Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #298Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #298
Title: “Sleepwalker!”
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Gerry Talaoc
Colors: Bob Sharen
Editor: Carl Potts
Nightmare sits on his throne and welcomes
you. He introduces himself. He says that this is his realm, and
that you have been there before. He says that you may not
remember it, at least in detail, but that you do remember the
sense of dread the morning after. He says that since you
can’t remember those times that he supposes that he must
introduce you to his realm again. He says that he is quite proud
of the little niche that he has carved out for himself. Nightmare
says that we are in our dreams, dreams which he corrupts into
nightmares. He says that he has accommodated everyone at one time
or another. 
He thinks about
it for a second and says that it isn’t quite everyone. He
says that while he reigns supreme in his realm that there is one
that he has never been able to entertain the way he would like
because of protective spells he uses when he is asleep. He says
that he has thwarted his every attempt to extend his evil beyond
the normal dream time… his greatest enemy Dr. Strange.
Nightmare shakes his fist at a statue he created of his nemesis.
One of Nightmare’s toadies says that he will destroy him for
his master. Nightmare says that if he can that his reward will be
great. The toadie bites the statue, but when it takes a swipe at
the replica Eye of Agamotto, the eye opens. Nightmare
subconscious has given the eye actual power as if it were
actually Strange’s so that he can never rest until his
humiliations have been avenged. The toadie is obliterated by the
eye. Nightmare curses Strange and says that even in his own realm
that Strange diminishes him. Nightmare says that not long ago he
began to try another way of getting at Strange. He says that he
began to watch the dreams dreamt by Strange’s friends the
Defenders. He says that since he couldn’t affect Strange
himself that he would attack him through his friends. He says
that the break up of the Defenders delayed him for a bit, but
that he didn’t abandon it completely. Nightmare says that it
was what was happening to the Hulk that intrigued him. He says
that the savage Hulk had vanished and that for the first time in
years that the Hulk’s alter-ego slept peacefully. He says
that it was much to peacefully for any friend of Stephen
Strange’s. Nightmare says that he paid close attention to
his dreams and that he noticed that Banner’s fear that he
would revert to savagery was not quite gone. Nightmare says that
night after night he invaded his privacy and played with his
terrors and plagued him with the savagery that he had hoped died,
but was actually buried in the recesses of his heart. Nightmare
says that he has just having fun tormenting Strange’s
friend, but that then something wonderful began to happen. He
says that more nightmares he unleashed that the more Hulk’s
dormant savagery began to re-emerge. Strange says that he began
accelerating it in the hope that he would be able to turn the
monster against his most hated enemy.
Hulk walks and says that he must find Strange. He says that his friend will help him or he will smash him. Nightmare’s suggestions, planted in the Hulk’s sleeping subconscious, guide the Hulk’s steps. Hulk hears a party and turns his head to look. Hulk sees lights and starts walking toward them. He sees the people having fun and enjoying life. He sees things that he had once hoped to be a part of with his beloved Kate, but that dream is gone. Hulk starts growling, angry at the fun the others are having. He decides that if happiness is beyond him that he will prevent others from having it. The people all fall silent at Hulk’s growling. They recoil, but then one of them reminds the others that there is nothing to be afraid of. A drunk man named Ronnie staggers up to the Hulk and says that the Hulk is a hero these days. He proposes a toast to the Hulk. Hulk growls louder. Ronnie asks if it was something he said. Hulk swats Ronnie away and says that he is in his way. A woman says that she heard bones breaking. Another says that he is no hero and that he is a monster. The people start running and Hulk starts smashing cars. Hulk shouts at the people swimming in the pool. The people start swimming to the side, but Hulk lifts the entire pool out of the patio and dumps both the water and the occupants out. Hulk seems to be reveling in his new savagery. Instead of just fighting when attacked he seems to be attacking without reason. He seems to be delighting in the terror he creates. Hulk lifts the entire pool over his head as if to hurl it, but the pool clips a high-tension wire and falls down into the water Hulk is standing in. Hulk is electrified.
One of the SHIELD agents tells Gabe that they might have something. He says that a whole power grid just went out in New Jersey. Gabe tells him to monitor it and that he will take a squadron for visual reconnaissance. Gabe holds a state of the art gamma-ray gun that was invented by the recently reinstated SHIELD agent, Kate Waynesboro. She wants SHIELD to capture the man she loves. Gabe asks if she is coming. Kate says that she is. The ships fly out of the SHIELD helicarrier. Kate reminds Gabe that the Hulk was pardoned by the president. Gabe says that was when he had Bruce Banner’s brain. He says that he doesn’t know and that they are dealing with a savage Hulk now. SHIELD locates the Hulk.
The power company arrives on the scene. One of the workers sees people running and asks if they know what caused the blackout. One of the running people says that they did, but that it will take more than the power company to stop him. The Hulk is following the people. A nearby policeman goes to draw his gun, but the Hulk sees him. He picks up the power company’s van and is about to throw it at him, but he sees the SHIELD planes arriving. Hulk throws the van at them.
Kate wishes that Bruce would regain control. Gabe tells the other pilots to take evasive action.
The planes dodge the hurtling van. The jets,
knowing the van will land in the Atlantic Ocean, turn towards the
Hulk and fire gas at him. Hulk says that he knows how to hold his
breath. The planes try a direct frontal attack, but Hulk just
snatches one out of the air and slams it against the ground. The
pilot luckily bails out right before destruction. Gabe lands his
plane. He says that they will have to use the gamma-ray gun now.
He fires the weapon into Hulk’s chest. Hulk howls. Gabe says
that the gun might be hurting the Hulk, but that it isn’t
changing him. Kate tells him that it is meant to stabilize the
gamma energy in the Hulk’s genes, but that the Hulk’s
rage is counteracting it. She says that it needs more time to
work. Gabe says that they have just run out of time. He breaks
the gun as he hits the Hulk with it. Hulk grabs Gabe by the
throat and tosses him to the side. Hulk advances on Kate. Kate
tells Hulk that she won’t hurt him anymore and that he has
already suffered enough. Hulk grabs Kate’s arm, but just
then he transforms back into Bruce Banner.
Bruce says,
“Kate? My love? Run from me, Kate! I’m lost! The Hulk
has awakened within me, and I can’t control him! May the
Lord have mercy on me…” Bruce turns back into the Hulk
and Hulk says, “…I’ve lost!” Hulk smacks Kate
to the side and leaps off. Kate looks up crying and says that
they have both lost everything.
Hulk lands and says that he is tired. He says that he never gets tired, and that maybe the planes hurt him more than he knows. The Hulk lies down and as he slips off to sleep he says that maybe he needs help.
Nightmare tells Hulk that he does need help. Hulk sees the statue of Dr. Strange and says that he can help Hulk. Nightmare says that he can, but says that maybe he won’t. Nightmare asks Hulk what he will do if Strange refuses. Hulk says that magician will help him or he will smash. Nightmare says that those are his sentiments exactly.
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
Well this seems to be the villains’ rationale issue, but it seems like Mantlo kind of ran out of that fairly soon and tacked on the Hulk rampage scene. Still it is the Hulk rampaging and that’s pretty cool. I love the line where Bruce turns into the Hulk and tells Kate that he has lost. That really encapsulates the existence of the Hulk into one picture. Sal and Gerry do great work together again. 4.5 out of 5 for both.
Review and pictures by The Leader