Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #337

Title: “Crossroads”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Todd McFarlane

Inker: Jim Sanders III

Colors: Petra Scotese

Editor: Bob Harras

Ramon stands in Betty’s hospital room. He says that there is a nice breeze today. He tells Betty to hurry it up. He reminds her that they aren’t checking her out, but that they are sneaking out. Betty says that if Ramon is nervous that she can wear a disguise. Ramon says that Betty looks fine. Betty says that she wants to leave a note for Bruce. Ramon checks the door and tells Betty that she doesn’t owe anything to Bruce Banner, and that after what he did to her that what he deserves is a knife in the ribs. Betty says that Bruce is her husband, and that he didn’t mean to hurt her. Ramon says that he knows, and that she keeps saying that he wasn’t himself. He asks, as they leave, if Bruce wasn’t himself then who was he. Betty’s note blows off the table, into the floor and under a cart.

Hulk is still frozen in the ice. Cyclops uses a narrow focused optic blast and makes an air hole for Hulk. He just hopes that the Hulk doesn’t wake up before they can get him out of there. Jean asks when the hotshot SHIELD guy say they would be there. Cyclops says that he isn’t sure. He says that they are coming from New Mexico, and that he is sure they will be there as soon as they can.

Clay tells LaRoquette that they are moving as fast as they can, and to keep his chair on. LaRoquette asks Clay if he can blame him. He says that they want to get to Sparta before SHIELD wusses out on them again. Clay says that there is little chance of that. He says that his instructions are clear. Kill the Hulk… period. Saunders asks about Bruce Banner. Clay says that he is expendable. LaRoquette says that is excellent. He says that Saunders was hospitalized for two weeks, and that he is still in this chair because of Banner and his gamma ray creatures. He say that he has no sympathy at all. Saunders agrees. Clay wonders to himself why, if this is supposed to be so great, does he feel so dirty inside. He knows what the council expects, and where his duty lies, but part of him knows that this is wrong. He wonders how he can do this to Bruce and what Betty would say if she knew his orders.

Betty’s note remains under the cart.

SHIELD has arrived. They’re saying that the Hulk sure is ugly. Jean says that they have been waiting for hours for SHIELD to arrive and that they should just leave. Scott says that the Hulk might break free after they leave. He says that they can’t chance it. Jean says that she feels like they are waiting around for the lion to show up so they can stick their heads in its mouth. Jean telekinetically sends two quarters to the snack machine and then telekinetically brings her Twinkies over. She reminds Scott that they aren’t X-Factor now but X-Terminators. She says that they are about as popular a topic as Contra funding. She says that if they are trying to bolster popular acceptance for mutants that they might be asking for trouble. Cyclops says that it was their “Gestapo tactics” helped foster that anti-mutant attitude and that it is their responsibility. Iceman gets a soda. It’s a little warm so he tries to cool it down, but instead he freezes the soda and ruptures the can. He says that he will never get this. SHIELD walks over. Saunders says that they have an air hole in it and points his rifle right at it. Clay knocks the thing away and tells Saunders that he let him take that from ordinance against his better judgment, and that if he waves it around again he will eat it. Saunders asks what the problem is and asks if they aren’t going to kill it. Clay tells Saunders to shut his mouth, but Cyclops asks what all this is about killing. He says that they can’t be a party to that. Saunders asks the X-Terminators if they’re having trouble living up to their name. Clay tells them to ignore the, He says that they are civilian advisors and that they don’t matter. He says that he would like to debrief them, and that Colonel Fury would probably like to thank them as well. Cyclops agrees to come along. Clay asks if Cyclops would chisel the Hulk out. He says that they want to airlift him to Gamma Base.

Sometime later at St. Louis airport, Hulk remains in a large chunk of ice, chained to a transport. LaRoquette says that if the ice thaws around Hulk that it might break out. Cyclops says that Iceman is making sure that doesn’t happen, and that if he doesn’t stop calling Hulk “it” that he will punch him.

Iceman says that he has a bad feeling about this. He says that he knows Scott is doing what he thinks is right, but that it smells fishy to him. He says that he needs to talk to Nick Fury when they get there, but he wonders if Fury will be there. He also wonders how he knows that they won’t kill Hulk. He says that Bruce Banner is still in there somewhere, and that they can’t let them pull the wool over their eyes. Hulk’s eyes open inside the ice.

At Gamma Base, Samson tells Rick that he looks depressed, but that he is lucky because he has a shrink right there. Rick says that he is just worried about the typical things people his age are worried about… like what will happen to his best friend now that people know that he is the Hulk again. Rick says that it was bound to come out with Bruce’s absences and Hulk’s appearances. He asks what is going to happen to him. Samson says that he doesn’t know. He says that he knows Rick blames himself for a lot, but that he can’t beat himself up over the past. Samson tells him to be concerned with the present and the future will take care of itself. The transport with the Hulk on ice arrives.

As it pulls up, the ice begins to crack. Hulk breaks out and asks who gets smashed first. The SHIELD agents start firing. Hulk says that they all want a piece and that there is plenty of him to go around. Cyclops says that he thought Iceman was reinforcing the ice. Iceman says that he guess he forgot. Hulk throws the truck at them. Hulk thinks that he is still groggy from the ice and that he needs some distance. Hulk leaps up, but Samson charges into him. He says, “Hulk, it’s me! Leonard Samson! Do you remember?” They crash to the floor. Hulk palms Samson’s face and says, “Ohhh yeah, I remember. You’re the one who says he’s almost as strong as me. Know what ‘almost’ mean? Nothin’!” Hulk slams Samson against the ground. Jean says that they can’t match Hulk pound for pound and that they need something subtle. Cyclops asks like what. Jean uses her telekinetic powers to hold Hulk’s eyes shut. Hulk slams the ground and says for whoever it doing it to stop. Jean floats into the air to avoid the impact. Cyclops prepares as Samson rushes Hulk. Samson hits Hulk hard and knocks his head back into Cyclops’ optic blast. Hulk is knocked out.

The council compliment Clay though say that he needed the help of the mutants. They say that they hope that Clay is prepared to dispose of him once and for all. Clay asks about Banner. The council says that he is no longer needed. They say that it has taken a number of years, but that the gamma bomb has been perfected. They say that Banner existed as their back up in the event that they needed his expertise on the bomb. They say that he has outlived his usefulness. They say that the Hulk never had any usefulness to begin with. They say that they hope they can count on Clay, and that friendship can’t get in the way of duty. Clay says that he knows what he has to do.

Hulk shouts for them to get him out of there. He screams in pain. Iceman tells him to stop struggling. He says that the SHIELD people have him in kinetic bonds. He says that the more he pulls against them the more pressure it applies. He says, “You’re fighting yourself.” Hulk says that at least is an opponent he can respect. Hulk says that it isn’t like them to bend over backward to get in with SHIELD. Hulk says that there are brains like Hideko, Martel, and Samson there and that he is the only one that knows what’s going on. Jean says that SHIELD just wants to help him. Hulk laughs. He says that SHIELD is totally corrupt. He says that they are going to wait until he turns into Banner and then they are going to kill him. Samson says that he is being paranoid and that they want to help gamma-exposure cases like him. Hulk tells Samson to wake up. He says that if they’re so concerned then why are they still testing gamma bombs like the one that created a guy he met named Half-Life. Samson says that even if SHIELD is corrupt, and even if the government is making gamma bombs, that he doesn’t know why he would assume that SHIELD would stoop to killing Bruce Banner. Hulk says, “That’s easy. Because I’m totally corrupt, and that’s what I’d do.

A dark figure carries two packages. He puts one down and clicks the switch on it..

LaRoquette is meeting with Agent Trump, Quartermain’s second in command. Trump says that LaRoquette wants to know when they are killing the Hulk. Trump says that Quartermain is supposed to be arranging it, but that he has vanished. He says that there is no Quartermain and all these mutants about. He says that he didn’t expect that, but he should have. Trump says that he has been ordered to keep an eye on Quartermain and assume command if necessary. Trump gets a call. He is told that the mutants are demanding to talk to someone in charge and that Samson is backing them up. Trump tells them to report to C-deck, Station 3 and they will clear it up. Trump says that it seems it is necessary for him to take over.

The figure puts down the other case and clicks the switch on it.

X-Factor, Hideko, Martel, and Samson report to the location they were told. Suddenly they find themselves surrounded by SHIELD agents that have weapons pointed at them. Trump orders Samson and the Hulkbusters to stand between two pillars away from the X-Terminators. He says that they shouldn’t be questioning them and causing them to question their loyalty. Samson starts pushing the pillars apart. He says that he may have been as blind as his namesake, but that he can still smite with the best of them. Samson knocks the towers over and the place starts to fall over. X-Factor helps Hideko and Martel out. LaRoquette swoops at Samson on his hovering chair, but Samson is hit with a chunk of the falling building. LaRoquette laughs and tells him to dig his way out of that.

SHIELD is chasing X-Factor, Hideko, Rick Jones and Martel down a hallway. Iceman blasts them with an icewall blocking their way.

Another case is set and switched on.

X-Factor and Rick Jones deal with the SHIELD agents around as Iceman runs ahead to deal with the Hulk. Iceman freezes Hulk’s restraints. Hulk breaks free. He tells Iceman that was dumb and asks if he thinks he forgot who got him into this. Hulk says that it is time for some crushed ice. Saunders runs up with some agents and says to kill Hulk. Hulk recognizes Saunders from Sparta and hurls some crushed ice at Saunders. A large chunk buries itself in Saunders’ shoulder. Hideko pulls it out and tells Saunders to run. Hulk smashes a hole in the wall and says to come this way. Cyclops thinks to himself that he may have made bigger mistakes then trusting SHIELD in his life, but that nothing comes to mind. Hulk upends LaRoquette’s chair. Rick is surrounded and shouts for “Bruce’s” help. Hulk says that there is no “Bruce” there. Rick shouts for Hulk and asks if he is happy. Hulk smiles and says that he is ecstatic. Hulk knocks them all out.

Hulk and X-Factor smash through the wall outside. Hulk says that now he can ditch them, but suddenly the Sun comes up. Hulk sees the Sun and says that it can’t happen yet. Hulk transforms into Bruce Banner. Waiting outside are dozens of SHIELD agents. Trump says that this is a nice day for an execution. He says that they have orders to kill the Hulk, and that the mutants are unfortunate victims that got in the way. Suddenly, past of Gamma Base explodes. Clay announces over a loud speaker that he won’t be a part of this. He says that he has just blown up an uninhabited part of Gamma Base. He says that in three minutes the rest of it will explode. Clay pulls up in a large van next to X-Factor, Banner, and Rick. They climb in. Cyclops thanks Clay for the assist and asks if his name is Clay. Clay says that it is mud now.

Gamma Base explodes.

Cyclops says that it looks like Clay is enjoying throwing those switches. Clay says that he is just happy to see good old American know how at work. Bruce hears the explosions and says that they can’t destroy all the equipment. Rick says that Clay is just trying to scare them. Clay apologizes, but says that if Gamma is left standing that they will be caught inside 24 hours. Gamma Base falls to the ground.

Later, Cyclops thanks Clay for the Gamma Base uniforms. He says that they have their rental car and are on their way. Hideko asks if Cyclops has room for a passenger. Bruce asks if she is leaving. Hideko says that she has had enough death and destruction for this lifetime. Martel says that he feels the same, and that he has developed a fondness for Hideko and keeping his skin intact. Bruce says that he should be hurt, but that he understands. Bruce wishes them Godspeed and Martel wishes him the same.

Cyclops and the others head toward St. Louis to reclaim their jet.

Bruce tells Clay to go. He says that they have to find the gamma bombs and stop production of them. He says that they have to go get Betty, and that he assumes she wasn’t at Gamma Base. Clay says that he has to tell him about Betty.

A cleaning woman walks into Betty’s room. She sees the piece of paper on the floor and throws it away.

Doc Samson finally climbs out of the wreckage of Gamma Base. Samson sees that all of it is gone and says, “What a waste.”

No Excuses rating: 8 our of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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.

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