Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #205Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #205
Title: “Do Not Forsake Me!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Staton
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Hulk seemingly watches in the background as Bruce Banner and Jarella walk arm and arm together down a Santa Fe street. Bruce asks Jarella how Earth compares to K’ai. Jarella says that her world is so primitive next to his, and that each discovery she makes is more amazing than the last. Bruce says that really it is only their technology that is different and that the people are really pretty much the same. They walk by a few men who start talking about Jarella. They say that she is a doll, but that she wears too much make up and looks green. One asks if she wants to ditch Banner and hook up with a real man. Bruce tells them that is enough. He tells them to stop before someone gets hurt. They mock his tough guy approach, but Jarella gets Bruce to calm down. She says that they are not worth it. Bruce decides she is right and calms down. He says that it is so easy to give in that sometimes the impulse just takes over. They walk off and the men say that the two of them deserve one another. Bruce decides that they are right as well. He says that he is a skinny scientist with a half ton monster on his back and she is a queen that has lost her kingdom. Jarella says that she wouldn’t have it any other way. Jarella is amazed when they see a mannequin wearing a bikini is a store window. She says that she has never seen such revealing clothing. Bruce says that his world does have its good points. Bruce says that this is one of the best as they pass by an ice cream parlor. She says that she has never seen him glowing with such enthusiasm. Bruce says that this is the most precious treasure that his world has to offer. He says that he is going to introduce her to a two-tone chocolate milkshake. Bruce and Jarella sit hand in hand sipping from their straws.
Inside a seedy warehouse in Santa Fe, a man in the shadows finishes working on his robot. He says that all his life he has been a nobody, but that in moments that will be changed forever. He says that ever since he has found Jasper Whyte’s android he has dedicated his life to restoring it. He says that it once possessed half the might of Thor, but that he has improved it so that the android now has double the power. He says that all he has to do is activate it and his days of anonymity will be over. He pushes the button and the robot comes to life, “I… possess… power!” The man says that he has done it and that the Crypto-Man lives again.
At Gamma Base, Glenn stands on a rooftop watching Doc Samson lifting a large machine up. He decides that Samson is quite a man and that he couldn’t blame any woman for falling for him… even Betty. He says that Samson is all man. Betty asks Glenn, “And what about you, Glenn… what are you?” Glenn says that he didn’t see Betty there. Betty asks what he would have done if he had. She asks if he would have lied to her and pretended that everything was fine. Glenn says that it is for her own good. He says that when he married her he wanted to take her away from all the grief she had when she loved Bruce Banner. He says that all he has done is give her a new kind of heartbreak. Betty says that she isn’t a Dresden doll that needs protecting. She says that she is his wife and that whatever brings him happiness or pain she wants to share with him.
Bruce and Jarella walk down the street laughing about when a woman realized that Jarella wasn’t wearing make-up.
A few blocks away, Crypto-Man crashes into a bank. The guards shoot at it, but don’t even slow it down. Crypto-Man swats them away and then proceeds to rip the door off of the vault.
Bruce and Jarella are walking in front of the bank. Bruce says that he really needed this break. Jarella says that Gamma Base does seem more hectic than this city. Suddenly Crypto-Man smashes back out of the bank. Bruce asks why trouble follows him wherever he goes. He asks why he can’t live in peace. Jarella tells Bruce to calm down and that the authorities will deal with it. Crypto-Man swats a car out of its way. Suddenly it sees Jarella. It says that she has the same skin color as the Hulk, who roams this area.
The man watching from the warehouse says that if she has strength like the Hulk that he has to siphon it into Crypto-Man.
Bruce tells Jarella to get back and that it is coming for her. Jarella says that there is nowhere to run and that she will face what is to come like a queen. Bruce’s hands turn large and green as Crypto-Man approaches. Jarella calls for help. Hulk hits Crypto-Man and says that nothing will hurt her while he is there.
The man says that if Crypto-Man can defeat Hulk that his reputation is assured. On the screen, Hulk tells Crypto-Man that he will smash.
Crypto-Man says that his threats mean nothing to him and that he possesses power. Hulk says that he has power too. Crypto-Man grabs a light pole and rams it into Hulk and then follows up with a punch. Hulk says that Crypto-Man is strong, but that nothing can beat him. Crypto-Man lifts up a car. He throws it at Hulk and says that it is its duty to destroy him so that the world will know of his master’s brilliance. Hulk ducks under the car.
The car hits a
building and a large section of wall breaks off. Jarella sees it
coming down and spots a little boy that will be crushed by it.
Jarella leaps into the air and pushes the boy out of the way.
Jarella is buried by the falling debris.
Hulk sees this and becomes distracted. Crypto-Man is coming at Hulk, but Hulk just swats him down. He says that Jarella needs him and that nothing will keep him from her. Hulk moves toward the accident and says that he is coming to save Jarella. Hulk swats the rubble off Jarella. He says that he will fix everything and make her well again. He begs her to speak to him. Crypto-Man gets up. He hits Hulk in the back and tells him to forget her. He says that she is dead just as Hulk will soon be. Hulk spins and says that he is wrong. He says that it is Crypto-Man’s fault that his Jarella is hurt. He says that it is Crypto-Man that will die. Hulk says that Crypto-Man wanted a fight and that now he has one. Hulk charges into Crypto-Man. Hulk says that he has been alone all his life, and that when he found Jarella that he was happy for the first time. Hulk says that Crypto-Man has taken her from him and that he will pay. Hulk smashes Crypto-Man into a building.
The man says that he has to divert more power to Crypto-Man. He says, “… power enough to devastate this planet if need be!”
Crypto-Man gets back up and says that he
possesses power. Hulk says that he has hate and that is all he
needs. Crypto-Man smashes a large chunk of concrete into Hulk’s
face. Hulk smashes the concrete into pieces and then starts
pummeling Crypto-Man. Hulk asks why, if Crypto-Man’s master
wants him destroyed, doesn’t he come and fight him himself.
Hulk says that no puny robot is a match for him. He hits
Crypto-Man again. Crypto-Man says that he has power. Hulk says
that he does too. Hulk says that Crypto-Man is strong, but that
he is the strongest one there is. 
Hulk hits
Crypto-Man and destroys him.
The man in the warehouse says that it isn’t possible. He says that he sent an incalculable amount of power to Crypto-Man, but that it didn’t matter. The feedback starts destroying the equipment until finally the entire lab explodes and kills the man. His identity will never be known.
Hulk holds Jarella and tells her to tell him what he can do to make her well again. Jarella tells him to just hold her. She says that maybe it is better this way. She says that she wasn’t part of his world and didn’t belong there. She says that he made her time there a happy one. She tells him to be kind to himself until they meet again. Jarella dies. Hulk tells Jarella not to leave him. Hulk says that she doesn’t answer, but that he won’t let her die. Hulk scoops her up and leaps away.
Hulk lands outside Gamma Base. He says that Ross will use his big machines to make her well again or he will smash. Hulk smashes through the door and says that he wants them to fix Jarella. Samson says that he was afraid this would happen. Samson tells Ross to get his top medics in there. As they cart Jarella into the operating room, Samson tells Hulk that he has done all he can and that they will handle it from here. Hulk says, “Just make Jarella well again, Samson… please… please.” Hulk sits down.
Samson comes out of the operating room. He tells Hulk that he is sorry, but that there was nothing that they could do for her. Hulk says, “Huh? Jarella is… dead? Dead? No! Nooo! It cannot be true! It must not be true!” Hulk smashes the floor and starts tearing it up. He asks why Samson is lying to him. He says to tell the truth or he will smash the entire base. Betty rushes to Hulk and says that he doesn’t know what he is doing. Ross calls Betty back, but Betty goes to Hulk and says that no one is lying to him. She tells him that they did everything that they could, but that nothing more in science could help her.
Hulk leaps through the ceiling and out of the base. He says that if science can’t help her that maybe magic can. Hulk says that he will go find his friend Magician and that he will bring her back.
Samson asks Ross if he knows what that meant. Ross says that he doesn’t know, but that he has a bad feeling that they are going to find out.
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
A monumental issue for Hulk history. Jarella hasn’t been in many of the Hulk issues, but as a friend/lover of the Hulk she is a unique character. Jarella loves both the Hulk and Bruce Banner at the same time. The only other supporting character to do this is Rick Jones and there is a very important difference between the kinds of love. Jarella in many ways was a contrast for Betty. Betty was a General’s daughter, but still very much a damsel in distress. Jarella had strength, not the Hulk kind of strength, but strength of her convictions. She was duty bound to her people and behaved as a true queen. She was open and non-judgmental, which made it easy to love her. Jarella is truly missed and since her name isn’t Mar-Vell or Bucky I don’t think there is any rule that says that she shouldn’t be able to come back. She’s been absent from Hulk’s life for far too long. That said I was a little disappointed in Jarella’s death issue. Hulk doesn’t really accept the loss… it’s left open and that doesn’t give it the impact it deserves. Sal does a great job with the storytelling. The anger in the face of the Hulk, the fight, but I really could have done without the inlay with the mystery man in the corner when Hulk hits Crypto-Man for the final time. The picture would have been so much more impactful given the full image. 4.5 out of 5 for both the writing and art. Just my little nitpicks that kept it being perfect for me.
Review and pictures done by the Leader.