Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #199Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #199
Title: “…and SHIELD shall follow!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Staton
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
In Citrusville, Florida, the Hulk stands on a statue in the middle of town. He shouts for humans to go away. The police are telling him to get down before he hurts himself, but a little kid knows who the Hulk is, and that the whole police force can’t stop him. Hulk turns when he hears a siren. A fire truck pulls up. They take out their hoses and blast the Hulk with some water to knock him off the statue. Hulk says that it is always the same. He says that he didn’t want to come to this town by the swamp, but that he didn’t know where else to go. Hulk says that he just wanted to think, and that puny humans attack him with water. Hulk says that he hates water more than anything. Hulk claps his hands and knocks over the firemen spraying him with the hose. Hulk shakes his fist at them, but the man driving the engine goes barreling towards Hulk. He hits Hulk from behind, but the Hulk doesn’t even budge. Hulk says that they are lucky that he doesn’t want to fight. Hulk hits the fire engine and sends it flying. Hulk leaps to the top of a marquee for a movie theater that is playing Jaws. Hulk says that he is tired of fighting everywhere he goes. He says that he just wants a place where he can live in peace. He says that he is not leaving until he knows where he is going. Hulk says that he is going to stay on the marquee until he figures out what to do. He warns the humans to leave him alone. One fireman says that he is just sitting there and asks what they should do now. A cop says that they are going to call the whole army.
Inside SHIELD’s helicarrier, Nick Fury is video conferencing with Samson, Ross, and Clay Quartermain. Fury tells them to make it quick, and that he has three international crises to deal with. Ross says that they have their own crises. He says that the Hulk is loose in Florida. Fury says that Quartermain is supposed to handle the SHIELD end of their problems. He asks why they are bothering him. Clay says that they are going to need men and equipment that only Fury can provide. He says that he has a list. After Clay reads off the list. Nick says that he needs all that to take out one monster. He says that it sounds like they are preparing for war. Clay says that is what they have planned.
For six hours, Hulk has been sitting on the marquee. Suddenly he looks up. He sees and hears approaching helicopters. Hulk says that he knew the quiet was too good to last.
Up in the chopper, Ross says that all the people have been moved indoors and that the Hulk hasn’t even noticed. Samson says that he is going to have to go down there and lure the Hulk away from the buildings before they can activate Operation: Apprehension. Clay tells Samson that he will get him a chute, but Samson tells him not to bother. Samson leaps out of the helicopter.
Hulk sees Samson leaping out of the air at
him. Hulk says that he has fought Green Hair before. Samson
smashes Hulk right through the marquee. He says that he is
impressed that Hulk remembers him. He says that he didn’t
think Hulk’s memory went that far back. Samson hits Hulk and
says that after today they won’t ever have to fight again
since there won’t be a need. Hulk tells Samson not to back
up. He says that like all the others that Green Hair attacked him
without reason or warning. Hulk says that like all the others
Samson will pay. 
Hulk charges
into Samson. Samson thinks to himself that it is working so far
as the Hulk has followed him into Town Square. He says that he
just has to keep him in the open until the copters make their
move. Hulk says that Green Hair gets up and that he will smash
him back down. Hulk says that he will leave then. Samson hits
Hulk and says that Hulk isn’t going anywhere that they
don’t want him to. Samson wonders what is taking the
helicopters so long. Samson looks up to see them approaching.
Samson thinks how he has to get Hulk out in the complete open. He
tells Hulk that he will have to catch him before he can smash
him. Samson says that Hulk isn’t strong enough for that.
Hulk says that nothing is stronger than him. Hulk nails Samson in
the face.
Above, tentacles descend from the helicopters. They grab Hulk. Both his arms and both his legs are grabbed by tentacles. Hulk shouts for them to let him go or he will smash. Samson says that Hulk has no chance. He says that the claws have anesthetic that will seep into his skin and render him helpless. Samson catches a line sent down for him. He says that in minutes the Hulk will be unconscious, and that when he wakes up in New Mexico that they have a job for him that only he can handle. Hulk says that he isn’t going to do anything except smash Samson when he breaks free. Ross congratulates Samson, and Clay says that Fury is going to kill him for wasting all the man-power and machinery. Samson tells them not to be too confident. He says that the anesthetic should have put the Hulk to sleep by now, but it hasn’t. Samson says that Hulk is even stronger than they thought. Hulk says that he told them he was the strongest one there is. Hulk smashes the tentacles. Hulk falls down into a stagnant swamp. Clay asks what they are going to do now. Samson says that they are going to declare war like they should have in the first place.
At the newly renamed Gamma Base, Glenn Talbot stares ahead with a blank expression. Betty stands by his side and says that it will only be a few more hours. She says that one way or the other that it will be over. She says that when they capture the Hulk that Bruce Banner will help Glenn restore his mind. She says that then they can be together again. She wonders if they will ever truly be together again. She says that she loves Glenn, but that whenever she is around Samson that she seems to forget that. She says that he has become such a comfort to her. Betty starts to cry and asks Glenn to forgive her.
Clay, Ross, and Samson are now riding in SHIELD’s new hover-base. Clay says that Gaffer guarantees that this will help them find the Hulk. Samson says that he doesn’t doubt that. He says that he just wonders how they will hold Hulk once they find him. Clay says that Gaffer took care of that too. He says that when they get close enough that they will take Hulk out with a special paralysis gas. Samson says that sounds good. He says that they need to find him then. Clay asks Ross how they are doing on that front. Ross says that he is contacting the Flying Bloodhounds now. He says that if the machines are tuned into Hulk’s gamma signature that they should have found something by now.
The Flying Bloodhounds are saying that they haven’t found anything when the sensors start going crazy. He says that they have found the Hulk, but that he doesn’t think that he wanted to be found. A flying hunk of wood destroys one of the machines as the pilot bails out.
Clay orders a hydro-craft readied at the boat-bay. Samson and Ross say that Clay can’t go. Ross says that Hulk would tear him apart. Clay says that Ross heard Fury say that he was SHIELD’s official Hulk hunter. He says that is what they pay him for, and that is what he is going to do.
Moments later, four silver seacrafts shoot out the back of the Hover-Base. Two of the boats speed along searching for the Hulk. Suddenly Hulk rises out of the water. He palms a boat in each of his hands. The boats’ drivers fly through the air after the sudden stop. One tells the other to make sure and hit the water cleanly or they will break every bone in their bodies. Hulk says that if the fall doesn’t break them that he will. Hulk throws one of the boats and hits one of the remaining boats. Clay is the only one left in a functioning craft. He says that maybe he can hit the Hulk broadside. Clay gets within a few yards, but Hulk spots him. Hulk throws the other boat. Clay manages to leap out of his boat and grab the limb of a tree before his boat is hit. Clay quickly calls for reinforcement. Hulk tells Clay not to bother calling more puny humans. He says that if he wanted to that he could smash them all, but Hulk says that he has had enough stupid fighting for the day. Hulk says that he is leaving and that if they know what is good for them that they will leave him in peace.
Samson spots Hulk leaping. He says that Hulk is leaving the combat zone. He says that if they lose him this time that there is no telling when they will find him again. Samson says that he has to make sure that they don’t lose him. Samson leaps out of the Hover-Base.
Hulk asks why his life never changes. He
says that if he crushed everyone that ever chased him that he
wouldn’t do anything else. Hulk says that even he is tired
of fighting and that he is leaving. 
Samson smashes
into Hulk. He says that he is sorry to interrupt Hulk, but that
as he told him before… the only place Hulk is going is back
to New Mexico. Hulk and Samson fall into the water together. For
long seconds there is only air bubbles rising to the surface.
Suddenly Samson comes hurtling out of the water as the Hulk hits
him. Samson tells the Hulk that is tough, but that he is coming
back to New Mexico with him even if he has to drag him. Hulk
tells Samson to come and try. He says that nothing that lives can
beat him in a fair fight. Samson says that he guesses that he
will have to cheat then. 
Samson grabs a
log and smacks Hulk backward into the water.
Clay shouts that he wants the paralysis-gas rifles out there right away. Samson and Hulk are trading blows. Samson tries to give Hulk another chance to surrender, but Hulk says that he will never give up. Samson says that in that case one of them is going out fighting. Hulk grabs Samson’s left hand and Samson grabs Hulk’s left with his right. One of the SHIELD agents has Hulk lined up. Clay tells him to drop the rifle. He says that if he fires now that he will get Samson too. Clay shouts to Samson that he has to get out of there. Samson says that he can’t do that. He says that if he lets Hulk go that he will leap away before they get a shot off. Samson says that if they want to use that stuff to use it now. Samson says that he doesn’t care if they get him so long as they get the Hulk. Clay orders the fire and says for Heaven to help them all. The gas surrounds Hulk and Samson. Hulk says that they try to hurt him with gas. Samson says that there is no escape. He says that even now that it is seeping into his skin. Samson says that they have won as he passes out. Hulk looks down at Samson. He says that the gas was stronger than Green-Hair, but that the gas didn’t hurt him. Hulk says that he is stronger that the gas. Hulk says that he is the strongest one there is, but then he staggers and passes out face down in the mud. Clay calls in to Hover-Base to bring out the retrieval vehicles. He says to roll out the red carpet for Samson as well.
Clay drives the vehicle holding up Hulk. He says that they may have to carry Samson down the red carpet, but that he deserves it anyway. He says that a dose of paralysis-gas strong enough to knock out the Hulk might have killed Samson. Clay says that he knew it when he ordered them to fire. Clay looks down on Doc. He says that he is more of a man than he gave him credit for. He says that he owes him an apology when he wakes up. Clay says that for now they have an appointment in New Mexico that they have kept waiting long enough.
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
Great issue on all accounts. Len Wein does a great job writing the Savage Hulk. His strength and actions really speak of the Savage Hulk to me. It’s moment of truth time for Samson. Doc helped to stop the Leader back when he lost his powers, but really other than that he has been a big wash out. Samson shows his intestinal fortitude and downs the Hulk. Samson goes down first, but you have to admire Samson’s guts. Sal and Ernie do a great job together. Not only is the style outstanding, but for an all battle issue there isn’t a moment when you don’t know what is going on. 4.5 out of 5 for both.
Review and pictures done by the Leader.