Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #270Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #270
Title: “The Goliath, The Gargoyle, and the Galaxy Master!”
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Sal Buscema
Colors: Bob Sharen
Editor: Al Milgrom
Rick Jones is no longer screaming. He just
hangs there stuck on the gamma rays coming at him. Rick
doesn’t seem to be becoming a Hulk at all. Instead it seems
as though he may die if he isn’t saved soon. 
Betty stands
there in horror unable to save him. She runs from the window. She
says that Rick has been exposed for ten minutes now, and that she
doesn’t think he can take much more. She says that she
can’t reach the controls while the door is locked so she
will have to cut the power off at its source. Betty grabs a chair
and smashes it into the machinery. The bunker goes dark for a
minute. The generators kick in and the lights go back on, but the
gamma rays and electro-locks do not. Betty rushes to Rick’s
side to find that he is not moving and barely breathing. She says
that his pulse is so faint that she isn’t even sure it is
there. She says that Bruce could help him, but that she
doesn’t know where Bruce is. She says that she has to get
him to a hospital herself or he is going to die. Bereet walks
into the lab and says that he can’t do that, or that he
can’t do it until she has a chance to record it for her
movie.
Aboard the ship, Hulk shouts that he
doesn’t like it in there. Dark-Crawler asks what Hulk’s
problem is. Torgo says that he did agree to help. Amphibian asks
what kind of help they can expect from someone so stupid as to
not recognize friend from foe. One of the ship’s pilots
tells Amphibian to be quiet, and that it is his sarcasm that is
upsetting the Hulk. Hulk says that Fish-Man is making fun of him,
but that without him he is doomed. Torgo adds that Hulk beat
Galaxy Master too. Amphibian says that it is Ravager that softens
up the worlds and then Galaxy Master devours them unopposed.
Dark-Crawler says that the three of them were lucky to escape the
Ravager alive. Torgo says that he may be as powerful as the Hulk.
Amphibian says that Ravager is stronger than Hulk, and that Hulk
won’t do any better. Hulk says that he already told Fish-Man
that no one is stronger than him, but that he will prove it.
Amphibian says that is exactly what he wants. Hulk and Amphibian
collide. Dark-Crawler asks if they should separate them. Torgo
says that this has been coming since Hulk beat Amphibian on
Earth. Amphibian says that it has been longer than that. He says
that it has been since the Hulk beat him on Watcher’s world.
Amphibian says that he has since honed his fighting skills on
world after world. He says that he has always won except against
the Hulk. Hulk says that he already told Fish-Man the reason for
that. 
Hulk shouts that
he is the strongest one there is and smashes Amphibian into some
machinery. Torgo says that this has gone on long enough.
Dark-Crawler says that he is thankful the Scepter of Shadows has
had time to reform since the Hulk smashed it. Torgo puts his
electrostave over the Hulk’s head. Hulk only shouts louder.
Dark-Crawler encases Amphibian in his darkness. Amphibian calls
him a coward and says that if only he could see him. Dark-Crawler
says that he cannot. Empress Daydra arrives and tells her
champions to stop the senseless struggling. Hulk asks why girl
always interferes when he is about to smash his attackers. Daydra
says that she is not a girl, but an Empress, and that she
didn’t bring the four of them together to fight each other.
She shows them a picture of the Galaxy Master and asks if they
will stop fighting one another and team up against him. She asks
Amphibian. Amphibian says, “Yes”. She asks
Dark-Crawler. Dark-Crawler says, “Yes!” She asks Torgo.
Torgo says, “Yes”. She asks Hulk. Hulk says,
“Bah!” He says that he has already beaten Mouth-Monster
once, and asks why he needs help to beat him again. Empress asks
if Hulk has understood anything they have said. She says that
Galaxy Master’s power has increased tenfold. She says that
he needs living worlds, but that he wants them subservient to
provide him with the energy he needs. She says that is why he
uses the Ravager of Worlds. The image shows Galaxy Master
spitting out Ravager onto a planet. She says that no one can
stand against the Ravager, and that no one knows who he is.
Ravager comes into focus, and Hulk shouts that he knows.
Dark-Crawler says to tell them so that they can all know their
foe. Hulk says that the same power that made him made the
Abomination. Hulk says that he has fought Abomination and that he
has beaten Abomination. Hulk says that of all his foes that
Abomination is the strongest. Daydra says that Hulk understands
why they need him to fight Ravager. Hulk says that his name is
Abomination, not Ravager. Amphibian says that he wouldn’t
mind another shot at Abomination, and that he just drove them off
by luck last time. Dark-Crawler says that they were the ones who
were lucky to have escaped alive. Daydra tells them to stop their
quarreling as the twin threat of the Galaxy Master and the
Abomination awaits them. Hulk says that he will smash them both.
Amphibian says that not if they smash him first. Torgo tells
Amphibian to pray they don’t because they would soon follow.
Daydra says that they will all have a chance to prove themselves.
The ship attains warp velocity and vanishes.
The ship reappears right before the Galaxy Master. Galaxy Master says, “Welcome, gnats! I have awaited the arrival of my former servants with eagerness! Other races I have subdued… yours it will be my pleasure to devour!” Daydra says that to think her late uncle willing served that creature. She says to prepare the repulse-spheres. One of the others says that they are ready. Daydra orders the Horror-Hunters to be sent forth. Torgo, Dark-Crawler, and Amphibian are sent out in bubbles to face the Galaxy Master. Hulk asks Daydra why he isn’t going with the others. Daydra says that Hulk has to go cut off Galaxy Master’s power at its source. Hulk asks where that is. Daydra says that it is where the Abomination is wrecking havoc. Daydra transports the Hulk away. Galaxy Master strikes the ship. Daydra orders that all reserve power be used to boost their shields. She says that they don’t need to go on the offense, and that defeating Galaxy Master is now up to the Horror-Hunters and the Hulk.
Hulk appears on a planet in chaos.
Everything is on fire and dead bodies are laying everywhere. Hulk
looks at some of the corpses and realizes that they were once a
family. Hulk asks who could do such a thing, and says that he
wants to know. Suddenly, Hulk is struck hard from behind. He is
sent flying through a rock formation, and comes to a halt as he
slides face first in the mud. A voice says, “Three guesses,
Greenskin!” 
Hulk shouts that
it is Abomination. Abomination tells Hulk that he isn’t as
stupid as he looks. Abomination says that he found that out
battling Hulk on the runaway rocket the last time they fought.
Abomination says that Hulk made it back to Earth, but that he
just drifted in the void. Abomination says that he would have
died, but that the Galaxy Master found him. Abomination says that
was his lucky break. He asks Hulk if he remembers how he was
created more powerful than Hulk. Abomination says that he would
have destroyed Hulk if they hadn’t found a way to halve his
power. Abomination says that Galaxy Master restored him to his
original state, and that to keep that level all he has to do is
subdue the worlds that Galaxy Master wants to serve him. Hulk
asks if Abomination did this for Mouth-Monster. Abomination says
that Hulk is real quick. Hulk says that he understands why
everyone said that only he had the power to stop Abomination.
Hulk says that Abomination is strong enough to smash a weak
world, and strong enough to stop Torgo, Amphibian, and
Dark-Crawler. Abomination says that he sent them scurrying all
right. Hulk says that they came looking for him because they knew
that no matter how strong Abomination is, that Hulk is stronger.
Hulk leaps at Abomination. Abomination says that might have been
true once, but that it isn’t anymore. Abomination punches
Hulk away. Abomination charges Hulk and hits him in the stomach.
He says that Hulk wasn’t listening when he told him that he
had gotten his original power back. Abomination says that he
mangled Hulk then, and that he is going to mangle him now.
Abomination punches Hulk in the face. Abomination stands as Hulk
is on the ground. Abomination says that he has no chance to beat
him. Hulk says that Abomination is stronger than he remembers,
but that he will still smash him. Abomination says that when he
is done with Hulk that the word “smash” is going to be
erased from his memory. Abomination raises his hands above his
head and brings them both down on the Hulk. Abomination says that
Hulk has never seen smashing like he is going to smash him. Hulk
lies in the mud as Abomination stands over him. Abomination says
that Hulk looked staggered that he could be staggered.
Abomination says that Hulk had been on top too long, and that he
had this coming. He turns in disbelief as the Hulk is getting up.
Hulk says that Abomination has forgotten something about him. 
Hulk says that
Abomination may have been stronger, but that the madder Hulk
gets, the stronger Hulk gets. Hulk says that he is madder than he
has ever been before. Abomination stutters out that
shouldn’t matter, and that Galaxy Master made him twice as
strong as Hulk. Hulk asks why Abomination looks scared then. Hulk
says that Abomination could be ten times stronger than Hulk, but
that it still wouldn’t matter because all Hulk would have to
do is get ten times as mad. Hulk grabs Abomination by the throat.
Abomination cries out for Galaxy Master’s help.
Dark-Crawler, Torgo, and Amphibian are attacking Galaxy Master. Torgo and Dark-Crawler are blasting with their weapons (not sure what Amphibian is doing). Dark-Crawler asks Torgo if he felt the Galaxy Master weaken just then. He wonders if the Hulk is fulfilling his part of the mission. Amphibian says that Galaxy Master weakens because he begins to fear that their power will prevail. Dark-Crawler tells Amphibian that he is being willfully ignorant. Suddenly something green streaks in front of the Horror-Hunters.
Daydra asks what Galaxy Master has brought to the battle. The scanner says that they are detecting two entities both bursting with incredible gamma powered. Suddenly Hulk and Abomination appear on an asteroid. Hulk hits Abomination and drops him to the floor. Hulk turns and shouts at Galaxy Master that he has beaten his servant. He says that not all of Galaxy Master’s power could help Abomination. Hulk says that now Hulk is going to beat Mouth-Monster. Galaxy Master tells Abomination that he has failed him. He says that he gave Abomination power to bring him power, not to bring the one foe in all the cosmos that he actually fears. Abomination tells Galaxy Master that he will serve him, but that he won’t go up against the Hulk again. Abomination says that Galaxy Master has other enemies, and that he can use the power he gave him to defeat them. Abomination leaps at Amphibian. He breaks through the bubble, and lands on top of him on another asteroid. Abomination hits Amphibian once in the head and knocks him out. Abomination says that he has proven his worth and asks to keep his power. Galaxy Master says that he can’t. He says that he has to summon all his power together to face the Hulk. He says that Abomination is on his own. Torgo and Dark-Crawler leave their spheres and head towards Abomination. Abomination says that he can feel his power slipping away. He says that he is still as strong as the Hulk, and that he can take them.
Hulk tells Galaxy Master that there is no one between them now. Galaxy Master says that Hulk nearly destroyed him the last time they fought, and that the nothingness of the near non-existence was more than he could bear. Hulk says that he remembers that he defeated him from within. Galaxy Master says that Hulk got inside him, and that he had no defense. He says that this time Hulk will not get close enough. Galaxy Master transforms himself into a giant red bat. He says that he can transform himself into any form. Hulk grabs the giant bat and breaks him apart. Galaxy Master transforms into strange snake like creatures. Galaxy Master says that without power flowing through him that the forms he becomes are limited in power. Hulk says that he can still smash snakes. Galaxy Master becomes a giant rock monster. He asks if there is anything that the Hulk can’t smash. Hulk says that there is nothing. Hulk smashes the rock monster Galaxy Master into pieces. Galaxy Master says that he only has enough power for one more attack on Hulk. He says that he senses that he key to beating the Hulk is transforming him into his less powerful entity. Galaxy Master shoots gamma rays at Hulk. Hulk screams in pain. Hulk says that it hurts, but that anything that can hurt him can hurt Mouth-Monster too. Hulk re-directs the gamma beams back at the Galaxy Master.
Daydra is told that the Galaxy Master has been mortally wounded. She asks what has happened to the Hulk.
Hulk is blazing
with more gamma radiation than before, but he still leaps towards
the Galaxy Master. Galaxy Master screams in pain.
Abomination grabs his head and asks what is happening to him. Abomination realizes that his power was tied to the Galaxy Master’s. He says that Galaxy Master is dying and taking him with him. Abomination falls from the asteroid.
Hulk passes through the Galaxy Master, and the gamma radiation blazing from the Hulk plays havoc with Galaxy Master’s systems.
From the ship, Daydra and her crew watch as the Galaxy Master vanishes as if he had never existed. Daydra says that the Hulk has given the gift of life to the cosmos, but wonders at what cost.
Daydra descends to the asteroid with Dark-Crawler, Torgo, and the unconscious Amphibian. She asks how Amphibian is. Dark-Crawler says that his pride will take longer to heal than his body. Torgo says that he can heal on his world now that they have won. Daydra wonders what has happened to the Hulk.
No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10
In many ways this is the ultimate Savage Hulk story. He defeats the Abomination at his original strength level, and then goes on to defeat a cosmic level entity. It’s ironic that in this the ultimate Savage Hulk issue that it really is what amounts to the last great Savage Hulk story. Now don’t get me wrong. I love the Savage Hulk in his modern incarnation, but he is nowhere near the way he used to be. After the lame Rocket Racoon story, Hulk becomes Banner Hulk, then Mindless Hulk, then Nutrient Bath Hulk, then the Gray Hulk, and eventually he works his way back to becoming the Savage Hulk before getting merged, but the Savage Hulk would never return to the force of nature that he once was. Oh by the way, Sal rules! ‘Nuff said.
Review and pictures by The Leader