Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #366Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #366
Title: “Countdown: The Leader”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Jeff Purves
Inker: Marie Severin
Colors: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Samson tells the General that it is after midnight. He asks when they are going to wrap it up and let all concerned go home. The General says that it will be when he is sure that he has all the answers. The General says that Samson’s idea that the Hulk is behind this is absurd. He says that the Hulk is not gray and intelligent. Samson asks if the General has kept up with the military files on the Hulk. The General says that he doesn’t have to read them to know that the Hulk is green and stupid. The General says that he has been ordered to cooperate with him though, and that he will have more troops coming. A soldier shouts to the General about the truck. The General says that he was expecting it. The soldier asks, “From up there?” and motions to a truck falling out of the sky. The soldiers run, and the General tells Samson to move. Samson stays put. He catches the truck and says that if the soldiers were in it that it wouldn’t be much of a welcome to Yucca Flats. The General says that he appreciates the concern, but that they aren’t in there. The General and Samson look in to see a bunch of clothes inside the truck. The General asks where they went. Samson says that he doesn’t know, but that he bets the Hulk does.
The General and Samson are driving away from the lab. The General tells Samson that they have calculated the trajectory of the truck and know where it originated from. Samson asks why the Hulk would stay there. The General asks why he would move if he thought he could throw things from safety. The General says that they are going to take the fight to the Hulk.
Hulk walks out of the pile of clothes from within the truck. He says that he thought they would never leave. Hulk rushes an African-American soldier and says, “C’mere, soldier boy… although you shouldn’t take that ‘boy’ part wrong. Who am I to discriminate on the basis of skin? I’m an equal opportunity destroyer.” Hulk tells him to get his men back. The soldiers comply. Hulk tells the soldier to tell him where the Abomination is. The soldier says that is classified. Hulk says that what happens when you die is classified as well, and that if he doesn’t tell him about the Abomination’s location that he will learn it. The soldier says that there is a convoy taking him to an air-strip where he will be shipped to Project Pegasus. Hulk says, “Fine. Thanks.” He grabs the soldier and says that he is coming along too.
The hooded man watches as the Hulk leaps off with the soldier. He says, “Things here at Yucca Flats are so entertaining. Well, I must be off. But that’s what everybody says.” Madman walks out of a door. A soldier, without looking back, tells him that no one can leave. He looks back and sees the hooded man. He asks who he is. Madman grabs the soldier by the throat and says, “I’m Madman.” He smashes the soldier’s head against the wall so hard that it shatters the soldier’s helmet. He says. “Shouldn’t have made me mad.” Madman walks out the door.
The Leader watches Madman walking out the door. He says that Madman is becoming more powerful than ever. He says that he killed the guard without a thought. Leader says, “Poor Phil must be terrified. This cannot go on any longer, no matter what the cost. It’s time to ready the matter transmitter. I shall soon have to play my trump card, before time runs out.”
A jeep leads
the convoy, followed by a truck carrying the Abomination in
restraints, and finished with a tank. Major Calvin asks how the
Abomination is. The soldier says that he is as well as can be
expected. He says that he hasn’t moved in a while, and that
he can’t even say for sure if he is alive. Hulk lands in
front of the jeep. He says that the info was accurate and tosses
the soldier aside. The tank rolls up and Hulk tells it to take
its best shot. The tank fires and blows Hulk off his feet. Hulk
says that wasn’t smart. He says that he keeps forgetting how
weak he is, and that his chest feels like it is on fire. Hulk
ducks the next shot, and then pushes the tank backwards up onto
the Abomination’s truck, destroying it. Hulk says,
“Over on I-40 the big fight between Plastic Man and the
Elongated Man has caused major traffic delays due to
rubbernecking. More after this.” Hulk walks up to
Abomination and says that he hates those kinetic manacles they
have on Abomination. He says that when you use your strength that
it just throws it right back. Hulk says that he hates that. He
asks Abomination who hired him to attack the plant at Yucca
Flats. Abomination tells Hulk to get stuffed. He tells Hulk that
he is going to kill him for doing this to him. Hulk says that he
has heard it before. He says that he will ask once more and then
starts breaking the Abomination’s fingers. He asks again who
hired him to attack the plant. Abomination tells him to do his
worst and that he isn’t telling him anything. Hulk says,
“Okay.” Abomination hears a loud cracking noise and
shouts for Hulk to wait. Hulk says that all he has to do is crack
his knuckles and Abomination starts screaming. Hulk turns to see
soldiers advancing on him. Hulk says that he may not be at his
best, but that he can take them any day. Hulk leaps at the
soldiers, but he disappears in the air.
Hulk reappears in a technological scene. 
Leader is
standing there and says, “Hulk. It’s been a while. What
have you been up to?” Hulk leaps at Leader and says that he
should have known that he was the one behind this. Leader uses
his mind to send Hulk hurtling backwards. Leader says that he
sees that they will have to do this the hard way. He says that
“muscle-bound types” are like mules, and that to reason
with them first you have to get their attention. Leader says that
it will be a nice test for his followers, the survivors of the
bombed Middletown. He says that if they can’t handle him
that Rock and Redeemer will, or at least he hopes so.
Hulk sits up in a city that doesn’t have anyone around. Rock grabs Hulk’s hair from behind. Rock lifts Hulk into the air and says that he can’t believe how happy he was when they told him he was alive. He says that he owes Hulk a lot. Rock smashes Hulk into the ground and Hulk asks if Rock couldn’t just write him a check. Rock sprouts spikes on his feet. Hulk dodges his dive. He breaks off one of Rock’s spikes and throws it at him. Rock blocks it and says, “You have injured the Rock… but you can’t stop the Rock!” Hulk asks why they always refer to themselves in the third person. Hulk sees Redeemer and says that he is supposed to be dead, but then figures that he is too. Redeemer fires and hits Hulk in the chest three times. Hulk falls to the ground. He says, “Get up, Hulk! C’mon, get up!” He thinks to himself that now he is talking in the third person. Hulk claps his hands, and though it knocks Rock and Redeemer back it doesn’t really phase them. Hulk hides beside a building. As Rock and Redeemer get close, Hulk smashes the building. While they are distracted, Hulk runs to the opposing building and smashes it too. The two buildings cave in on Rock and Redeemer. Hulk thinks to himself that maybe he should have stayed with Reed Richards, and that maybe he could have found a cure by sunrise. Hulk thinks that maybe he could just start leaping west and keep ahead of the sun. He thinks that he couldn’t keep it up long with the way he is feeling. Rock’s hand sticks out of the pile. He asks where Hulk is. Hulk says that where he is, is out of there. He leaps up, but is caught within a energy cage. Hotshot tells Jailbait to reel Hulk in slowly. Jailbait says that this is cool. She says that she had heard so much about the Hulk, but that he is easy. Hulk grabs hold of the prison. He says that now they are sending teenagers against him and asks if toddlers is next. Jailbait says that she can’t hold him. She tells him to do something. Hotshot aims his finger and says, “Bang!” Hulk breaks out of his prison, but he is then hit in the chest with Hotshot’s blast. Hulk says that he doesn’t know what it is, but that it hurt like the devil. Hulk says to stop it and smashes the ground. Rock, Redeemer, Hotshot, and Jailbait are thrown into the air. Hulk says that not even all of them will stop him from strangling the Leader. Rock flies towards Hulk, but Hotshot tells him to wait since Ogress has arrived. Hulk smashes into Rock and says, “Y’hear that, Rock? Ogress is here. Whoop-de-doo.” Ogress hits Hulk in the face and knocks him to the ground. Hulk thinks to himself that first he gets poisoned and that he then spends the rest of his day getting beat on by ugly women. Leader arrives. He tells the others that is enough and to back away. Hulk tells them that they had better watch it or he will bleed on them. Leader says that he could have let them continue beating on him. He says that he even has two more followers in reserve. Hotshot says that they aren’t followers they are the Riot Squad. Leader sighs and says, “whatever”. Leader says that the point is that the more Hulk exerts himself the faster the poison spreads and he will continue to weaken. Leader says that Hulk will need his strength if he is going to defeat the one that poisoned him. Hulk says that Leader is crazy if he thinks he is going to trust him. He starts to say that if Leader makes a false move, but Leader asks if he will bleed on him. Hulk asks what this place is. Leader says that it is a home of his own design. He says that Hulk is free to leave if he wants. Hulk leaps into the starry sky, but finds it a fake ceiling. Hulk bounces off the ceiling and falls back to the floor. Hulk says that the sky is fake. Leader notes that Hulk is a quick one. Leader says that he knows who poisoned Hulk, and that he is sure he has an antidote. Leader says that he can tell him where he is, if the Hulk will kill him for him. Hulk asks if Leader is still claiming that he didn’t poison him. Leader says that it was someone who calls himself Madman. Hulk asks why Leader wants Madman dead. Leader says that it is because Madman frightens him. Leader sees that Hulk is still skeptical. Leader says that if he had poisoned Hulk that he would be dead by now. Leader says that Madman, through an underling, poisoned Dr. Banner. Leader says that he knew of Madman’s plan. Leader says that he knows the plans of everyone of significance. Hulk asks why if Leader is so great why he doesn’t kill Madman himself. Leader says that he has his reasons. He says that he did his part when he hired the Abomination to go to the plant in Yucca Flats after he had restored his mind. Hulk says that Leader is dead. Leader says that Hulk would have been dead if he hadn’t done it. He says that he knew the Abomination would react the way he did when he saw Banner. Leader says that only the Hulk could withstand the poison, and that is why he sent the Abomination to release the Hulk. Leader says that Hulk owes him his life. Hulk walks into Leader’s building.
Leader takes Hulk into his monitor room. He says that he is quite proud of it. Leader says, :We’ve always wanted the same thing, Hulk: to be at peace. Except you’ve tried to find it by running from the world… and I try to find it by running the world.” He says that Madman poses a threat to both of them. Hulk says, :So says the mass murderer.” He says that he still doesn’t believe Leader. Leader says that is fine. He says that he can have Hulk die in several battle scenarios, or he could just let the poison run its course. He says that he thinks it will kill Hulk even without sunrise. He says he can give the Hulk many ways to die, or a way to live… for her. Leader looks up at a screen that has Betty pictured. Hulk says Leader has her prisoner. Leader says that he doesn’t, but that he can tell Hulk where she is. Hulk says that it has to be a trick. Leader says that Hulk knows in his heart that it isn’t. He says that he can send Hulk to her so long as he kills Madman for him. Leader says that it is up to him.
No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10
Madman’s plan is coming together, but then so is the Leader’s. As a fan of Gamma People this is a red letter issue for me. Madman, Abomination, Leader, Samson, and the Hulk. Not to mention that we finally get to learn the outcome for the survivors of Middleton after a long 21 issue wait. 5 out of 5 for the writing. Purves does a decent enough job, but his fight sequencing seems strained again. He is decent enough on close up non action scenes, but that hardly a comic book artist makes.
Review and pictures by The Leader