Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #397Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #397
Title: “Ghosts of the Past, Part 1: Welcome Home”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Dale Keown
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colors: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Hulk tells Suze not to worry, and says that he will be keeping tabs on her. He says that if she needs anything that she should just whistle. He asks if she knows how to whistle. Suze says that she just puts her lips together and blow. Ulysses says, “’The Petrified Forest’ one of the great ones.” Paris looks at his watch and says that this is too maudlin for words. Suze tells Hulk that the way he nailed Mike’s killers would have made him proud. Hulk picks Suzie up and kisses her on the cheek. Suzie asks if he or his boys need a lift to the airport. Paris mutters, “Your boys’ honestly.” Hulk thanks her anyway, but says that they already have a lift. A Pantheon ship hovers in the street. Hulk tips his hat as he gets in.
The ship flies off, Hulk tells the others that he thanks them for their support. He says that he knows that it wasn’t earthshaking, but that it was important to him. Ulysses says that it wasn’t a problem. He says that putting aside Hulk’s friend’s death that it was actually fun. Paris asks Ulysses what happened to him, performing work voluntarily and then calling it fun. Ulysses says that Hulk helped them in Trans-Sabal, and that he felt beholden to him. He says to quote Clarice Starling, “Quid pro quo, Doctor”. Hulk says that if that makes him Hannibal Lecter, that he doesn’t know if he likes where this is going. One of the ship’s techs says that they are having a problem raising the Mount. Ulysses asks if it is mechanical difficulties. The pilot says that diagnostics read clear. Hector says that maybe it is a glitch on their end.
Minutes later, Cecile the pilot says that they are in visual range of the Mount. They see a giant hold in the Mount. Hulk says that is one major glitch. Hector asks what could blow a hole in the Mount. Hulk says that he doesn’t know, but tells Cecile to take them in slowly.
Inside, one of the Pantheon says that it looks like a missile blew through. Hulk says that isn’t it. He says that a missile’s destruction would be more widespread. He says that nothing has been destroyed. Hector asks what he is talking about as he stands among rubble. Hulk says that things are smashed and pulverized, but that nothing has an burns marks. Hulk says that it was more a concussive, repelling force. He says that unfortunately that sounds familiar. Ulysses spots a small child named Yetta behind Ajax’s prone body. Yetta says that Ajax tried to save her, but that now he is dead. Hulk says that Ajax isn’t dead, but that he does have severe radiation burns. Hulk says that he knew it. Ulysses asks who Ajax was trying to protect Yetta from. Yetta says, “The bad people.” Hulk says that he thinks he can tell him. A voice says, “Oh, let us tell him, Hulk.” Hulk turns to see the U-Foes coming at him. Vector says, “After all, the U-Foes excel in making a dramatic entrance.” Vector tells the others to do what they want, but that Hulk is his. Vector blasts Hulk out the side of the Mount.
Ulysses blocks
Ironclad’s punch with his shield. He says that he
doesn’t know who they are, but that they are messing with
the Pantheon and have bitten off more than they can chew.
Ironclad says that he has to be kidding and that he chews
cornflakes for breakfast that are bigger than Ulysses. Ulysses
hits Ironclad with his sword. Ironclad tells Ulysses that is a
nice magic wand, and asks if it is on loan from Tinkerbell.
Vector orders Ironclad to back off. Vector introduces themselves
as the U-Foes. He says that they have a long standing grudge
against the Hulk, but that he won’t bore them with the
details. Paris says that is a relief since they are boring enough
as it is. Vector says that they can continue to wreck havoc, but
that if they give them what they want that they will leave in
peace. Hector is about to charge, but Paris stops him and says
that they are not unreasonable. He asks what they want. Vector
says that they want the one they call Agamemnon.
In Reno, Jackie Shorr says that is so exciting as she listens to Rick’s story. She asks what Captain America said to him after he saved the universe. Rick says that Cap looked him right in the eye and told him that it is guys like Rick that are the real heroes. Jackie says that Rick’s life is so exciting. She says that the thoughts of all those dangerous situations would keep her awake at night worrying about him. Rick says, “You’ll be fine, Jackie…” he asks if he should call her Jackie, and that ‘mom’ would feel so weird. Jackie says that he can call her what he wants, and that he will have plenty of time to get comfortable with her. Rick says that he doesn’t know how much time they will be able to spend together, and that his life is very hectic. Jackie says that Rick won’t ever be threatened again. She says that she takes good care of her boys. Rick is asking what that means when he passes out and hits the table. Jackie says that Rick will understand and thank her later. Jackie drags Rick to the garage.
Jackie cuts off Betty and Marlo as she speeds out of the garage. Marlo wonders if she and Rick had a fight. Betty tells Marlo to follow her. She says that she thinks that she saw Rick’s head leaning on the passenger’s side. Marlo asks if his body was attached. Betty says that she isn’t kidding.
Hector tells the U-Foes that they aren’t handing Aggy over to them. Vector says that they didn’t look smart enough to take his offer. He tells the others to destroy them, and that he will tend to “Aggy”. Vector flies off. X-Ray blasts at Ulysses’ shield and tells Vapor to take the guy with the mace. Vapor floats up to the hovering Hector, but Hector spins his mace and twirls Vapor around and around. Ironclad leaps into the air and grabs Hector’s foot. He says that he bets Hector didn’t know that he could decrease his mass. Hector hits Ironclad in the head with his mace. Ironclad says that he had an itch there.
Vector is blasting straight down with his TK
power. Vapor asks him what he is doing. Vector says that
Agamemnon’s stronghold is in the heart of the Mount, and
that he is digging to it. Vector says that he is worried about
the Hulk, and that he had hoped he would stagger forward so that
he could flay the meat from his bones. He says that he wonders
why Hulk was blown out so easily. 
Hulk drops
behind Vector and Vapor and sends them falling to the ground.
Hulk says, “Hello, Simon. Ann. Miss me?” Hulk grabs
Vector. He says that Vector always uses his power by pointing and
that it might be worth the time to rip his arms off to see if it
would stop him. Vector shouts to let him go. Hulk says that if he
insists and throws Vector into the path of X-Ray’s blast
towards Ulysses. Vector clutches his stomach and calls X-Ray an
idiot. X-Ray says that he is sorry. Ironclad leaps at Hulk and
says that he isn’t as sorry as the Hulk is going to be.
Ironclad hits Hulk. He says that he has heard that Hulk is
supposed to be “new and improved”, but that he
doesn’t see it. Hulk hits Ironclad back as Vapor approaches
Hector. Vapor asks Vector what happens when his fireball mace
hits hydrogen. A giant explosion hits Hector. Ironclad has Hulk
in a full nelson. He says that the last time they met that a
puffball saved him. He asks who is going to save Hulk now. Hulk
punches back into Ironclad’s face. He says that he will
answer in a way that he knows he will understand. Hulk hauls off
and slugs Ironclad and says, “Hulk is the strongest one
there is!”
Yetta is surrounded by fire and screams for help. Paris grabs her, but finds that he is still surrounded by flames.
Ironclad rubs his head and Vector tells him to come with him. Ironclad looks at the giant hole in the ground and asks what it is. Vector says that with any luck it is a one way ticket to Agamemnon.
Hector screams as he is on fire. Ulysses tackles Hector and knocks him into the water. Hector asks why the extinguishers haven’t kicked in. Ulysses says that the U-Foes must have damaged the system when they busted in. He says that they will have to put the fire out manually.
Paris wonders if they ever make a movie about his life if they will name it “Paris is Burning”. Paris sees X-Ray standing before him. Paris tells X-Ray to kill him, but to let the innocent child live. X-Ray says that he never liked kids. He lets loose a blast. Hulk dives in front of Paris taking the shot. He says that he bets the kids love him though. Paris tells Hulk that he owes him a dinner. X-Ray says that he owes Hulk too, and that this is the payback. X-Ray blasts Hulk. Hulk screams, but pretends that it is scratching an itch on his back. Hulk grabs Paris and Yetta, and leaps through the ceiling. X-Ray flies up and says that Hulk is trying to cover his pain. X-Ray comes face to face with Atalanta and Achilles. He asks who they are. They say that they are reinforcements in case they attacked the upper floors. X-Ray blasts Achilles, and asks where the Hulk is. Achilles takes the attack and says that X-Ray is dealing with him now. X-Ray asks why Achilles isn’t hurt. Finally Achilles flinches from the pain. X-Ray says that it looks like he is vulnerable to the power of x-ray after all. Hulk is standing behind X-Ray and says that he is only vulnerable to gamma rays. Hulk says that he understands that x-rays are hampered by lead. He passes a lead pipe through X-Ray’s skull and says that taking him out should be a “lead pipe cinch”. Vapor screams as her brother blinks out.
Vapor chases Hulk as he starts to run. She tells him to go ahead and hold his breath. She says that she will become mustard gas and fry his brain. Vapor sees Hector again and says that she will just become hydrogen again for a moment. Hulk sprays Vapor with concentrated oxygen which, when combined with Vapor’s hydrogen, turns Vapor into water. Hulk hands Hector a mop and tells him to mop the floor with her.
Ironclad and Vector land in front of
Agamemnon’s door. Vector tries his power on the door, but he
can’t break it. Hulk lands next to them and says that he
bets they can break. Vector tells Ironclad to deal with Hulk.
Vector says that there is some sort of energy repelling his
power, but that maybe if he narrows his focus it will work. Hulk
slams Ironclad into the wall. Vector shouts that he has
penetrated all the way through the door. Hulk asks what the
purpose of all this was. He asks what their interest in Agamemnon
is, and who told them about the Mount anyway. 
A voice says,
“I did.” Hulk turns to see Leader standing with Ogress,
Hotshot, Jailbait, Rock, and Redeemer. Leader says that he broke
U-Foes out of jail and made certain promises to them, promises
that he intends to keep. He says that they were able to arrange a
little “tête-à-tête with Agamemnon”. He says that
they along with his followers will make sure that their chat is
uninterrupted.
Jackie tells Rick that she is doing this because she wants him to be safe. Rick awakens. Jackie stands at the top of the steps and says that no one will ever be able to hurt him again, and that if he doesn’t believe her that he can ask the other boys. Rick looks over to see six corpses chained to the wall in the same way he currently finds himself. Rick screams as Jackie closes the door and leaves him in darkness.
No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10
Normally the U-Foes returning would be a cause for celebration in any instance, but with them working for the Leader makes it even better. The Leader is back and he has a plan. He also has his followers with him, and that makes this issue extraordinary in my opinion. It’s sad that with Dale Keown’s run on the Hulk coming to a halt that this is perhaps his best issue to date. Dale’s potential is limitless, it’s just too bad he left Hulk and Marvel to squander his gift on laziness.
Review and pictures by The Leader