Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #362

Title: “Phasing Out”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Jeff Purves

Inker: Marie Severin

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Bobbie Chase

A coyote howls at the moon. Something catches the coyote’s attention. It takes off after a roadrunner. The roadrunner is about to be caught, but suddenly the coyote is snatched up by a werewolf. Hours after the werewolf devours the coyote, something else catches the werewolf’s attention. The werewolf snatches up a rabbit, but the werewolf drops the rabbit when something else catches its attention. Hulk kneels before the change into Banner. Banner tells the Hulk that he won’t do it. He tells Hulk to leave the girl in peace. Hulk says that he wants to see Marlo one more time, even if it is through Banner’s eyes. He says that he wants accounts settled. He says that he won’t let things sit the way they are, and that if Banner doesn’t do something about it that he will. Suddenly, the werewolf pounces on Hulk. Hulk asks what is happening here as the werewolf claws at him. Banner tells Hulk to do something and that the change is coming. Hulk tells Banner to shut up and slams the werewolf against the ground. Hulk says that he has to fight off the change long enough to kill this thing. The werewolf bounces on Hulk and knocks him off his feet. Hulk warns the werewolf. The sun starts to come over the horizon. Hulk shouts that it doesn’t know what it is dealing with, and that he is the incredible Hulk. The werewolf runs away. Hulk says that he should have said that earlier. Hulk changes into Bruce Banner and not far away the werewolf changes back into Jack Russell. Bruce says that he doesn’t know what that monster was, but that he is getting out of there.

Jack commends himself for coming all the way into the Nevada desert so he wouldn’t be around his loved ones when the transformation was at its worst on the full moon, and he winds up attacking whatever it was. He says that he can’t remember much through the werewolf’s haze. He says that he has more than enough blood on his hands or claws. He says that he has to make sure that he can’t get loose and attack anything else. He sees an old abandoned building and thinks that this might be the place to do it. He tries to open the door and the handle breaks off. Jack says that it is a bunker for atomic testing or something, and that it doesn’t look like it’s been used in ages. He says that he needs to find a chain for the door and himself.

George, or as he is called by some folks ‘the old Indian’, drives his truck. He has seen his friends all die off one by one. He only has one friend now. A coyote that represents good luck. The coyote has acted as George’s personal totem. The coyote hunts in this area, but he has usually returned by now. George has come to feel that his fate is linked with the coyote’s. George spots the coyote dead and disemboweled. George says, “Oh no.”

Marlo says that she still has a temperature and that she can’t go to work. Mona says that her temperature is 98.7. She tells Marlo to get real. She says that Marlo has been moping around the house since that thing with Bruce and Joe. Marlo says that she just hated the way it ended with so much unsaid. She says that it is like walking with a piece of glass in your foot. You can ignore it, but its painful. Mona tells her to call him then and hash it out. Marlo says that Joe was fired and that he is gone from Vegas. She says that she doesn’t know where Bruce has gone to.

Bruce “Bancroft” leans against his broom looking at a machine. A blond haired man asks him if he can help him with something. Bruce says that he had noticed the elevated rad level, but then realized the auto safeties would kick in anyway. The man says that it very impressive for a janitor. He turns to Bruce and says that he isn’t really a janitor. Bruce says that is right. He says that he prefers “sanitation engineer”. Bruce walks away sweeping and thinks to himself that he has to be more careful. He thinks that was the most excitement he has had in weeks and that since they returned from LA that even the Hulk has been calm. Bruce seems to remember something happening at the Grand Canyon, but that he can’t remember it and that it seems to have had an effect on the Hulk. He says that two can play at that game. He says that Hulk doesn’t know that he is working there studying the latest research and looking for a cure. Bruce says that he is asserting himself. He says that there is no way the Hulk is going to make him contact Marlo. Suddenly Bruce’s head feels like its splitting. He shouts out for a phone. Marlo says that she never thought that she would hear from him again. Bruce says that he just wanted to make sure she was okay and that Joe was concerned. Bruce notices that just hearing Marlo’s voice has made his headache vanish. Marlo asks why Joe hasn’t called and Bruce says that Joe felt that she would be more comfortable talking to him. Bruce tells Marlo that he has a job at a radiation testing lab in Yucca Flats. Marlo says that she is coming out and hangs up. Bruce says that he was just trying to assuage the Hulk with the sound of her voice, and he played right into Hulk’s hands. He wonders how Hulk affected him that way. He says that he thought Hulk didn’t have that kind of mental strength. He wonders why Hulk lets him work there then, but realizes that maybe he isn’t searching for a cure from the Hulk. He says that maybe the Hulk is looking for a cure from him.

Hours later, Bruce looks at the clock. He says that there is only this one lab, and that he doubts she got lost.

Marlo’s car is wrecked. She says that this is just great. She says that she should have just run the jackrabbit over, but that she had to swerve. She says that Mona is going to kill her for banging her car up. Marlo sees a truck coming and waves it down. Marlo tells George that she is lucky he happened along. She says that she can’t believe the day she is having. George says that he relates. He says that first he finds that something has killed his pet coyote, and that then someone stole his extra towing chain from his service station.

Jack Russell piles junk in front of the door. He says that then he will chain himself up and be ready for moonrise. 

Marlo calls Bruce and says that she sat there for hours before George came along. She says, “Who knows how much longer it’ll take to fix… to repair it?” She asks about dinner, but Bruce says to make it tomorrow and that it is getting late.

Bruce speeds along. He says that he hated being abrupt with her, but that he has to get home. He says that he stayed much later than usual because he was waiting for Marlo. Bruce is still driving as the change starts occurring.

In the bunker, the werewolf starts to bang on the walls.

Hulk says that Banner isn’t such a tough guy now. He says that it was interesting that he was able to hold back the change for a few minutes, but that Banner couldn’t even keep him in for a second. He says that opens the door to all kinds of possibilities.

Marlo says that the whole world gets to be rude to her. Marlo looks at the grave for the coyote and asks George if this was the grave he was talking about. George tells her to be careful, and that it would be bad luck for her to fall in. He says that it would mean an early grave, but then George hears a growling. He looks up and sees the werewolf on the roof of his parking spot. George screams. Marlo turns in shock as a loud noise causes her to ask if he slammed the door on his head. Marlo looks over and sees George trapped under the hood, but a werewolf is standing on it. George asks for help. Marlo shouts for the werewolf to keep away and starts running. Marlo runs to George’s truck. She says that the Lord’s Prayer as she starts it. The werewolf pounces on the hood of the cab. Marlo hits the gas and knocks the werewolf off. Marlo tries to think of more prayers as the werewolf chases her. She says that this is some time to be a lapsed Catholic.

The werewolf has almost reached the truck when Hulk spots them. He says that it is Marlo in the truck and that this is perfect. He says that all he has to do is let whatever that is tear her apart and that they will be even for her dumping him. He says that he just has to pretend that he didn’t happen along.

Marlo is now singing Christmas carols in lieu of prayers as the werewolf has torn through the roof of the cab. Hulk leaps in. He hits the ground hard enough to knock the truck on its side. Marlo says that Joe saved her. Hulk asks what he was supposed to do. The werewolf runs at Marlo. Hulk tries to stop him, but the werewolf slips through his grip. He grabs it by the head and looks at it. He realizes that this is the hairball that tried to take a chunk out of him this morning. Marlo tells Joe not to let it bite him and that, as strange as it sounds that she thinks that it is a werewolf. Hulk says that if it bites him that it will break its teeth, or whatever teeth it has left. Hulk hits the werewolf. Hulk thinks to himself that he thinks he would break its teeth, but then thinks that he is a werewolf and that he has no idea what it is capable of. Hulk says that he better not let it bite him and that he has enough trouble being himself. He says that the last thing he needs is to become the gray werewolf of Yucca Flats. Hulk grabs a chain and breaks if off the wall. He wraps it around the werewolf. He spins it around and around. Hulk says, “I kept warnin’ ya, Alice! I kept saying, ya keep pushing me, and one of these days, one of these days… this is it, Alice! This is the day! Bang! Zoom! To the moon, Alice!” Hulk throws the werewolf to the moon and causes it to land in a valley. Marlo walks over to Joe. She says that she doesn’t know who he is, or what he is, but that she is glad about where he is. She hugs him and says that she is starting to remember what made her fall in love with him. Hulk tells her not to. He says that he almost let that thing kill her. He says that he was so mad that he almost stood by. Marlo says, “You never would, because of what’s inside you.” Hulk says, “Or who’s inside me.” Marlo asks what he means, but Hulk tells her that it is stupid. He says that he wanted to see why she loved him or if she ever did. Marlo says that she did, and that he knows she did. Hulk says, “No. You never did. It’s like you said. It’s what’s inside me. Except you don’t understand, I’m all on the outside. What’s inside me… isn’t me. That’s what you loved, and Betty loved. That’s what he needs… but not me! I don’t need anything or anyone.” Marlo asks him if he really believes that. Joe says, “I have to.” Hulk and Marlo hug. She says goodbye to him. She turns away and Hulk leaps off. Marlo looks back and Hulk is gone.

No Excuses rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by The Leader

RETURN TO ISSUES PAGE

RETURN TO NO EXCUSES

RETURN TO LEADER'S LAIR