Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #209Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #209
Title: “The Absorbing Man is Out for Blood!!”
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Joe Staton
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Creel tells “They Who Wield Power” that he will “waste that big green goon”, but that he wishes he knew what they were getting out of it. “They” say that their reasons are their own. Another says that he is not the first one that They have dealt with. “They” say that they provided a hypnotic helmet and laser pistol to the Orb to fight against Ghost Rider and Spider-Man. “They” say that they also gave a flying arc to Stegron to battle Spider-Man and Black Panther. “They” say that they also instigated the Lava Men revolt that was stopped by Thor and Human Torch. Creel asks if he is supposed to be impressed. He says that all he cares about is that he took him away from the police in order for him to kill the Hulk. “They” say that was the deal, but that they could always return him to police custody. Creel says that he already told them that they had a deal. He smashes their globe and says that is nothing compared to what he will do to the Hulk.
Bruce smiles as he pours his eggs out of a carton. He says that it has been so long since he cooked himself breakfast. He says that the normal life has advantages. April asks if this is a private feast or if anyone can come in. Bruce says that if “anyone” is her that she can. He asks how she wants her eggs. She says that he seems in better spirits today. Bruce asks why he shouldn’t be happy. He says that the sun is up, that his eggs aren’t burning, and that he is going to go looking for a job. April says that is great. She asks what he is looking for. Bruce starts to tell her what he used to do, but decides not to reveal too much about himself until he is sure that the Hulk is gone. He says that he doesn’t know. April tells him to use her method… a pin and the help wanted section. She says to close his eyes, point to a spot, and start there. As she leaves, April tells Bruce not to forget about his eggs. Bruce rescues his now burning eggs.
At Gamma Base, Glenn Talbot watches the sun coming up. Betty comes up behind him. Glenn says that he was trying to be quiet so he wouldn’t wake her. Betty says that she was already awake. She says that she watched him dress and go out. She says that she thought that she would join him. Glenn says that the sunrise is beautiful. He says that some people go their whole lives without noticing. Betty says that some people go their whole lives without noticing anything. Glenn asks if she is talking about them. He asks if they are being blind. Betty says, “It… it’s not working, is it? Our marriage just isn’t working!’ Glenn says that he doesn’t think so either. He says that he has tried, but that he just can’t forget what has happened to him. He says that he can’t forgive himself for all the grief he has given her when all he wanted was to give her his love. Betty asks where that leaves them. Glenn says, “Nowhere, Betty… at least for now!” He says that he needs to get away to “find himself”. He says, “That’s the proper cliché, isn’t it?” He says that he needs time to put the pieces together again. Glenn asks what she will do. Betty says that she guesses that she will help him pack.
Bruce tries all day to find a job, but because he is trying to protect his background he is turned down all around. He is turned away because he doesn’t belong to a union. One woman rips up his application as Bruce leaves.
Bruce returns home and April can tell by the look on his face that he didn’t find anything. Bruce says that it is so frustrating. He says that he wants to work, but that no one will give him the chance. April says that it is just a matter of knowing the right people. She says that is why she put in a call to an old friend of hers and told him about Bruce. She says that he isn’t promising, but that if he goes to the construction site on the West Side that he might have a job. Bruce tells April that if this works out that he is going to take her out for the best steak dinner that his first paycheck will buy. April says that she is going to hold him to that.
Bruce walks down the street thinking how special April is not noticing Crusher Creel standing in the alley while absorbing the properties of the brick wall. He says that he could finish Bruce right now, but that the time isn’t right. He says that when he beats the Hulk that he wants the whole world to be watching. Creel ties a pipe into a knot and absorbs its metallic properties.
Jim Wilson hitchhikes along a dirt road. An old man in a truck stops and picks him up. Jim thanks him and says that he has been walking so long that his feet are killing him, and that he has a friend in New York that really needs him help.
At the construction site, April’s friend says that Bruce isn’t much in the muscle department. Bruce says that he is stronger than he looks. The man says that he had better be. He says that everyone there pulls their own weight. Bruce says that he won’t let him down. The man tells him to go get a hard hat and get to work.
Bruce goes about his work. He thinks about how much his arms hurt. He thinks how the Hulk could easily carry and thousand times more than him, but that he is still hoping he never sees the Hulk again.
On the ground, the crane operator is
thinking how bored he is when he is suddenly hit in the face. He
falls out of the crane and the thing starts going wild. The
I-beam the crane was carrying starts hurtling right at the
building. One of the men in the building says that he could swear
that there was someone riding it. 
The I-beam
crashes through the wall and Creel is on it. He says that it isn’t
just “someone”, but the Absorbing Man. The construction
workers start running. Creel points at Bruce and says that he
wants him or rather the big green gorilla that shares his body.
Bruce says that he doesn’t know what he is talking about. He
says that he isn’t the Hulk and that he doesn’t even
know the Hulk. Creel says that he is playing dumb. He says that
if he can’t beat up the Hulk that he will take what he can
get. Creel starts swinging his ball and chain around. Bruce dives
and just misses getting hit in the head and Creel swings. Bruce
backs away from Creel and accidentally falls out of the
skyscraper building. He screams as he falls.
At Gamma Base, Ross asks Samson what he thinks about their mysterious guest. Samson says that anyone that has been in the desert for as long as he has should be suffering from a good deal of exposure, but that there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with him other than the fact that he is still unconscious. He says that the security teams have been investigating the entire area, but that they have come up with nothing. The man suddenly opens his eyes. He sits up screaming. Samson tries to calm him down and says that he is among friends. Ross starts calling for security, but Clay tells him that they won’t be necessary. The man finally calms down. The man asks what happened to him. Samson says that is what they would like to know. He says that he came wandering out of the desert. Samson asks him who he is. The man realizes that he doesn’t know.
As Bruce falls to the ground he changes into
the Hulk. Hulk hits the ground. He looks up and says that metal
man tried to knock him off the roof. He says that he tried to
kill him, but that he failed. Creel sees Hulk leaping back up at
him and says that “They” were right. He says that the
“skinny twerp” really was the Hulk. Hulk sees Creel and
says that he knows him. He says that they have fought before.
Creel says that this time he is going to finish him. 
Hulk says that
Creel is just like puny humans and that he hates them. Hulk leaps
into Creel. Hulk says that Metal Man talks too much. Creel says
that Hulk is right and that it is time for some action. He hits
Hulk with his ball and chain. He says that Hulk isn’t as
tough as he remembers and that taking him out is going to be
easy. Hulk tells him to keep joking, but that he won’t be
able to laugh much longer. Hulk throws a large container of hot
rivets. Creel absorbs the properties of the rivets and asks Hulk
what that got him. Creel rushes Hulk and says that when Loki gave
him his powers that he made him a match for anyone. Creel asks
how you can defeat a man that can add your power to his own. Hulk
says that he doesn’t know, but that he is going to find out.
Hulk grabs Creel’s neck, but screams as Creel’s molten
hot skin burns him. Creel says that Hulk doesn’t have a
chance. Hulk says that Creel’s hot body won’t stop him.
Creel absorbs some concrete and hits the Hulk with his ball and
chain. Creel tells Hulk that he can absorb all raw materials on
the construction site if he has to. Hulk says that he will smash
him first. Creel says that “funtime” is over. He wraps
his chain around Hulk’s neck and says that he is going to
kill Hulk just like “They” told him to. He says that
then he will track down Thor and do the same to him. He says that
he owes the two of them for all his trouble and that he always
pays his debts. Creel presses down on Hulk’s neck and starts
to absorb Hulk’s power. Creel says that he is becoming
stronger and stronger until he is powerful enough to kill Hulk.
Hulk says that
he is going to break the puny chain, and that then he will break
him. Creel says that Hulk still doesn’t get it. He says that
he is stronger than him. Hulk says that he is the strongest one
there is. He slams his fist against the ground and causes the
entire structure of the skyscraper to give way.
Hulk and Creel fall to the ground. Hulk says that he told Little Man that he was stronger. Creel tells him not to pat himself on the back yet. He says that he can protect himself from the fall by just reaching up and absorbing the properties of what he grabs. Creel accidentally grabs a shard of glass. Creel screams, but they quickly end as his glass body shatters against the ground. Hulk and Creel’s remains are buried under countless tons of steel and concrete. After several minutes, Hulk gets back up.
“They” are watching and say that was interesting. One of the others says that he had hoped that Absorbing Man would give Hulk more of a fight. One says that there will be other chances. Another says that he can’t wait, and the last one asks won’t it be fun.
Hulk staggers off into an alley and sleeps. As he sleeps, Hulk turns back into Bruce Banner. A figure stands in the shadows watching it all.
No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10
First thing is first. Why would Creel need to be “rescued” from the police? He could take them apart in seconds! Second “They Who Wield Power’s” threat would make me think Creel would reject them. And again, Bruce inexplicably is making sure that the Hulk is gone… huh? Those things aside… I always love an Absorbing Man/Hulk fight. A construction site is a great place for the fight too. It’s too bad for Creel that he didn’t use my idea of having a belt with various materials on it to absorb. The ending was kind of a cheat, but really Creel has a point in that how can you outright defeat someone that can match your power and add his own. Buscema does an outrageously cool job with the fight scenes. 4.5 out of 5 for the art.
Review and pictures done by the Leader.