Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #193Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #193
Title: “The Doctor’s Name is… Samson!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Joe Staton
Colors: Glynis Oliver Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Bruce Banner stands out on the deck of the ship Blackwatch looking at the night sky. He thinks to himself that it was nice for the MacTavishes to invite him to stay on, but that he didn’t belong there. Bruce decides that is his problem and that he doesn’t really know where he belongs. One of the crew comes up to Banner and asks him what he is doing up there. He says that Bruce was supposed to stay below deck after dark. Bruce apologizes. He says that he just came up for some fresh air and to do some thinking. The man says that Bruce can think below, and that him staying below deck at night was the one condition they had for taking him with them. Bruce apologizes again. He says that he will head below in a moment. The man grabs Bruce’s arm and says that he is going now. Bruce says that there is no need to get rough. Suddenly Bruce sees some men throwing radioactive waste barrels into the ocean. The men that threw the barrels in say that it is too bad that Bruce saw that. One says that the company that paid them to dump the waste doesn’t want and bad publicity if he talks. Another says that it seems like Bruce is going to have himself an accident at sea. He throws a club at Bruce and hits his head. Bruce is on the ground. He says that his head is pounding and that his pulse has started racing. Bruce says, “Fools! Whatever happens now is your own fault! Bruce Banner wouldn’t have… couldn’t have done anything to hurt you…” Hulk finishes, “…but Hulk will smash! Hulk will smash you all! The men all start jumping on Hulk saying that he can’t be strong enough to take them all. Hulk says that he is tired of men always attacking him for no reason. He says that he is tired of being confused. Hulk tears off the entire bulkhead. Hulk shouts that he wants to know how he got on the boat. Hulk says that he hates water. Hulk says that puny humans never answer him. Hulk rips off another part of the ship exposing the inside. Hulk says that if they don’t take him back to land that he will tear the boat apart. Hulk asks if they hear him. Hulk smashes the boat in two and the ship starts to sink. Seven minutes later the ship sinks completely underwater, but by then the Hulk is already swimming across the Atlantic Ocean.
At Hulkbuster Base, the above reconstruction goes slowly, but below the radiation research complex moves ahead with startling speed. Samson says that if the test run works satisfactorily that the Gammatron should be ready for use tomorrow. Ross says that he is impressed with the amount he has accomplished in just a few days. Betty asks Leonard if he really thinks that his ray will work. Samson says that he told her at the beginning that it was an outside chance. He says that their best hope lies in finding Bruce Banner. Clay Quartermain says that he doesn’t think that the odds of that are very good considering what happened at Bitterfrost. Clay points out a dial that is reading in the danger zone. Samson says that he has fed too much power and that he has to cut back. A leak springs up. Samson tells Clay to get Betty and the General to safety. He says that he will try to contain the radiation. Suddenly the Gammatron explodes. Samson is inundated by gamma radiation. Ross, Clay, and Betty step out from behind the radiation screen to see Samson lying on the ground in tatters. Betty wants to know what is happening. Samson stands up. His clothes tear as he grows taller and more muscular. His hair becomes longer and decidedly green. Betty says that Leonard has changed again. She asks his forgiveness. Ross says that this is their fault, and that they shouldn’t have brought him there. Samson says that there is no need to apologize. He says that to be honest he is glad that it happened.
In
Samson’s quarters, he says that subconsciously he may have
wanted that accident to happen. He says that he was never happy
about losing his gamma powers anyway. He thinks that might be why
he has carried his uniform with him all that time. Samson dons
his old costume. He says that it might have happened by accident
or design, but that at any rate Doc Samson lives again.
At dawn, the Hulk climbs out of the water in Manhattan’s harbor. Hulk says that maybe this is the place he will be able to call home. Two workers spot Hulk and rush to call the police. The cops arrive and order Hulk to put his hands on his head. Hulk says that it is more puny humans with guns. The police start to fire. Hulk swats them aside. He asks why puny humans always think that guns will make them as strong as him. Hulk crushes the gun and says that nothing is as strong as him. The police run and says that they will have to take his word for that. Hulk leaps off once he realizes that he is alone.
Hours later at Hulkbuster Base, Clay tells the others that the Hulk has been spotted in New York City. Ross wonders if there is anything that the Hulk can’t survive. Samson says to be thankful that they haven’t found out yet. He says that they need Bruce Banner’s help in curing his son-in-law. Samson says that he is commandeering the first aircraft that he can. Clay says that the last time they fought that the Hulk clobbered him. Samson says that a wise man learns from his mistakes. He says that this time the Hulk will fins him more than a match. Ross says that he doesn’t know if he believes that, but he wishes Samson luck.
Hulk walks along alone down the alleys. Hulk hears a loud booming voice ordering him to surrender. Hulk looks up and sees a “flying machine”. Hulk tells it to go away, and that he doesn’t want to listen to it. The helicopter goes on warning Hulk to surrender. Hulk says that he told it to go away, but that it is still yelling at him. Hulk lifts up a dumpster and throws it at the helicopter destroying it. Hulk dusts his hands off and says that the flying machine won’t bother him anymore. Hulk says that maybe now he can find peace. Hulk thinks about leaving the city since there are so many puny humans there. Suddenly, Samson spins Hulk around and hits him. He says that Hulk may not remember, but that he is called Doc Samson. Samson says that the robot copter lured Hulk into the open like he planned. Samson tells Hulk that he needs Bruce Banner’s back at Project Greenskin. He asks if Hulk will come willingly or if he has to drag him there. Hulk says that if Green Hair is Banner’s friend that he smash him. Hulk leaps at Samson, but Samson deflects Hulk into the ground. Samson says that he saw that one coming a mile away. He says that he had almost forgotten how much fun this can be. He says that he actually hopes that the Hulk makes a fight of it. Hulk says that Green Hair is laughing at him, but that nobody laughs at him for long. Hulk picks up a truck and throws it at Samson. Samson swats it away. He says that he has the fight he wanted, and that all he has to do now is survive it. Samson says that it shouldn’t be too much trouble for one whose strength matches the Hulk’s. Samson leaps into the Hulk’s face. Samson gives Hulk another chance to come with him peacefully. Hulk shouts no. He leaps at Samson, but Samson leaps over him and Hulk dives into some trash cans. Hulk looks up to see Samson gone. Hulk says that Green Hair was afraid. Hulk looks up at the World Trade Center. He says that he will be able to see Green Hair from there.
Hulk leaps to the top of the World Trade
Center. On the other tower, Samson says that it is about time the
Hulk got there. He says that there they can finish their battle
without demolishing the whole city. Hulk says that Green Hair
talks too much when he should be fighting. Hulk leaps across the
towers and into Samson. Hulk hits Samson and tells him to fight.
Hulk says that he will crush him. Samson realizes that if they
keep this up that one of them is bound to get killed. Samson
says, “Hulk… stop! Despite what my childish
grandstanding has made this all seem… a man’s life
truly does depend on you! You have to come with me!”
Hulk says,
“For the last time, Green Hair… no!” Hulk hits
Samson off the towers.
On West 122nd street, a group of kids are playing the ninth inning of a 12 to 12 baseball game. Suddenly, they hear a whistling as if a bomb where being dropped. Samson smashes into the baseball field creating a large hole. The kids look in and see that there is someone inside the hole.
Hulk stands atop the World Trade Center. He says that Green Hair thought that he was as strong as Hulk, but that he was wrong. Hulk says that he is the strongest one there is. Hulk leaps away.
Samson emerges from the hole he created. He says that the brute may have escaped him, but that it will never happen again. Samson says that next time it will be no holds barred. He says that next time the victory will belong to him.
No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10
Roy Thomas may have created him, but Len Wein gets major points for brining back Doc Samson. Samson is such an integral part of the Hulk mythos that it is hard to imagine the Hulk without him. It must have been great for Len as writer and editor to do all the things that he wanted. Samson is back where he belongs and now we push on full speed ahead. Trimpe and Joe Stanton work great together. The storytelling is outstanding. 4 out of 5 for the art.
Review and pictures done by the Leader.