Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #224Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #224
Title: “Follow the Leader!”
Writer: Roger Stern
Artists: Sal Buscema and Joe Rubenstein
Colors: Janice Cohen
Editor: Archie Goodwin
The Leader stands in the lab laughing to
himself. Bruce Banner is restrained on an examining table. Leader
laughs that it is true that Bruce Banner is no longer the Hulk.
He says that there is no one that can stop him with his plans for
world domination. Banner says that Leader seems awful confident,
and that he can think of a few dozen people that will give Leader
trouble. Leader says that perhaps he was being simplistic, but
that only the Hulk, with his raging ignorance, was a factor for
which he could not plan. Leader says to take for example how
easily he captured Samson and Ross with superior intelligence. He
says that Spad McCracken doesn’t even have a mind of his own
anymore. Leader says that once his plan is set in motion that not
even the Avengers or Fantastic Four will be able to stop him. 
Leader gets a
thought and decides that now that his paralysis is cured that he
must devise a punishment for the Thing.
Leader realizes that Bruce doesn’t even know about their last encounter. He tells him that Hulk and Thing were pawns of he and Kurrgo. Leader says that Hulk and Thing were too much for Kurrgo’s pathetic starship, and that he was forced to teleport himself out of his auto-medic capsule. Leader says that back in his headquarters his paralyzed body was tended to by his humanoids. Leader says that he spent every waking minute trying to restore movement to his limbs. He says that finally in desperation he regressed his body into its human form. He says that remarkably his human form enjoyed full movement. Leader says that he had programmed his humanoids to teleport him outside Gamma Base where he wandered up to them as an amnesiac. Leader says that his human form was not aware of his “glorious past”, but that Leader’s superego still acted within his subconscious. Leader says that he moved him like a puppet into the right laboratory, and that it was then a simple matter to expose himself to exactly the right amount of gamma radiation to restore his true self.
Leader says that now Gamma Base is his, and that from that complex he will conquer the world. Bruce asks why Leader is bothering to keep him around. Leader says that he desires an audience who can fully appreciate his machinations. He says that most of the world will be unaware of his presence until it is too late. Samson struggles and struggles and finally manages to break free of his restraints. Samson charges at Leader and says that his reign as world dictator has been terminated. Leader asks Samson if he thinks he can stop him. Samson says that he doesn’t think it, he knows it. Leader says that Samson doesn’t even have the strength to hit him. Samson struggles, but he freezes in mid-stride and collapses to his knees. Leader asks Samson if he has run up against one of the mental blocks he placed in his mind. Leader slaps Samson and says that that Samson can’t even leave the building unless he releases him from his subliminal bonds. Just then, Leader is informed that Clay Quartermain is in his final approach in his jet. Leader says that he is yet another guest for their tea party. Leader excuses himself and says that he has a new brain to pick. He says that adding some of SHIELD’s top secrets should make his task even easier. Leader laughs and slams the door as he goes. Samson curses Leader. Ross says that they are helpless. Banner says, “The blazes we are! Hey, Samson! Snap out of it!” He tells Samson to free him. Samson smashes the glass dome over Banner and breaks Ross’ manacles. He says that as long as they are still in control of their bodies that there is hope. Samson helps Ross around. Banner says that Leader already made his first mistake being so arrogant to think that they posed no threat to him. Banner wonder aloud what they should do now. Samson says that there isn’t much choice, and that Bruce has to become the Hulk again. Ross reluctantly agrees. Bruce asks if they are both out of their minds. He says that they have no idea the hell that his life has been as the Hulk. He says that there is no way he is becoming the Hulk again, and that there must be a more sane way to deal with Leader. Banner tells them to try and think while he tries to rouse Spad. Banner tries, but Ross tells him to forget it and that his friend is even more entranced than the others. Samson says that the Hulk is their only chance. He says that only he is simple minded enough, and strong enough to resist Leader’s mental powers. Ross says that the whole world could end up like McCracken. Bruce says that they have made their point, but that if he is going to give them their Hulk that it will he his way.
Clay Quartermain lands his jet. He hops out and starts going to tell Ross how the Hulk is still alive. Suddenly he looks up and sees several tanks and soldiers all aiming their weapons at him. Leader stands up out of one of the tanks and welcomes Clay. He says that he doesn’t think he has ever had the pleasure. Clay asks, “Who?” Leader finishes, “Am I? I am the Leader, Mr. Quartermain. You might say I’m your new commanding officer.” Leader says that Fury won’t object, and that soon no one in the world will object.
Ross is watching Leader on a monitor and says that this makes his blood boil. Ross asks how much longer Samson will be. Samson says that they are almost ready as he hooks Banner up to a gamma control harness. He says that he wishes he was as confident as Banner is. Banner says that it will work, and that it has to. Samson asks what will happen if the harness fails. Banner says that if it does that he will be no worse off than he was. Samson pushes a button to activate the harness.
Leader sits behind a desk with Clay sitting on the other side. Leader says that he could have chained Clay, but that he thought mentally paralyzing him from the neck down was more inventive. Clay is about to tell Leader where to shove his inventiveness when the ground starts shaking. Clay and Leader are thrown from their chairs. Suddenly, the Hulk rips through the wall growling. Leader says that this cannot be. He says that Banner couldn’t have been mad enough to expose himself to gamma radiation again. Leader runs from the room and says that he can’t face the Hulk unarmed. Clay lies motionless on the ground. He tells the Hulk that he never thought that he would be glad to see him. Hulk just growls and steps over Clay. Clay thinks to himself that Hulk is more bestial than ever.
Outside, Leader orders some soldier to stop the Hulk at all costs. Hulk smashes through the door after Leader. The soldiers open fire and start hitting Hulk. Hulk smashes the ground and knocks them all off their feet. A tank fires and hits Hulk, but Hulk just turns and hits the tank reducing it to rubble. The soldiers start leaping one by one onto the Hulk. Hulk shrugs them all off and starts moving toward the armory refuge Leader went into. Suddenly Leader comes crashing through the wall inside the Murder Module. Leader kicks Hulk with one of the Titanium steel legs and sends him flying.
Ross and Samson are watching a monitor. Ross says that he has taken a hit. He says that it would be disastrous if the Leader used the Module’s force beam. A voice says not to worry since he doesn’t intend to give him the chance. Samson tells Bruce to be careful.
Hulk seems to pause. He growls and leaps
into the air. Leader doesn’t see the rockets propelling Hulk
up to the control center. “Hulk” smashes on the dome
and cracks it. Leader says, “No! It can’t be! And…
and it isn’t! This creature isn’t the Hulk! It’s
some sort of construct!” Leader pushes a button and
electrifies the outside of the Murder Module. A million volts
passes through the Hulk construct. It falls and when it hits the
ground it breaks apart revealing its robotic nature. 
Leader shouts,
“A robot?! They had the audacity to attack me with a mere
robot? Me?!!” Leader uses the Module’s force beam and
atomizes the robot’s power source.
Banner screams as the feedback from the robot registers in his harness. Samson rushes to Bruce and rips the harness off, He says that he warned Banner that it wasn’t safe. Bruce says, “The pain… can’t take… the…” and falls silent. Ross asks if he is all right. Samson says that Bruce is going into shock, and that he is dying. On the monitor, the Leader says, “Thus fall all who would stand in my way!”
No Excuses rating: 9.5 out of 10
The Leader is not only back, but he is triumphant! Okay well it’s only against a robot version of the Hulk, but when you’re a supervillain you have to take these victories when and where you can. Bruce lies near death thanks to the Leader, and the Leader is on the cusp of world domination. Good stuff. Reading these last two issues makes me nostalgic since Roger Stern actually knows Hulk history and refers to it often. Those were the days when writers actually had a modicum of interest in the characters they were writing instead of viewing their history as a burden to be ignored to tell their feeble tales. The art in this issue is amazing. Sal and Joe work amazingly well together. Sal’s storytelling is strong as usual, and Joe’s style really adds to the appearance.
Review and pictures by The Leader