Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #381Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #381
Title: “Exposition”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Dale Keown
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colors: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Hulk is suspended in the air by numerous cables as the Pantheon ship flies along. Ajax comes up to the “unconscious” Hulk. He says that Hulk thought he was tougher than he was, but that they beat him and that he shouldn’t have hurt Atalanta. He is screaming at Hulk in his childish slurred speech. Achilles tells Ajax to come away from there. He says that if Hulk wakes up and tries to escape that the neural disrupter bonds will shock him back into unconsciousness. Achilles tells Ajax that someone wants to see him. Hulk thinks to himself for them to get out of there. He says that the bonds might knock him out, but that he never lost consciousness in the first place. He says that he just pretended to lose consciousness to avoid a pointless fistfight. He says that the savage Hulk never would have thought of that and that the gray Hulk’s pride would never let him actually go through with it, but that he is a new Hulk and a new Bruce Banner and that means this is a whole new ballgame.
Achilles takes Ajax to see Atalanta. He is excited that she is okay and says that he saved her. Atalanta says that she is pretty sturdy and that she always has him watching her back. Ajax says that he is glad that she is feeling better and that he doesn’t know what he would do if anything happened to her. Atalanta tells Ajax not to worry so. She says that she has been in lots of fight and that this one was tame in comparison. Hector says that this fight was unnecessary in comparison. He turns to Achilles and says that he was supposed to control Ajax. He says that he was supposed to be a last resort and that people could have been hurt. Achilles says that he couldn’t care less and that he has problems of his own. He says that the Hulk actually made him feel pain, and that never happened to him in his entire life. Hector and Achilles start to argue, but Ajax yells at them to be quiet. He says that Atalanta could have been hurt and that is all that matters. Tears roll down Ajax’s face. Hulk says that the big one is crying and wonders who these guys are.
Back at Rick Jones’ apartment, Rick is standing with a guy looking at the hole in his wall. The guy asks if a tank went through there. Rick says that it was a scientist and asks how much it will be. The guy starts to say that it will be a couple of thousand, but when Rick says that he will include an autographed picture of Captain America the man says that it will be a couple of hundred. Marlo is watering Rick’s plants. Rick says that they should get out of there and go catch a sneak peak of the new James Spader movie at the Triplex. Marlo says that if it is so snaky how does Rick know about it. Rick says that he was warned by his Spader sense. Betty’s expression doesn’t change. Rick says that Bruce will be back and that Betty knows that. Betty says that she does know that, but that she doesn’t know how pleased she is about it. Rick says that Betty doesn’t mean that. Betty says that she can’t stay there anymore and that she doesn’t want to be an imposition. Rick says that it isn’t an imposition. Betty says that she has lived on army bases, super-secret headquarters, and a convent. She says that she wants to live someplace normal. Rick says that his place is normal. Marlo opens Rick’s closet and a bunch of what looks like Rom armor falls out. Betty says that she is getting her things. Rick asks where she will go. Betty says that she has no idea, but Marlo says that she is looking for a roommate.
The Pantheon’s ship is approaching the
Mount. Ulysses says that he is at the helm. Paris is in the Mount
and replies to Ulysses. Ulysses says that they have met with
success. Paris says, “Huh-zah, huh-zah. I’ll alert the
media.” Ulysses says that it is nice to have support from
the home front. He tells them to prepare to receive them. Paris
tells a tech to ready to the bay doors, but only to open them on
his order. The ship begins its descent. One of the techs aboard
the ship asks if the bay doors shouldn’t be opening by now.
Inside the Mount the tech asks if they shouldn’t be opening
the doors by now. Paris says, “All things in their proper
times, Winston.” On the ship, the tech says that maybe there
is a mechanical problem. Ulysses says that the only problem is
that Paris is playing chicken with him. He says that he
doesn’t have the guts to keep the doors closed. Both techs
tell Ulysses and Paris that the ship is going to crash. Hector
comes in and asks what all the shouting is about. Paris says that
it is a nice day out. Hector yells at Paris and says that if he
doesn’t open the doors that he is going to measure him for
an Armani coffin. Paris says that they heard him and to open the
doors. Hector says that they aren’t going to make it.
Ulysses says that is all relative. The ship makes it through the
opening, but the wings are clipped off. As the ship skids along
the ground Ulysses says, “See? Child’s play.”
Hector tells Ulysses that he never liked him. As the ship skids
along, Hulk tears the neural disrupters loose from their
connections. The ship crashes into a wall and stops. Hector is
still yelling at Ulysses about he and Paris. Ulysses says that
they will deal with Paris later. Achilles says that they have to
go attend to Banner. 
Hulk steps
through the doorway out of the ship and says that he can attend
to himself just fine, and that now he is going to attend to them.
Atalanta says that they have a problem. Hulk smiles.
Marlo says that they have a mutual problem, and that maybe they can help each other out. Betty says that they only have one thing “mutual” about them and that she would just as soon they didn’t have that in common. Betty tells Marlo to keep her charity. Marlo says that it isn’t charity and that she needs a roomie to help pay bills. Betty says that she is married. Marlo says that Bruce has a tendency to disappear for days, weeks, and even months at a time. She asks if she is just going to put her life on hold every time Bruce disappears. Betty says that she doesn’t have a life outside of Bruce. Marlo asks if Betty doesn’t think that she should get one.
Ulysses says that Dr. Banner strikes him as
a reasonable man. Banner says to ask anyone if he is a sucker and
a pushover. He says to ask anyone but him. Hulk whips the
restraints into Ulysses’ back and asks how he strikes him
now. Ajax tells them to let him through. Hulk says that Ajax is
getting very old very fast. Hulk grabs Ajax and throws him across
the room. Paris enters the room with some soldiers. The soldiers
blast Hulk in the chest with pulse cannons. Hulk tells no one to
move because he lost a contact lens. Paris says to shoot again.
Hulk yells that they are moving and that those contact lens cost
money. Hulk claps his hands and knocks the soldiers off their
feet. Ulysses hits Hulk with his energy sword and says that he
doesn’t understand this. He says that he claims to be Bruce
Banner, and asks why he is being so unreasonable. Hulk tries to
punch Ulysses, but Ulysses blocks with an energy shield. Hulk
says that Bruce Banner spent years being reasonable and that
people stepped on his face. Hulk says that taught him a valuable
lesson. Ajax picks Hulk up off the ground from behind in a
bearhug. Hulk says that he wasn’t done talking. Ajax says
that he was, but Hulk kicks backward into Ajax causing him to
drop him. Hulk says that he wasn’t done. Hulk says that Ajax
is tough, but punches him in the face and drops him. Hulk asks
who is next. He says that Bruce Banner could never revel in the
Hulk’s enjoyment of beating on his enemies until now, and he
tells them to help him celebrate. 
A booming voice
behind Hulk says, “That is more than enough, Doctor
Banner!” Hulk asks if that is the big boss behind him.
Ulysses says, “You could say that.” Hulk turns to see
an incredibly tall bald old man. He yells at them that he sent
them out for a new recruit and all they can do is squabble. He
says that it is embarrassing and asks them how they expect to
save the world when they can’t even keep order among
themselves. Agamemnon introduces himself to Doctor Banner. Hulk
asks if Agamemnon is spelled with two “m’s”
Ulysses says that it is, but that they aren’t together.
Hector says to call him Aggy the way they all do. Bruce says that
Aggy isn’t casting a shadow and says that he is not real.
Agamemnon says that reality is a state of mind. He shrinks down
to his normal around six-foot height. He says that
“Aggy” is not very respectful, and that he does prefer
Agamemnon. Hulk says, “Bullfinch”. Aggy begs
Hulk’s pardon. Bruce says that Bullfinch’s mythology is
the only place that he ever encountered the name Agamemnon. Bruce
asks if Aggy is claiming to be that Agamemnon. Aggy says that he
isn’t confirming or denying, but that there is too much
about them that he doesn’t know about them. Aggy offers to
show Bruce around under his promise of safe conduct. Hulk asks
who is safe from who. As they walk off, Ulysses smacks Paris for
the stunt with the bay doors.
Agamemnon walks with Hulk following him. He says that the Mount is a self-contained world with over 1500 people living there. He says that they have every requirement, comfort, and defense. He says that one third of the population are nuclear families, and that during the day the children are cared for. He says that sometimes on missions that they come across orphans and take them in as well. Aggy says that they have farming and hydroponics facilities. He says that they grow their own food and that most of them are vegetarians. Bruce asks what happens if they get a real craving for beef. Aggy says that they can be very creative. Aggy shows Bruce their fully equipped science facilities and says that they are light years ahead of what is currently considered advanced. He says that they nearly have AIDS cured. He shows Bruce the armory and says that their offensive and defensive capabilities is quite formidable. Hulk notices a stealth bomber hanging from the ceiling. Agamemnon walks through a closed door and says that this is their nerve center. The door opens and Hulk walks through. He says that he didn’t catch that last part. Agamemnon says that this is their window to all over the world. He says that it has taken him centuries to develop it. Hulk asks if Agamemnon is a ghost because he is centuries old. Agamemnon explains that he is immortal. He says that his mother was an Earth woman, and that his father was a god. Agamemnon asks if Hulk believes in gods. Hulk says that he has met a few of them. Agamemnon says that Hulk is seeing his holographic image, and that he resides in the bowels of the Mount where no one is allowed to go. He says that he uses this hologram to communicate with those that help him with his dream. Aggy says that he has been observing the human condition for centuries, and that in that time he has assumed dozens of identities and fathered hundreds of children that all have a touch of godhood about them. Agamemnon says that Hulk fought a few of them. The ones that tried to recruit him. Bruce asks what they are trying to recruit him for. Agamemnon says that they are a giant think-tank. He says that they observe the world, look for potential disasters, and then take steps to avert them. Bruce says that he has other things to worry about. He says that he will pass. Agamemnon asks if he other things like this in mind, and he has every screen within the control center picture a different scene of destruction. Bruce asks what happened to cause all that destruction. Agamemnon says, “You happened, Doctor Banner. This is file footage selected from your years of destruction and rampage.” Aggy says that destruction is his specialty from gamma bombs to what he himself has done. Bruce stammers, “I… I didn’t intend to. I wasn’t in control… And I was pardoned…” Aggy asks Bruce if he thinks that he will be pardoned again after the destruction that happened last time. He says that he thinks that Bruce will be hounded to the end of his days. Aggy says that Bruce can return to his world and live the life of a fugitive, destroying more lives, or he can join up with them and do something with his life.”
No Excuses rating: 8.5 out of 10
Well the Pantheon is much more likeable in this issue than they were in #379. You get to see their general layout, some of their inner rivalries, and their goals. I like the character of Agamemnon. And I think that he makes a good argument for why the Hulk should join up with them. The issue is funny and entertaining to read- a Peter David combination. Dale Keown does another amazing job. His size and scope work so well with his style and ability to work a story that it is hard for me to imagine a better Hulk artist out there. People say that Keown is a Byrne clone, but I think that his style elevates him over Byrne. Byrne has a tendency to draw many people in a very similar manner. Keown’s ability to draw many faces distances himself from Byrne in my opinion.