Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #364Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #364
Title: “Countdown: Abomination”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Jeff Purves
Inker: Marie Severin
Colors: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Hulk reels in pain as he starts to transform back into Banner. He falls to the ground. He says that if there was only some way he could get rid of Banner without killing himself. Hulk says, “If wishes were fishes…: Banner reaches for his glasses and finishes, “…the world would be an ocean.” Bruce says that someday he will fall and hit his head on some furniture while changing. He says, “Hulk killed by barcalounger film at eleven.” Bruce heads out for the paper.
He calls out to the paperboy that he has been throwing his paper in the bushes and that he finds it annoying. The paperboy throws the paper into the bushes again. Bruce tells him that his aim needs improving. The paperboy says, “Up yours, four-eyes.” Bruce takes his paper, heads inside, and says, “No tip”.
Bruce reads the paper while eating. He says that every day since he left Las Vegas that he has been checking the newspapers, magazines, and everything searching for some mention of Rick or Betty. He says that he even checks the obituaries, but that maybe they just want to live quiet normal lives. Bruce thinks about the explosion that robbed him of a normal life and thinks about how it messed up Rick and Betty’s life as well. He thinks to himself that he has to find his wife, but wonders where she is. Bruce sees something in the paper about Reed Richards addressing scientists in Phoenix tonight. He thinks that he would love to go, but that night isn’t his best time. Bruce yawns and says that his mornings aren’t much better.
Phil says, “Please, don’t do this.
And don’t involve me in this… it… it would be
murder.” The masked man says that is the general idea. He
says that Banner has stolen from him and that he has to die. Phil
tells him to do it himself then and not to involve him. The
masked man says that it won’t be any fun if Phil
doesn’t do it. He says that death needs panache, style, and
imagination. He says that if he doesn’t help him that he
will learn that firsthand. 
The man holds up
a ring and says that it contains a lethal poison. He says that
after a short time after injection that Banner will be dead. He
says that he’ll be dead and asks if that won’t be fun.
Phil asks what happens if Banner changes into the Hulk. He says
that no poison will affect him. The man says that this one will.
Banner wakes up and sees that it is 12:30 already. He says that he only closed his eyes for a minute. Bruce drives into work and says that he will say it was car trouble. Bruce passes two radioactive waste trucks on his way in and thinks that with the way the desert sun overheats motor that it is easily believable.
Bruce runs in and Phil says that he was wondering what had happened to him. Bruce gives the car trouble excuse. Phil says that he should have just called in sick. Bruce says that he can’t talk now, but that maybe later they will. Bruce is changing into this work clothes and says that maybe he should have called in sick. He says that he really doesn’t want to miss a day of research though. He says that he never knows when he will hit upon the idea that will cure him of his problem forever. Bruce sees them unloading the radioactive containers from the trucks he passed. He wonders what it is. Phil comes in behind Bruce and says, “Very ‘hot’ toxic waste, Bruce.” He apologizes and says that he didn’t mean to startle him. Bruce asks what the toxic waste is doing there. Phil says that they are developing a process to remove the toxicity from it and render it harmless. Bruce says that is interesting especially since it means drawing off radioactive traces. Phil says that it could be applied to his situation. Bruce says that they are on the same wavelength. Phil says that he told Bruce that he could trust him. Phil puts his hand on Banner’s shoulder and injects him with the poison.
Two guards are outside the facility. One asks the other if he is going to the game. The guy asks who cares about single A baseball. The first guard says that today’s nobody can be tomorrow’s stars. The second asks if he is supposed to get excited with 20 people in the stands. The first guard asks if his old lady won’t let him out tonight. The second says to knock it off. Then he spots something in the sky. The first says that it is a skydiver and asks “so what?” The second guard says that he is skydiving towards them. The guard says that is no skydiver. The guards start firing their guns.
Inside, Phil Sterns says that he hears
gunfire and that it sounds like a war. The room starts to shake
and Banner says that he thinks that the war is relocating. 
Suddenly,
Abomination comes smashing through the ceiling. Abomination calls
out to the soldiers and says that he hasn’t got all day.
Bruce shouts, “The Abomination!” Abomination says that
someone recognized him and that it is nice to have fans.
Abomination says that the guy he is working for wants the toxic
waste. He says that he doesn’t know why. He adds that he
wanted him to wait until it was inside the building instead of
ambushing the convoy. Abomination says that again he doesn’t
know why. He rips up part of the floor and throws it into the two
soldiers. Abomination spots and recognizes Bruce. Bruce realizes
it and starts to run. Bruce only makes it halfway down the
hallway when he starts clutching his heart and collapsing.
Abomination stands over Bruce and says that it is him. He says
that he knew he wasn’t dead. Abomination asks if he is
changing into the Hulk right now. Bruce says that he is having a
heart attack. Abomination tells him not to dare. He says that he
refuses to let their rivalry end because Bruce can’t take
the pressure. He tells him to change. Bruce says that he can only
do it at night. Abomination says that they will see about that.
He grabs Banner and throws him into the gamma tester. Bruce begs
him not to. Abomination tells him to shut up and says that he is
doing him the biggest favor of his life. Abomination turns the
machine on. The soldiers find Abomination and start shooting.
Abomination rips up the console and throws it at them. Suddenly
the gray Hulk busts out of the gamma tester. Abomination asks if
this is the green-skinned goliath. Hulk says, “No! This is
the hacked off Hulk!” He hits Abomination into the wall.
Abomination says that he is talking to, and asks if there
isn’t anything sacred anymore. Hulk tries to jump on
Abomination and asks if he is going to talk or fight. Abomination
dodges the leap and says that since Hulk asked.
Abomination and Hulk plow through the wall
together. Hulk gets up and thinks to himself that Abomination is
stronger than he remembers, but adds that he is meaner than
Abomination remembers. Hulk says, “Let’s party
hardy.” Abomination nails Hulk in the stomach and says,
“By all means, lets.” Abomination hits Hulk across the
face. Abomination pins Hulk to a table where a laser is firing.
Abomination says that he wants to see what will happen if the
laser goes in one ear and out the other. Hulk knees Abomination
in the gut and flips him into the laser. Hulk feels intense pain
in his chest. He thinks to himself that he knows Banner
wasn’t feeling well, but that it shouldn’t bother him.
Hulk realizes that he has been poisoned. Hulk says that he has to
get out of there. He says that he has to think. 
Abomination hits
Hulk in the head with a steel girder and says that the Hulk wants
to think. He suggests they jog his brain some more. He hits Hulk
with the girder again. Hulk grabs the girder and says to give him
that before he hurts someone. Hulk pushes Abomination backward.
He thinks to himself that the pain is easing, but that he has to
end this fast. Abomination says, “you’re slowing down.
Gray. Smaller. Weaker. You used to be somebody. The darker color
suits you. You’re only a shadow of what you were.” Hulk
asks why he is backing up then. Abomination tells him to take his
best shot. Hulk hits Abomination once, twice, three, four times,
but he misses with the fifth. Abomination asks if that is it. He
says that each punch was weaker than the one before. Abomination
hits Hulk to the floor. Abomination says that he was brainless,
but that at least he could respect Jade Jaws, He says that he is
a pale imitation. He says, “No offense… but I’m
going to kill you now.” Hulk says, “No offense
taken… but I’m not dying just yet.” Hulk plows
through the wall into the irradiated area. Abomination chases
Hulk and says that the green Hulk never ran. Abomination leaps
onto Hulk’s back and says that his understanding may have
been limited. Abomination puts Hulk into a full nelson and says
that Hulk may not have understood the hold he is going to use to
break his neck, but that he had power, savagery. Abomination says
that Hulk was an elemental force. Abomination says, “Gods, I
miss him.” Hulk says that is the difference between them.
Hulk elbows Abomination in the face releasing the hold. Hulk says
that he never misses. He flips Abomination into a container of
toxic waste breaking it. Abomination asks what Hulk has done to
him. Hulk says that he doesn’t get it. He says that
Abomination has been wasted. 
Abomination
staggers. Hulk says, “Toxic wasted. Nasty stuff. Nastier
than you. But not nastier than me. Nothing is.” Abomination
falls to the floor dissolving. Abomination says that Hulk
cheated. Hulk says, “Nuts. Now I’ll never
prosper.” Hulk says that he has to get out of there, but he
falls to the floor and grasps his chest.
No Excuses rating: 7 out of 10
There are things that I like and things that I dislike about this issue on both fronts. Peter David brought back the Abomination. That I love. Abomination was melted by toxic waste. I don’t really get how that happens. I thought these gamma types weren’t hurt by radiation things. I really love Phil Sterns and the Madman revelation when it comes. I’m also on the fence a bit with Purves here. His Abomination, when detailed, can be amazing. However, when you back off a little bit his artwork severally suffers. Lack of attention to detail reduces his work to substandard. Likewise a few of the fight scenes have a fluidity to them while others look strained and unnatural. In the end it all evens out and I give him a 3 out of 5 for the artwork.
Review and pictures by The Leader