Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #324

Title: “The More Things Change…”

Writer: Al Milgrom

Penciller: Al Milgrom

Inker: Dennis Janke

Colors: George Roussos

Editor: Bob Harras

A SHIELD agent restrains an unconscious Banner to a large device. Betty asks Doc Samson, who is wearing a cast on his body and left arm, if they can’t get Bruce off that “awful contraption”. Samson says that he is sorry, but that even though Bruce has been himself for the last few days that they can’t risk setting him free just yet. Samson says that Bruce has been drifting in and out of consciousness since he was remerged with the Hulk. He says that his vitals have been erratic and unstable, and that even though he hasn’t transformed yet that there is no telling when it might happen. Suddenly the monitors start going wild and where Bruce Banner used to be standing now stands the unconscious form of the Hulk. A SHIELD agent yells for reinforcements, but Samson tells him to calm down. He says that he is still in restraints and unconscious. Betty asks why he has changed and says that she thought that when he was merged with the Hulk again that she thought he was cured. Samson says that doesn’t seem to be the case. Samson says that Vision remerged them, but that when he left it took away what might be considered the “mortar holding the molecular ‘bricks’ together”. Betty asks what they can do. Samson says that they have to reverse the process he used to separate them. He says that with luck that they will be able to reverse the process when Banner is dominant and that maybe they will have a chance to seal the Hulk up forever. Betty says that if only that were true. Samson says that no one wants to see the Hulk ended more than he does and that the Hulk almost killed him the last time they fought. Rick says that he wants it more and that it was his fault Bruce became the Hulk. Betty tells Rick that he has to stop blaming himself and that what’s done is done. Samson says that Betty is right. He says that what Rick did was an accident, but that he had no such excuse when he freed the Hulk after he was separated from Banner. He says that then he convinced the Avengers to let him chase the Hulk and that caused even more destruction just because of his pride. Betty says that if Samson hadn’t done that the Hulk would have been killed and Bruce would have died with him. Betty asks how they think she feels after having thought she and Bruce were free of the Hulk. She says that Bruce begged her to let them kill the Hulk, but that she went against his wishes and stopped the Avengers. She says that she may have saved his life only to have lost his love. Samson says that they should go check out the nutrient bath tank and that maybe there is a way for all of them to get off the hook.

In another part of the complex, Ross screams in pain. Clay says that they have to be able to do better than that. He tells them to “up the gain”. Ross screams again as they shock him. Clay says that they can release Ross now. He says that they have the necessary data. Clay says that “the General” is in good shape for an old codger. Ross says that he could have told them that before they started playing “mad scientist”. Ross tells him again not to call him General. The techs tell Ross to take it easy and that he is likely to be a bit shaky still. Ross tells them to let him go and says that what he wants to know is when he will get the revenge against the Hulk they promised. Clay says that now that Banner is rejoined with the Hulk that their situation has changed. Ross asks why. Clay says that SHIELD can’t condone the killing of innocent Banner just to get rid of the Hulk because of the negative publicity. Clay says that with Ross’ permission that he would like to continue their tests. Ross asks why again. Clay says that Banner has turned into the Hulk, but that they appear to be unstable. He says that if the merger fails that Ross may yet get his chance. Ross thinks to himself that he will get his shot if they stay merged or not.

Samson says that SHIELD did a good job maintaining the tank and that everything looks to be in working order. Samson says that they have started the irradiation process and stabilized the chemical mix. He says that they just have to bring Hulk and Banner there to be submerged.

Samson sees that the Hulk is in the restraints. He tells the SHIELD agent that he would have thought that the Hulk would have changed back to Banner by now. The agent says that he did and that he has changed back and forth a few times now. Samson says that the transformations shouldn’t happen that quickly, but as he says that the Hulk awakens and says, “Why do the puny humans try to hold the Hulk with these chains?” Hulk starts transforming into Banner and says, “Or did they finally get smart and just try to hold that useless Banner prisoner? But I’ll break free…” Suddenly he is Banner again. Banner says that he mustn’t break free, and that the Hulk must never be free again. He says that he is too dangerous and that his unchecked emotions can’t be allowed to continue. Instantly, Banner becomes Hulk. Hulk tells Banner to shut up, and that it is his fear that makes him dangerous. He says that Banner is weak and that he should be afraid of him because he is never going to become him again. Hulk says that people fear him because they can destroy him, but that they should fear Banner because Banner’s fear makes him want to smash. Instantly, Hulk is Banner again. Banner says that Hulk is lying and that he would destroy him if he could. Hulk says that Banner can’t and that he is there now and can’t be stopped. Samson says that they seem to be struggling for dominance. He says that he hadn’t foreseen this. Hulk says that Samson is a fool, and that he never foresees anything. Hulk says that he is mad, and that the madder he gets the stronger he gets. Hulk breaks free of his restraints. The SHIELD agent calls for reinforcements. Hulk says that he is the Hulk and that nothing can stop him… especially Banner. Suddenly a patch of Hulk starts turning pink. Hulk says that he hurts, but that nothing can hurt the Hulk. Hulk says that his chest is on fire. Samson says that something is pressing through the Hulk’s chest. Banner’s face and arms press out of the Hulk. He says to kill him. He says that while he has a physical presence there that the Hulk is vulnerable. He says to kill him now. Rick says that he thinks that he is going to be sick. Betty hugs Samson and says that she can’t much more. Bruce says that he doesn’t know how long he can maintain and says to kill him again. Rick tells Samson that he remembers something like this happening before. He says that just after he became the Hulk that he was using a gamma ray projector to force the change. Rick says that it changed all of him but his head. Rick says that it was the weirdest thing he had ever seen until now. Bruce says that he can’t wait anymore, and that if they won’t kill him that he must do it. Banner breaks a piece of wood off and tries to stab it in his neck, but the Hulk grabs Banner’s arms with his arms and says that he can’t kill Hulk. Bruce struggles, but the Hulk is too strong. Hulk knocks the stick out of Banner’s hand. He says that he has to get away and get Banner back inside where he belongs. Betty tells Hulk to stay and that they only want to help him. Hulk says that they want to help Banner. Samson says that Hulk has to go back into the nutrient bath and that he and Banner’s molecular structure is more unstable than he thought. Hulk says that they are just trying to trick and trap him. Banner submerges into Hulk. Hulk says that he was too strong for him and that he is too strong for anyone. Hulk pushes Rick, Betty, and Samson over. He leaps into the air moving to smash through the wall. Suddenly Banner’s head pops out again. He says that will kill him and Hulk. Hulk spins so that Banner doesn’t take the impact. Hulk falls off the wall and hits the ground. Clay and other SHIELD agents spot the Hulk and starts firing on him. Samson asks Quartermain what he is doing there and says that he has to cease fire. Clay says that he saw what was happening on the monitors. He says that they aren’t going to kill Banner, but that they concentrating on keeping the Hulk contained. Clay says that as for what he is doing there that SHIELD assigned him there since the Banner separation and that SHIELD thought he should keep an eye on things since Samson botched the separation.

Ross watches on the monitors. He thinks to himself that they are fools and that this is their one chance to kill the Hulk. Ross says that he isn’t squeamish and that he will kill Banner, the Hulk, or both of them. Ross asks the SHIELD agent next to him if he doesn’t think that they need all available man power with the Hulk. The SHIELD agent says that he was ordered to stay with Ross so he didn’t have a run in with the Hulk. Ross says that is touching and then sucker punches the agent. Ross sneaks out of the building and heads toward the Hulk.

Samson tells Clay to herd the Hulk toward the nutrient bath and that it is their only hope. Clay says that Samson can go on ahead and that he will meet him there. The SHIELD agents fire on the Hulk, and the Hulk shields Banner’s face from the bullets. Hulk says that he will be fine so long as he can keep his back to them. Banner says that is what Hulk thinks. Banner starts coming out Hulk’s back. Clay tells his men to hold their fire, but Banner tells them not to stop shooting now. He says to kill him now or they will never be free of the Hulk. Hulk stomps on the ground and knocks the SHIELD agents off their feet. Hulk leaps out of the room. The SHIELD agents start firing again and steer the Hulk toward the nutrient bath. Hulk sees the tank and says that he has been tricked. Hulk says that he will kill them all and that no one traps him. Clay asks Samson if his men can deliver or what. Samson tells him that there is no time to gloat and that if they don’t get the Hulk in the tank within the next two minutes that it will lose its potency. Ross hears what Samson says and decides to try and make sure that the Hulk doesn’t make it in time. Ross climbs up to the catwalk above the tank. Rick sees Ross and climbs up to the catwalk as well. Ross is about to mess with a control panel, but Rick tackles him. They start to fight. The SHIELD agents steer the Hulk up the stairs to the top of the nutrient bath tank. Ross starts to overpower Rick because Rick is still weak from his gunshot wound. The SHIELD agents manage to drive Hulk into the tank. Just then Ross pushes Rick off the catwalk into the tank. Ross punches the controls and hopes that it is enough to kill the Hulk. Samson says that something is wrong with the balance of the solution. Betty asks about Bruce, but Samson says that he doesn’t know because the bath has become all cloudy. Suddenly the tank begins to crack. The nutrient bath pours out over the entire room. Everyone is knocked to the floor and when they look up they see the Hulk, in his original gray form, standing over them. Samson says that this isn’t right and wonders what happened to the additional mass. Clay asks what they do. Ross shouts for them to kill it. Betty says not to and that they don't know what happened to Bruce yet. The gray Hulk says that he hates Banner, and that he is gone now. Hulk starts to change back into Banner. Banner says that the Hulk is gone and that he doesn’t feel like Hulk can take control of him. Betty leaps into Bruce’s arms. Rick gets up off the floor soaking yet. He remembers being thrown off the catwalk, but that the liquid must have broken his fault. Rick asks what he missed, and Bruce says that he prays that he missed the end of the Hulk.

No Excuses rating: 7 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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