Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #369

Title: “Silent Screams”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Dale Keown

Inker: Bob McLeod

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Bobbie Chase

Bruce Banner wakes up among some wreckage and wearing Mr. Hyde’s cape. A man points a gun at him. The man says that this is his house, or what is left of it. He asks Bruce who he is. Bruce thinks about telling the man that he is Bruce Banner and that he is traveling to Connecticut to see his wife, but that he is traveling mostly at night while he is the Hulk. Bruce decides against it and say that he is Dr. Bruce Bancroft. He says that he thought that the house was abandoned and that he was exhausted. He says that he didn’t mean any harm. Charlie’s wife tells him that he is threatening a doctor. Charlie asks how they know for sure. Bruce says that Charlie has a gun and that he doesn’t. Charlie’s wife tells him that is enough. She says that this is South Carolina and not New York. She tells him to show some Christian charity. Charlie’s wife introduces herself as Margaret and introduces their son Jack. She asks Bruce if he lost everything in the hurricane. She says that they have been staying at her parents, but that figured it was time to try and come back and pull things together. Bruce offers his sympathies and says that he will move along. Charlie says to let him get Bruce some proper clothes and food. He apologizes for being so jumpy and says that these are frightening times. Bruce says that it is for all of them. Bruce looks over at Jack. He thinks about how Jack reminds him of himself at that age, and that it isn’t just physically. He sees that Jack is quiet and withdrawn and wonders if Charlie is abusing him the way his father did to him. Bruce thinks the he looks polite enough, but that looks can be deceiving. He says that he is a foremost expert on that.

On the Freedom Force jet, Crimson Commando, Blob, and Pyro sit. Blob asks Pyro if he has a light for his cigar. Pyro asks if he is kidding. Pyro shoots a flame across the cabin and lights the cigar. Crimson Commando thinks to himself that he never thought he would be going on a mission with these guys again and that he thought Freedom Force was all but dead. Commando thinks about how Mystique pulled it together.

Blob tells Mystique, “Forget it! As a great man once said… I’m not stupid. I’m not expendable. And I’m not going.” Mystique says that she can’t believe she is hearing this. She says that it is bad enough that she had to rescue him from Henry Pym’s shrinking gas, but that the rest of them were running around just because she needed a little time off. Commando says that after what happened with Destiny that they didn’t think Mystique would be back. Mystique says that they all thought that they would go off on their own for good.. in which case they would all go back to jail where they got them from. Mystique asks Avalanche what he was thinking running around opening his stitches. She says that he is excused from bringing in the Hulk. Blob says that Mystique isn’t getting this and that they are sick of dancing to the government’s tune. She asks if that is so and pokes Blob in the stomach. Blob says that it took him weeks to recover from the last time he fought the Hulk, and that considering that even Daredevil was able to defeat them recently that he doesn’t need this. Blob tells her not to poke him in the stomach unless she is tired of her hand. Mystique tells Blob to release her hand now. Blob says that he is so scared, but does so. Mystique say that Blob has lost his nerve. She says that he is afraid of the Hulk even though he is gray, smaller, and weaker now. Blob says, “He’s what?”

Commando thinks how the next thing he knew he was on a plane to South Carolina checking on a report of an Air Force pilot that swears that he saw a gray body falling just before dawn while Mystique checks another report in New York. Commando thinks that this is insane and that other men his age are playing with their grandchildren. He says that all he has to look back on is a life of fighting. He wonders what the point is.

While Bruce is dressing he sees Jack and introduces himself. Jack doesn’t answer and runs away. Bruce tells Margaret that he thinks he scared her son and apologizes. Margaret says that it isn’t Bruce’s fault. She says that the hurricane damaged his hearing. She says that doctors can’t do anything for him and that everything is scary to him. Bruce says that he is sorry. Bruce asks where Charles is. Margaret says that he is in the basement.

Bruce is helping Charles. He say that it is a shame about his son. Charles says that they just have to be thankful to the Good Lord that they’re alive. Bruce asks even if it is the “Good Lord” let the hurricane happen in the first place. Charles says, “Even though”. He asks Bruce if he believes in God. Bruce says that rationally he knows there is no reason to, but that he is still hoping there is. Bruce says that if for no other reason than when he dies he wants someone to tell him that the point of his life had been. Bruce says that it would be enlightening and then turns on the electricity he fixed.

Elsewhere, Prometheus calls in to the Mount. He says that he has tracked the Hulk to Nevada to a train yard outside Yucca Flats. He checks out the area and drives off.

In New York, the police ask Mrs. Michaelson to let them in. They say that she screamed for help loud enough to make the neighbors call them. Mrs. Michaelson says that she wants the FBI and that they got Dillinger and Kapris. She says that the FBI can do anything. Mystique overhears and shape shifts into an FBI man. Mrs. Michaelson looks through the door and asks if he is really from the FBI. Mystique says that she is special agent Darkholme. She asks if she is the one that called in the sighting. Mrs. Michaelson let “him” in. Mystique looks at Mrs. Michaelson and thinks of her loss Destiny. It is all she can do to fight back the tears and realizes that she is the only one of Freedom Force that could deal with the old lady. She tells herself to snap out of it. Mrs. Michaelson says that her hobby is looking through her telescope. She says that she saw a huge hulking creature lurking in the shadows. She says that is why she contacted the FBI. Mystique asks if it is still out there. Mrs. Michaelson says that no it isn’t, and that is the worst part. She says that it is in her closet now. She says that she would have left, but that she has nowhere else to go. She says that she is blocking it the best she can. A chair is tilted under the doorknob. Mystique thinks, “Oh, wonderful” and asks the woman if this is the closet. The old woman tells Mystique to be careful and to draw his gun. Mystique opens the door and sees a regular closet with no monster inside. Mystique tells her not to be afraid and that it is gone now. Mrs. Michaelson says that she was certain she saw it. Mystique tells her to call if she sees anything else suspicious. She thinks to herself that this was a waste. She says that she came in search of the Hulk and all she got was a reinforcement of how frightening old age can be and more depressed about Destiny. She says that she wishes Irene were there. Violet Michaelson sits and says to herself that she is a foolish old woman. She tells herself to get a grip. A giant monstrous hand reaches out of the closet and gets a grip on Violet’s head. It pulls her into the closet and slams the door.

Margaret asks Bruce if he is sure he wants to leave now and that it will be night soon. Bruce says that he has imposed enough. She says that it is no imposition. Bruce says that he insists and says that he will be fine. Charles shakes Bruce’s hand and says that if he is sure. Bruce says that he is. He places his hand on his chest and one on Jack’s chest. He tells the boy that his heart is with him. Bruce walks away. He figures that he has put enough distance between himself and the family so they don’t see what happens to the doctor at sunset. Suddenly a burst of flame shoots across the sky. Bruce wonders where the flames came from. Pyro stands behind Bruce and says that they came from him. He says that it is to let the others know that he found him. Pyro tells Bruce to be cool or he will make him hot under the collar. Bruce knees Pyro in the groin and runs. Pyro says that he is going to puke. He says that he thought Banner was the wimpy half. Commando throws a knife on the ground before Banner. He says that is far enough. Bruce picks up the knife and tells Commando to get out of his way. Commando says that was supposed to be a warning, not a weapon for a helpless scientist. Commando tosses Banner into Blob and tells Blob that he took his time. Blob says that he isn’t built for speed, just power. Banner rockets off Blob’s stomach and into some wreckage from one of the houses. Blob says to signal the transport. He says that Banner didn’t put up a bad fight, and that Pyro will be singing soprano for a week. Blob says that Banner surprised him. Hulk stands up amongst the wreckage. He says that he and Banner are just full of surprises. Hulk says, “Now… who are you, lardo?” Blob asks if he has actually forgotten him. Hulk says that he thought he was the guy that played Roseanne Barr’s husband. Hulk hits Blob. Blob’s head wobbles for a minute, but then stops. Blob says that he was nervous for a minute, but now he sees there was no need. Blob tells Hulk that no force on Earth can move him. Hulk asks if his best shot would do it. Blob tells Hulk to give him his best shot and that he is unmovable. Hulk says that is good and tells him not to move. Hulk leaps away. Pyro shoots flames up into the sky. Hulk passes through the flames. Hulk says that he is blinded and on fire. Hulk gets up ready to kill Pyro, but then a large fire monster rushes Hulk and hits him. Hulk thought that this was a guy like the torch, but that it is actually made of fire. Pyro tells Blob and Commando to hurry and that his creature won’t hold up long. Commando leaps on Hulk and tells him to surrender. He says that they don’t want to hurt him. Hulk says that is a relief. He picks Commando off his back and tosses him into some wreckage. Commando says that this is insane. He says that it is like Woody Allen fighting Mike Tyson.

Pyro’s fire monster hits Hulk. Hulk says that he has had it with “smoky”. Hulk rips up some concrete and smothers the oxygen around the monster snuffing it out. Hulk walks into Pyro’s flame. He sees the FF on his chest and asks if that stands for “French Fried”. Hulk says that his flame slowed him down before, but that was then and this is now. Hulk says that Pyro is toast, but then Blob grabs Hulk from behind. Blob says that now it is strength against strength. Blob says that with the way Hulk is now that he is no match for him. He says that he is barely stronger than him when he was green. Hulk breaks Blob’s grip and says, “I hate that! I hate it when I’m compared to him! You blew it, Lard-Butt! Y’hacked me off!” Hulk gets up in Blob’s face and shouts, “No more Mr. Nice Guy!” Hulk grabs two handfuls of Blob’s fat stomach and says, “Immovable, Blob? Can’t be hurt, Blob? Let’s test that out.” Hulk starts walking backward and pulling Blob’s stomach further and further away from him. Blob says that isn’t how his power works and that Hulk is hurting him. Hulk says that it is Blob’s power and his pain. He asks if he thinks he cares. Hulk says that when he mixes it up with him that he takes what he gets, and that what he gets is beaten. Blob shouts that he will kill Hulk. He leaps into the air and is pulled toward Hulk. Hulk says that he was hoping he would try that. Hulk punches Blob into the air as he comes down. Hulk leaps up onto Blob’s back and starts hitting him. Hulk says that he is fine absorbing punches on the ground, but that without the ground to anchor him that he isn’t such hot stuff. Hulk says that speaking of hot stuff that they’re going to drop in on French Fry. Hulk and Blob bounce off Pyro and knock him unconscious. Hulk leaps off Blob. As Blob is coming down he sees Hulk waiting for him with a steel beam for a bat. Hulk hits him like a baseball. Blob flies through the air. He says that he hates this and that he is going to kill Mystique.

Blob hits Charlie and Margaret’s house. The house comes down on Jack. Margaret shouts Jack’s name. Hulk remembers that Jack is the kid with the glasses. Hulk starts digging him out. He says that he is fine and that he has to be fine. Commando tells Hulk that they have unfinished business. Hulk says to stuff his business and that there is a kid trapped in there. Commando asks why Hulk cares. Hulk says that he doesn’t know, but that he does. Commando says that he does too and starts helping. Commando spots Jack and tells Hulk to get an ambulance. Hulk leaps over with an ambulance pressed over his head. He tells everyone to get in. Commando says that he is sorry for what happened and that he is scared to think that they are responsible for the boy. Hulk says that it is a scary world. Commando says that Hulk is right. Hulk hits Commando and knocks him out. He picks the ambulance back up once everyone is in it. As he leaps away he says, “Especially with me in it.”

No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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