Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #190

Title: “The Man Who Came Down On a Rainbow!”

Writer: Len Wein

Illustrators: Herb Trimpe & Marie Severin

Colors: Glynis Oliver Wein

Editor: Len Wein

Hulk shouts at puny humans to get out of his way or he will smash. Hulk charges and scoops up a Soviet vehicle and presses it over his head. He shouts for them to leave him alone or he will crush them all. Hulk tosses the vehicle at the men and it explodes. Hulk walks on. He spots a security station out in the middle of nowhere. The men inside the station identify Hulk as an intruder and open fire. Hulk lays into the men. He says that he didn’t want to fight, but that they attacked him. Hulk realizes that if he doesn’t want to fight that he doesn’t have to. He realizes that he has nothing to gain, and that when he smashes these humans that others will just take their place. Hulk leaps into the air and says that maybe he will find someplace where he can have peace.

Hulk lands and sinks waist deep into snow. He walks on and finds a baby bear. Hulk asks what it is doing all by itself. He says that it must be lost like him. Hulk scoops the baby bear up and says that he will take care of it. He says that he and the bear are much alike. He says that they are both alone and have no friends. The mother bear comes up behind Hulk and swats Hulk with her paw. Hulk says that even there they will not leave him alone. Hulk says that he only wanted to be friends with the little bear, but that if the big bear wants to hit him that he will hit back. Hulk charges into the bear and pulls his fist back, but he stops. He lets the bear go and says that big bear didn’t want to hurt Hulk, but that it was just protecting the baby bear from him. Hulk yells at the bears to go back into the forest and says that he doesn’t need them as friends. He says that he doesn’t need anyone.

Hulk walks alone in the snow with his beclouded mind in turmoil. He wonders why he is hated wherever he goes. He wonders why his life is a constant battle for survival. Hulk stops when he spots a rainbow. He stares with his mouth agape not remembering when he has ever seen anything so beautiful. Hulk says that the bridge of colors comes from nowhere and wonders where it goes. He says that if it goes somewhere that people won’t attack him that he wants to go there too. Hulk walks towards the rainbow’s end and, perhaps because he doesn’t know it is impossible to find, reaches it. The ground around the base of the rainbow is grassy and warm. Hulk says that everything around is cold and snowy, but that here it is bright and warm. Hulk says that he wants to know why. A voice assures Hulk that he will. Hulk looks up and sees a golden man riding down the rainbow. Hulk asks the golden man who he is and what he wants with him. Glorian introduces himself and tells the Hulk that he only wants to help him. He tells Hulk to take his hand and he will lead him to a better place… a place he has always dreamed of. Hulk turns his back and asks why he should trust Golden Man when Golden Man looks like a puny human and puny humans have always betrayed him. Glorian says that all humans haven’t done that to him. He says that Hulk has friends that he has left behind. He implores Hulk to take his hand and says that he has to trust someone… sometime. Hulk snarls a bit, but Glorian’s tone is so calming and reassuring. He takes Glorian’s hand and Glorian guides Hulk up onto the rainbow. Hulk says that he will come with Golden Man, but that Golden Man better not be trying to trick him. Glorian says that Hulk will not regret it. He tells Hulk to close his eyes and that he will take him home. The word “home” fills Hulk with serenity and he smiles a bit.

As the rainbow peaks, Hulk feels a bit of a chill as if he were being wrenched from one reality to another, but the hand that holds his is strong and secure. The unnatural feeling passes and the Hulk opens his eyes. Hulk asks where Golden Man has taken him. Glorian says that he has taken him home. He says that this is the place that the Hulk has always dreamed of. He says that it is a place where he will never be hounded… never be an outcast again. Glorian tells Hulk that this land is his and that it is his gift to Hulk. He hopes that it is all that he ever wanted it to be. Glorian fades away and Hulk says that he is all alone again. Hulk realizes that he doesn’t feel lonely though. Before he walks too far he hears the sound of music. Hulk follows the music and finds a familiar face is playing the familiar music. Hulk asks who it is. Crackajack Jackson asks Hulk if he doesn’t remember him. Hulk says that Crackajack is dead. Crackajack asks Hulk if he looks dead and says that he is so happy to see him that he could burst. He hugs Hulk. He says that Hulk is just about the only friend that he has, and he tells Hulk that he is real… as real as Hulk wants him to be. Hulk says that it really is Crackajack and says that his friend has come back. Crackajack says that is what he has been telling him, and that now that they are together again that nothing will split them apart again.

Shaper watches Hulk on a screen and says that it all goes well thus far. He says that the Hulk has found the first of the surprises that they have for him, and that the look of joy upon Hulk’s face has made it all worth their effort. Shaper tells Glorian that it is good that their paths have crossed. He says that it is his gift to have power unparalleled to mold and build, but to be forever denied the spark of imagination and creativity… to be denied forever the gift of dreams. Glorian tells Shaper that he has other gifts that he can apply to his life. He says that it has been his honor and privilege if he has helped Shaper in some small way. Shaper says that the way Glorian has helped him has been by no means small. He says that it is typical of Glorian to assume it so. He says that Glorian has helped him in such a fashion that he could never repay him. Glorian says that he has helped is repayment enough. Shaper says that Glorian as always belittles himself. He says that before he met Glorian that he was a galactic nomad, a parasitic wanderer feeding off alien dreams. He says that it was Glorian that showed him the reward there was in bringing life to the dreams for the dreamer’s sake instead of his own “…to know the joy one can feel in the simple act of giving… freely and unselfishly!” Glorian says that it was always inside Shaper and that he just showed him where to find it. Shaper says that he has given dreams to one that once opposed him, and that the happiness that the Hulk now feels will remain in him forever.

Hulk sits with Crackajack by a fire looking up at the night sky. Hulk asks where the food is. Crackajack tells Hulk to hang on and that it is almost ready. Crackajack hands Hulk a pipin’ hot can of beans. Hulk says that he likes beans almost as much as he likes Crackajack. Hulk falls asleep looking up at the night’s sky. He doesn’t notice one of the stars up in the sky getting closer… slowly closer.

The next day, Hulk enjoys the sun on his face. He is enjoying practically everything in the world that the Golden Man has given him. He seems to be in control of his own destiny and he likes that most of all. Hulk says that paradise is a pretty place and that there are flowers and birds everywhere. He asks Crackajack why it is so pretty. Crackajack says that is the way that Hulk has always seen it deep inside him. Crackajack tells Hulk to hush and come with him. He says that he has a surprise for him. Crackajack points and Hulk sees Jarella. Jarella says that it is her, and that she has returned because he wished it so. She says that nothing will come between them again.

Betty looks at the blank faced Glenn Talbot and asks her father how long he has been like that. Ross says that it has been since Glenn was ray-blasted by the Gremlin since before the escaped from Siberia. Betty says that it is like he doesn’t see them at all or like he is looking right through her. She asks what is wrong with him. She says that he isn’t the man she married and that he is nothing more than a vegetable. Ross tells Betty to get hold of herself. Betty asks if there is anything they can do for him. The doctor tells her that these things take time. He says that her husband’s mind was completely destroyed during his captivity. He says that restoring it is a task beyond their current capabilities. He says that only a miracle can help her husband now. Ross says that in that case they will find a miracle or make their own.

Crackajack asks if anyone wants to go fishing. Jarella says that there will be time for that, and everything else, later, but that right now she and her beloved are enjoying the view. Hulk and Jarella are looking down into the water together. Jarella dips her finger in the water and creates ripples. She says that it is almost like watching the past roll away with the ripples. She says that the waters there are so quiet and serene… so beautiful. The ripples clear up and visible in the water are the Toad Men. One of the Toad Men tells his Toad-brothers to be careful and that the prisoners must be taken alive. Hulk says that the faces in the water are behind him now. Two of the Toad Men has grabbed Jarella and Crackajack. The Toad Man commander says that it will be a month of walking the treadmill for the one that injures their captives. He says that the supply is not so unlimited that they can afford to damage any new slaves. Hulk asks if they want to make Hulk and his friends into slaves. Hulk says that he is no one’s slave. Hulk hits the Toad Men. The Toad Men pile on. They are told to get out of the way so that the infra-ray. The Toad Men scramble and Hulk is hit with a sizzling bolt of energy that consumes the Hulk in an aura of bright azure blue. Hulk drops to the ground, but gets back up. The Toad Man commander is stunned. He says that the infra-ray neutralizes all internal motor responses. He says that the brute should be paralyzed by now. The Toad Men decide that Hulk’s strength will make him a worthy addition to their dwindling work force once they capture him. They prepare for total assault. Hulk says that they know he is strong, but that they still want to attack him. Hulk says that he will show him how strong he is. Hulk throws a large rock at the Toad Men. Hulk says that Toad Men came to paradise and tried to make Hulk and his friends prisoners. Hulk says that Ugly Men ruined his paradise, and that he will smash them for that. Hulk leaps at the captain. Hulk grabs the captain and tells him to tell the others to leave Hulk’s friends alone. The captain says that his life is meaningless compared to the survival of the entire Toad empire. He orders them to fire their magnetroid guns. Hulk says that the rays make him feel heavy. Hulk says that it is getting hard for him to stand up. Hulk drops to the ground. Hulk tries to lift his fist again, but he is blasted again. The Toad Men carry Hulk into their ship.

Hulk is bound with magnetic shackles and Crackajack and Jarella are bound. Hulk watches helplessly as the ship takes off. A tear runs down Hulk’s cheek though it goes unnoticed by all.

No Excuses rating: 9.75 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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