Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #293Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #293
Title: “Assassin!”
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Art: Sal Buscema and Gerry Talaoc
Colors: Bob Sharen
Editor: Ann Nocenti
At Kennedy International Airport, Bruce Banner and Kate Waynesboro’s flight lands. The press gathers around Bruce for a comment on his Latin American trip. Suddenly a man pulls a gun out of his pants and points it at Bruce. He tells Bruce that today is the day he will die. The man pulls the trigger, but in the time it takes the bullet to get to Bruce, Bruce manages to change into the Hulk. Hulk grabs the man’s wrist. Bruce tells him to let him have the toy. He crushes the gun in his hand. Bruce asks him what his problem is anyway. The man says that Hulk may have everyone fooled into thinking that he is a hero, but that to him he will always be a monster. The police drag the man off and Bruce says, “A monster. He knew.”
On the way to the Baxter Building, Bruce tells Kate that he is a monster. He says that if he wasn’t that he would be a corpse right now. Kate says that is just another reason he should be thankful that he retained the power of the Hulk. Bruce says that people keep talking as if the Hulk and he were two different people. He says that was never the case and that they are just two sides of the same coin. Bruce says that he represents the rational side, and that the Hulk was his more savage, irrational side. Kate says that side has been submerged now though. Bruce draws out a “key” and says, “Submerged, yes… but not forgotten.” He asks if she wants to continue this upstairs. Bruce passes the key in front of a scanner and the elevator opens for them. Kate asks why the man would want to shoot him though. Bruce says that it is because he and the Hulk “are one and the same”, and that he wanted to kill a monster.
The elevator doors open and Bruce and Kate find the Thing putting his coat on. Thing says that it is about time they got there. He says that he heard about the “assassination” and that he was starting to worry. Thing says that everything is ready for them and that their android receptionist will take care of them. Thing says that the rest of the team doesn’t live there anymore and that he was just on his way out. Thing tells them to make themselves comfortable and that he is glad someone will be there even if it is temporary. He says that without the FF that the building was starting to feel haunted.
Kate says that she has never seen a place like this. Bruce says that it embodies Reed’s genius. He says that it is the most modern research facility known to man. He says that is why he wanted to stop there on their way back to Northwind Observatory. Bruce says that before they left New Mexico that he detected a strange energy surge, but that his equipment couldn’t track it. He says that he is sure Reed’s can. Bruce goes to the equipment, and Reed’s face appears on a screen. Reed’s tape goes on to tell Bruce to make himself at home and to feel free to use the equipment to track that energy source. He says that Bruce knows the implications that the energy could have for their planet. Bruce says that if Reed thinks it is a threat that they have to investigate. Bruce asks Kate to set the scanners to sweep quadrant XIV. The instruments record the energy surge. Bruce says that it might be even more powerful than they thought. He says that it seems to know that they are observing it and that it is reacting. Bruce quickly turns to the Hulk and shields Kate’s body from an equipment explosion. Bruce says that he had better alert Reed. Reed tells Bruce that the same thing happened to him there when he tried to probe it. Bruce asks what Reed thinks it is. Reed says that he doesn’t know, but that he has a feeling they will find out. Bruce says that he will rebuild the lab. Reed tells him not to be foolish and that he world owes Hulk more than the cost of some damaged lab equipment. Reed says that anytime Bruce needs them to feel free to call. Bruce says that he will remember that. Reed signs off.
Bruce comes out and says that the food smells good. Kate says not to compliment her. She says that it was Sue’s servo-kitchen. She says that it programmed the menu and then made the food. She says that the candles were her idea. Bruce sits down. He says that after the explosion that the remaining equipment wasn’t able to locate the energy source. He says that it worries him, but that there is nothing he can do about it. Kate tells Bruce to go back to his own research of using gamma rays to energize cell-growth to increase the world’s food productions. Bruce says that they have had some success with high crop yields. He says that he would like to run some more tests to make sure the food is fit for consumption without harmful effects from the gamma rays. Bruce says that if he can stimulate plant growth that he might also be able to invigorate animal and human cellular structures. He says that he will make the weak strong and the sick well. Kate says that as the Hulk Bruce is almost impervious to pain and disease. She says that if he can pass along those traits that no one could hate him. Bruce asks if she is talking about the “poor man” at the airport. Kate says that he almost killed Bruce. Bruce says that he tried to kill the Hulk. Bruce says that he has talked to the authorities and that the man had good reason to hate the Hulk. Bruce says that he is going to contact a lawyer to see if he can help him. Kate asks if he is running for sainthood. Bruce says that he is just aware of all the misery that he has caused as the Hulk. He says that the rest of his life will be dedicated to making amends. She asks when he will take care of himself. Bruce says, “Right now, Dr. Waynesboro.” Bruce kisses Kate.
As Bruce and Kate sleep, Bruce is having a
nightmare. A dark shadow of the Hulk is stalking down a narrow
hallway. In the dream, Susan Richards tries to hold the Hulk back
with an invisible force-sphere, but the Hulk is too strong. He
smashes the sphere and shatters it. Torch says that the creature
will have to get past him. The dark Hulk claps his hands and
snuffs his flame out. Reed’s elongated limbs wrap around the
dark Hulk, but Hulk just grabs him and ties him into knots. 
Thing says that
the hurt he put on his friends will be nothing compared to what
he is going to do to him. The dark silhouette growls and smashes
the Thing into bits and pieces of rock. Suddenly, no one is left
to stand between the form and Bruce Banner. Loud smashing starts
on the door to the bedroom. Bruce rises from bed in a startle,
but Kate is still sound asleep. The dark form smashes into the
room and grabs Bruce by his throat. Bruce wakes from his dream
screaming. 
Kate puts her
hand on Bruce and asks what frightened him. Bruce puts his hand
on his head and says, “The Hulk”.
The next day, Bruce goes to the police station and asks to see the man that tried to assassinate him. The desk sergeant says that they don’t usually let the victims interview their assassins, but that because of who he is that his superiors are allowing it. He says that a guy that can turn into the Hulk should be able to handle himself. Bruce says, “You’d think so, wouldn’t you?”
Bruce is let into the cell. He asks the man why. The man says that is a good question. He has been asking himself why Bruce went and smashed everything that he had. Bruce says that he doesn’t understand. The man says that of course he doesn’t and that he is a monster. He asks what a monster knows of family, friends, or home. He says that all a monster can do is smash them. He asks Bruce if he ever heard of Hadleyville. He says that it was a good place to raise your kids and make friends. Bruce says that he is speaking of it in the past tense and asks what happened to Hadleyville. The man says, “You happened to Hadleyville, Doc! Or, rather, the Hulk did!” He says that the day started like every other, but then the tanks came rolling down the street. The soldiers told them to get off the streets, clear their houses, and evacuate. The people ran and the fight between the army and the Hulk destroyed all of Hadleyville. He says that the Hulk smashed everything and then leapt away to start someplace else. He says that was the end of Hadleyville. Bruce asks about insurance. The man says that there is no policy covering loss due to gamma-irradiated monsters. He says that they turned to the government. He says that they were all placed in trailers the fraction the size of their homes. He says that there was no more Hadleyville to work in and that was when shock set in. He says that his wife left him and took his two kids. He says that he didn’t think it could get worse, but then he saw the headline where Hulk was hailed as a hero. Bruce says that he doesn’t even know the man’s name. He says that he didn’t know the destruction he caused as the Hulk, but that he has been trying to undo the damage. The man asks how he can undo the destruction of a town… how he can rebuild a man’s dream. Bruce walks out and says that he doesn’t know.
Bruce tells the desk sergeant that he wants to drop charges against the man. The cop says that it isn’t up to Bruce and that attempted murder is a crime the state decides whether or not to prosecute. Bruce asks how he can sway the state. The cop tells him to get a good lawyer. Bruce thinks of Matt Murdock.
Days later. Matt Murdock is representing the man. He says that no harm was done and that they have a plea of leniency from the victim, Dr. Banner. The state agrees to drop all charges. Matt tells the man that he is free to go. He tells Matt that he has no place to go back to. Kate asks him if he will come with him. He recognizes her as Banner’s friend. Kate says that Bruce asked her to bring him to meet him in Hadleyville. The man asks who she is trying to kid and that there is no Hadleyville.
Sometime later, Kate asks if Hadleyville isn’t just over the rise. The man asks if this is some kind of sick joke. He says that it used to be Hadleyville, but then he looks and sees that the town has been rebuilt. Hulk is putting a roof onto a house. Kate welcomes him home. The man says that he has rebuilt the town in weeks. Bruce says that it only seems fair since he destroyed it within hours. Bruce says that he told him that he was trying to make amends. He says that he rebuilt the town, and that he wishes he could rebuild the man’s life. The man says that he will handle his life now that he has a home again. Bruce says that it help him to hear him say that. He thanks the man. The man thanks Dr. Banner. He excuses himself and says that he has to go home. Kate tells Bruce that what he did for that man was beautiful. Bruce says that all he did was undo the damage that he did. Kate says that he has given him back his dream. Bruce says, “Yes, the dream that was sacrificed… to my nightmare!”
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
Outstanding foreshadowing in this book! I love the way it goes from one minute where Bruce is being accepted into the Baxter Building with open arms to where the Hulk is cold bloodedly killing all of them. The Hulk with his hand around the throat of Bruce Banner is chilling as well. Sal works very well Gerry Talaoc. Gerry adds some nice weight to Sal which leads to a nice effect.
Review and pictures by The Leader