Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #319

Title: “Member of the Wedding

Writer:  John Byrne

Penciller: John Byrne

Inker: John Byrne

Background Inker: Keith Williams

Colors: Andy Yunchus

Editor: Dennis O’Neil

Rick Jones walks up to Bruce Banner on Gamma Base and holds his arms out. Bruce says that he doesn’t believe it. He puts his hands on Rick’s shoulders. He says that it is great to see him, but asks how he got past the security perimeter. Rick says that if he wasn’t good at getting past security that they never would have met. Bruce tells Betty that she remembers Rick. Betty says that she does and tells Rick that it has been a long time. Bruce asks Rick what brought him back after all these years. Rick says that he heard that the two of them were getting married and that wild horses couldn’t keep him away. Bruce says that it means a lot. He says that it is only fitting that they share some good times. He says that they’ve shared enough of the bad. Rick says that most of those ‘bad times’ would never have happened if Bruce hadn’t risked his life saving him. Bruce tells Rick not to blame himself. He says that if anyone is to blame it is him for building the gamma bomb in the first place. Rick says that he would have just been the inventor of a nasty weapon instead of having become a monster if it weren’t for him. Bruce says he doesn’t deny it, but that he doesn’t blame him for what happened to him. He says that Rick has spent his life making up for it. He says that Rick stayed with the Hulk longer than anyone. He says that he was partners with Captain America, shared existence with Captain Mar-Vell, and spent time with Rom. Bruce hugs Rick. He says that everyone has made mistakes in their life, but that it wasn’t until he saw Rick’s life in danger that he realized what he had created. He says that Rick’s carelessness may have contributed to the Hulk’s creation, but that it was his friendship in those early days that kept him sane. Rick thanks Bruce and says that a guy never had a better friend. Bruce says that he isn’t the Hulk anymore anyway, and that they have more important things to attend to like a wedding.

Saunders, inside a special weapons suit, tells the Hulk that his “hash is grass”. Saunders fires, but Hulk leaps over the blast. Saunders tells LaRoquette, flying overhead in a ship, to fire on the Hulk. Saunders hits Hulk with a blast, but Hulk leaps out of the way of LaRoquette’s shot. LaRoquette hits the Hulk with his next shot, but Hulk leaps into the air and onto LaRoquette’s ship. Hulk punches a hole through the ship and nearly hits LaRoquette. LaRoquette starts spinning around to try and knock the Hulk off. He tells Saunders to help him, but Saunders says that he can’t get a clear shot. LaRoquette gets as low as he can and tells Saunders to take his shot. Saunders panics. He says that he can’t do it. He says that he could miss and that Rock would be killed like Carolyn was. LaRoquette says that was Samson’s fault not his and to do something. Saunders still doesn’t move. Samson arrives. He pushes Saunders aside and says that if he isn’t going to do anything that he hopes Saunders won’t mind him doing something.

As Bruce gets into his tuxedo, Rick says that he never thought he would live to see this day and that it has been a long time coming. Bruce says that sometimes it feels like centuries. He says that the Hulk hasn’t really been around all that long, but that he has done enough damage for a hundred lifetimes. Bruce says that he is finally free to do the things that for so many years were nothing more than a dream. Bruce says that he has wanted to make Betty his since the first time he saw her. He says she was so delicate and beautiful. Betty stands in the doorway and says that he was always so shy. Rick says that Betty shouldn’t be here and that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. Betty asks if they haven’t outgrown that superstition. She says that she and Bruce have had enough bad luck to fill their quota into the next century. Bruce says that she looks lovely in that dress. Betty says that it is beautiful. She says that it was her grandmother’s wedding gown, and that she didn’t even know her father still had it until the Air Force asked her to clean out his possessions. Betty starts to sob, but Bruce tells her not to. Betty says that she promised herself that she wouldn’t think about him today, and that he stood between her and happiness so many times that she swore she wouldn’t let him steal her joy today. Rick asks if Ross died or something. Bruce says that they aren’t sure. He says that some months ago that Ross got involved in a treasonous association with MODOK. Betty says that the Air Force tracked her down. She says that there was no sign of him, but that there were clues that he was going to commit suicide. Rick says that he always was a pain, but that he never expected Ross to go off the deep end like that. Hideko enters. She says that she is sorry for interrupting, but that Reverend Morris would like a few words before the ceremony. Betty says that is enough sad memories and that she will see Bruce in a few minutes. Rick helps Bruce on with his jacket and says that this is his last chance to sneak out the back door. Bruce says that since he proposed weeks ago that he has been debating if this is the right thing to do. Rick asks what could be more right. He says that they have always been in love. Bruce asks if love is enough. He asks what guarantee he has that they aren’t making a terrible mistake. Rick says that he may not be an expert, but that it seems to him like love isn’t something you ask for guarantees for. Bruce says that after all they have been through that it doesn’t seem so unreasonable. Rick says that the world isn’t even reasonable. He says that Bruce is free now. Bruce says that he is free of the Hulk, but not of the frustration. He says that he was given the greatest power seen on the planet, but that he couldn’t make it work for mankind instead of against it. He says that as a scientist that he was always fascinated with the Hulk even during his ordeal. Bruce says that he is almost  convinced that there might have been a way, right from the start, for him to be both Bruce Banner and the Hulk and be completely in control. Rick says that he doesn’t know if he likes the sound of this. Bruce tells Rick not to worry. He says that he is free of the Hulk and intends to stay that way.

Samson leaps up to the ship and punches Hulk in the face. Samson hits Hulk two more times and knocks him off the ship entirely. Hulk hits the ground. Saunders starts blasting the Hulk, but Hulk slams his fists against the ground and sends Saunders into the air. Samson shouts to Saunders that he isn’t accounting for the Hulk’s native cunning, He says that Saunders is no match for the Hulk. LaRoquette blasts Samson in the back. He says that Samson has interfered too often and that he is responsible for the death of a woman that he cared for. He says that Samson is going to pay with his life. Samson takes the hit, but tells LaRoquette that her death wasn’t his fault. He says that it was Saunders’ over-eagerness. LaRoquette says that if Samson hadn’t intruded on their training session that Carolyn would still be alive. Suddenly, Hulk smashes the side of LaRoquette’s ship. Hulk rips open the top of the ship exposing LaRoquette. Saunders says that his weapons system is damaged. He says that Samson has to do something to help LaRoquette. Samson asks if he is supposed to save LaRoquette so he can shoot at him some more. He says, “No thank you.” Saunders says that Samson is the only one who can do something. Samson says that LaRoquette made this bed and that he is prepared to let him lie in it. Saunders says that Samson is supposed to be a superhero. He says that Samson is chasing the Hulk because he is the one that let him out, and that he has to be the one to stop the monster. Samson says that Saunders is making it hard to be unreasonable. Samson leaps into the air and kicks Hulk in the stomach. Hulk and Samson punch each other back and forth until Hulk picks Samson up with one hand and throws him through a church’s wall. Hulk loses focus and leaps away. Saunders and LaRoquette watch Hulk go. LaRoquette wonders about Samson and hopes that he wasn’t killed after risking his life to save him. Samson fist comes out of the rubble and hits LaRoquette. Samson tells LaRoquette that he saved him from the Hulk because he had to and not because he wanted to. Samson tells them both to tell Banner that the Hulk is his, and that if he doesn’t keep his hired guns out of the way that he will make his life as the Hulk seem like a picnic.

Reverend Morris starts the ceremony. He asks Bruce if he takes Betty to be his lawfully wedded wife. Bruce says that he does. He asks Betty if she takes Bruce to be her lawfully wedded husband. Betty says that she does. The Reverend asks for the ring and says that if there is anyone there who knows a reason why Bruce and Betty should not be married let them speak now or forever hold their peace. Thaddeus Ross holds up a gun and shouts to stop. He tells everyone to not even breathe, except Banner. He tells Banner to get away from his daughter. Reverend Morris says, “General Ross, I…” Ross says not to call him General. He says that he isn’t worthy of that title and that he disgraced his rank and uniform. He says that he won’t let his only child make this horrible mistake. Rick sneaks up behind Ross, but Ross turns around and shoots Rick. He calls him a “punk kid” and says that he was always more trouble than he was worth. Betty shouts, “No Rick!” She turns to Ross, “You… you stupid miserable interfering old fool!” Ross asks how dare she talk to him like that and says that he is her father. Betty asks Ross if he can still call himself that after all they have been through. She says that he is not her father. She says that a father is someone that loves, cares, laughs, cries, and is a friend. She says that he was never anything but a tyrant. Ross says to “see here”. Betty says that all she has ever done is listen to him and follow his orders. She says that is over. She says that she is not a “young lady”, but a woman who will lead her own life. Ross says that he isn’t finished. Betty says that he dominated her entire life, but that then she met Bruce. She says that he showed her that all men weren’t like him, and that they had a tender and loving side. She says that he mocked Bruce for that, and that he did everything to kill her love for him. She says that there is only one way for him to do that. She takes the gun and puts the barrel on her chest. She says that he is going to have to kill her. Betty asks what he is going to do. Ross says that he didn’t know and never understood. Betty takes the gun from Ross as he slumps to the floor. She says that of course he didn’t and that he never wanted to. Ross says that he only wanted to make her happy. Bruce tells Betty that was magnificent. Betty asks if it really was. She says that he is a tired old fool and that she crushed him the way he tried to crush her so many times. Betty asks how Rick is. Bruce says that he has done what he can for him, but that he needs a real doctor right away. Rick protests. He says not to stop the ceremony because of him and that he can hold on a few more minutes. Betty tells him not to be foolish. Rick says that too many things have stopped them before and that he won’t be one of them. Rick tells the padre to get them hitched. The Reverend pronounces Bruce and Betty husband and wife. He says that Bruce may kiss the bride. Bruce does so.

No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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