Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #162

Title: “Spawn of the Flesh-Eater!”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sal Trapani

Colors: David Hunt

Editor: Roy Thomas

General Ross shows the Canadians film footage of the Hulk and says that he is loose in their neck of the woods. He says that the films were taken at great personal risk to show the power of the monster… and to show the effectiveness of his specially trained Hulkbuster troops. Mr. York asks if Ross’ troops are so effective then why is the Hulk loose in his neck of the woods. Ross tells York that he represents Prime Minister Trudeau and is a civilian. Ross says that any military man could tell him that there is more to warfare than just power. He says that there is also luck, and that the Hulk has that doubled and redoubled. Ross says that in the end that the superior force wins out and that is what his Hulkbusters are. Ross says that they are constantly improving and that though they are compact they pack enough wallop to put the Hulk away for good. He says that all they need is permission to stay in Canada until their mission is complete. York says that he has been getting a lot of pressure to let the Royal Canadian Air Force handle this, but Ross has convinced him that his specialized equipment is best suited for the job. York and Ross shake hands and York says that Ross should have his clearance in hours.

Hulk says that wherever he looks there are trees and says that it is no wonder he is lost. Hulk says that if only he could remember what he was doing in the land of trees. Hulk says that it has something to do with Beast and that man that made him sick. Hulk says that when he got better that his memory of it went away. Hulk thinks that maybe he needs to trade some strength for memory. Hulk says that he remembers Betty is his friend. He says that he came there to find her, but that he is lost. Hulk says that his mind is going to circles. Hulk says that all he is sure of is that he is strong and can smash big rocks like always. Hulk smashes the ground. Suddenly Hulk hears someone calling himself Paul Cartier begging someone for help. Hulk turns to see who it is, but he doesn’t see anyone. Hulk asks who talked. Paul asks for help again and asks if anyone can hear him. Hulk says that he hears voices, but that he doesn’t see anybody. Hulk calls out to whoever is speaking and some men come up behind Hulk with guns. They open fire on the Hulk and Hulk figures that the voice was just a trick so that the humans could sneak up on him. Hulk starts smacking the men around when a woman comes running up at Hulk. She says, “You bloody monster! You enjoy hurting and killing, don’t you? You think everyone’s afraid of you! Well, I’m not… and you’re going to tell me what you’ve done with my brother or I’ll beat you to a pulp with my bare hands!” Hulk is confused as the woman pounds and pounds on him. She says that her brother was only going hunting for some meat for the winter. She says that they all knew about the Wendigo and how he roams the forest looking for victims. She says that when he didn’t come back that they all knew. She says that Paul was a good and gentle man and that he killed him. The woman falls to her knees before Hulk defeated and exhausted. Hulk puts his hand on the woman’s head and says no. He says that he is Hulk, not Wendigo. He says that he doesn’t even know what a Wendigo is. Hulk says that he doesn’t hurt people that don’t hurt him. Hulk says that he did hear a man called Paul asking for help just before she showed up. Hulk says that he bets that the girl’s brother is alive and just needs someone to find him. Hulk says that many people hate him, but that he shouldn’t be hated for something he didn’t do. He says that he isn’t the one that took Paul away, but that for her he will find the one who did. Hulk walks away.

Elsewhere in Canada, Glenn and Betty Talbot are skiing on their honeymoon. Glenn thinks to himself that the two of them are kind of hiding out in the sense that he doesn’t want her to know that the Hulk is alive. Betty tumbles over off her skis. Glenn leans down and asks if she hurt herself. Betty says that she thinks she dislocated every bone in her body, but that a long loving kiss would do wonders. Glenn and Betty kiss.

Hulk walks searching for Paul Cartier. The rumble of his footsteps shakes the ground and wakes the Wendigo. The Wendigo stands up before the Hulk and Hulk realizes that this must be the Wendigo. Hulk tells Wendigo that he wants Paul. Hulk asks for what he wants not attacking what doesn’t attack him, but the Wendigo punches Hulk. Hulk is telling Wendigo that he laughs at him if that is his best shot, but then Hulk sees a man crawling from behind the rock. The man begs Hulk for help. He says that Hulk is his only chance and that nothing could be worse than his fate with the Wendigo. He says that if Hulk doesn’t help him that it will finish him. He says that Wendigo is a flesh eater. He says that it plays and tortures with humans and then eats them. He says that Wendigo trapped him under it while it slept and that it was only waiting until it was hungry. Wendigo swats the man down and Hulk leaps into Wendigo. Hulk says that he wasn’t looking for a fight. He says that he came there to help Paul, but that if he has to fight to help Paul that he will. Wendigo pulls Hulk off its stomach, lifts him into the air, and tosses him aside. Hulk says that Wendigo thinks that he is better than Hulk because he is bigger. Hulk says that Wendigo may be the strongest of all his enemies, but that lots were bigger than him and that Hulk never lost. Hulk repeats, “NEVER!” and hits Wendigo in the face. Hulk lifts up a five ton rock and hits Wendigo with it, but Wendigo seems oblivious to the pain and comes back at Hulk with a two fisted uppercut that smashes Hulk off the mountain. Hulk hits the bottom hard, but when he looks up he sees Wendigo holding the man from before over his head. Hulk gets into position and catches the man. Wendigo runs off and Hulk thinks about going after him, but realizes that the man needs a doctor and so Wendigo doesn’t count. Hulk smells wood smoke and half an hour later he reaches his destination. Hulk sees the girl running toward him and knows that he has done good. He says that he has saved Paul and that now his friends can take care of him. Paul’s sister runs up and sees that Hulk has not saved Paul, but Paul’s friend George Baptiste.

The doctor is summoned and George tells his story. He says that he, Paul, and Henri Cluzot were hunting when they were attacked by wolves. He says that they sought shelter in a cave, but that they lost their supplies and Henri was mortally wounded. He says that Henri died soon after. He says that the wolves kept them trapped there with a dead man and slowly starving to death. George says that on the fourth day he awoke to find Paul… eating. Paul’s sister, Marie, starts to cry. The doctor says that isn’t the worst of it. He says that legend has it, and that as George saw, that a man driven to do what Paul did becomes a Wendigo himself.

Hulk walks out of the house and Marie asks him where he is going. Hulk says that if Paul is Wendigo then he has not helped Paul or Marie, and that he said he would. He says that maybe the doctor can fix Paul if he brings Paul there. Hulk leaps off and says that is what he is going to do.

Wendigo revels in his power as he knocks over trees with one chop from his hand. Hulk spots Wendigo’s swath of destruction from the air. Wendigo finds a logging camp and the men there start running. Hulk drops in from the sky. Wendigo’s eyes seem a little less intelligent than before, but after looking at Hulk the Wendigo’s hand rises and points a finger at Hulk. Hulk hears Paul Cartier asking Hulk for help. He says that he can feel his mind dissolving. Hulk tells Paul that he hears him and that he will save him. Hulk knocks the ground up and upends the Wendigo. Hulk leaps at Wendigo and says that he doesn’t know why he hears Paul in his head when Wendigo’s mouth doesn’t move, but that there are so many things he doesn’t know. Hulk says that he knows humans sometimes know things he doesn’t and so he will take Wendigo to them. Hulk says that maybe they can fix Paul and then explain it to him. Hulk and Wendigo roll into a logging truck. Wendigo grabs one of the fallen chopped logs and holds it over his head. For the first time Wendigo says, “WEN-DI-GO! WEN-DI-GO!” Hulk sees that the creature’s mouth worked that time. Hulk hears Paul again asking Hulk to fight him and that the curse of the Wendigo is murdering his identity forever. He tells Hulk that he has to get this body to a doctor before it is too late. Hulk picks up his own log and when he spots Wendigo off balance he hits him with it. Wendigo grabs a chain and whips it around Hulk’s body. Wendigo then lifts a crane over his head and throws it at Hulk. Hulk breaks the chains and then smashes the crane into pieces. Hulk says that he is mad and that the madder he gets the stronger he gets. Hulk shouts that no one beats him. Hulk sees that Wendigo is confused as if he weren’t expecting him to still be alive. Hulk says that no one ever expects him to be able to do the things he does and that is why he always wins. He says that is why Hulk is Hulk and why Wendigo will lose. Hulk hits Wendigo. He raises two fists into Wendigo’s jaw and sends his head up only to be hit back down by the same two fists. Hulk puts his hand around Wendigo’s throat as Wendigo lies on the ground, but then Hulk hears, “Hulk, it’s too late… time limit is passing…. curse overcoming me… brain fogging… not… your fault… no one could… help me… know… that… now… only… Wendigo… left…” The intelligence in the Wendigo’s eyes dies. Wendigo kicks Hulk off him and shouts his name. Wendigo wonders off into the woods. Hulk watches the Wendigo go. He says that Paul said he was gone… completely changed into a monster. Hulk says that with all his power that he couldn’t do anything.

No Excuses rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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