Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #331Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #331
Title: “Inconstant Moon”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Todd McFarlane
Inker: Kim DeMulder
Colors: Petra Scotese
Editor: Bob Harras
“O swear not by the moon,
th’ inconstant moon
that monthly changes
in her circled orb
lest that thy love prove
likewise variable.”
- Romeo and Juliet
Act II, Scene II
The Rick Jones
Hulk shouts to the sky.
LaRoquette swears that they are going to get the Hulk no matter how long it takes. He says that the monster has created enough carnage for a hundred lifetimes, but that his latest rampage will be his last. He tells the Hulkbusters to scramble. Clay Quartermain says that LaRoquette isn’t going to scramble eggs without his say so. He says that everything at Gamma Base comes under SHIELD authority. Clay says that since he is senior SHIELD member that he gets to say what and goes and stays… including the Hulkbusters. LaRoquette says that the Hulkbusters are the best chance of stopping the monster. Two SHIELD agents cover the body of General Ross. Bruce is holding Betty when he interrupts and says that the best tool against the Hulk is another Hulk. He says that the new Hulk just left moments ago. He starts to say that he can subject himself to gamma rays, but Betty interrupts him. She asks if he has lost his mind. She says that this disaster is from a fight between the Hulk and the Head creature. She says that her father was just killed and that as her husband he is the only thing left she has in the world. She says that now he wants to turn himself back into the monster that they finally removed from their lives. She says that she doesn’t know what is going on with him. Bruce says, “I’m… I’m sorry, Betty. Of course, you’re absolutely right. I don’t know what possessed me.” Martel says that Betty is right. He says that Bruce put together the Hulkbusters to catch the Hulk and that there is no need to double their workload. Clay says that he couldn’t have said it better himself. He says that first they will call headquarters to remove the General’s body. Another SHIELD agent mentions to Clay that Ross was Betty’s father and to be a little sensitive. Clay thinks about how headquarters might be ticked if they find out how screwed up things have gotten. He thinks to himself that maybe he will call the local authorities to pick up the body so he can keep things under wraps. Clay tells LaRoquette that his Hulkbusters have their chance. LaRoquette says that they will bring back what is left of the Hulk in a shoebox. Hideko says that they can’t go off half-cocked, but Saunders agrees with LaRoquette and says that kid gloves haven’t worked in the past. Martel picks up the dead Head creature and says that it too was obsessed with death and that maybe they should let it serve as a reminder to them. LaRoquette says that they need dedicated professionals, and not whining philosophers. He asks if Martel is in or out. Martel says that he is in. LaRoquette says, “Good. Let’s roll.”
At the City Morgue, Al answers the call. He
repeats that there is pick up at Gamma Base, but then says that
there aren’t any radioactive stiffs coming through his
morgue. He says to stuff the “national security crud”.
Finally he says that if they are sure, but that if his people
wind up glowing in the dark that they are looking at a six-figure
lawsuit. Al hangs up. Lenny says to tell him that he didn’t
hear what he just thought he heard. He says that he is retiring
in five weeks and that he doesn’t want to get cancer or
something. Al says that they swear the stiff is clean, but that
he should bring Sterns with him and to let him do most of the
dirty work. Lenny says that Sterns gives him the creeps. Al says
that he is shorthanded. He says that it will be fine. 
He says that
weirdos only act up when the moon is full, and that since tonight
is a new moon that there won’t be any problem.
LaRoquette’s ship takes the lead. He tells Hideko to stay in formation and Saunders to adjust his camera. Saunders tells Rocky that his transmission is a little garbled. Rocky says that it must be because of the sunspot activity. He tells them all to stay alert, and that even though it has been an hour that they can’t get caught with their guard down. He asks if they copy. Saunders says that he has all the time in the world, and that it is the Hulk who is out of time. Hideko says that she copies, but thinks to herself that Saunders shouldn’t egg LaRoquette on and that he is hard enough to keep in line as it is. Martel copies and tells himself that when the time comes LaRoquette will see that they have to capture the Hulk and not kill him. He thinks that if he doesn’t see that, that he will make him see it.
At Gamma Base, LaRoquette asks if Banner copies. Banner says that the transmission is clear. Betty pleads with Bruce to come away for a little while. She says that they can page him if something comes up and that she needs some time alone with him. Bruce says that he understands how she feels, but that it is just impossible. He says that he has to help Rick. He says that only he can comprehend what Rick is going through since he inadvertently changed into another Hulk. Bruce says that he remembers the early days when he was hiding in a cave, transforming into the Hulk when needed, and that Rick was there by his side. Betty shouts, “What do you mean ‘transforming when needed’?” Bruce says that he used to have gamma ray equipment that sometimes controlled and induced the changes. He asks if that is a problem. Betty says that he changed deliberately and that he always told her that the change was uncontrollable. She asks what caused the quiet scientist that she fell in love with to take such risks. Bruce says that he doesn’t know, and that he never gave much thought to it. He says that it made sense at the time, and that it was so long ago. He says that there was always some emergency and that it always seemed like he was the only one who could help. He says that it is like now and him wanting to help Rick. She asks if Bruce understands anything. She says that she used to be worried sick about his disappearances, but that he was sitting around in a cave waiting for a call to action so he could turn himself into a monster. She says that sometimes she doesn’t think that she knows him at all. LaRoquette comes over the screen and says that he thought he saw something in the corner of his eye. He asks Banner if he saw anything. Bruce says that he didn’t see anything, but that he was momentarily distracted. Betty says that he is out of there and apologizes for being a distraction.
LaRoquette says that he didn’t copy the last part. Bruce says to disregard it and that Betty’s statement was irrelevant. Hideko says that she thinks that she just hit something and asks Martel to check her out. Martel circles around and spots the Hulk on Hideko’s ship.
At Gamma Base, the others look and ask what has happened to the Hulk. They say that he looks more fierce than before, and that the change must be progressing.
Hideko says that she assumes that she has picked up a passenger. Martel says that if they fire on him that they will hit her. Hideko says that one of them has to go, and starts flipping her ship to shake Hulk. Hulk asks if she thinks she can shake him off and tells her to think again. Hideko starts spiraling.
Bruce shouts into the microphone, “Rick, let go! Don’t do it! Don’t let the Hulk win! Let her go, Rick!”
LaRoquette hears that Rick is the Hulk. He says that this changes everything. Hulk says that he will show them what happens when you mess with the Hulk. Hideko flips her ship upside down and says that she has an idea. Martel flies low over the cliff and smacks the Hulk off on the cliff. Martel asks if she is okay. She says that she is fine and to let her have her breakdown in peace. LaRoquette asks if Hideko is okay. Martel tells him that she is. LaRoquette tells Martel and Saunders to join him then. Rocky fires some armor piercing bullets at Hulk and stuns him.
Back at Gamma Base, Bruce thinks to himself that he created the Hulkbusters to destroy the mindless Hulk when he was split from him, but that now that Hulk is gone and Rick is their target. He says that they are out to kill him and that it is his fault. Bruce realizes that he may have called Hulk “Rick”, but decides that he probably didn’t. Bruce looks over and sees Betty crying over the body of her father. Ross is now on a gurney and Sterns and Lenny are waiting to take him. Bruce tells Betty that he is sorry about before and that she should come away from her father. Betty tells him to keep away from her. She asks how she could have ever thought that she could have a life with him. She asks if he remembers “for better or worse”. She says, “It never gets better Bruce. Never. Just worse and worse.” Bruce stares for a minute. He says that he has to finish this. He says that Rick must be brought back and cured. Bruce swears that he won’t have one more person’s life ruined because of him. Bruce bumps into Sterns on his way back into the room. Bruce apologizes, but Sterns tells him not to mention it. Sterns looks into the room and sees the Hulk up on the screen. He says, “Perfect! Look at him up there. He has all the power I’ll need to…” Lenny taps Sterns on the shoulder and tells him to stop daydreaming. He says to help him with the stiff so they can get out of there before they all turn green.
Moments later, Lenny and Sterns have loaded the body of Ross into the back of the ambulance. Lenny asks Sterns if that isn’t the guy that bumped into him driving off in the Jeep. Sterns says that is Bruce Banner and that he is brilliant. Lenny says that he is a freak and that all scientists are freaks. Lenny tells Sterns to drive. Sterns says, “Whatever you say Lenny.” Lenny tells Sterns that he hates this job and that he is retiring soon. Lenny realizes that Sterns is driving the wrong way and tells him to let him drive. Sterns says, “Whatever you say Lenny.” Sterns picks up a wrench and beats Lenny to death with it. Sterns drops Lenny’s body into the back. He tells Lenny to keep it quiet while he follows Banner or he is going to get rough.
At a local police station, Ramon is leaning on the main desk. He says that nothing probably ever happens here, but that it is a cute police station. The cop tells him to get his elbow off his desk or he will take his elbow off his arm. The cop asks if he has a complaint. Ramon says that he lost something. The cop asks if it was his personality. Ramon holds up a picture of Betty asks if he has seen her. The cop says that she is on the military base about twenty miles out. He says that he saw her on the news and that she married some guy. The cop asks who he is. Ramon responds that he is her husband.
LaRoquette continues firing on Hulk and says that he almost has him down for good. Suddenly, Hulk leaps into the air. His hand goes through the floor of the jet and grabs LaRoquette’s leg. LaRoquette shouts for Saunders and says that he doesn’t want to die. Saunders says that the only one dying is the Hulk. He fires three shots into Hulk’s chest. Hulk drops to the ground. Saunders says that he hit the Hulk three times from under five meters and that it had to hurt him. Hulk holds up his hand and sees his own blood. LaRoquette says that Hulk isn’t the only one bleeding. Saunders says that he will finish this. Martel tells Saunders to back off and that he will end it with an electrified net. The net lands on Hulk. Martel says that he thinks Hulk will be out for fifty-eight seconds and asks if Saunders copies. Saunders calls Martel a French poodle and says that thing attacked Hideko and LaRoquette and that Martel wants to play patty cake with it. Saunders says that he is finishing this while the Hulk is helpless. Saunders flies in close, but Hulk throws off the electrified net and onto Saunders’ jet. Saunders’ jet starts to short circuit. Hulk punches Saunders’ ship. Saunders’ ejects, but he is too low and hits hard. Saunders is knocked out and his ship hits a hillside and explodes. LaRoquette says to report. Martel describes as Hulk leaps away. LaRoquette says that he will get him. Martel tells LaRoquette that he needs medical attention as does Saunders. He says that Hideko’s ship is ruined and that he isn’t taking the Hulk on himself. LaRoquette says that he understands. He says that he has learned something valuable anyway. He says that Banner let it slip earlier that the Hulk is Rick ones. LaRoquette says that if the Hulk has a human side that he has a weak point. Martel says that LaRoquette isn’t suggesting that they hunt down Jones. Hideko says that she agrees and that Jones would be helpless. LaRoquette says that is the idea. He says that he swore to take down the Hulk any way he could, and that no one, including Banner, will stop him.
Inside Bruce’s old desert hideout,
Bruce says that if Betty knew what he was doing that she would
leave him in a second. He says that she wouldn’t understand
that there is no alternative. Bruce says that either they will
kill Rick or that Rick will kill them. He says that more would
come and asks where it would stop. Bruce says that he was
accidentally exposed to gamma radiation once saving Rick, but
that now he is exposing himself deliberately to save him again.
Bruce says that he knows that he will retain his own intellect.
Bruce swears that he will save Rick. The machine starts working
when Bruce says, “I… I… No! I’ve been
tricked! Tricked by…” 
The gray Hulk
finishes, “The real Hulk, you crummy weakling! And this
time, I’m here to stay!” Hulk says that he can feel
Banner inside trying to get out. He says that Bruce never
realized that he was the one pulling all the strings. He says
that it was never Banner’s idea to transform. He says that
it was his idea and that he was influencing Banner the whole
time. Hulk starts trashing the equipment and says that Banner
can’t use it to change him back. Hulk says that he wins and
that he always wins. A voice shouts, “Nooooooo”. Hulk
looks up to see Sterns running to the machine. Sterns says that
he was so close, but that he turned his salvation into scrap
metal. He says, “You grey imbecile! What did you hope to
accomplish?” Sterns says that he has news for the Hulk. He
says that he is going to turn into Banner at sunrise and that now
he has destroyed the equipment that could bring him back. Sterns
says that he hopes he is happy. Hulk grabs Sterns and says that
he will be once he crushes his skull. Hulk asks how he knows so
much. Sterns says that he knows more about the Hulk than the Hulk
does. Sterns says that he doesn’t recognize him because he
was once the Leader. Hulk says that his skin is pale and asks
what happened to him. Sterns says that it doesn’t matter.
Sterns says that if Hulk helps him that he will help him get rid
of Banner forever. Hulk asks if he will help him get rid of Rick
Jones too. Sterns agrees. Hulk says that this had better be on
the level. Sterns swears by the moon that it is.
Rick Jones Hulk sits on a cliff looking up
at the new moon.
No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10
The beginning of a dynasty starts with this one issue. If you look over much of Peter David’s run you can see many elements that were started in his first issue. Obviously Samuel Sterns and the Leader play a prominent part (especially until 345). The notion that the Hulk acts as an underlying force within the mind of Bruce Banner. I mean really when you think about it, it never did make any sense that Bruce Banner, who regarded being the Hulk as a curse, would deliberately expose himself to radiation. And he didn’t only do it in the early issues. Samson had cured Banner in issue #141, but because Bruce thought Samson was in contention for Betty’s affections he decided to try and win her back… by exposing himself to gamma radiation. How does that make sense without this issue? The Gray Hulk returns and you can’t get much cooler than that. Todd McFarlane I may be giving a little too much credit to this early in the run, but just as the writing of an issue can drag down a penciller’s score so can great writing raise one.
Reviewed by The Leader
Pictures provided by Captain Nate
If you don't feel like hunting down the individual issues go out and buy Hulk Visonaries: Peter David Volume 1. It collects Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #331-339 and fits in nicely before Hulk Ground Zero which collects Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #340-346. To order the Visionaries book click here or on the picture to go to the amazon.com page.