Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #260

Title: “Sunset of a Samurai!”

Writer: Bill Mantlo

Penciller: Sal Buscema

Inkers: Buscema, Trapani, Giacoia. Patterson, Severin, and Simonson

Colors: Bob Sharen

Editor: Allen Milgrom

Sanshiro Sugata rose with the sun. He donned his ceremonial robes and put his sword through the sash. He awoke before the film crew and went out to pray at the Shrine of the Samurai. Sanshiro kneels down before the large smiling Buddha. The old man felt ashamed, said a prayer, and pressed his samurai sword against his head. He thought not of the film he was directing that day, but of the past he was born too late to know. He thought of the mighty empire. He thinks how all the art, music, customs, and traditions were born in the past. The thinks about the samurai’s code of honor. He prayed that the code would sustain him in his dealings with greed, insensitivity, and incompetence. The two money men behind Sanshiro’s movie come running up to him. They ask where he has been and say that they have already lost precious hours of daylight. They say that time is money and that they have already spent millions of yen on “Dragon Over Tokyo!” A large bronze monster towers over a scale model of Tokyo. A volcano looms in the background. Sanshiro says that filming here is sacrilege. The money men ask if he is still on that kick. They say that they cleared everything through the proper authorities. They say that no one ever comes there and that they plan on leaving as soon as they can. They say that they wouldn’t be filming here, but that the script called for a volcano in the background. Sanshiro says that like the shrine that Mount Kuroishi is sacred. He says that their presence is a desecration. The money men tell Sanshiro to look at the contract they signed with their father. They say that it is for five films and that he has only done four. Sanshiro says that the films he made for their father were art. The men reply that their father is dead and that he is now contractually obligated to them. They say that “Dragon” will make a mint. Sanshiro says that it is dishonorable, but they tell him that so is being sued for breach of contract. Sanshiro breaks down and begins shooting. The money men are thrilled with their ludicrous mechanical monstrosity. Sanshiro looks back at the Buddha and asks for forgiveness. He prays for death to deliver him from dishonor.

A fishing boat casts its net in the shadows of Mount Kuroishi. Benkei pulls in his fishing net. He looks down and sees what he thinks is a green demon. He mutters the word “demon” in Japanese. Hulk asks what little man called him. Hulk climbs up into the boat as Benkei screams. Hulk says that he is tired and hungry. He says that he has been swimming for days and asks if the little man knows where to find some food. Benkei scrunches up on the floor. Hulk asks why he is moaning and says that he hasn’t hurt him. Hulk spots land and decides that he can find food there. Hulk leaps off the boat.

Hulk lands on Mount Kuroishi. He sees that there are no puny humans around and decides that is good. He says that humans always want to fight or talk, and that he doesn’t want to do either. He says that he only wants to find a place that he can eat, rest, and be left alone. Hulk spots a smaller Buddha statue. Hulk sees the food that was left there as an offering and comes closer. Hulk sits in front of the statue as he eats the food offering. Hulk says that the little statue is green like him. Hulk says that the statue cannot eat, but that people leave it food. He says that they must be afraid of the statue the way they are afraid of him. He decides that it is because they are both green and says that he and the statue are on the same side. Hulk decides to stay there. He says that he can hide in the forest and eat the food that puny humans bring for the statue. Hulk says that this is a good place to be green. The light catches a metallic object in the sky.

The object is known as the War Wagon and the pilot is one Glenn Talbot. Talbot tells the computer that he is waiting for a data report on their target. The computer says that it is tracking the Hulk’s gamma radiation trail. It says that it appears that the signal that they lost in the USSR has resurfaced on Mount Kuroishi, Japan. Talbot says that he didn’t mind violating Soviet airspace, but that Japan and America are allies. He decides that the Hulk is a menace to the entire world and that he has to stop the Hulk here and now.

On the set of “Dragon Over Tokyo”, the money men shout for filming to stop. They tell Sanshiro that this isn’t an art movie. They say that the dragon moves as if it were on a kabuki stage. Sanshiro says that he is trying to direct the monster as if it were a creature of grace. The money men say that grace isn’t what makes money. He says that horror, terror, and wanton destruction make money. He says that he will show them what he wants. One of the men tries to tell him that he is messing with the master control panel. The money man says that he knows what it is and that he paid for it. The monster picks up a part of the train below and slams it down. The brothers are pleased. Sanshiro says that just as filming here is a disgrace so is his participation in the film. He says that he wishes he had the courage to end his career and his life before he has no honor left. Suddenly, Mount Kuroishi erupts. The brothers ask what it means. Sanshiro says that it is the horror, terror, and wanton destruction that they spoke of earlier. He thinks to himself that it is the gods putting a stop to what he lacked the courage to stop.

Up on Mount Kuroishi, one can see the volcano’s seeming eruption came not from vengeful gods, but from the War Wagon’s napalm missiles that were fired at Hulk. Hulk asks who is flying golden ship, and who it is that attacks him. Hulk stands protectively over the little Buddha statue. Hulk says that it is always the same and that humans attack him for no reason. Hulk says that actually they do have a reason. He says that it is because he is so strong that they cannot destroy him, but that it doesn’t stop them from trying. Hulk throws a boulder at the War Wagon, but the War Wagon uses sonic pulsations to shatter the boulder before it even reaches it.

Inside the War Wagon, Talbot tells the computer to hit the Hulk with every weapon that the War Wagon has. The computer tries to tell Talbot that the Hulk is too unpredictable for a random attack to work. It says that it needs to study the Hulk to determine the best attack, but Talbot overrides the computer’s control and says that he will finish the Hulk himself. The computer tries to warn Talbot that no human mind is complex enough to master all the defensive and flight functions. Talbot fires a missile. As it gets near Hulk, it releases several spheroids that explode all over Hulk. Hulk roars in pain, but Hulk just gets angrier and stronger. He leaps at the ship. He says that he will tear it apart for hurting him and burning down forest. As Hulk lands on the ship, an electrical charge shocks him and causes him to involuntarily plummet to the ground. Hulk looks back at the statue. He says that he was worried that the gold ship had hurt it. He tells the statue not to be afraid and says that he will protect it. Talbot decides that the Hulk must have survived and starts firing from the War Wagon again. He says that he will set the entire mountain on fire if he has to.

The movie set continues to rumble as the fight goes on. The money brothers are worried about their movie. Sanshiro looks over at the large Buddha statue and thinks about how the shrine was built after the volcano’s last eruption. He wonders if it will survive this eruption.

Hulk tells his “little green friend” that even though the ground is cracking and smoke hisses up that he won’t let anything happen to it. Hulk asks the machine if it hears him. He says that it can hurt him, burn him, and attack him all it wants, but that he will not give in or run away. He says that this is his land.

Talbot says that suits him fine. He says that he always knew that trying to capture him and cure him was a waste of time. He says that only death can tame Hulk’s savagery. The ship’s computer warns Talbot that his attack on the Hulk has triggered the volcano. It tells him that it is only a matter of time before it erupts. Talbot decides that it is a good idea to try and keep Hulk on the “powder keg”. Talbot uses the War Wagon to hit Hulk with a sonic assault. Hulk clamps his hands over his ears and says that his brain is on fire.

Inside the World Trade Center, Rick Jones is asleep inside the transmitter room. He used his outdated Avengers Priority card and used the equipment to send out a message to the Teen Brigade. Rick waited so long for a response that he fell asleep. Finally Rick is woken by incoming messages from all over. It had been a long time and the Teen Brigade had drifted apart, but now after calling for help kids all over the world call in. Tears come to Rick’s eyes. He makes a promise to help Dr. Banner.

Hulk leaps at the War Wagon realizing that the sounds are coming out of it. Hulk slams into the ship. Inside Talbot says that he felt that as if it were happening to him personally. The computer says that it told him that as long as he is wearing the helmet that controls the ship that he will experience every assault made on it. Talbot says that there won’t be any further assaults. He increases the sonic beams and Hulk falls off the War Wagon. Hulk clenches his ears again and says that the sound is driving him mad. Hulk pounds the ground over and over. Talbot takes his actions to be similar to those of a wounded animal biting at its own tail. The computer warns Talbot that there is a method to Hulk’s madness. Suddenly, lava bursts out of the volcano and bathes the War Wagon. Talbot screams in pain and the computer reminds him that he is physically feeling whatever the War Wagon feels. The War Wagon is on fire. Talbot ceases to be able to command the War Wagon and the ship crashes to the ground still ablaze.

The people below run fearing the end of the world.

Sanshiro doesn’t run with the others. He sees that the lava is coming straight at the shrine. He says that the shrine must not perish. Sanshiro goes to the master control panel. He uses the control to use the monster to flip over the scale model of Tokyo. The scale model blocks the lava from the shrine, but as the lava builds it sets the model and the monster on fire. Sanshiro says that he has failed. He draws his sword to defend the shrine with courage and honor. Hulk lands holding the small Buddha statue. He wonders if the old man is going to attack him with the sword, but realizes that he is just trying to defend the big green statue the way he had defended the smaller one. Hulk says that they are on the same side and that he will help the old man save what must be saved. Hulk pushes the large Buddha and plows the ground beneath him up the side of the statue. The earth running up the side protects the statue. Sanshiro says that he would have given his life, but that he would have failed. He says that the gods sent a monster with the strength to succeed where he would have failed. Hulk says that the green men are safe. Sanshiro wonders why the gods let him live in dishonor. Hulk tells the old man to take care of this place. He says that it makes him feel good. Hulk leaps away.

In the months that follow, people come to the shrine to see the statue that Hulk moved to save the shrine. The kids smile and want to believe because their time is devoid of legends. The legends say that the old man, ever present at the shrine, knows what happened and was there. He smiles politely for pictures, but he never says anything. Sanshiro that day discovered his purpose in life… to be caretaker of the shrine.

No Excuses rating: 5.5 out of 10

Review by The Leader

Picture by Captain Nate

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