Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #372

Title: “He’s Back”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Dale Keown

Inker: Bob McLeod

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Bobbie Chase

Prometheus speeds along in his car. He radios in to the Mount that he thinks he is closing in or Target Banner. He asks if they copy. Prometheus starts insulting them which brings someone to the microphone. He says that Delphi told him that Banner’s wife was in Connecticut, and that is obviously where he is heading. Prometheus says that it is annoying to track a guy all the way from the Midwest and then find out he is going where you knew he had reason to go in the first place. Prometheus says live and learn and he speeds over the railroad tracks right in front of a speeding train.

Bruce Banner knocks on the door to the convent. A nun answers. Bruce says that he is there to see Betty Banner and that it is very important. The nun says that Sister Elizabeth is postulant at the convent, and that she has made it clear that she wishes to see no one. Bruce tries to explain that he is her husband, but the nun cuts him off and says that he is the latest of a hundred reporters that has a new excuse to see her. She says that Elizabeth has been through enough and that he should leave before she calls the authorities. The nun slams the door in Bruce’s face.

Bruce leaps over the fence. He says that they can refuse to see him and hang up on him, but that they can’t keep him out. Bruce’s shirt rips up the back. Bruce remembers the scar Dr. Strange said was on his back. He says that he hopes it isn’t noticeable.

A little kid sees Bruce running through the yard. She says that she doesn’t think that man is supposed to be there. She says that she is telling.

The priest says that he has to get a new watch as he quickly drives his car. He says that the sisters are going to be upset over his tardiness, and that they are so punctual about taking confession. The priest wonders if it is okay for him to break the speed limit on a holy mission. The priest gets cut off by Prometheus’ red car. The priest’s car hits a pole and his head slumps onto the steering wheel.

Bruce walks into some kind of chapel. He thinks to himself that this is ridiculous, and that Betty could be anywhere. Bruce hears someone coming. He opens and door to hide. He realizes that he is hiding in a confessional. Betty Banner sits in the other side. She tells the Father to forgive her because she has sinned. Betty says that she has worked hard and prayed for guidance. She says that she has had such a difficult life. She says that she lost her mother, was sent to boarding school, returned to live with a father who was a stranger to her. She says that her whole life has been unbalanced. She says that she has spent it seeking constancy and steadiness, but that she has never found it. Betty says that instead of finding that she is always losing. She says that she has loved three men and lost all of them. She says that she lost her baby and her very identity. She says that she has been a student, an air force brat, daughter, wife, ex-wife, madwoman, and that she lost Betty Ross somewhere. She says that the identities, the deaths, and the monsters killed Betty. She says that she was in the hospital after losing her baby and that the nuns were so nice to her. She says that there was a picture of Jesus on the wall and she thought, “Of course. That’s what I’ve needed in my life. The church I’ve ignored for so many years. I need love of spirit rather than flesh.” Bruce starts crying as Betty continues, “I need peace. No more hopeless love. No more monsters. Just sweet blessed peace.” She says that her time at the convent has been everything she hoped for. She says that after all the running, horror, confusion, and uncertainty that there is peace there. Tears roll down Banner’s eyes as Betty says, “Devotion and thankfulness. No uncertainty or monsters. No Bruce Banner.” Bruce weakly says that he is happy for her. Betty is about to tell him that she has more to say, but she pokes her head out to see what the ruckus is. One of the sisters tells her that little Rachael saw a man climbing over the fence. She says that she has called the police, but that most of them are chasing an insane driver who got Father Lowry into an accident. Betty says that she was just giving her confession to Father Lowry. She looks back at the confessional to find it empty.

Bruce sits by lake. He says that she hates him. He says that he can’t blame her after everything he has done to her. He says that he has invaded every aspect of her… her mind and body. He says that he has put her through every torture imaginable. Bruce sees Hulk’s reflection in the water and says that he has had some help. Bruce thinks about his life with Betty and decides that it would be the height of selfishness to try and bring her back to him. He says that she is married to him, but that a nun can’t be married. He says that she is living a lie, but thinks that he is officially dead and that the two of them probably aren’t married. Bruce says that she is happy and at peace. He asks how he can rob her of that.

Betty walks into the Mother Superior’s office. The Mother Superior asks Betty why she has changed her clothes. Betty says that she is leaving the convent. She says that is what she was starting to tell who she thought was Father Lowry. The Mother Superior asks Betty if something has made her unhappy. Betty says that they have been so wonderful. She says that she has found peace there, but that she isn’t happy. Betty says that it is Bruce. She says that she has heard reports here and there about Bruce or the Hulk being seen here and there. She says that she doesn’t lend them much credence, but that she can’t stop hoping and praying. She says that she can’t help loving him, even though it is hopeless. Betty says that a stranger in a confessional reminded her of him. She says that she can’t love Jesus with all her heart because her heart is already bound to someone else. Betty says that she has come to realize that she doesn’t want to. The Mother Superior says that when she was a teacher at the boarding school that a young Betty Ross was sent to that she saw a fire in her eyes. She says that now when their paths have crossed years later that the fire she saw is gone. She says that she didn’t know if the church was the truth for her, but that she was willing to give her the chance and that she knew she would find the answer. Betty says that she hasn’t found the answer. The Mother Superior says that she knows that it isn’t here, but in her. She says that she thinks she sees, if not a fire, then at least a spark.

Prometheus ditches the crashed police cars.

Bruce is walking. He sees Betty out of her habit and getting into a cab. Bruce calls the convent and asks if Betty Ross is there. The Mother Superior says that she has left the order for personal reasons. Bruce says that he is from Ace Cabs. Bruce says that he is the dispatcher. He says that one of their drivers picked her up, but that they have to record of the destination. The Mother Superior says that she believes that her destination was the Amtrak station. She asks why he doesn’t just radio the cab, but Bruce has hung up. Bruce flags down a car. He asks where the Amtrak station is. The man starts to give him directions, but Bruce says that it is an emergency and asks the man if he will drive him. The man asks if he is nuts and says that he has an appointment. Bruce says that he does to. He grabs the man and throws him to the ground. He gets in the car and drives off. Bruce thinks to himself that Betty left for him and that he can feel it. He says that he won’t let anything keep them apart a moment longer. Prometheus’ car pulls into Bruce’s rear view mirror. Bruce says that he has been a fool and that he should have been devoting all his energy into finding her. He says that he has been afraid of subjecting her to life with him again. He says that they will work it out and all that matters is that they are together. Prometheus’ car drives Bruce’s car off the road

Betty buys a ticket to the next train, which is going to New York. The man tells Betty that it leaves in five minutes.

Bruce gets out of the car and starts running toward the train station. He shouts for Betty, but Betty doesn’t hear him. The insane car is drowning him out. Prometheus blocks Bruce’s path. Bruce tries to run another way, but Prometheus sprays the ground with oil and causes Bruce to trip. Prometheus a strange plastic looking bag over Bruce. Prometheus says that he has Banner, and that since it is in the middle of the day that they don’t have to worry about the Hulk poking his gray face into it. Prometheus starts to drive and drags Bruce behind him. Bruce says that he has put up with everything, gone through everything, but not this. He says that he won’t lose her again. He says anything but that. Bruce manages to break through the bag. Prometheus says that he doesn’t like that at all. He says that Banner looks like he is ready to jump out of his skin. Bruce looks at the car and says that he doesn’t know who he is, but that he doesn’t care. He say that he is sick of being kicked and shoved around and treated like dirt. He says that he has had it and that he wants Betty. Bruce says that he won’t stop him and to get out of his way. Bruce is hit with a pain. Bruce says, “My body! What’s happening to my… NO! I don’t care! It won’t keep me from Betty! She’s mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!! Mine!! Mine!!” Banner’s skin rips apart as giant green muscles break through. The Hulk shouts, “MINE. And no one can take… what is Hulk’s! No one!” Prometheus tells the Mount that they may have a problem. He says that he is switching to full offensive mode. Prometheus shoots fire out of his car at Hulk. Hulk grunts. Prometheus fires a pulse blast into Hulk’s stomach. Prometheus says that the flame/pulse blasts seem to have softened him. Hulk says that the car thought that it could hurt him, but that car is only stupid machine. Hulk says that it can’t bleed, just break. Hulk pushes the ground up to block the car’s attacks. Hulk says that it can’t die, just stop. Hulk says that if there is a stinking human inside the car that the human can be hurt, and bleed, and die. Hulk says that he will make sure he does. Prometheus lets loose a green gas that fills the air. He fires a bunch of grappling hooks that grab Hulk and electrocute him. Prometheus starts to drive, but Hulk grabs the ground and breaks the cables holding him. He says that no one takes Hulk where he doesn’t want to go. Prometheus uses an ice ray. Hulk is coated in ice. Banner tells Hulk not to lose consciousness of he will revert to him. The gray Hulk asks Banner what he expected letting that brainless fool out. He says that the two of them can’t even begin to top him. Hulk breaks out of the ice. Hulk tells the human that it is time to hurt, bleed, and die. Prometheus rams Hulk and knocks him over, but Hulk grabs the underside of the car and presses it over his head. Hulk says that machines aren’t stupid enough to try and kill him by running him over, and that it must be a puny human inside. Hulk leaps into the air still holding Prometheus’ car.

Betty hands her bag over to the man on the train. She wonders why she feels uneasy. She says that it is like she is supposed to be seeing something.

Hulk throws the car. Prometheus tells the Mount that he is in emergency retreat mode. He says that his weapons would have taken out the gray Hulk, but that instead he is using the emergency afterburners. The Mount tells Prometheus the afterburner will exhaust his onboard capabilities. Prometheus says that he doesn’t have much choice right now. He says that if the green guy is back that they will need the whole Pantheon to bring him down. Prometheus’ car flies away. Hulk lands, glad that the car is gone, but thinks that there was something else. He says that it is hard to remember. Hulk turns back into Bruce Banner. Bruce looks over and sees the train taking off. He runs after the train, but it pulls away. Bruce say that it can’t happen again. He tells himself to get angry and that the Hulk can catch her. Bruce asks if it has come to him wishing for the Hulk. He asks for a shred of happiness. Bruce looks up when someone calls his name. Bruce sees Betty. They run together and kiss.

No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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