Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #370Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #370
Title: “Strange Matters”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Dale Keown
Inker: Bob McLeod
Colors: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
It is just before dawn in New York City and the Hulk is leaping along. Hulk says that he is almost in Connecticut, but that he has to stop leaping since he doesn’t want to change into Banner as he leaps. Hulk lands on top of a building. He looks across the alley and sees bolts streaming from one of the windows. Hulk leaps onto the fire escape outside the window and climbs in. Hulk wonders what is causing it, and then wonders why he even cares. Down on the street a lone figure watches the Hulk entering the window. He says that every time he is inclined to dismiss the idea of fate something like this happens. Namor says that he finds it hard to believe that it is a coincidence that both he and the Hulk were drawn to this building on the same night.
Inside the apartment, Hulk shields his eyes
from the bolts. He says that the sounds are deafening and yet he
doesn’t hear anything. Hulk finally hears a voice. Hulk
looks over and sees Dr. Strange’s astral form fighting with
two giant hands that are reaching out of the apartment’s
closet. Strange is telling the “darksome one” that it
will harm no innocents nor have any dominion there. Hulk suddenly
says, “Strange! Doc Strange! How’s it goin’
Steve?” Strange looks over distracted. One of the giant
hands grabs Strange. Strange thanks Hulk for distracting him as
the hand pulls him into the closet. Hulk leaps in after Strange.
He finds himself in total darkness. Hulk hears Strange doing an
incantation. As Strange is flying by him Hulk manages to grab his
foot. Strange seems to be unconscious, but then Hulk realizes
that he is holding Strange'’ astral form and that he
shouldn't be able to do that. Hulk also realizes that both he and
Strange are much heavier than normal. Hulk says that he can still
move. A voice says, “Wait! I need you!” Hulk says that
he needs him like a hole in the head. Hulk throws Strange right
up and out of the closet door. Hulk leaps up to the door, but one
of the giant hands grabs him. Hulk grabs a finger and breaks it.
Hulk gets one hand to the outside of the closet door, but then
the other giant hand grabs him. In the apartment, Namor grabs
Hulk’s wrist to anchor him. Hulk punches the arm and then
kicks himself loose. Namor pulls Hulk out of the closet. Hulk
kicks the closet door closed. 
Hulk sees Namor
and says that he wondered who could throw him around like a poker
chip. Namor says that when he saw Hulk entering the building that
he thought back to their days in the Defenders. Hulk asks Namor
what they should do with Strange, but then remembers that he is
the only one who can see Strange in his astral form. Hulk tries
to pick up Strange again, but his hands pass right through him.
Strange’s form sinks through the floor.
Hulk says that he thought Namor was dead. Namor says that Hulk is supposed to be dead as well and recalls that Strange recently had a funeral as well. Namor says that the three of them are very proficient liars. Strange asks Hulk what he saw within. Hulk pulls a chicken leg out of the fridge and starts eating it. Hulk says that he isn’t sure, but that everything was denser, compressed, and reversed. Suddenly Hulk doubles over in pain. Namor offers to help, but Hulk says that this is a pain that he knows. Hulk turns back into Bruce Banner. Namor apologizes and says that he wasn’t expecting Hulk to change, as there was no emotional change. Bruce explains that they switch at sunrise and sunset. Bruce compliments Namor’s suit. Namor says that humans have pathetic bodies, but that they know how to clothe them. Namor says that Bruce is looking more buff since the last time they met. Bruce says that he had not noticed. Bruce suggests that they go to Strange’s house and wait for him there. Namor says that he will have to make some shifts in his schedule, but that this seems worthwhile. Namor flies Bruce to Strange’s house.
The female nurses at the hospital are all drooling at Doc Samson’s recent arrival. Samson is sitting at the bedside of Jack, the boy from last issue. Samson says that they were dealing with Bruce Banner. He says that Jack is lucky to be alive. Jack’s dad says that he thought the Hulk was dumb and green. He asks how he became smart and gray. Samson says that it is kind of complicated and that even he isn’t sure he understands it. Samson asks if they are sure that Bruce didn’t say where he was going. Jack’s dad says that he didn’t breathe a word of it to them. Samson says that he is going to get going, but tells Jack that they toy car he is playing with is “pretty sharp”. Jack’s dad says that the other government man gave it to him. Samson asks what man that is. They say that he was a big guy like Samson, that he had a beard, and that he said he was undercover.
Strange’s astral form is floating back to his home. Banner and Namor knock on the door. Wong answers the door and introduces his fiancée. Wong is about to introduce Strange’s newest disciple Rintrah, but Namor spots Rintrah’s unusual appearance and leaps at him thinking it an attack. Wong stops it and make the introductions. Namor says that Rintrah is a departure from Clea. Strange’s astral from descends into his body. As he thinks about how odd that encounter was he says that at least the mystic wards he left there will prevent it from leaving or anyone else from entering. Strange walks down the stairs to find Banner and Namor waiting for him. Strange says that they have much to discuss. Bruce interrupts and asks if there is someplace that he could lay down and get some rest first. Strange says that he can, and notes that Bruce has a nasty scar on his neck. Bruce says that he hadn’t noticed it before. Strange says that he will look at it later and tells Bruce to get some rest.
Samson is walking down the street and sees a car that looks exactly like the one that Jack was playing with. Samson yells for the car to hold it, but the car starts to speed up towards Samson. Samson says that if they veer left or right he will leap onto them, and that they will learn what happens if they try to run him down. The car hits Samson and sends him flying into the air. The car drives off as Samson lies in the street passing out.
Bruce has been lying in bed staring at the ceiling for two hours. He says that this insomnia is becoming chronic. Bruce wonders if that is what is making him so irritable these days. Bruce says that he feels that scar itching now that Strange mentioned it. Bruce puts his shirt on and walks downstairs. Namor says that they all know what happened, but not why. Strange says that there is more than magic at work here. He says that he had passed through hundreds of sorceress dimensions, but that this was different. Bruce says that he thinks it was Strange Matter. Bruce explains that the density of this other dimension sounds like something that he theorized about in college at Cal-Tech. He says that it is infinitely more dense than real matter, and that it is theorized that it could be a valuable energy source. Radical theories suggest that because of its superior efficiency that the Strange universe has more right to exist than our universe. Strange says that this bears investigating, and that they could use the Hulk for this. He suggests that he could mystically summon the Hulk forth. Bruce says that he wouldn’t suggest it, as sunlight is anathema, and that he might not want to cooperate. Strange suggests that Bruce try to convince him. Strange says that he can arrange a “conference call”. Namor says that it is a good thing that the Silver Surfer isn’t there. He says that he always found it hard to swallow that the Earth would be destroyed if the four of them ever got together. Strange says that he did too, and so he went and investigated it and discovered that it was all a cosmic hoax. Namor asks why Strange didn’t tell them months ago. Strange says that quite frankly the peace and quiet was a welcome change. Strange puts Bruce under and opens up a pathway to the dark side of his mind.
Hulk and Bruce stand together in the
mindscape. Hulk asks what Bruce wants. Bruce says that the
Defenders need their help. Hulk says that he already saved
Strange once today, and that considering Strange is the one who
dumped in the Crossroads a while ago that it was very nice of
him. Hulk says that he figured that he owed Strange one for all
the times that he was nice to him. Bruce says that is a big step
for Hulk, but that they also have an obligation to stay and
investigate the Strange Matter world. Hulk asks what about their
obligation to Betty. Hulk says, “Remember her? Our…
your wife. What about her?” Bruce says that they will get to
her. Hulk says that “Steve and Fish Face” can play
hero, as can lots of people, but that only Bruce can go to his
wife. Hulk says that he thinks that Bruce is afraid to find
Betty. Bruce says that is ridiculous. Hulk says that he thinks
Bruce is afraid to find that Betty doesn’t love him anymore,
and that maybe she’ll love him now instead. Bruce tells Hulk
to shut up. Hulk says that he and Betty did get pretty chummy up
on those cliffs. 
Bruce starts
yelling at Hulk, but then both of them notice a gigantic door
blocking the road. Hulk suggests that it is a mental block. Bruce
says that Hulk is a real riot and tells him to move it. Hulk
says, “no way”. Bruce asks if Hulk isn’t curious.
Hulk tells Bruce to open it himself. Bruce says that he
doesn’t have the strength, but Hulk says that you don’t
need strength only guts. Bruce says that Hulk supposedly has
both, and that he is a coward for shying away. Hulk asks if Bruce
has a death wish. Bruce says that Hulk can’t hurt him
because Hulk needs him. A voice says, “No you don’t.
You don’t need him Hulk… when you’ve got
me…” The two giant black hands from before come out of
Bruce’s back. Back in the real world the lights go black.
Strange yells for Bruce to wake up. The two hands grab
Bruce’s body. Back in the mindscape, the hands are grabbing
the Hulk. Bruce shouts for Strange’s help. Strange tries to
complete an incantation, but Bruce has already transformed into a
black version of the Hulk. The “Hulk” tells Strange to
go ahead and finish his incantation for all the good it will do
him. He says that he will conquer it as he did his light and how
he will to his universe. Namor asks Strange if he is sure that
the “end of the world” business wasn’t a cosmic
hoax after all.
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
A 4.5 for both the writing and the art. A reunion of the Defenders and a trip inside the Hulk’s mind- how can you get better than that? Well my only critiques are that the Defenders are a little too pleasant with each other. Perhaps whatever drew them all to that apartment made them get along better. True Defenders attitude came out later when Strange says that he didn’t bother to tell them that the curse was a cosmic hoax because he enjoyed the quiet and when Hulk says that he already saved Strange once today and that was nice of him considering how Strange dumped him at the Crossroads. What is truly amazing is how fast Dale Keown has adapted to the Hulk book. His first issue was a little rough, but the very next issue was much better. My only critique with him this issue is that some of his faces need a little work.