Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #386

Title: “Little Hitler”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Dale Keown

Inker: Mark Farmer

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Bobbie Chase

Delphi kneels naked by the side of her pool. Her eyes open wide as she says, “Gods of earth and gods of air… I see chaos everywhere. Future horrors do congeal… humans crushed beneath the heel… of a ruler now unknown… for he is not fully grown… nothing stops his conquest drive… no more heroes left alive… no free women, no free men… no more freedom known again… no more… NO MORE!” Delphi sees visions of a man saluting in a hail and holding a burning American flag. She sees prisoners being walked along by storm troopers. Delphi screams.

Ulysses is walking with Achilles and they hear Delphi scream. Ulysses says that sounds like a bad one and says that he had better see what made her scream like that. Achilles says that Ulysses is going to stay put. He says that if Delphi is future casting then she is naked. He says that he knows how Ulysses feels about her, and that the last thing they need is to have Ulysses hormones in overdrive. Ulysses asks if Achilles thinks that all he cares about is that she is naked. Achilles says yes. Ulysses says, “Yeah, well… maybe.”

Achilles rushes to Delphi’s side. He asks her what she saw and how far into the future. Delphi says that it was thirty or forty years. She asks if he knew that killing one child would prevent millions of deaths… would you kill him. Achilles looks ahead.

Rick stands on stage singing “King Jack”. Marlo and Betty sit at a table in the crowd. Marlo says that they aren’t bad. She says that the drummer looks like “Albert” from the television show Twin Peaks. Betty says that Albert was homely, and that this guy is cute. Marlo is stunned and says that Betty Banner actually said something nice about a guy. She says that Betty is coming out of her emotional coma. Betty smiles and says that he winked at her. Hulk stands alone at the bar. The bartender asks him what he feels like. Bruce says, “An outsider”. The bartender says that he meant what he felt like drinking. Suddenly, Hulk sees Agamemnon standing there and Hulk asks him what he is doing there. The bartender says that he works there. Hulk says that he didn’t mean him and points to where he sees Agamemnon. The bartender says that maybe he shouldn’t have a drink. He says that he’s wearing green body paint and having hallucinations. Hulk asks Agamemnon why the bartenders didn’t see him. Agamemnon says that he is keyed to Banner’s brainwave pattern and that only he can see or hear him. Agamemnon says that the Pantheon needs him. Bruce says that what he needs is to try and put his life back together with Betty. He says that he is skulking like Emil Blonsky. Hulk tells Agamemnon to find someone else to do what he needs done. Agamemnon says that they did. He says that they used Achilles, but that he believes he has gone renegade. Rick kisses Marlo. He says that he is glad the doctors took that bandage off her head and that it made her look butt-ugly. Marlo calls Rick a flatterer. Marlo says that she only had the bandage on her head because she watched him die on TV. She says that if he dies again that he had better stay dead, or she will kill him for putting her through that. Marlo says that she can’t believe she can joke about it. Betty asks Rick what it was like being dead. Rick starts to joke, but Marlo smacks him in the head and makes him promise not to scare her like that again. Rick promises. He looks up and sees Hulk motioning to him. Rick says that he has to go and kisses Marlo’s forehead. Marlo asks if he has to go now. Rick says that something has come up. He says that they can drive his car home and asks Marlo to get his guitar.

In Jerusalem, Ambassador Meer is welcomed on behalf of the Israeli government. He is told that they are pleased that the Republic of Draburg has chosen to establish relations with them. Mr. Rabin apologizes for the unpleasantness in Tel Aviv. Mr. Meer asks if they caught the man yet. Mr. Rabin says that they haven’t, nor do they know why he attacked his family. He says that they have their best agent, Sabra, on the case. Mr. Rabin says to Mrs. Meer that he understands that she is an American. She says that she was. She says that she went to Draburg on a student visa and fell in love with the country and its people. She looks at her husband and says, “Certain people in particular”. Mr. Rabin asks who this is. Mrs. Meer says that this is their son Max. She says that he is a little tired from the plane trip, and that he has been getting a lot of headaches lately. Max shakes Mr. Rabin’s hand.

Achilles watches from outside the embassy’s gate.

On a Pantheon jet, Hulk tells Agamemnon to tell him what this is all about. Rick asks Bruce who he is talking to. Hulk says that he is talking to the holographic image of a man that only he can see. Rick says that is cool and asks if he looks like Dean Stockwell. Agamemnon appears to Hulk as well and says that he looks like this. Agamemnon asks Hulk if he could go back in time and kill Adolf Hitler as a child would he do it. Hulk says that he can’t imagine any circumstances where he would kill a child, but that it is an age old question. Agamemnon says that in Israel there is a thirteen year old boy named Max Meer. He says that Delphi has seen a vision that he will become the next Hitler. He says that he will cause his country of Draburg to become one of the most devastating war machines on Earth. Agamemnon says that he sent Achilles to Israel to try and convince the boy’s parents that the best place for the boy is with them. Rick asks if the parents don’t want to turn him over to strangers. Agamemnon says that is a good, but moot, question. He says that Achilles tried to kill the boy in Tel Aviv. He says that he was thwarted by Sabra, and that he has now vanished. Agamemnon says that Israel is beyond his projection range. Agamemnon starts to fade. He tells Banner to bring back Achilles and hopefully the boy as well. Hulk asks what if he can’t bring the boy back. Agamemnon says that Hulk has free will and to do what his conscience dictates.

Marlo and Betty walk out of the club. Marlo says that she can’t believe Rick just ran out on them. Betty says that Rick has been that way for years. She says that it was probably something important. She says that it is like being involved with a cop, and that you just have to accept it. Marlo asks why she should since Betty hasn’t accepted it with Bruce. Betty says that is a good point. A guy starts taking pictures of Betty and Marlo. The man asks if she is Mrs. Banner. Betty asks, So?” The man says that he is David Guntly with the Reno Trib. He says surely his readers would like to know about the current doings of the Hulk’s wife. Betty says that she doesn’t care about his readers and gets into the car. Marlo tells David not to call her “Shirley”. As they drive off, Betty asks if she had to make a joke about it. Marlo apologizes.

In the Draburg embassy, two guards are watching Max. They think that the Captain is being paranoid and wonder who would try something there. Max leans against the wall. A young girl comes up to him and says that he looks as bored as she feels. She introduces herself as Gretta Rabin. She says that her father works there and asks if he wants to get out of there. Max starts to say that he should stay, but then on second thought he decides to leave. Gretta asks Max if he has seen the old city yet. Max says that he hasn’t. A female guard sees Max Meer and Gretta Rabin run out together. The Captain says that they are supposed to be staying put. She says that she will go after them, but the Captain tells Batseraph to stay put and that he can handle a couple of kids. Batseraph calls the Captain an arrogant ass.

Rick radios Bruce that two kids just left the embassy and that one of them is Max. Hulk says to follow them and keep him appraised of their locations. He says to shout if he spots Achilles. He says that they want to draw him out, and that he isn’t built for covert tailing.

Max says that this place is great and so different than the new part of Jerusalem. Gretta says that the streets are like a maze sometimes. The Captain runs after the two kids. Rick wonders if that was Achilles disguised or the real deal. Rick tries to follow, but he is cut off by a group of men carrying a giant rolled up rug. Suddenly, the Captain is punched in the face. Rick radios to Bruce that he lost him. Bruce tells him to find them.

Max is in a book shop. He asks the man how much it is for the book. The man tells him that it is ten shekels and that it is marked down. Max agrees. Gretta tells Max that he is supposed to haggle and that it is expected. Max says that he will give the man five for it. The man starts to tell Max that he is crazy, but suddenly the man’s face goes blank. He agrees to five. Gretta tells Max that he learns quick. Achilles, dressed in the Captain’s uniform, grabs Max’s shoulder. Max recognizes Achilles from when he tried to kill him. He tosses his new book in Achilles’ face and runs away. Hulk contacts Rick and asks him if they found them yet, but then the two kids and Achilles run right in front of him. Hulk starts to run after them.

Sabra flies from behind. She sees the children and a man dressed in uniform running. Then she sees someone “the size of a scud” wearing a large parka following them. Sabra swoops in and punches Hulk. She tells him that he is under arrest. She knocks Hulk through the wall and tells him to surrender. Hulk realizes that Sabra doesn’t know what is happening. He thinks that he can’t lose track of Achilles. He tears through his clothes and shouts out Sabra’s name. Sabra instantly recognizes Hulk. He says that he must be in league with the ones trying to kill the boy. She says that SHIELD is circulating word that Hulk is more dangerous than ever. Sabra fires off some quills. One of them hits Hulk in his larynx and paralyzes it. Hulk realizes that he can’t talk. Sabra flies at Hulk. Hulk swings at Sabra, but Sabra ducks and kicks Hulk away. She says that he is even more massive and less articulate than before.

Max and Gretta find themselves at a dead end. Max says that he thought that she knew where she was going. Gretta says that she made a wrong turn and to shoot her. Achilles stands behind them and says that he won’t shoot her, but her little friend. Max orders Achilles to back away, but Achilles’ isn’t fazed. He says that it is nothing personal, but that a close friend saw a vision with Max’s face in it. He says that it is a vision that he is going to make sure doesn’t come true. Rick tackles Achilles and knocks him over.

Hulk looks for Sabra. He turns after some quills in the back. Hulk rushes at Sabra, but Sabra leaps into the air. She asks Hulk if he has noticed that her quills are more powerful. She says that some of them improve while others backslide. Hulk snags Sabra’s cape. He slams her against the ground.

Rick asks Achilles what is the matter with him. Achilles punches Rick in the stomach. Achilles gets Rick in a full nelson and says that his reasons don’t concern Rick. He says that after he snaps his neck that nothing will concern him.

Max and Gretta run toward a crowd of people. Max tells them that there is a man down the alley trying to kill him. He says, “Get him! Kill him!” The people move as one toward the alley. Max smiles.

Hulk slams Sabra against the wall. Sabra says that she thinks she is in big trouble.

Rick and Achilles see the crowd of people and say that they think they are in trouble.

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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