells Abomination to go get ready. He thinks to himself that Abomination is a psycho, but that he needs him and that is all that matters. Ross picks up the phone and tells his Captain that he wants anything that shows the date hidden until the Abomination leaves the base. Ross thinks to himself that this won’t work. He says that there are too many holes and that Betty will learn that her first love is still alive. An officer enters and tells Ross that they have found the Hulk.
Hulk stands outside the base and says that
now he will destroy it. Hulk sees a plane coming towards him. The
plane lands right in front of Hulk and the door opens. Hulk is
confused, but Abomination steps out and asks Hulk how else he
would expect him to get out. Abomination says that he has a score
to settle with Hulk. Hulk says that he doesn’t even
understand and that this isn’t a game. Abomination says that
this is real life and rams into Hulk knocking him to the ground.
Hulk says, “You! Fighting makes Hulk remember! You are
Abom… Abomina…” Abomination says that it seems
that the Hulk’s head is working as well as ever. He says
that he will have to stop that by crushing it. He raises his foot
to stomp Hulk’s head, but Hulk raises his legs and kicks
Abomination off. Hulk punches Abomination in the face. He says,
“Hulk remembers he is always mad at you… whoever you
are… and when Hulk is mad, Hulk smashes!” Abomination
hits Hulk and says that it is too bad that he doesn’t
remember that he is stronger than him. Hulk says that he is
strongest of all. Hulk holds Abomination’s hand in place and
says that he can stop Abomination’s hand, but that when he
wants the Abomination to move, he moves. Hulk throws Abomination
into the air. Hulk says that no one can beat him. Abomination
lifts a giant rock over his head. He says that he may be weakened
from their last battle, but that he can’t be injured. He
asks Hulk if he can say the same as he hits Hulk with the giant
rock. Hulk says that he isn’t scared and that he
doesn’t even care about him. Hulk dives into Abomination
with his feet. He says that he wants Ross and that if Abomination
hadn’t bothered him that he would have left him alone, but
Hulk says that he will fight him to the end now. 
Hulk grabs
Abomination and says that now he won’t let him go.
Abomination says that it can’t end like this and that he has
to beat him. Abomination says that his freedom depends on him.
Abomination says that he values his freedom as much as Ross
values his daughter. Hulk lets Abomination go and asks him what
he has to do with Betty. Abomination says that T-Bolt was right
and that he really does “care about that skirt.”
Abomination says that the Hulk has a heart and that means that he
has a weak point. Abomination teases Hulk and tells him that his
beloved Betty just went to Niagara Falls with her loser husband
Talbot. Hulk shouts that Abomination is lying. Hulk says that
only a few people like him. He says that he can’t find
Jarella or Jim and so he must find Betty. Hulk says that he
always comes back to Betty. Hulk says, “After Hulk knocked
you out of space last time, she was waiting for him,
and…” Abomination stops Hulk and asks what he means
when he said “after… last time…” Hulk says
that he beat Abomination a long time ago. Abomination starts
laughing. He says that not even falling from space can hurt him.
He says that he might have gone into a coma, but that when he
wakes up that he doesn’t even know about it. Abomination
says that it is wonderful to be a freak and keeps laughing. Hulk
tells Abomination to stop laughing. He says that his laughing
sounds like crying. Abomination keeps laughing so hulk punches
him and repeats that he said to be quiet. Abomination is knocked
head over heals. Hulk shouts that Betty is his friend. He says
that he knows that he has been away, but that now he wants to see
her. Hulk says that he doesn’t know where Niagara Falls is,
but that he must find it. Hulk leaps away.
Ross is told that one of the spotter planes reports that the Hulk put the Abomination down. He tells Ross that it seems that the Hulk is yelling something about his daughter. Ross says that he knew this would happen. Ross says that this isn’t over yet and that he has to get the Hulk.
No Excuses rating: 6.5 out of 10
The story makes little to no sense to me. I’m not sure why Ross thinks that Abomination and Hulk fighting would somehow draw less attention that the army going after Hulk. I’m not sure why Abomination, after being freed, would care if he actually managed to capture Hulk for Ross. And what in the $*&^@ is Ross talking about when he says that he would “cure” the Abomination? Englehart shows Abomination virtually no respect as a Hulk opponent, though he does clarify that the Abomination was weakened from awaking from a coma. 2.5 out of 5 for the writing. Trimpe does a good job with the artwork. Some interesting scale shown between Ross and the Abomination. Abomination’s face seems a little weird in this one as the bumps that surround his mouth sometimes do not appear on his lower lip making the upper bumps looks like some sort of strange mustache.