Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #181

Title: “And Now... the Wolverine!"

Writer: Len Wein

Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Jack Abel

Colors: Glynis Wein

Editor: Roy Thomas

Wolverine tells Hulk and Wendigo that if they want someone to tangle with someone to try their luck with him. Wolverine launches himself at the pair. They scatter, but Wolverine is on the Hulk. Hulk says that Little Man attacks him. Wolverine says that the government sent him to take Hulk down and that he is a gent that always does his job. Hulk tells Little Man to stand still or he will smash. Wolverine tells Hulk that he is sorry, but that since Hulk is so much bigger than him that he will keep moving. Hulk says that Little Man jumps around like a rabbit. Wolverine says, "Like a wolverine, if you don't mind, Hulk!" Wolverine says that he has claws like a wolverine, but that his are made of diamond hard adamantium. He says that since they don't seem to do anything against Hulk's hide that he will see what they do against his shaggy friend. Wolverine says that is better as he slashes Wendigo. Wendigo is startled by the cut and Wolverine uses his advantage to kick the Wendigo down the slope of a mountain. Hulk shouts at Wolverine to come back and fight. Wendigo swipes at Wolverine, but Wolverine ducks and slashes Wendigo's arm. Hulk says that he doesn't get it. He says that first Little Man attacks him and then he attacks his enemy. Hulk decides that his enemy's enemy is his friend. Hulk leaps to his new friend's defense. Hulk leaps into Wendigo and tells his little friend that he is there to help him defeat the Wendigo. Wendigo hits Hulk. Hulk says that Wendigo is strong, but that he and his new friend are stronger. Wolverine climbs onto Wendigo's back and thinks to himself that he doesn't know why Hulk thinks they are friends now, but that he will use it. Wolverine tells his "friend" that while he has Wendigo distracted to attack him. Hulk tells his friend that it is a good plan. He tells Wolverine to get clear. Hulk lifts Wendigo over his head and throws him through a large tree. Wolverine sees Wendigo is still conscious. He leaps onto Wendigo and strikes with both hands. Hulk tells Wolverine that he did good. He says that Wendigo is dead. Wolverine says that he should be, but that he isn't. He says that the Wendigo is apparently immortal as the legend says. He says that Wendigo is just unconscious. Hulk stands there unsure of what to say to Wolverine. Suddenly, Wolverine turns and slashes Hulk. He says that it is his turn to take a thrashing. Hulk says that he trusted him, but that he betrayed him. He says that he attacked him just like all puny humans. Hulk says that he made a fool of him and for that he will smash. Hulk leaps at Wolverine, but Wolverine leaps over the charging Hulk.

Georges and Marie watch the fight. Georges asks Marie if she sees what her madness has wrought. He says that her brother lies unconscious, perhaps mortally wounded, and that it is all her fault. Marie says that everything is going better than expected. She says that the Wendigo can't be harmed and that he knows that. She says that Hulk and Wolverine just saved them from overcoming Paul themselves. She tells Georges to help him carry Paul inside and that the sooner things are prepared the sooner they can begin the transformation. Marie places Wendigo by the Vapors of Slumber. She says that once they have the Hulk she will transport the curse from Paul to the Hulk. Georges begs her again not to do this.

At a nearby military complex, one officer asks another if they have heard anything from Weapon X. He is told that the Hulk is in the target zone, but that they haven't heard from him yet. Another asks if they think they did the right thing sending him in alone. He is told that they wouldn't have sent him if they didn't think he was ready. He says that they spent a great deal of time and money training Weapon X, and that despite a few kinks in his psychological make up they have done a good job. He says that Wolverine asked for six hours and that they are going to give it to him, but that if they don't hear from him in six hours that they will deploy specially designed choppers against the Hulk.

Wolverine tells Hulk that no one is that strong. He asks Hulk why he doesn't fall. Hulk says that he will show him strong. He lifts a giant rock over his head, but Wolverine charges into Hulk causing him to drop the rock on his own head. Hulk says that nothing will stop him from crushing him like a bug.

Marie says that all is ready and that the sun is in the right spot. Georges beseeches her, as Paul's best friend, to stop. Marie says that he will do as she tells him since it is his fault this happened to Paul. Marie tells Georges to get back as she casts the Spell of Subjugation or he might get caught in it as well. Marie chants something and pours a potion that mixes with the sunlight to create an almost invisible gas. The gas flows down to Hulk and Wolverine. The two of them fall unconscious. Marie says that she told Georges it would all work out in the end. Georges says that unfortunately it isn't over yet. Marie tells Georges to help her get the Hulk inside. Georges tells Marie to look as the two of them witness the Hulk turning back into Bruce Banner. Marie says that it doesn't matter. Georges says that this ends now. He says that it was bad enough doing it to a monster, but that he will not help her do it to a man. He apologizes, but says that he is done with this madness. She says that he owes a debt to her brother and to her. He says that he might have at one point, but that if you count the atrocities he performed that have cost him his soul that they are even. Georges walks away and Marie shouts for him to come back.

Georges walks into the forest. He thinks about her words and the debt he owes to her brother and to her. He thinks about her once lovely face now scarred by lines of torment. He sobs once and knows what he must do. Georges walks into the stone slab structure.

Marie says that she doesn't need Georges and says that she will finish this on her own. She chains Wolverine. She grabs Bruce's arm and starts to drag him, but Bruce changes into the Hulk. Hulk says that animal girl tricked him and knocked him out. He says that he thought they were friends, but that she is just another puny human. Marie tries to convince Hulk that she is his friend, but Hulk says that he will smash. Hulk walks past Marie to Wolverine. He says that Wolverine is the one he hates. Wolverine tells Hulk to let him just break the chains. Hulk asks if he can't do it and says that he will break the chains and Little Man at the same time. Hulk picks Wolverine up over his head and smashes him against the ground. The chains break and Wolverine launches himself into Hulk. Marie runs away.

She heads back to her brother and hears what could be rending human flesh. Suddenly Marie finds her path blocked by the Wendigo.

Hulk and Wolverine both stop fighting for an instant when they hear Marie scream. Hulk pulls his fist back. Wolverine senses what is about to happen, but the Hulk still manages to hit a glancing blow. Wolverine falls to the ground... his speed and stamina the only thing that stops him from dying. Hulk says that Little Man tries to trick him, but that he was smarter and stronger and that is why he won.

The Wendigo bows its head and points in the direction it came from. Marie looks inside and asks Georges how he could do it. She sees her brother Paul normal once again. The transformation has been complete. Marie tells Georges that the debt he owed them wasn't this strong and that nothing could be so bad for him to have done this to himself. She asks him why she did it. Georges, inside the Wendigo, tells Marie that she will probably never understand. He says that he didn't do it because he owed a debt. He says that he did it because he loved her. Wendigo punches the wall and walks off. Marie tells Georges to come back.

Hulk walks up to the stone slabs. He sees the Wendigo running off. Hulk hears crying inside. Hulk goes in and finds Marie standing motionless as thoughts swirl around her aimlessly. She stares, in madness, at her recovering brother. She doesn't even feel it when the Hulk puts his hand on her shoulder. Hulk senses her grief and tries to soothe it by standing with her.

No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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