Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #338

Title: “Mercy Killing”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Todd McFarlane

Inker: Jim Sanders III

Colors: Petra Scotese

Editor: Bob Harras

Alfred sits in his bathtub, listening to his radio and thinking about the $20,000 he owes the IRS. He thinks that even his bath water is tepid. He thinks that he should just sit there, catch pneumonia and die. Suddenly an orange woman with pink hair materializes floating above him. She says hello to her newest love. Alfred asks if he can’t have any privacy. The woman says, “I’m your guardian angel, Alfred. Your angel of mercy. I’m here to love you.” She kisses him on the cheek. Alfred asks if that is why she kissed him. The woman says, “No.” and pushes the radio into the tub killing Alfred. She says that was goodbye, and that others need her help now. The woman vanishes.

Bruce runs from the Hulk. He shouts for help. Hulk leaps in front of Bruce and says that there is no one around her hear him. Bruce says that this is no time for threats and that they have to work together. He sys that the government is mass producing gamma ray bombs, a weapon he designed, and that millions could die. Hulk says that he should have thought of that before he made the bomb. He says that without the bomb he wouldn’t have his guilty conscience or him. Hulk grabs Banner. Banner says that he knows that. He says that sometimes he thinks that if there is a God that Hulk is the punishment for his sins, but that if more bombs are set off that more creatures like him could be created. Hulk says, “More… like me? That’s the last thing I need.” Suddenly an orange woman with pink hair appears between Hulk and Bruce. Hulk tells Banner that if this is a trick, but the woman says, “Not at all, my sweet. I’m here to help you. To relieve you of the burden. To grant you… Mercy.” Mercy lets off a beam from her hand and hits the Hulk. Bruce says that it is a miracle and that the Hulk is dying. Mercy says that they both are, and that it is her gift of love.

Bruce wakes up screaming. Rick is looking down on him while Clay is driving. Bruce says that it was just a nightmare. Bruce says that it was so real, but then again his real life is a nightmare as well. Rick says Bruce is in a good mood. Bruce suggests stopping for breakfast.

In the diner, Rick fills Bruce in on what happened. He asks Bruce what he remembers. Bruce says that he remembers large parts of it, but that it is colored by the Hulk’s unique perspective. Bruce asks where Clay is. Rick says that Clay had to remove something from the van. Clay walks into the diner with a large tube under his arm. Clay sees Bruce and Rick sitting on the same side and says that they look cozy. Rick says that the other side has springs sticking out. He tells Bruce to slide over for the “ex-spy”. Behind their booth is a large trucker pawing at the waitress. She tells him to get his hands off. He says that if she doesn’t want him to touch anything not to expect him to touch the garbage that is the food. He clears his table with one broad stroke. The coffee flies up and hits Clay in the back. He says, “Who’s the dead man who just tossed coffee on me?” The big trucker gets up in Clay’s face and says that he did and asks if he has a problem. Ernie Rice, the trucker, says that he didn’t think so and storms out. He says that after driving 14 straight hours that he deserves better than this. Clay excuses himself. Rick asks Bruce to move and says that he wants to see Clay level the guy. Bruce says that Clay might feel the need to yield to baser instincts, but that they don’t have to revel in it. Clay is back and Rick says that was quick. He asks if he laid the guy out. Clay says that fists aren’t the answer to everything. Bruce commends Clay’s attitude, and asks where the cylinder he was holding is. Clay says that he shoved it somewhere.

Twenty five minutes later, Bruce thinks about how he brought up Betty again and that Rick and Clay got very quiet. He says that he is her husband and that he ought to know if something happened to her. He wonders if the Hulk hurt her somehow. He says that if Hulk hurt Betty that he would hurt anyone. He says that he should leave before the Hulk attacks Rick and Clay, but decides that he can’t run out on them after they’ve risked everything for him. He thinks how he seems to cause pain and suffering no matter what he does. Suddenly the van starts to back over Bruce. Bruce grabs onto the axel underneath as the van drives along. Mercy’s reflection is in the side mirror. Rick and Clay walk out and see the van is moving. Rick grabs hold before it picks up too much speed. Rick climbs in. He thought that Bruce would be driving, but there is no one there. Rick hits the brake and Bruce lets out a scream from below.

Rick applies disinfectant to Bruce’s back through his torn up suit. He says that next time he is under a truck to let go of the axle. Clay says that if this keeps up that they will have to order the uniforms by the gross. Bruce says that SHIELD may be out to kill him, but another freak accident and he will be doing the job for them.

LaRoquette asks Trump why they aren’t chasing down Banner and company. Trump says that SHIELD is a secret organization. He says that the SHIELD van has a tracking device in it. He says that they are following Clay’s signal heading south through New Mexico. He says that they will wait until he is away from the populous area and then get them. LaRoquette says that they should get them now, but Trump says that they won’t disappear.

Bruce asks what the reception nurse means when she says that Betty disappeared. He asks what kind of hospital this is. The nurse says that it is a busy one, and that they aren’t set up to keep track of a patient if she just decided to leave. She says that some Hispanic gentleman came to visit her, and the next thing they knew they were both gone. The nurse says that she can’t blame her after what that monster did to her. She says that she probably wanted to get out of town. Bruce says, “Monster?!” Rick tries to tell Bruce that it wasn’t like that, but Bruce tells him not to say anything. Bruce says that when they told him that this was where Betty was that he knew, but he wonders how he will rationalize away hurting his wife. He thinks, “How in the name of mercy do I live with myself?” Suddenly Mercy appears and says that he doesn’t. Mercy is dressed as a nurse and is holding several scalpels. She tells him to let her send him on his way to the next life. Bruce recognizes her from his dream. Bruce says that she is going to hurt someone with those scalpels. Mercy says that she only helps. She throws them at Bruce, but he ducks. She tells him to hold still and that he knows he wants it. Bruce stands in front of the elevator. Mercy throws more scalpels, but when Bruce ducks this time the doors open and a man on the elevator is hit with two scalpels in the arm. Mercy says that she has hurt someone that didn’t want her help. She says, “Bummer” and disappears.

At the bus station, Clay says that they are in luck. The ticket agent remembered selling tickets to a Hispanic man and a bandaged up woman. He says that the tickets were for Boulder, Colorado. Bruce says that it doesn’t matter. He says that they aren’t going after Betty and that he is getting away from them before anyone else is hurt. Rick says that Bruce wouldn’t last five minutes on his own, especially with the crazy woman he said is after him. He adds that Betty is his wife and that it is his responsibility to find her instead of letting her run around with Ramon. He says that Bruce won’t do anyone any good if he gets killed. Bruce asks, “Wouldn’t I, Rick? Wouldn’t I?”

Trump sees that they’re clear of the town and says they should get moving.

In Washington, Senator Tidewater finishes up his speech. A man in a hat and long trench coat comes up to him and compliments him on his speech. He says that he hears that he is a good bet for their next president. Tidewater says that is a little premature, but that he is very kind. A green hand reaches out and shakes Tidewater’s hand. He says that he will get his vote. Tidewater thanks the man. The green man says, “Yes. When I see you, I see the mark of… a true Leader.”

At a desert gas station, the attendant is trying to sell Rick magnesium flares. He says that if they get in trouble that they just light them and that they can be seen from planes. Rick asks if that is what the salesman that stuck him with them told him. The attendant says to make him an offer. Rick says that he has some old nega bands he could swap him. Bruce says that they have their gas and that he wants to get away from there before it happens. Clay tells Rick to get in.

Bruce tells Rick to hand him the torn uniform and that there is no sense ripping another one up. Bruce preps Clay and Rick. He says that he was thinking of tranquilizing himself, but that it probably wouldn’t affect Hulk. He tells them not to make any offensive moves, and to try and reason with him. He says that he was making some headway with him in his dream. He says that this is their best chance to convince him since it is a full moon and that he is at his most passive. Clay says, “Relatively speaking”. Bruce says that he is still mean. He says that it is up to them, and that if they don’t convince him that he may never see them again. He says that might be best for everybody. Bruce says, “He’s coming. It’s his time.” Bruce changes into the Hulk. Clay is impressed with how cool Rick is. Rick tells Hulk that he needs them to find the gamma bombs… so he won’t have more monsters like him running around. He says that they will need him when they find the bombs. He says that they go back a long way and that he wouldn’t even be there if it weren’t for him. Rick asks what Hulk thinks. Hulk says that he thinks Rick’s brains been fried. He says that whenever he hangs with someone that he gets shafted. He says that he does fine on his own and that he doesn’t need losers like him and Quartermain. Rick says that was fine when Hulk could come out when Bruce was in danger, but that now he can only come out at night. Hulk says that Rick is no salesman and that he isn’t buying. Suddenly, Mercy appears. She says that they are away from any innocents. Rick tells Hulk to wait. Hulk leaps at Mercy, but he passes through her. Mercy says that Hulk has waited long enough for Mercy’s help. Mercy says that she likes to work with the implements of the planet she is on. She says that this way is unsubtle, but effective. A spear of energy shoots into Hulk’s chest and stays there. Rick tries to pull it out and says that she is killing him. Rick shouts for Clay, but Clay’s bullets pass right through her.

On the mental plane, Bruce has an energy spear through his chest as well. Mercy says that she is there with him on the mental plane where he first saw her. She says that she shares his pain. Bruce asks what she is doing to him. Mercy says that she is taking him from this life to the next. She says that it is her gift to give. She says that she is not of his planet, and that she is what he might call a missionary. She says that she helps those that are unhappy with their lives, but lack the strength to move on to their next life. She says that she has been to many planets, but that there are so many poor miserable souls here that she has decided to make this planet her home. She says that she has even adapted her form to match their species. She says that of all her lovers that he is the most unique. She says that his mind is so divided that she has to take his life from without and within. Bruce says that he doesn’t want to die.

Hulk shouts for Mercy to get out of his head and that his chest is on fire.

Mercy tells Bruce to let her take away the pain. Bruce says, “Yes! Anything! Anything you say!”

Ernie Rice is driving alone complaining when he is surrounded by SHIELD hover cars. They shout that they have five seconds to vacate the car before they start firing. Ernie leaps out at five and the SHIELD agents destroy his trailer. The guys in the mandroid armor says that it used to be toilet paper. One of them finds the tracking unit and says that Quartermain must have removed it from the RV and put it on the truck. He says, “Kind of funny, actually. Well, maybe not.” Trump says to get out of there. LaRoquette says that they must be miles from here. Ernie says that no one has worse luck than him.

Rick tells Clay to go get a weapon from the van. Clay says that it doesn’t look like he will last much longer. Hulk says that she is doing something in his head and that he can’t focus his strength.

Bruce shouts that he can’t give up. He says that if he dies now that his whole life was nothing. He says that all the destruction he caused will be unatoned for. He says that it can’t have all been a waste.

Hulk says that the pressure in his head is easing. Hulk tells Mercy that she almost had him. He says that she had her chance, but she blew it.

Bruce shouts at Mercy that everything he’s gone through… that there had to be a purpose to it, and that he won’t die before he finds it. He says that he is a scientist and that he won’t die an ignorant death.

Hulk pulls the energy spear from his chest and says that with him you only get one chance. Hulk throws the spear at Mercy and hits her. Mercy’s form changes from the orange girl into a giant blob of muck. Rick says that it is trying to get away. Hulk says she won’t get far. Hulk leaps onto Mercy’s new form, but quickly realizes that it wasn’t his best idea. He says that she is like punching Jello. Hulk leaps back toward the gas station.

Rick and Clay drive to catch up.

Mercy is trying to climb into Hulk’s mouth and nose. Hulk slams over one of the gas pumps and rolls around in the gas. Mercy is now completely over him. He feels around until he finds one of the flares and ignites it. He says that if this doesn’t work he is going to kick Banner’s butt. Hulk lights himself on fire. He walks out of the smoke clear of Mercy. He says that it was a piece of cake. Hulk flops down next to the van. Rick asks if Mercy is really dead. Hulk says that she almost got to him through Banner. He says that he doesn’t know how, but she did. He says that Banner needs protection, and that if Banner goes, he goes. Hulk says that they are lame, but that they are all Banner has. He says that Banner needs them, but that he doesn’t. He says that he doesn’t need anyone, but that he is stuck with Banner and Banner needs all the help he can get.

Ernie Rice drives along with his destroyed cargo. He says that they are all out to get him. He says that his ex-wife is hounding him for alimony, he had a lousy breakfast and nothing to eat since. He says that a military crew comes out of nowhere and destroys his cargo and disappears. He says that they will probably hold him responsible and pull his license. He asks what else could go wrong. Suddenly Ernie sees a “little chippie” on the road and wonders if he is being set up. He doesn’t see anyone else around. He sees the woman’s body and outfit and says that maybe his luck is changing. Mercy smiles as Ernie stops to pick her up.

No Excuses rating: 9 out 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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