Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #207Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #207
Title: “Alone Against the Defenders!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Staton
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Strange asks Hulk not to force them to fight. Valkyrie tells Hulk to calm himself and tell them why his unnecessary rampage began. Hulk says that he will tell her why. He waves his hand at the police cars below and says that it is because of puny little men. Hulk says that wherever he goes that they hound him and won’t let him rest. Hulk slams his fist against the roof and says that he is sick of it. Val says that he knocked a big piece of the roof off and that those below will be crushed. Hulk says that he is glad. Strange lets off a spell and turns the falling concrete into ash. Hulk says that he thought that they were his friends, but that if he is protecting the ones attacking him then Hulk will hurt them. Strange says that he sees there is no reasoning with Hulk and encases him in the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. Strange says that he can contain him until his rage cools. Nighthawk says that was effective. Red Guardian says that she wonders if it will be.
Inside the ball of bands, Hulk shouts for Magician to let him out. Hulk says that nothing can hold him. He smashes the side, but it has no effect. Hulk says that there are other ways for him to break free.
Hulk leaps into the air and takes the ball with him. Nighthawk asks Strange if he has any other ideas. Strange says that Hulk’s attack on his enchantment is like a physical attack on him. He says that he can’t concentrate. Hulk’s crimson band ball smashes into the roof and destroys it. Strange protects the Defenders with a Shield of Seraphim, but while they are sifting out of the rubble the Hulk leaves. Strange says that Hulk came to him as a friend and that he met him as an adversary. Strange says that he has to find his fellow Defender and reach out to him before it is too late for all of them.
Inside the Gamma Base greenhouse, Ross tells Betty that he can see that there is something wrong with her. He asks her if she wants to tell him what is the matter. Betty says that it is Glenn. She says that he hasn’t been the same since he regained his memory. Ross says that is to be expected and that she should just give him some time to find himself again. Betty says that is easy for him to say. She says that as his wife that it tears her apart seeing him that way. She says that she loves him, and wants to reach out to him, but that he won’t let her. She says that she wants to help him with all her heart, but that she doesn’t know how. Ross tells her not to get all weepy on him and hugs her. He says that he knows that he wasn’t much of a father when she was young, but that he wants to make it up to her now. He says that there has to be a way to help Glenn and he swears that he will find it.
Hulk walks through the sewer system
wondering what he can do now. He says that Magician was his only
hope of making Jarella well. He starts to think if Magician has
turned against him, but decides not to think about that. Hulk
sees a light coming into the tunnel and decides to leave. Hulk
pushes the manhole cover over. He looks up and thinks that he
sees Jarella. The woman is facing away. She has a red suit on
similar to Jarella’s and long blonde hair like her as well.
Hulk begs to let it be true. He taps her on the shoulder and asks
if it really her. The woman sees Hulk and starts to freak out.
Hulk says that it is only another puny human. The woman says that
she hasn’t done anything and asks to be left alone. Hulk
says that he always asks little men to leave him alone, but that
they never listen to him. He asks why he should listen to her.
Nighthawk comes flying in and hits Hulk in the face with a trash
can lid. Hulk says that Bird-Nose and the others are hunting him
now too. Strange says that there has been a misunderstanding, He
says that they only want to help him. Hulk says that he came to
them earlier for help, but that Magician put him in a magic cage.
Hulk says that now he takes what he wants and that what he wants
is revenge. Hulk leaps at Strange, but Strange moves and Hulk
smashes into a support for the West Side Highway. Strange is
forced to support it with the Ruby Rays of Raggador. He says that
the rest of them have to subdue the Hulk since he has to keep the
support together. Hulk stands on the highway shaking his fist and
says, “Come then, false friends! Come and try to capture
Hulk!” Nighthawk lifts Red Guardian and Valkyrie up. Red
Guardian throws her belt buckle at Hulk. It hits Hulk twice and
bounces off. Valkyrie charges in while Hulk is confused and hits
him in the side with her sword. She follows up with a shot to the
face and asks his forgiveness. 
Hulk looks at
Valkyrie and says, “Put sword down, girl… NOW!”
Val says that the enchanted blade has no effect on him. Hulk
grabs the blade out of her hands. Hulk tries to break it over his
knee, but when the sword refuses to break Hulk throws it against
the ground. The sword bounces up and hits Valkyrie and drives her
into Red Guardian. Strange says that it is up to Nighthawk then.
Nighthawk says that he has to catch him off guard and hope he
gets hit by lightning. Nighthawk lands on Hulk’s face. He
then hits Hulk and bruises both of his hands. Hulk swings at
Nighthawk, but Nighthawk leaps over the punch. Nighthawk tells
Hulk that he will have to catch him. Nighthawk lures Hulk off the
highway as he is chased. Hulk corners Nighthawk against a wall.
Hulk says that now he will pay. Nighthawk tells Hulk to think
about what he is doing. He says that Hulk came to them for help.
He says that he is sorry about the mix up, but that they want to
make it right. He says that Hulk has to give them the chance. He
says that Hulk knows that they are his friends. He asks Hulk,
that if he smashes them, where he will have to go. Hulk says that
Bird-Nose is trying to confuse him. Hulk throws his punch, but he
hits the wall on purpose. Hulk says that Bird-Nose is right. He
says that they are his friends and that he needs friends now more
than ever. Nighthawk says that he just has to tell them what he
needs and that this time they will listen.
Moments later, Hulk holds the support in place while Val hammers it in place with Dragonfang. Strange says to forgive the delay, but that they have to do this. Hulk says that he will do what they say.
Inside Strange’s home, Hulk tells them about Jarella. He says that Betty told him that science couldn’t help Jarella so he came looking for Magician. He says that if Magician can’t make Jarella well that no one can. Strange says that he is touched by the faith Hulk puts in him, but that there is much even he can’t do. Strange says that there is a delicate tapestry between life and death, but that for Hulk and the woman he loves he will try. Strange sits in the pentagram on the floor and sends his spirit form out. Strange tells Hulk that he will be back as soon as he can. Nighthawk says that they will be waiting.
Strange arrives at Gamma Base. He apologizes for the intrusion, but says that he needs their help. Clay asks who he is. Strange explains the story to Clay, Samson, and Glenn. Samson says that he is honored to meet Strange, but tells him that he has examined Jarella and that there isn’t anything left for him to do. Strange says that there are resources available to the master of the mystic arts. Strange uses the Eye of Agamotto, but only finds that Samson was correct. He says that her spirit has fled to a higher plane. He wonders how he is going to explain this to a hopeful Hulk.
Hulk sits solemnly looking out the window.
Wong asks Hulk if he would like some tea. Hulk says, “No”.
Wong says that it is a blend that might help calm him. Hulk turns
angrily and says, “Hulk said… no!” Wong asks
forgiveness and says that he didn’t mean to interrupt.
Nighthawk says that Hulk is going to grouchy until Strange comes
back. Strange says that he is back. Hulk asks why Jarella isn’t
with him. Strange says that he is sorry, but that he has failed
him. He says that there are things that are beyond even the
wisest men. He says that Jarella is gone and that there is no way
to bring her back. He says that Hulk has to try and go on as
Jarella would have wanted. 
Hulk says,
“Jarella is… dead? NOOOOOOO! Jarella is not dead! She
cannot be dead!” Hulk slams his fist against the ground and
says, “Hulk told Betty that Magician would help Jarella!
Hulk said you would make her well again!” Hulk smashes a
table and the contents it was holding. He says, “If Magician
cannot help, then Hulk will save Jarella! Hulk can do it! Hulk
can do anything! Hulk is the strongest one there is!” Val
wants to stop Hulk, but Strange says to let him be. She says that
he is going to wreck all his precious artifacts. Strange says
that they are the least he can off him since he is his friend.
Hulk pounds the ground, but then he looks trembling at his fists.
He says, “Jarella is dead? Really… dead?” Val says
that she is, but that she wishes it wasn’t so. Hulk says,
“Then… Hulk is… alone… again…” He
starts to cry. Val cries as well and says that he still has the
Defenders. She says that he will always have them. Suddenly Hulk
is calmed. His face is devoid of emotion. Hulk wipes his face and
says that he is all right. He tells Strange that he is sorry for
the damage he caused. 
He says that he
has to leave now. Strange asks why he has to go and where he will
go to. Hulk walks to the door and says, “Hulk does not know,
Magician… and Hulk does not care! If Jarella is truly gone…
if Hulk has lost forever the one Hulk loves… then nothing
really matters… anymore.” Hulk closes the door behind
him.
No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10
Now there is the emotion that I was looking for when Jarella died. This is an outstanding issue from what I consider to be the third best team creatively on the Hulk. Behind Stan and Jack and Peter David and Dale Keown. Actually Len and Sal might beat out PAD and Keown. I think that Keown is a better artist than Sal, but Sal is an emotional favorite of mine. I like Peter David’s stuff better than Len’s, but at the same time I think that the run that Len and Sal had together might just be better than the run Peter and Dale had together. Hulk is truly alone again, but it looks like Betty might be on the market again so Bruce might have a chance at happiness. Bring back Jarella!
Review and pictures done by the Leader.