Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #206Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #206
Title: “A Man-Brute Berserk!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Staton
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Hulk leaps through the desert when he hears
approaching jets. Hulk says that they have followed him and will
be shooting at him soon. As the planes fire, Hulk shakes his fist
at them and says that he doesn’t have time to fight with
them now. Hulk sees them circling around to strike at him again.
Hulk says, “Little men in planes didn’t listen to Hulk!
Puny humans never listen! And Hulk is tired of wasting Hulk’s
breath!” Hulk leaps right through one of the jets. The
second jet tries to get away, but Hulk leaps on top of it. 
He pulls the
shield for the cockpit off. Hulk says that he told them to leave
him alone, but that they ignored him. He says that he is going to
make him pay now. The pilot ejects and saves his life. Hulk tells
him not to run away. He says that he wanted this fight and that
now he has one. Hulk says that just like always when they come
face to face they all run. Hulk says that everyone is afraid of
him. Hulk rides the jet all the way to the ground and crashes.
Hulk gets back up and says that he still lives. Hulk shakes his
fist at the parachuting pilots. He says that they tried, but that
nothing can kill the Hulk. Hulk says that he would stay and smash
them both, but that he has more important things to do. Hulk
leaps away. The pilots radio in to Gamma Base.
Ross tells them that they did all they could. He says that they will send out a retrieval craft out to get them. Samson asks Ross what he will do then. He asks Ross if he is going to send out more teams to capture the Hulk. He asks what happens if they actually capture him and what about when he escapes again. He asks how many times this has to be played out before Ross is finished. Ross says that he is only doing his job. Samson says that he has been around long enough to know that this is no longer just a job for Ross but an obsession. Samson asks Ross why he won’t leave Banner alone and let him try to work on his Hulk problem alone. He says that he has enough on his shoulders without them adding to his grief. Ross starts to object, but decides that maybe Samson is right. He says that he wishes he knew.
Several hours later, Hulk looks through some tall grass and sees the Statue of Liberty. Hulk says that he remembers the statue and the time he was there. Hulk says that it is just what he needs. He leaps onto the top and says that maybe he can find Strange’s house from there. Hulk says that he needs Magician’s help if Jarella is going to be well again, and that she has to be well again. He says that he needs her to help him understand. Suddenly, Hulk is hit with spotlights. Hulk turns to see who dares to bother him now. Two helicopters fly above the Hulk. Hulk tells them to go away, but the pilot says that they can’t. He says that Hulk is standing on a national monument and that they are taking him down before he can damage it. They drop a metal net on Hulk, but Hulk just tears right through it. The pilots fire gas grenades. Hulk recognizes the gas that makes him sleep. He waves his arms around wildly and disperses the gas. Hulk says that all he wanted was to be left alone and to find Magician’s house, but that the humans have to keep hounding him. Hulk leaps up to the statue arm that holds the torch and rips it off. Hulk throws the torch and smashes one of the helicopters. Hulk tells them for the last time to leave him alone or he will crush them like bugs. Hulk leaps towards Manhattan.
Hulk lands in an alley. Hulk asks how he is going to find Magician’s house now. A bum is woken up by what he thinks is an earthquake. He sees Hulk there and offers him a “drinkey-poo” of the “finest hooch 85 cents kin buy”. Hulk says that he doesn’t trust humans, but that he is thirsty. Hulk drinks some down and immediately spits it back out. Hulk says that the little man tried to poison him. Hulk picks the man up to smash him, but the bum’s coat rips and he runs away. Hulk says that little man is gone, but that his anger remains. Hulk asks why humans always try to trick him wherever he goes. Hulk shouts “why?” over and over again.
Glenn Talbot wakes up screaming. He thanks God that it was only a dream. Betty asks what frightened him so much. He says that he was in Russia again and “that little monster called the Gremlin” was about to destroy his mind again. He says that his spine turns to ice just thinking about it. Glenn says that he is sorry that he woke her and that she should go back to sleep. Betty says that she can’t leave him like this. She says that he should know her better than that. She asks what she can do to help. Glenn says that he wishes that he knew. He stands looking out the window. Betty says that no one can go through what he did without some emotional scars, but that he has to try and unwind and forget. She tells him not to let his past ruin their future. Glenn and Betty both wonder to themselves if they even have a future together. They pass the rest of the night in silence.
For hours, the Hulk wanders aimlessly until he finally comes upon Strange’s house. Hulk starts to walk up to the door, but he is knocked back by Strange’s force field. Hulk says that nothing can stop him from getting to Magician. He starts pounding on the force field. He does so for several minutes, but eventually he realizes that it is pointless. Hulk says that Magician isn’t home and that he can’t get in. Hulk says that Magician will come home sometime and that he will be waiting when he does. Hulk sits down on the street in front of Strange’s house.
Dawn comes at Gamma Base. Quartermain comes upon Doc Samson working out with enormous weights. He asks him how his biceps are. Samson asks Quartermain if he wants to join him. Clay says that it is too nice a day to get a hernia. He says that he heard Samson got Ross to shelve his Hulk-Hunt. Clay says that is impressive and that he always thought that the two of them would go at it until one of them was dead. Samson says that it wasn’t that hard. He says that he thinks Ross felt as bad as he did about what happened to Jarella, and that she may have been Bruce’s last chance at happiness. Samson asks about what he is going to do with the Hulk. Clay says that he is an agent of SHIELD and just does what he is told. He says that if he is ordered to that he will have to go back after him. Samson says that Clay sounds depressingly like Ross citing his job. Samson says that Hulk is just as human as any of them and that he is entitled to live his life as he sees fit. Samson says that he is going to do whatever he can to help him.
Hulk continues sitting on the street in front of Strange’s house. He is surrounded all the way around by policemen and their cars. The Captain says that he wants everything to stay calm. He says that Hulk tore the Statue of Liberty apart because he thought that he was being attacked for no reason. The Captain says that he doesn’t want that repeated in a populated area. A rookie by the Captain asks if he thinks that they can really contain him. The Captain says that he doesn’t know, but that they will find out. Hulk turns to the police and tells them to go away. He says that he doesn’t want a fight with them. He says that he is just waiting there for a friend. Hulk shakes his fist at them and tells them to go away. The rookie panics and shoots Hulk in the face. Hulk slams the ground and sends them all flying into the air. Hulk leaps at them and says that they may have started this, but that he is going to finish it. Hulk says that whatever happens that it is their fault. Hulk rips up a light post and smacks an NYPD truck that is speeding at him. The police band radios for the Fantastic Four, but they are coming home from Counter-Earth. One of the police fires a neutron cannon that Tony Stark designed. The shell hits him and explodes. Hulk says that is enough. Hulk says that he is done reasoning. Hulk charges right through everyone and says that he will destroy them all.
The news is broadcasting the fight live.
Jarvis tells the Commissioner that he will tell the Avengers as soon as they get back in town. He says that he hopes that they will be back soon.
Hulk says that
he can’t keep fighting while Jarella is hurt. He says that
he has to find Magician. Hulk leaps onto the top of a tall
building. Hulk says that he can’t find Magician. He says
that Magician never has any trouble finding him. Hulk sees the
police racing toward him. He pulls up a large piece of machinery
and goes to throw it at them, but a blast causes it to disappear.
Hulk turns to see who it is. Hulk says, “Magician!
Sword-Girl! Bird-Nose! Star-Girl! Hulk has found you at last!”
Strange says that it is they that have found him. He says that
the Defenders have come to put a stop to his rampage.
No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10
Sal and Joe do an outstanding job with the art in this issue. Hulk’s fight scenes are incredible and the storytelling is superb. You can almost feel Hulk’s annoyance at the police when you look at his face telling them to go away. The plot isn’t really advanced much, but Ross is talked into maybe backing off the Hulk. The foreshadowing for Betty and Glenn isn’t good. Hulk versus the Defenders is cool… they don’t have a chance.
Review and pictures done by the Leader.