Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #225Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #225
Title: “Is There Hulk After Death?”
Writer: Roger Stern
Artists: Sal Buscema and Joe Rubenstein
Colors: Jan Cohen
Editor: Jim Shooter
Samson is carrying the limp body of Bruce Banner. Bruce is wearing an emergency respirator and Samson says that they got it on him just in time. Ross says that Banner has to pull through as he follows along with the attachment for the respirator. Ross tells Samson to slow down and that he is doing all he can to keep up with Samson’s long strides. Samson apologizes, but says that they have so little time. He says that he doesn’t even want to think about what will happen if Banner slips into a coma. Samson says that he warned Banner against using the harness against the Leader. Ross says that Samson can’t blame himself. He says that Banner took the risk willingly. Samson says that Banner needs a hospital, but because of the Leader’s mental block that he can’t even carry him out of the building. Samson says that Bruce’s best chance is in the lab ahead. Inside the lab, Samson puts Bruce on the table. Ross asks how this lab will help Banner. Samson says that he doesn’t know if it will, but that the only hope of saving Banner’s life is to change him into the Hulk.
Leader sits back in his chair and tells all
stations to report. One soldier reports that Cal Tech and MIT
computers have joined their system. Another says that ITET
domestic and international long lines are holding on standby
control. Another says that all NATO analytic systems are under
their control, and that SHIELD systems takeover will occur in 48
minutes. Another says that all NORAD systems will be theirs by
0350 hours. Leader asks Omnivac. Omnivac says that it concurs
will all the ground base reports. It says that full computer
control will occur in one hour, forty-five minutes, and
twenty-three seconds. Leader says that is excellent. 
He says that it
is time to commence phase two. Leader tells Omnivac to begin
electrowave matter transmission. Instantly, an army of humanoids
begin to march in from half a world away. Leader says that is
excellent and that transmission occurred in less than a tenth of
a second. Leader says that between his army of invincible
warriors and his control over the world’s computers that he
will have the planet helpless.
Bruce lies on the table beneath the gamma machines. Samson thanks god that Banner’s breathing improved enough to take of the respirator. Ross says that Samson has checked the controls dozens of times and to get on with it. Samson says that he hopes this works for all of their sakes. Samson clicks the control and Bruce is bathed in gamma radiation. Banner sits right up and starts screaming. He is still screaming after the gamma radiation is off. Abruptly, Banner drops back onto the table lifeless. Ross asks why Bruce didn’t change. Samson says that he doesn’t know. He mentions the unknown factor that changed his body chemistry that cured him of being the Hulk. Samson checks Bruce’s chest for a heartbeat. His head dips. He tells Ross that they lost him, and that Bruce Banner is dead. Ross says that he can’t believe it. He says that Banner was a better man than he ever gave him credit for. Samson pulls the sheet over Bruce’s face. He tells Ross to stop, and that it is too late for eulogies. Ross guesses that Samson is right. Ross says that at least Banner won’t have to live in a world run by the Leader. Ross asks Samson if they are defeated. Samson says that maybe the Avengers or SHIELD will stumble on Leader’s plan before it is too late. Ross says that Samson doesn’t think that will happen. Samson agrees and says that he doesn’t. Suddenly the sheet starts to move. Hulk tears off the sheet and asks why men cover him with sheets. Samson turns stunned and says that Hulk is alive. Hulk asks what is going on there, and how he got there. Samson thinks for a second and asks why he should tell Hulk. Ross asks Samson if he is mad. Samson tells Ross to stay out of it. He tells Hulk that he isn’t smart enough to remember anything, and so he shouldn’t bother tells Hulk. Samson thinks to himself that his mental block prevents him from leaving the building, but that maybe the Hulk can put him out. Hulk asks if Samson is calling him stupid. Samson says that Hulk isn’t smart enough to be stupid.
Samson goes flying through the wall out of the building. Samson thinks that it may have been a little drastic, but that it worked. Hulk says that nobody calls him stupid and gets away with it. Samson tells Hulk that he is sorry that he called him stupid. He says that he didn’t mean it. Hulk says that if Samson expects him to believe that, that he must think he is stupid. Samson tells Hulk that Leader is the real enemy. Hulk says that Leader is dead, and that Samson will be too if he keeps lying. Hulk pulls his fist back.
Outside Armadillo, Texas, Jim Wilson rides in the passengers seat as Kropotkin drives. Kropotkin says that Jim has been quiet for the last fifty miles. He asks if Jim is having second thoughts. Jim says that he isn’t and that he still thinks that the whole thing is crazy. Jim says that he doesn’t care, and that all he cares about it hooking back up with the Hulk. Jim wonders to himself if it will ever be safe for him to return to LA. Kropotkin tells Jim to trust him, and that his plan will work. He asks Jim to check the map. Jim wonders to himself if Kropotkin is crazier, or if it is him for going along with him. Jim says that they are outside Lynnburg. Kropotkin says that Lynnburg is a place to avoid, and that he had a run in with the law there. Jim asks if it isn’t a hotbed of tolerance. Kropotkin says that Lynnburg isn’t the end of the world, but that you can see it from there. Kropotkin says that they will take a slight detour and be in Albuquerque by sundown.
Samson dodges Hulk’s punch and says that Hulk has to let him explain. Hulk says that he doesn’t listen to liars. One of Leader’s mind controlled slaves spots the fight and reports into Leader. Suddenly an image of Leader’s head appears in front of Samson and Hulk. Leader asks Samson if this is the real Hulk this time. Hulk sees the Leader and says that Samson was telling the truth. Leader says that it won’t do them any good. Leader orders Samson to attack the Hulk. Samson resists and says that Leader took him by surprise last time. He says that he is prepared to resist now. Leader says that if they won’t battle each other that they can battle an army of humanoids instead. Hulk and Samson turn and see a bunch of humanoids. Samson tells Hulk that they had better hit them hard and fast.
Hulk and Samson start smashing. 
Hulk says that
the rubber men are as stupid as ever. He says that they
don’t stay smashed after he smashes them. Samson pounds two
humanoids’ heads together. He says that while they are
fighting them that the Leader could be up to anything. Hulk says
that he will stop them for good then. He says that they
can’t fight if they can’t stand. Hulk rips up the
ground and sends them all flying. Samson compliments Hulk’s
idea. He wraps the humanoids up in the concrete carpeting Hulk
created. Hulk says that Samson is crazy. He says that first
Samson insults him and then he helps him. Samson apologizes again
and says that he was just trying to get Hulk to throw him out of
the building. Hulk says that Samson tricked him then. Samson says
that they can settle their problems after they deal with the
Leader. Hulk follows Samson and says that he will help this time.
Hulk and Samson smash into the computing
center. Leader stands wearing a pack on his back connected to the
metal gloves he wears on his hands. He says that he has been
expecting them. Samson goes to hit Leader, but finds that he
still can’t do it. Leader says that he may be able to resist
his mental bolts, but that he still can’t ignore the blocks
placed within his mind. Hulk says that if Samson won’t help
him smash Leader that he will do it by himself. Hulk says that he
doesn’t need any help. Leader says that if his fate is
predetermined that Hulk should bring it on. Hulk says that Leader
talks too much. He tries to punch Leader, but Leader’s glove
causes Hulk’s punch to be redirected. Hulk hits himself.
Hulk starts to ask Leader if he thinks that his stupid gloves
will stop him, but Hulk winds up punching himself again. Leader
says that he does. He says that Hulk’s brute strength is
nothing compared to the products of his mind. Hulk says that he
will cram the words down Leader’s throat. Hulk tries to
smash Leader again, but his fits bounce back and hit him again.
Leader says that he doesn’t think so. He says that his
kinetron mitts are actually reflecting his own kinetic energy
back at Hulk. Leader says that he will beat Hulk with Hulk’s
own power. Hulk screams that nothing will beat him. Leader says
that Hulk is welcome to try. He says that he will enjoy proving
Hulk wrong. Hulk reaches towards Leader’s gloves. He
can’t grab them, and the Leader laughs and laughs. For three
minutes the Hulk is held off and the Leader continues to laugh.
Finally as Hulk gets angrier and angrier, and stronger and
stronger, 
he manages to
reach Leader’s gloves. Leader says that it isn’t
possible. Hulk says, “Where is your power now, Leader? Tell
Hulk again how you will defeat him… so Hulk will have a
chance to laugh!” Hulk tears the mitts off Leader’s
hands. Hulk says that he has dealt with Leader’s gloves, and
that now he will deal with him. Leader tells Omnivac to beam him
out of there. Omnivac tries to say something, but Leader tells it
to just do as he says. Omnivac starts doing as it is told, but
says, “As you wish, sir! But you should be warned that your
energy pack is still discharging! It could cause the transport
circuits to short out!” Leader screams in pain as he
seemingly disintegrates. Hulk and Samson watch. Hulk says that he
has finally beaten the Leader. Hulk says that now he will smash
Samson. Hulk leaps at Samson.
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
Bruce is saved from death by transforming back into Hulk… a fate he may consider to be worse than death. Leader is defeated though he does have a good theory against the Hulk. Use the Hulk’s power against him… only he didn’t properly account for the level of Hulk’s power. Sal and Joe work together again to produce phenomenal results. 4.5 out of 5 for both writing and art.
Review and pictures by The Leader