Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #202Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #202
Title: “Havoc at the Heart of the Atom”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Staton
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
The Hulk falls and falls, but never seems to
hit bottom as he falls through a microcosm. Hulk wouldn’t
mind the impact, since that happens to him all the time, but the
uncertainty of never landing is almost more than he can bear.
Hulk bounces off a few molecules within the sub-atomic universe.
Hulk tries to remember how he got to where he is but cannot.
Finally Hulk seems to fall out of the sub-atomic universe and
hits the ground. 
Hulk asks where
he is and says that it looks like a forest. Hulk says that he
likes the forest and that it is a place where he can be alone.
Hulk hears a noise that he says sounds like a dog and a pig at
the same time. Hulk sees the Warthos and remembers them. He says
that last time he was there that the Warthos attacked him first.
Hulk says that this time he will attack first. Hulk leaps onto
the Warthos’ snout and grabs hold of his tusks. Hulk says
that now they can’t eat him, but that he can hurt them. Hulk
leaps up and down on the snout and drives the Warthos’ head
into the ground. Hulk stands gloating about how smart he was when
another Warthos bites him and picks him up in his mouth. Hulk
pulls the mouth open and says that he said nothing could eat him
and he meant it. Hulk swings so hard he smashes one of the tusks
into half. Hulk says that he didn’t come there to fight but
to be alone. Hulk grabs each of the Warthos’ tails and
swings them around and throws them both away. He waits and feels
satisfied when he hears them hit the ground. Hulk walks off
alone.
At Gamma Base, Glenn Talbot watches the sun rise and says that it is the most beautiful when you thought you would never see another one again. He says that everything becomes precious and that it is like he has been reborn. Betty asks why he would risk it all then. She says that Samson cured him and that he should leave well enough alone. Glenn says that he has no choice. He says that he might be microscopic, but that the Hulk is still inside his skull. Samson interrupts and says that they are ready for him down in microsurgery. Glenn says that this is just something that he has to do. Betty starts to cry and prays that Glenn come back to her since she couldnthey will be back soon.’t bear losing him a second time. Samson says that
Hulk walks along listening to the birds chirping. He hears some noise and looks through the tall grass to see what it is. Hulk sees a bunch of people surrounding a catapult. On the catapult is a beautiful emerald skinned blonde woman. Hulk sees her and thinks how familiar she looks. Suddenly Hulk realizes that it is Jarella. The hooded headsman uses his axe to strike the rope that was holding down the catapult. Jarella is sent rocketing into the sky. Hulk says that he cannot have found Jarella again only to lose her forever. He leaps into the air and catches Jarella. Jarella sees Hulk and says that she has to be dreaming or dead. She says that he can’t be there. The people say that he has stolen the sacrifice and that the God of the Mountain will be wrathful unless she is slain. Hulk says that if they try and hurt Jarella that he will smash them. Jarella tells them for their own sake to stay back. The people say that she is not their queen any longer and they won’t listen to her. Hulk says that he warned them. He hits the ground and sends all the people off their feet. The ground, however, doesn’t stop shaking. Hulk says that he didn’t hit the ground that hard. Jarella says that this isn’t Hulk’s doing. She says that ever since he left them last that they have been plagued by earthquakes. Hulk says that they should leave before she is hurt. Jarella says that they can’t just leave her people there to die. She says that he has to do something to help them. Hulk says that he doesn’t understand. He says that they wanted to kill her, but that she still wants to help them. Hulk says that he doesn’t understand, but that he will do as she wants. Hulk grabs the two ends of the opening fissure in the ground and pulls them shut. The people are amazed. Hulk says that he will crush them if they try to hurt her again. Jarella says that they are her people. She says that they are his people. Hulk says that they may have green skin, but that they are not friends. Hulk grabs Jarella and leaps away with her.
Hulk and Jarella sit together on a rock. She
says that it is a miracle that he has returned to them in their
greatest time of need. She says that she thought she had lost him
forever, but that the gods have been kind. She says that they
have retuned him from the land of the pink-skinned men and taught
him their language again after she had to take that from him to
save his life. She says that is the greatest gift of all. She
says that now maybe he will understand when she tells him how
much she loves him. 
Hulk grabs some
flowers off the ground and presents them to Jarella. A tear runs
down Jarella’s cheek. She puts her arms around Hulk’s
neck and kisses him. Hulk is surprised but soon holds Jarella
back. Suddenly the ground begins to shake and interrupts their
kissing. Jarella tells Hulk that it is only a mild tremor and
that it will pass. Hulk says that he is worried and that he wants
to know where the shaking is coming from. Jarella says that some
say that she brought this on them by loving and out-worlder like
him. She says that they were trying to sacrifice her to a deity
of great legend… the God of the Mountain. Jarella points to
the mountain. Hulk says that if that is all that is making the
ground shake that he will go up the mountain and make “God”
stop. He tells Jarella to wait there and that he will come back
for her. Jarella says that she is coming with him and that she
will face the danger at his side. She says that she owes her
people that much.
As they climb the mountain, Hulk tells Jarella that she didn’t have to come. He says that he would have smashed Mountain God alone. Jarella says that she was once queen and that she can’t shirk her duty. Hulk says that if Jarella get tired climbing to let him know. Jarella loses her grip. Hulk snatcher her out of the air and puts her on his back. He tells her to hold onto him and that he will do the climbing for her. Jarella says that holding Hulk is a task that she could become accustomed to. Hulk grunts in reply as they climb higher and higher into the mist.
They finally get clear of the mist. Jarella
says that the legends are true. She points to the castle of the
Mountain God. Hulk says that it just looks like a big rock with
windows in it, but if that is where the Mountain God is that he
will go there. Hulk and Jarella arrive at the massive door. Hulk
says that the handle is too high to reach. Jarella says that they
should just go under. As they crawl under Jarella says that if
that is how big the door is to imagine how big the Mountain God
is. Hulk says that size doesn’t matter and that he will
smash anything that gets in his way. Jarella sees inside the
house and says that she has never felt so insignificant. Hulk
asks why. Jarella says that everything is so big. She says that
maybe they were wrong to come and should leave. They hear a loud
stomping and turn to see the God of the Mountain.
He asks who
dares to invade his castle. Hulk says that he is a giant. The
Mountain God says that he is going to eat tonight, but that he
doubts either of them will be much more than a mouthful. He
swings his axe. Hulk grabs Jarella and dives to safety. Hulk
tells Jarella to get to where it is safe and to leave the
fighting to him. He says that is what he does bet. Hulk leaps
into the giant’s face and hits him. The giant swats Hulk
away and asks if he really thinks he is strong enough to beat
him. Hulk says that he is stronger than anyone and that he will
prove it once he gets up. The giant grabs Hulk and says that he
won’t do anything except die. The giant says that he will
grind Hulk’s bones to make his bread. Hulk smashes out of
the hand and says that he won’t be food for anyone. Hulk
leaps onto the giant’s head and says that every time he
comes there that something tries to eat him. Hulk says that he is
sick and tired of it and smashes the giant in the head. The giant’s
skin on his head is ripped off from the punch. Hulk says that he
isn’t a giant but just a robot. The giant robot says that
knowing his secret won’t help him at all. Hulk rips the skin
off the robot as he leaps down. Hulk says that he has always
fought robots and always won. The robot says that he has never
fought a robot that was also a god and that a god cannot die. The
robot raises its arm to smash Hulk, but Hulk catches the fist and
smashes the robot through the wall destroying it. Hulk crushes up
a part of the robot and says that he is the strongest one there
is. Jarella rushes out and asks Hulk if he is all right. She asks
if there is anything left of the giant. Hulk says that only dust
is left. He tells her that the Mountain God is gone and that the
ground won’t shake anymore. He says to let him take her away
from there. Jarella says that they still don’t know who
built the “metallic monstrosity”. Hulk says that he
doesn’t care. He opens the door and is immediately hit with
a blast that knocks him to the ground.
Jarella rushes
to his side and says that he lies so still. She begs Hulk to
speak to her. Psyklop stands over them both with an enormous
cannon. He says that she is wasting her breathe. He says that
Hulk can’t hear her, which is a pity. He says that she
wanted to know who built the God of the Mountain. He says that
now she has her answer, but that it doesn’t matter because
nothing can stand against the power of Psyklop.
No Excuses rating: 9.5 out of 10
This is an outstanding issue. Hulk is reunited with his true love Jarella. He finds his love again, battles a giant, and Psyklop is reintroduced. You can’t get much better than this plot wise. Writing gets a 5 out of 5. Sal and Joe do another outstanding job.
Review and pictures done by the Leader.