Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #347

Title: “Crap Shoot”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Jeff Purves

Inker: Mike Gustovich

Colors: Petra Scotese

Editor: Bobbie Chase

In Las Vegas, on The Strip, people flood into the Coliseum pockets full of money and dreams full of hope. They usually leave drained of both. A man stands at a slot machine that he has been playing for two days. He is down to his last silver dollar and says that it has to pay off. He says that he can feel it. He pulls the lever, but doesn’t win. The man yells at the machine and asks how it could take his last silver dollar. He pulls out a gun and tells it to give it back. The man shoots the machine and the silver dollars spill all over. He says that the machine was broken, but that he fixed it. An elderly woman starts picking up some of the money. The old man says that it is his and points his gun at her head. She looks at him and crawls away calling him a wimp. The man grabs the old lady in a headlock and points the gun at her head. He tells everyone to get away from his money.

A guard stands in front of the elevator. The doors open and the guard sees “Mr. B” standing with two bodyguards. The guard tells Mr. B that he shouldn’t be down there and that there is trouble. Mr. B says that he has heard. He says, “Tsk tsk, shooting a defenseless slot machine. No subtlety, no style anymore.”

The man is surrounded by casino workers all with guns on him as the police sirens arrive. Mr. B walks up and asks his employees to put their guns away. Mr. Berengetti introduces himself as the owner of the casino. He recognizes the man as one of their regulars and asks if he isn’t having a good day. The man says that he is Benny. Mr. Berengetti tells Benny that he is going to give him a choice. He says that Benny can go with the police right now, and that he will even forget about the damages, or he will be forced to summon Mr. Fixit. Mr. Berengetti flips open the button on his cane. Benny looks at Mr., Berengetti and Mr. Berengetti looks back with his thumb over the button on the cane. Benny drops his gun. As the police arrest Benny, Mr. Berengetti says that he wants him kept out permanently. The rookie guard asks who Mr. Fixit is. The other guard tells him that if he is lucky that he will never find out.

Mr. Berengetti rides the elevator back up to the penthouse and says there goes another satisfied customer. Mr. Berengetti walks back into his office to find someone there waiting for him. He asks who the devil he is and how he got in there. The man says that he walked in during the excitement and that his name is Harry. He says that he represents Anthony Gold and extends his hand. Mr. Berengetti doesn’t take his hand. Harry says that he can respect that. Harry says that Anthony Gold operates out of Detroit, but that he is looking to expand into Vegas and that he would like to work with him on several deals that he has pending. Harry says that Mr. Gold believes that Vegas is big enough for everyone to share. Mr. Berengetti says, “I’ve always preferred Las Vegas, sir. And in Las Vegas, we’re something of a closed shop. We know the cops, they know us. And we all work together to try and keep the lid on here.” Harry tries to talk, but Berengetti continues. He says that he knows his Mr. Gold and that he made most of his money through drugs. He says that it is a filthy business. Mr. Berengetti invites Mr. Gold to leave Las Vegas, and go back to Detroit where the law is closing in on him. Harry says that he is taking a big chance rejecting Mr. Gold’s offer. Berengetti says that this is the town for taking chances. He says good day.

As Harry is walking out, a man is walking Suzy in. The guard asks who that was. Berengetti says that it was someone that got in because his office was unattended. He says not to let it happen again. He says hello to Suzy. Suzy kisses him. She says that is for being hers, but then she slaps him and says that is for taking chances. She says that is what he has security like Mr. Fixit for. He tells her that Mr. Fixit is only for special occasions. He says that Fixit is grumpy again. Suzy says that she has just the person to make him happy again.

Mona answers the phone and calls for Marlo. She hands the phone off and says that it is Suzy from the Coliseum. Marlo says that she is probably trying to fix her up with someone. She is about to tell Suzy that she isn’t interested, but then she hears who the date is with. She tells Mona to get ready for this and that the most eligible bachelor in town has nothing to do and that he wants to do it with her. She says Mr. Fixit wants some company. Mona says that she lucked out and that from what she hears that he is incredible.

Tony Gold sits in a steam room and asks who he thinks he is. Tony says that they will have to convince him. He says that Berengetti is the biggest guy in town, and that once they use him as an example that all the others will realize that Tony Gold is in town.

Mr. Berengetti is leaving for the day. He is climbing into the back of their limo just as Marlo is getting out of one. Mr. Berengetti says that she is quite an impressive young woman. In the limo, Mickey Berengetti tells Suzy that Marlo was a good choice. Suzy says that she does her best. She says that the traffic is just getting heavier. Stephen, the driver, says that he thinks they have a problem. He says that the vehicles around them are forcing him to turn. He asks if he should make a break for it. Berengetti says not with Suzy in the car. He says that if they were going to open fire that they would have done it already. He says that they want them to go somewhere so they will go. Suzy says that he is taking a gamble. Mickey says that he is stacking the deck a little. He pushes the button on his cane that summons Mr. Fixit.

Marlo stands in Fixit’s room, She asks where the legendary Mr. Fixit is. A voice says, “Right here.” Marlo turns and sees Mr. Fixit and shouts, “Oh my lord!” Fixit says, “That’s what I like to hear. Respect.” Fixit’s beeper goes off. He tells Marlo to stay put, and that he will be back in a few minutes. Marlo lies on the bed and says, “Uh… uh… okay.”

Berengetti’s limo is arriving at the Carlton. Mickey says that the place was gutted by a fire last month. The goons pull Mickey out of the car. He tells them that they don’t have to do that and that he has let himself be taken this far. Tony Gold introduces himself. He asks if he likes the place. He says that he got it dirt cheap after the fire, and that when he is finished with it that it will be a showplace. He says that it won’t be anywhere near his Coliseum. He puts his arm around Berengetti and asks if he can call him Michael. He says that they have to talk. He says that he had his man Harry approach him in the best of faith, and that he gave him the bum’s rush. He says that wasn’t very nice. He says Vegas is a big town, and that he doesn’t have to hog it. He tells him to imagine how it is for him trying to make his mark in the town. He asks if he remembers what it was like when he was young and eager to compete. Mike says that he remembers it distinctly, and that they had style then and that they ate punks like him for breakfast. Mike punches Tony in the stomach. Tony says that wasn’t very bright. His goons hold Mike while Tony punches him in the stomach and the face. Gold pulls his gun. He says that he has style too. He says that it is different, but that it works. Suddenly there is a loud bang. Gold says that it sounds like someone just dropped a two ton anvil on the roof and that it is falling through every floor. Mr. Fixit falls through the floor to the basement. He leaps back up and says, “I’m baaaaack.” Gold’s men open fire. The bullets just bounce off of the Hulk and hit Gold’s men on the ricochet. He says that what the bullets started he will finish. Fixit says that the boss is running and that he must think they can handle themselves. Two of the men leap onto Fixit and fire right at his chest. Fixit says, “Arrggh! Ya got me!” He falls on the two men and crushes them. Berengetti says that he is such a clown. He says that they worked him over pretty good and asks Mr. Fixit what kept him. Fixit says, “Traffic” as he bends the barrel of a gun over.

Tony Gold is hiding in the steam room. He wonder what the heck just happened, but suddenly Fixit’s hands smash through the wall and grab Gold by the head. He holds him up in the air and Berengetti says, “As I was saying… we had style. We weren’t kill crazy punks like you. Let’s go home, Mr. Fixit.” Hulk asks if he doesn’t want him to kill Gold. Mike says that it is too nice a night. Fixit says, “And now if you’ll excuse me…” he taps Gold in the head and knocks him out. He says, “I’ve got a date.”

Hulk watches the sun coming up. He says that he would like to be like the Sun; strong, powerful, doesn’t care about what anybody does, and everything revolves around it. He looks down and sees Marlo and the doorman hailing her a cab.

The doorman asks Marlo if she is okay. Marlo has her eyes closed leaning against a pole. She says that she is fine.

Hulk says that he knows he scared her at first, but that he scares everyone at first. Hulk says that this is the life. He says that thanks to the gamma bomb explosion three months ago that everyone thinks that he is dead. He thinks that if it wasn’t for Gorsham and his friends that he would be. Hulk says that it was worth all the risks and that they figured out how to let him be the Hulk day and night. He says that he never would have hooked up this great deal with Berengetti. He say that he has the best food, best suite, and best everything and that all he has to do is beat people up sometimes. He says that he finally got some luck. Hulk feels a pain in his head and realizes that it is Banner. He says that it can’t be Banner after all this time. He says that it isn’t fair and that he won’t let the change happen. Hulk fights back the change, but says that it hurt so much. He says that he pushed him back, but that it is different this time. He says that he can feel Banner’s mind and weak body inside him.

Gold sits on his ruined steps. Someone approaches. Gold says that he must be who he is waiting for… assuming he is Creel. Creel says that is him assuming that he is Gold. He say that it looks like there was a war there. Gold says that there was. He says that all his men were trashed by one guy, and that he has never seen anything like it. Crusher Creel says that he has never seen anything like him. He says that if Gold has the money that he will handle it. He says that it is about time he got a nice easy job.

No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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