Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #191

Title: “The Triumph of the Toad!”

Writer: Len Wein

Illustrators: Herb Trimpe & Joe Staton

Colors: Glynis Oliver Wein

Editor: Len Wein

Hulk is led in restraints. He asks Ugly Men where they have brought him now. The Toad Man guarding Hulk tells him to be silent in the presence of His Imperial Highness, King Torkon II. King Torkon tells Amphos not to speak so harshly to their emerald guest. He asks if he doesn’t recognize one that their battle scrolls still tell of. He asks if he doesn’t recognize one that once thwarted their plans to take over the planet Earth . He says that this is the Hulk. He says that they owe a great debt to the brute, and that they will soon repay it in full. Torkon tells Hulk to look at Toadworld… the mechanized planet. He says to study it carefully and that he will get to know it well soon. He says that it was constructed from plans stolen from the Kree, and that slave labor is required to maintain its internal mechanisms. He says that deep within the bowels of Toadworld their reluctant workers struggle to keep the planet operating smoothly until they die from exhaustion. He says that Hulk will labor there as hard as any other or he will watch his companions perish. He says that they will now go to Toadtower, the holy city, and that there is one more ritual that must be performed before they can begin their appointed tasks. As Torkon transports Hulk and the others to Toad Tower he tells Hulk that they spotted his tiny planetoid. He says that it had always been quite desolate, and asks Hulk how he managed to create such a thing. Hulk says that he isn’t telling Ugly-Man. He tells him to let him and his friends go or he will smash. Torkon says that Hulk won’t do any smashing so long as he is bound by those magnetic shackles. Hulk struggles against his bonds, but gets nowhere.

Torkon presents them to Queen Froja and orders them to kneel. Froja tells Torkon that they are not kneeling. Torkon says that is easily corrected and slams them from behind. He asks if she is satisfied. Froja says that they are cute. She says that she thinks she will keep the green one. Before Torkon can object a Toad Man rushes in with a note from the scientists that requires immediate attention. Torkon sees that there are energies emanating from the Hulk’s planet that could only belong to the Shaper of Worlds. He says that explains how the Hulk created paradise… the Shaper created it for him. Toad Man says that Shaper could do things for the Toad Men. He says that if only they had the power to make him a slave. Torkon looks at Hulk and says that they do have that power in him. Jarella asks Hulk what it is. Hulk asks if Ugly Men want him to use his power to make someone else their slave. Hulk says that his power belongs to him and runs into Torkon’s stomach. Torkon hits Hulk again and asks if he dares to attack the mightiest of the Toad race. Hulk says that Ugly Man only hits him because he thinks his arms are trapped, but that Ugly Man is wrong. Hulk says that he is the strongest one there is and smashes out of his restraints. Hulk hits Torkon. Froja tells Hulk to leave Torkon alone or she will have him thrashed until he weeps. Hulk says that Ugly Man wouldn’t leave him alone and now he will smash. Froja hits Hulk herself and Hulk asks how he fights an ugly woman. Torkon tells the guards not to let their beloved Queen do all the fighting for them. Hulk says that is better and that now he can smash soldiers. Hulk throws machinery on the soldiers. Hulk is blasted in the back, but Hulk grabs the soldiers and presses him over his head. Torkon tells Hulk that if he raises his hand against his subject again that his companions will die. Hulk says that he will crush Ugly Men. Jarella tells Hulk to end the fighting now. She begs him to do as the Toad King says. Hulk says that he doesn’t understand. He asks if Jarella wants him to capture new slaves for the Ugly Men. Jarella says that she would rather one more slave than a battle that could destroy them all. Hulk says that he doesn’t understand, but that he will do as Jarella says. Torkon smiles as he leads his prisoners to an oddly equipped lab.

The Toad Men scientists adapt a Skrull nulltron bomb to fit on the Hulk’s back. An hour later, Hulk is back before Torkon wearing the nulltron bomb on his back. Torkon tells Hulk that he will go and find the Shaper of Worlds or he will return to find his companions have been hacked into tiny pieces. Hulk is sent rocketing off Toad World.

Back on Hulk’s paradise the landscape oddly changes. It changes from the inner thoughts of the Hulk’s idea of paradise into his fury and seething emotions. The landscape becomes desolate and dreary. Hulk announces that he wants Shaper. Shaper appears before the Hulk. Shaper asks Hulk if he hasn’t given him enough. He asks what else Hulk wants from him. Hulk says that he wants nothing FROM Shaper. He says that he wants Shaper himself. Hulk says that he has to bring Shaper back to Ugly Men or they will kill his friends. Shaper asks Hulk if he thinks he has enough power to overwhelm him, but then he notices the nulltron bomb on Hulk’s back. The bomb explodes. Hulk and Shaper are essentially short circuited. The Toad Men capture Shaper and leave Hulk behind. They decide that with the Shaper that they no longer need the Hulk.

Hulk wakes up to find Glorian standing before him. Glorian asks Hulk what happened. Hulk says that this place is not a paradise. He tells him to leave him alone or he will smash. Glorian says that he means no harm. Glorian asks what happened while he was gone and what happened to the Shaper. Hulk begrudgingly tells Glorian what happened. Glorian takes Hulk with him to Toad World.

Glorian tells Torkon that he and the Hulk have come for their companions. Torkon asks Glorian who he is to come for anything. Glorian tells him his name and says that his is a mission of mercy. Torkon says not to speak to him of mercy. Torkon says that for two long the Toad Men have been second class citizens… spurned by the “superior” races. He says that whatever technology they have they stole, but that with the Shaper as their slave that they will reign supreme. Glorian pleads with Torkon and says that there is no need to force the Shaper to do their bidding. He says that it would be Shaper’s blessing to grant whatever they crave. Torkon blasts Glorian and says that Toad Men don’t beg for what they want… they take it.

Shaper, seeing what has been done to his friend Glorian, feels confusion for the first time. His concentration lapses and he can no longer maintain the illusions he has created. Jarella and Crackajack transform back into the slug creatures they really are. Hulk wants to know what Ugly Men have done with his friends. Hulk says to tell him or he will destroy them all. Hulk freaks and starts to destroy everything. Torkon demands that the Hulk be slain, but Hulk just keeps destroying everything in sight. Hulk’s anger is fueled with the knowledge that Crackajack and Jarella where not really his long lost friends. Hulk says that he warned them to leave him alone, and that maybe now they will listen to him. Torkon blasts Hulk in the back. Hulk charges Torkon and says that his ray is not stronger than him. Hulk says that he is the strongest one there is. Torkon says that Hulk has stated that before. He says that he didn’t believe Hulk then and he doesn’t believe him now. Torkon hits Hulk, but Hulk hits him right back and Hulk says that Torkon has made him mad. Hulk knocks Torkon over. Torkon tries to blast Hulk, but Hulk leaps onto Torkon and knocks him unconscious. Hulk tells Torkon to get up so he can knock him down again. Shaper tells Hulk that there has been enough fighting. Shaper holds Glorian’s body in his arms. Shaper tells Hulk that if he wishes to return to paradise with his friends that all he has to do is ask. Hulk asks if Shaper can do that. Shaper says that he can make dreams live. Hulk says that he doesn’t want dreams. He says that if paradise isn’t real that it isn’t really paradise. Hulk says that he doesn’t want what Shaper offers. Torkon gets up and says that the Toad Men do. He begs Shaper for his gifts. Shaper looks down at Glorian in his arms and finally with soft regret he says, “No. There is nothing I can do to help you.” He offers Hulk another chance, but Hulk turns him down again. Shaper returns Hulk to his own reality and says that he prays that he doesn’t find that reality a hell. Shaper fades right after and Torkon calls out that Shaper can’t leave them like this. He pleads and pleads as the internal mechanisms that drive his planet sputter, choke, and stop.

No Excuses rating: 5.5 out of 10

Review by The Leader

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