Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #392
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #392
Title: “Fortunes of War”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Dale Keown
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colors: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Havok is restrained within a dark room. His hands and feet
are contained within large metallic encased manacles. He shouts for someone to
get him the heck out of there. Farnaq looks up at Havok and says that he sees
that he is awake and trusts that he is resting comfortable. Havok tells Farnaq
that they are supposed to be allies, and that X-Factor is supposed to be on his
side. Alex asks Dahn what he is playing at. Farnaq tells Alex to address him as
“Farnaq Dahn” since etiquette in Trans-Sabal requires it. He says that as far as
his current situation that stakes have changed. He says that he has seen what
his power is capable of and that it is very impressive. He tells Havok that
after the explosion that his men found him a considerable distance away. He says
that there was no sign of the Hulk. He says that maybe he is dead, but that it
really doesn’t matter. He says that he has the power of Havok at his disposal.
Havok tells Farnaq that he is his prisoner and asks if he really thinks that he
is going to cooperate. Farnaq says that Havok is a valuable weapon. He says that
they do not have nuclear armament and that the agreements they signed, along
with the UN watchdogs, are making sure that they stay without it. He says that
he has not however made any agreements barring warriors with nuclear weapons as
hands. He says that Havok will be the living embodiment of Trans-Sabal’s nuclear
strike capability. He says that the plan was revealed to him by God, and that he
is just His vessel. Havok says that what he is, is nuts. He says that he wants
to see Val Cooper immediately. Farnaq snaps his finger and Val enters wearing a
revealing slave outfit. Havok damns Farnaq and asks what he did to her. Farnaq
says that they had drinks and that now she is beginning to see things his way.
As he leaves he tells Havok that he will be seeing things his way soon too. He
tells the guards that if Havok tries to escape to shoot him in the leg. Suddenly
two of the guards are snatched into the shadows. The other two guards yell at
them for screwing around, but then suddenly they are snatched into the shadows
as well. Alex asks if that is Guido.
Hulk
steps out of the shadow and says, “Nope, but I’ll give you a hint, ready? ‘In
the valley of the jolly… ho ho ho…’ Remember how the rest goes?”
Galvin walks after Farnaq and Val and says that they are going to talk right now. Two large mandroids are standing beside Farnaq. Farnaq tells Galvin to speak softly and remember who he is addressing. He turns to Val and asks her if she doesn’t think that the restraints that she brought to hold the Hulk are doing a good job holding Havok. Val starts to agree, but then asks what she is doing. Farnaq yells at his men for not drugging her right and to give her more. Val strains and begs Galvin not to let him do this. Galvin gets right up in Farnaq’s face. He says that he demands Val’s immediate release. He says that they will pull out everything. The mandroids, equipment, and everything. He says, “Now let her go or so help me God…” Farnaq stabs Galvin with a knife and kills him. He tells Galvin that his God cannot help him there and that only his God rules there. One of the mandroids thinks to himself, “Holy…”
X-Factor is riding back from the front lines. Lorna says that she can’t reach Val on the comm.-link and says that maybe the Pantheon is jamming the signal somehow. She says that they have to get back to her and tell her that they can’t find Alex, and that they have to organize a search. Quicksilver says that he can go there and be back in a few minutes. Lorna says that with Alex missing that she doesn’t want to cut their strength more than it already is. Guido tells Lorna not to give Quicksilver a sense of importance or he will be even more insufferable. He asks Rahne what is the matter with her. Rahne says that she is a terrible person. Guido says, “You? Booshwa. You’re a doll.” Rahne glares at him. One of Farnaq’s soldiers says that “they” are coming. Guido asks why the gets the feeling that “they” are no one that he wants to see. He looks through binoculars and sees the Pantheon, regrouped and ready for more.
Hulk asks Havok if he is having fun yet. He says that it could have been worse. He says that he could have been involved in Operation Galactic Storm, and that it was a logistical nightmare. Havok asks how Hulk got in there. Hulk says that it was simple. He says that he admits that he was a bit of a mess after his gamma-powered plasma burst, but that he heals quickly. He says that he saw him being loaded into a truck. He says that when the truck started going that he snuck behind it and hitched a ride underneath. He says that he couldn’t resist getting into Dahn’s stronghold without firing a shot. He says that this is a big place. Havok asks if Hulk can get him down now. Hulk asks why he should. He says that he attacked him and defended the monster that runs the country. Havok says that he obviously isn’t the guy’s biggest fan, but that strong arming someone that he doesn’t like out of power isn’t the way to get along in the world. Hulk asks if defending him and letting him do whatever he wants is. Havok says that he doesn’t have all the answers, but that force of arms isn’t one of them. Hulk says that Dahn is abusing his own people and stomping on human rights. Havok says that he believes it and that he isn’t any happier than Hulk is about it, but he asks where Hulk is going to draw the line. Hulk says that he draws the line between right and wrong. Havok asks if next he is going to remove every ruler that doesn’t measure up to his standards. He asks if he is going to stop when he and the Pantheon are running everything. He asks by what right he gets to decide who is in charge and who isn’t. Havok asks if the guy with the biggest gun is the guy doing the most good. Hulk says that Havok makes it sound like doing something about evil is wrong. He asks if doing nothing isn’t more wrong. Havok says that he doesn’t know, but that he can’t start setting himself up as a one-man judge of international affairs, and overthrowing governments. He says that it isn’t right and that he knows that in his heart. Hulk says that leaders have to be accountable and that someone has to pay for atrocities. Havok says that maybe that is so, but that he can’t set himself up as the bill collector.
Ajax charges and says that he will get them for hurting
Atalanta. Polaris doesn’t understand him, but she uses her magnetic powers on
Ajax’s metal suit. Ajax resists and Polaris says that he is like the Juggernaut.
An incoming blast knocks them all off their feet, and Lorna has Ajax’s armor in
her control. Pantheon soldiers fire a mortar. Rahne says that there is no where
to go, and that they are surrounded. Guido yells for her to run as the mortar
heads for her, but she doesn’t move. Guido tells Quicksilver to get her out of
there. He grabs Rahne and Guido is hit with the mortar. The Pantheon tanks are
coming with such force that for everyone Lorna stops that two get by her.
Guido
emerges exploding with power. He says that he has to release the energy he
absorbed from the mortar quickly. Prometheus is driving at Guido and says that
their records show that Guido isn’t strong enough to give him a problem.
Prometheus tells Hector that they need to update their files. Strong Guy leaps
onto the car and starts pounding on it over and over until he releases all the
energy. He picks up the car and throws it away. Prometheus tries to get out, but
he can’t and the car crashes. Prometheus runs out of the car on fire. He drops,
rolls, and goes unconscious. Rahne watches as says that she can’t believe that
he survived that wreck. She sees his face and is shocked at its condition.
Hector tells Rahne to step aside and that is his big brother. She asks if he can
help him and mentions his face. Hector grabs Prometheus and leaps away with him.
He tells Rahne that he was born looking that way. The liberators break through
the line and Lorna is left wondering where Alex is.
Farnaq is told that the liberators are smashing through their defenses. Farnaq thinks that maybe his killing of Galvin was premature. His aide says that the troops are in disarray and that many are surrendering on their own. He asks what they should do. Farnaq says to use the contingency plan.
Havok asks Hulk if he concedes that he has some points, but then the room fills with rumbling. Havok starts to raise in the air and Hulk asks him where he is going. Alex says that he just works here. Hulk leaps on and rides Havok’s prison up until he climbs to the top. Havok realizes that he is restrained to a missile. Hulk says that it looks like he has company. Hulk sees a mother and her son both tied to their own missiles.
X-Factor and the Pantheon stop fighting when they see the missiles coming up out of the ground. Ulysses radios the other Pantheon and says that Farnaq’s stronghold is surrounded by two dozen missiles and that there are people tied to every one. Quicksilver says that is low even for a human.
Farnaq goes over the public address system. He tells the invaders to retreat immediately or these civilians will die. He says that he has other hostages at hidden locations and that they attack at their peril. He says that just in case they think he is too squeamish he tells them to watch. Farnaq launches the missiles with the mother and son attached.
Hulk leaps off Havok’s missile. He says that he can never reach them both. He grabs the boy off the one missile. The boy asks why he didn’t save his mother. Hulk tells the kid to shut up and that he isn’t making him feel any better about it. Lorna is trying to grab the other, but says that it was too big and fast. Quicksilver scoops her up and says that he can’t help her with the big, but that he can help her with fast. Moments later, the missiles explode, but Quicksilver is running back with Polaris on one shoulder and the mother on the other. Pietro tells Lorna that he thinks she has put on weight and asks if her butt is bigger. Lorna tells him to shut up.
Farnaq sees it all on his monitor and wonders how they dare to save those whose lives he declared forfeit. Suddenly the monitor comes smashing into the room. The Hulk’s face fills the area where it was. He says, “We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin.” Hulk crashes through the wall and continues, “Farnaq Dahn, two-bit petty tyrant of Trans-Sabal, brought before his people and made to answer for his crimes. Film at eleven.” Hulk gets right in Farnaq’s face.
Inside a circle made up of the citizens of Trans-Sabal stands Polaris, Madrox, Val Cooper, Havok, Hulk, Ulysses, and Farnaq Dahn. Ulysses tells Farnaq that they accuse him of high crimes against his people and asks how he pleads. Farnaq says that he doesn’t recognize their authority. He says that they understand nothing. Havok whispers to Val and asks what they do. Val whispers back that Farnaq promised to institute democracy and that she thinks that is what they are seeing. Alex agrees. Farnaq says, “My people have a belief in their leaders that transcends your paltry notions. ‘High crimes’ implies I owe my people something I do not. They owe me, and have pledged me, their very lives. Just as an earthquake is an act of God… so are my actions taken on behalf of God. To attack me, accuse me… is to challenge God. The unbelievers do not understand this, and so they disparage it. But you, my people, do understand. Does any among you dare attack me, face to face? Irrevocably turn your back on a lifetime of teachings? Here’s your chance.” The people start to bow down to Farnaq. Ulysses says that he doesn’t believe this, and that he will kill Farnaq himself. Hulk stops him and says that he will not. He says that it isn’t what the people want. Ulysses says that it is what he wants. Hulk says that is tough. All the people are bowed down to Farnaq. He says, “You see! They still love me! They’re still mine! I win you pathetic ‘liberators’. I always win! Haa ha ha! And there’s nothing you can d…” Suddenly Farnaq is shot down by a mandroid armor. Ulysses says that the people have spoken. He tells the people to look at that the sun still shines, and that their God still loves them. Hulk asks Ulysses if he is playing to the cameras, but Ulysses tells Hulk to dry up.
Rick Jones climbs out of the mandroid armor. Rahne is standing there and asks him why he did it and if he is proud of himself. Rick says that he snuck into the castle using the armor, and that he saw up close what he did, and who he was. Rick says that he never thought he could do it. He starts to cry and Rahne holds him. She says that it is okay and that she knows. Hulk looks down on the two of them from a top a nearby building. He hangs his head.
No Excuses rating: 7.5 out of 10
Well this story had a happy ending… I was glad that it was over. The moral of the story is presented for those that care to learn it, but not actually applied since anger, instead of reason, prevails as Rick kills Saddam Hu… er Farnaq Dahn. Happy about the upgraded perception of Guido’s powers, but other than that I could have just as easily skipped this entire storyline. 3.5 out of 5 for the writing. I enjoyed Keown’s rendition of X-Factor, but his Hulk looked a little off to me, and I know Keown’s Dahn is supposedly to look weasely, but I just didn’t enjoy it.
Review and pictures by The Leader