Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #195Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #195
Title: “Warfare in Wonderland!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Staton
Colors: Glynis Oliver Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Ricky Bower had left a note to Miss Mayberry
of the orphanage. He told her that he was running away so he
wouldn’t be a problem anymore. Now he runs alongside a
moving train trying to jump into one of the boxcars. He manages
to get on board, but no sooner does he do so when the Hulk moves
out from behind a bunch of boxes. Hulk asks what puny humans want
with Hulk now. Ricky shakes the stick that holds his possessions
in a handkerchief at the Hulk. He tells Hulk to keep away or he
will hit him with the stick. Hulk says that the puny human is
just a little boy, but that even little boys threaten him when
all he wants is to be left in peace. Ricky apologizes and says
that he didn’t know. 
He says that he
is running away. He says that at the orphanage that the other
kids picked on him, but that he is leaving to find a place where
he can be someone. Ricky shakes Hulk’s hand and introduces
himself. Hulk says that he once had a friend named Rick and asks
if he will be his friend too.
The train comes to a stop after riding all morning. Outside the boxcar, the boxcar bulls waiting with sticks for pummeling. “Iron Mike” McGinty says that this boxcar is his. He says that he is the lucky one as he hears voices coming from within. The other bulls say that they pity anyone that Iron Mike finds inside since there is no one tougher than him. Seconds later, “Iron Mike” is sent flying out of the boxcar through the wall. The bulls asks what hit him. Hulk says, “Hulk hit him!” He tells them to go away and leave him and his friend alone. Hulk says to leave them alone or he will smash as he drops out of the boxcar. The bulls start shooting at Hulk. Hulk says that bullets can’t hurt him, but that they could hurt Ricky. Hulk makes sure Ricky stands behind him. Hulk says that they tried to hurt his friend and for that he will crush them all. Hulk picks up the boxcar and throws it at the bulls. Hulk grabs Ricky under his arm and leaps away. He says that they will go to a place away from the puny humans. The bulls are glad to see him go and consider a new line of work.
Inside the reconstructing Hulkbuster Base, down the steel re-enforced elevator shaft, in the radiation research laboratory, Abomination says that they may have him by the “short scales”, but that he doesn’t have to like it. Samson tells him to calm down before he literally blows his top. Samson says that they didn’t resurrect Abomination to argue with him. He says that they did it because he is the only one strong enough to capture the Hulk. He says that they place the mini-bomb inside his skull to make sure that he doesn’t turn on them like he did last time. Abomination says that he can’t capture anyone unless he knows where he is and that the ticking in his head is liable to drive him insane before they even find the Hulk. Just then a soldier busts in and says that they have spotted the Hulk in Florida and to notify General Ross right away.
Betty sits at Glenn Talbot’s side as he stares ahead like a vegetable. Betty asks Glenn if he can hear her. She begs him that if he can hear her to give her some kind of a sign. Betty realizes that he can’t do anything. She says that he has no mind. That he is nothing more than a vegetable. She says that he is nothing more than a vegetable that used to be her husband. Betty asks Glenn to forgive her and that she didn’t mean it. She says that he is still her husband, but that she doesn’t deserve him. She says that with everything that has happened that this is all her fault. Ross enters the room and says that will be enough of that. He says that he appreciates the way she feels, but that no daughter of his is going to wallow in self-pity. Ross says that Glenn is not a lost cause and that she has to believe that. Ross holds Betty. He says that if they can restore his subconscious that they can restore his mind. He says that all they have to do is find Bruce Banner or the Hulk. Clay enters the room. He says that he is sorry to intrude, but that they just spotted the Hulk in Florida. Ross asks him why he is standing around and to activate Operation: Abomination immediately.
Hulk stands in a “disguise” he picked out of a garbage can. Hulk has a long overcoat on and a hat. Hulk and Ricky stand outside Wonderland, an amusement park. Ricky says that he has waited his whole life to go there, but now that he is actually there he doesn’t have any money to get in. Hulk tells Ricky not to be sad and that he will help him. Hulk crumples the wall as he picks it up. Hulk says that if Ricky wants to go in that he will go in. Ricky ducks under the wall and tells Hulk to hurry in. He says that the disguise won’t fool anyone if he keeps doing stuff like that. Hulk and Ricky’s eyes open wide as they see the inside of Wonderland. A hat vendor dressed up as the Mad Hatter comes up to Ricky and asks him if he wants to buy a hat. Ricky says that he doesn’t think so. The disgruntled salesman asks Ricky what he problem is and says that he hasn’t sold a hat all day. Ricky tells him to leave him alone. Hulk grabs the Mad Hatter and pulls him close to his face. Hulk tells him to leave his friend alone or he will make him sorry. The Hatter runs off screaming about a monster. All of a sudden the people all start running. Hulk asks why they run from him now. The police arrive and tell Hulk to try looking into a mirror. Hulk says that he is tired of fighting puny humans with guns and that if they want to fight him that they will have to follow him. Hulk leaps off without remembering to take Ricky with him. Ricky shouts out to wait for him.
On the ground by the Ferris wheel, Dan Crowley is reporting that the Hulk has been on top of the wheel for an hour now and that he is demanding that Ricky Bower be brought to him before he leaves. He says that of course the authorities have refused and are waiting for a “secret weapon”.
Hulk stands on top of the Ferris wheel
shouting to give his friend back or he will smash. Suddenly the
wheel starts to go down. Hulk says that he is being carried back
down to the puny humans. Hulk looks down to see why the wheel is
moving. Hulk sees that someone is pulling the wheel. Hulk says,
“You! Hulk knows you! You are called Abom…
Abomin…” Abomination says that they call him the
Abomination and punches the Hulk off the Ferris wheel. Hulk says
that he remembers fighting Abomination in space, in the desert,
and that Ross’ base. Hulk says that Abomination said that he
was as strong as him then but that he was wrong. Abomination
plows into Hulk and drives him into an attraction called
“Down the Rabbit Hole”. He says, “Strong or wrong,
this is a whole other battle… and this one I’m going to
win!” The two of them go down a slide and are dumped off
into a room filled with furniture. Abomination says that there is
a bomb ticking in his head and that to get it shut off that he
has to bring Hulk back to General Ross. Hulk asks if Abomination
wants to bring him to the one that is always trying to destroy
him. 
Hulk shouts,
“No!” and punches Abomination in the face. Hulk plows
into Abomination and the wall behind them, containing a small
door, spins around. Hulk says that Abomination is trying to
confuse him, but that he will not capture him. Hulk and
Abomination find themselves in a room with tiny furniture and a
giant door. Abomination says that he is really sorry about this
whole thing. He says that they would make better partners than
opponents. Abomination punches Hulk and says that Hulk’s old
friends have set this up and that it is either going to be him or
Hulk and that it isn’t going to be him. Hulk is sent flying
into a room with giant furniture. Abomination says that he gets
it and says, “All that’s missing is little hors
d’oeuvres reading ‘Eat Me’!”
Hulk hits the leg of a giant chair and breaks through it. Abomination leaps at Hulk and says that it is really a shame. He says that the two of them are very much alike. He says that they are both gamma-ray-spawned monsters and that they are the only ones of their kind. He says that they would make a good team and good friends. Hulk punches Abomination backwards and says that if he wanted to be his friend that he wouldn’t attack him. Abomination says that Hulk doesn’t know what he is doing. Hulk says that “Big-Ears” is wrong and that he knows what he is doing. Hulk says that he is smashing “Big-Ears”. Hulk grabs the chair by the broken leg and uses it to smash into Abomination.
Outside “Down the Rabbit Hole”,
Dan Crowley says that apparently the government’s plan to
capture the Hulk by using the Abomination has failed. He says
that there hasn’t been a sign of either of them since they
started fighting. Suddenly Hulk and Abomination plow back through
the wall to the outside. 
Abomination
starts to get up. He thinks to himself that the ticking in his
head makes it hard to think. He realizes that the direct approach
isn’t going to work. Abomination thinks of something. He
kicks Hulk in the face and starts running into the Hall of
Mirrors. Hulk runs after Abomination and says that nothing is
going to stop him.
Watching back at Hulkbuster Base, Clay says that Abomination just turned and ran. Samson says that he is up to something and that he doesn’t trust him. Ross says that he doesn’t trust him either, but that as long as he believes that it is a bomb inside his head, and not a spy-eye camera, that he will do as he is told.
Hulk shouts for Big Ears. He says that Big Ears can’t hide from him forever. Abomination asks who is hiding. He says that if he wants him to come and get him. Hulk turns and sees several Abomination’s in the mirror’s reflection. Abomination says that Hulk had better make it fast and fades from the mirror. Hulk smashes the mirrors and says that Big Ears isn’t going to get away. Abomination asks if Hulk wants a piece of him. Hulk turns and sees Abomination divided up into sectioned body parts. His head, left and right arms, and left and right legs are all separated and spread around. Hulk shouts that this isn’t real. He smashes the mirrors and says that Big Ears is trying to confuse him, but that he won’t be tricked. Abomination says that Hulk is wrong again. He drives a fist into Hulk’s back. Hulk says that Big Ears attacks like a coward from behind. Hulk says that he will smash him and be done with him. Hulk and Abomination collide and the impact registers 3.7 on the Richter scale.
Inside the Tunnel of Mirrors, Mildred and Myron ride together. Mildred asks Myron if this isn’t romantic. Myron says that they should have gone on the Jabberwocky ride instead. A queen pops up and shouts, “Off with his head! Off with his head!” Myron freaks out. Mildred tells him not to be silly and that it is only a ride. Two jacks pop up holding axes. Myron says that it still frightens him. Mildred says that the place is harmless. Suddenly Abomination and Hulk plow through one wall and back out the other. Mildred is excited. She says that they didn’t have that attraction the last time she was there. She asks Myron if it isn’t the most exciting thing he has ever seen. Myron is passed out next to her.
Abomination takes another hit from the Hulk. He says that the battle could go forever, but that he can’t allow that. He says that he and Hulk are evenly matched, but that with a lucky blow that Hulk could accidentally set off the bomb. Abomination tells Hulk to wait. He says that he doesn’t want to fight anymore and that maybe they can talk this out. Hulk is charging and Abomination asks him to listen. Abomination says that they are the same sort of monster and that he is Hulk’s friend. Hulk punches Abomination and says, “Bah! Again Big-Ears sys he is Hulk’s friend… and again Big-Ears lies!”
Abomination flies and hits the roller coaster. The impact is so great that the cats fly right off the track and into the air. Abomination says that is all he can take. He says that he is going to tear Hulk apart and that if Ross doesn’t like it he can trigger his bomb. Abomination lands and realizes that the ticking in his head has stopped. Abomination figures Hulk’s last punch must have deactivated it. Suddenly he hears ticking again, but he turns and sees a train with a mechanical White Rabbit holding a watch talking about how late he is. Abomination says that he is free. Hulk tells Abomination to turn around so he can crush him. Abomination realizes that Hulk still wants to fight, but that he no longer has a reason to give him one. Abomination turns and says, “hulk… stop! The battle is over! You can beat me to a pulp if you want to… but I won’t raise a hand against you again!” Hulk is confused. Abomination continues, “For the last time, Hulk… I offer you my friendship! Stand with me, not against me… and the puny humans will never bother you again!” Hulk says that he doesn’t know, but that maybe he is right. Ricky Bower grabs a gun out of a policeman’s holster. He tells Hulk not to listen to him and says that Abomination is just trying to make Hulk as bad as him. Ricky aims the gun at Abomination and tells him to go away or he will shoot. Abomination realizes this must be the Ricky Hulk was looking for and says that he can use this to his advantage. Abomination punches the ground. Ricky is thrown off balance and accidentally shoots the gun. The bullet bounces off Hulk’s shoulder. Abomination tells Hulk that he told him that he could never trust the humans and that even his “so-called pal Ricky is out to get you! Face it, Hulk… I am the only friend you’ve got!” Hulk says that if Ricky is shooting at him that Big-Ears is right. Hulk and Abomination leap off together. Ricky stands on the ground and says that he is sorry that he shot him. He begs the Hulk to come back to him and says that he is his friend.
No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10
Call this a sentimental rating if you will. Hulk #196 is actually the first comic book that I ever remember reading as a kid. I went out and bought this issue to find out what happened before and from there my obsession with comic books began. Inside #195 there was a footnote that the Hulk had fought the Abomination in #137, #159, and #171. This started me collecting back issue after back issue always looking for someone like the Abomination that could give the Hulk a decent fight. The issue might also be responsible for what I have come to call Gamma People. Anyway, I love this fight. The fictional amusement park called Wonderland contains what I consider to be the most original fight in Hulk’s history. And what isn’t there to love about Sal’s pencils in this issue. Such impactful drawing and writing caused my now 23 year long obsession with comics. You can’t argue with results!