Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #223Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #223
Title: “The Curing of Dr. Banner!”
Writer: Roger Stern
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Josef Rubinstein
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Archie Goodwin
Alice and Larry are sitting together having
a picnic. Larry asks Alice what is wrong with her as he notices
that Alice is shaking like a leaf. Hulk lands on their picnic and
bounds off. He seems to trip and falls flat on his face. Larry
says that is the Hulk, and that he thought he Hulk was supposed
to be dead. Alice says that he hit pretty hard and that maybe he
is dead now. Hulk gets up and tells them to leave him alone.
Alice freaks and shouts for Larry’s help. Larry is holding a
big stick and tells Alice to run while he tries to hold him off.
Hulk asks them if they heard and repeats to leave him alone.
Larry tells him to just take it easy. Hulk says that he
won’t take it easy, and that he is sick of people telling
him what to do. Larry hits Hulk with his stick. Hulk says that he
is tired of being attacked too. Larry and Alice talk about what
they are going to do. Hulk tells them to stop talking about him
as if he weren’t there. Suddenly Hulk starts to transform
back into Banner, but instead of changing all the way back he
just takes Banner’s form while still green. Hulk says,
“Hulk is not stupid, humans! Hulk doesn’t like people
talking about Hulk that way! And Hulk isn’t going to take it
anymore! Hulk will smash you all!” Hulk is now a green puny
Bruce Banner. Larry says that he has to be kidding. Alice asks
what happened and that he got so puny. Hulk stomps his foot
against the ground and says, “Puny? Hulk will show stupid
humans who is puny! Yeoooh! Hulk nearly broke my foot!” 
Bruce looks at
his hands and says, “My foot? Uhh? What is Hulk saying?
Hulk… I… Good Lord! What’s going on here?”
Suddenly Banner lights up like a flare. When Larry and Alice look
back they see Bruce back to his normal self. He apologizes for
scaring them. He says that he must have burnt off all his gamma
energy. Suddenly Banner realizes what he just said. He starts
leaping in the air and shouting that he is cured. Alice says that
she didn’t know that he was sick. A tear runs down
Bruce’s cheek. He says that they don’t know what this
means to him. Bruce kisses Alice on the cheek. Larry punches
Bruce. He says that he doesn’t care if he is the Hulk, and
that no one puts the moves on his Alice. Bruce is angry until he
realizes that he is angry and that he is not transforming. He
sits there on the ground laughing to himself. Alice asks Larry if
he maybe hit him too hard.
At Gamma Base, Samson, Ross, Captain Bowman, and a bunch of troops are outside the room marked, “Authorized Personnel Only”. Bowman says that he still doesn’t believe that Samson’s mystery man could be inside one of the top security labs. Samson tells him that a few days ago that he found ‘John Doe’ wandering around another lab area as if he were trying to look for something. Samson says that he isn’t anywhere else on the base, and that as unlikely as it is that he is sure that they will find him in there. Samson uses the electronic key and the door swings open. Suddenly, a beam surges out of the room and strikes Samson. Bowman yells for General Ross to get down. He orders his troops to open fire. After firing upon the door, Bowman orders them to follow him in to see if he is still alive. Ross checks on Samson to see if he is all right. Samson says that he will be fine in a minute, but tells Ross not to let the men go in there. Ross says that it is too late now.
Inside the room, the soldiers are confused since they don’t see anyone. They start spreading out to search closer, but suddenly a giant steel door comes down. The men scream as something is tearing their minds apart.
Outside, Samson and Ross are horrified. Ross
says that he hasn’t heard screaming like that since the day
they liberated Auschwitz. Samson says that he has to get them out
of there now. He grabs the six inch thick door and rips it off.
Samson and Ross are stunned to find that all the men are now
standing entranced. Ross shakes Bowman and tells him to snap out
of it. Ross says that his mind is gone. He asks Samson who could
have done this. A voice says, “Why, I’m surprised at
you, General! Haven’t you guessed by now?” Samson and
Ross spin. Ross says that it can’t be. A shadowed figure
asks why. He says that it was simple for someone of his intellect
to change his body back into a “disgustingly human
form” that they would foolishly allow him to enter their
“vaunted Gamma Base”. 
He says,
“Or, rather I should say, my Gamma Base!”
Outside Garland, Texas, Alice and Larry drop Bruce off at Lone Star Skyport. Alice says that Bruce should be able to find a pilot. Bruce shakes Larry’s hand and thanks them. Larry says that is okay. He says that it isn’t everyday that they get to see the end of a legend. As they drive away, Bruce decides that maybe they are right. He wonders what it was in his body chemistry that changed. Bruce decides that he can’t worry about that right now, and that he has to get to New Mexico and tell Ross to call off his dogs. Bruce sees a familiar face and calls out to Spad McCraken. Spad recognizes Bruce and freaks out. He starts running from ‘The Hulk’. Bruce tries to tell Spad that he isn’t the Hulk anymore, but Spad doesn’t here him. Bruce says that he can’t have Spad shouting about the Hulk all over the place. Bruce tackles Spad, and Spad says that the Hulk has him, and that he is dead. Bruce thinks to himself, “So much for the joys of being normal!” Spad sees Bruce again and starts fretting. Bruce tells Spad that no one is going to hurt him. Bruce explains the he isn’t the Hulk anymore, and asks Spad if he understands. Spad yells at Banner that what he understands is that Bruce ruined the sweetest little plane he ever owned. Bruce looks confused. Spad asks Bruce if he has ever tried to collect on ‘Hulk insurance’. Spad tells him not to bother, and that the adjuster will just laugh at him. Spad tells Bruce to stay away from him. Bruce apologizes and says that he would like to make it up to him. Bruce says that he needs a pilot, but Spad tells him to get stuffed. Bruce says that he needs to get to New Mexico, and that there is money in it for Spad. Spad turns and says, “Did you say… money?”
In New York, the door installer is telling April Sommer that if he doesn’t get paid right now that he and her new door are taking a walk. April tells him to be patient, and that her insurance adjuster said there would just be a delay in settling her claim. She says that he can’t just take her door. The man says to try him. Jim Wilson tells April that if he is going to be a jerk about it that he will pay for the door. He asks how much it is. The man says that it is cheap at $500. Jim says that isn’t cheap enough for him. Kropotkin arrives and tells them that their money worries are over. He counts out the money and hands it over to the repairman. April asks him where he got his money. Kropotkin says that he lucked into a gig at the Elks’ Club Smoker at Garden City. April says that he doesn’t make that kind of money at a smoker. Kropotkin says that it true, but that he did happen to turn his paltry salary into a more handsome sum by winning a few games of chance. April grabs the money out of his hand. She says that this should almost cover his back rent. Kropotkin shrugs it off and says that easy comes and easy goes. He asks Jim if he has any plans and proceeds to make a proposition to him.
Bruce and Spad continue flying toward Gamma Base. Bruce tells Spad to give him a break, and that he has been complaining for the last hour. Spad says that he will be complaining much more if he loses his license for flying him into a restricted area. Spad suddenly gets a message from Gamma Base ordering him to identify himself. Bruce takes the mike and identifies himself. Bruce recounts his tale for them and a short time later Spad is landing his plane. Bruce gets out and looks at the deserted field. He admits that he didn’t even think that they would buy his story, but that even if they had that he expected at least half an armored division. An officer in a Jeep rides up. Captain Bowman, not even looking at Banner, introduces himself and says that he is to bring him to base command. Banner asks where Talbot is. Bowman says that Talbot is on extended leave. As they drive, Spad notices that all the soldiers seem to be acting like zombies. Banner says that Gamma Base has never really been average, but that things do seem a little odd.
Bowman drives them up to a lab. Banner says
that he was expecting to be brought to Ross’ office. Bowman
explains that Ross is inside, and that he is bringing him
directly to him. Bowman opens the door. Spad says that he
doesn’t like this. Banner says that he doesn’t either,
but that all they can do is see Ross and find out what is
happening. Bowman leads them up to the lab door and tells them to
go in. Bruce says that Spad doesn’t have clearance for the
room. Bowman says that Ross has given his approval. They enter
and Bruce calls out to Ross. Suddenly the door slams behind them.
Bruce asks what is going on. Suddenly lights fill the dark room. 
Bruce shields
his eyes, but when he opens them he sees the Leader standing
there. Samson and Ross are both in restraints. Leader apologizes
for their strange reception, but that Banner’s strange news
necessitated a slight change in plans. He says that he had
expected as much trouble with the Hulk as he had with Samson.
Leader tells Spad McCracken that they haven’t been
introduced. He says that he is the Leader, and that soon it will
be his pleasure to rule the world.
No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10
Sure it’s a set up issue, but it is a cool set up issue. The scene where Hulk reverts into Bruce’s body, and then threatens the people by nearly breaking his foot against the ground is worth the price of admission alone. Leader is back and he isn’t paralyzed anymore. This too is reason enough to rejoice. 4 out of 5 for the writing. Sal and Josef do a great job with the art. They aren’t quite the team that Sal and Ernie are, but they do come close.
Review and pictures by The Leader