Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #402

Title: “The Forest for the Trees”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Jan Duursema 

Inker: Mark Farmer

Colors: Steve Buccellato

Editor: Bobbie Chase

In the Amazon Rain Forest, Hulk is slammed against a tree. Hulk was caught off guard, but he still can’t help but wonder how he got tossed around. He also fights the urge to tear the guy’s lungs out. Hulk says that he sees him. He tells him to come out. He says that he wants to see if he can take him when he is ready for him. He calls him a coward. Hulk finally arrives and what he saw… an aardvark. Hulk tells “Cerebus” sorry if he disturbed him. Suddenly a large hand grabs Hulk around the neck from behind. The man asks Hulk if he was looking for him. He tells Hulk that he has to be careful and that it is a jungle out there. Hulk can’t take a breath because of the pressure on his neck. The man pulls Hulk into the trees. Hulk thinks that he should have given this assignment to Achilles and that it would have served him right.

At the Mount, one of the Pantheon’s recruits says hello to Achilles. Achilles pushes him aside without saying a word. The man asks the other recruit with him what is wrong with him. He says that he knows that he is not one of his precious relatives, but that he has usually been at least civil. The other man asks if he hadn’t heard. He says that there are some major shakeups and that Achilles is major league hacked off. He says that he heard it Hector.

Ulysses, Delphi, Paris, Atalanta, Achilles, and Hector were all gathered. Ulysses was trying to get Delphi to tell him what it was all about. Paris leaned over to Atalanta and Achilles. He asked Atalanta if she slept well. Atalanta asked why he cared. Paris then asked Achilles how he slept… or where he slept. Suddenly, Agamemnon appeared. He told them to take a seat, and that he would be brief. He said that he had decided to depart the Mount for a while. He called it a vacation or walkabout. He said that he wouldn’t leave the Pantheon without leadership, and then introduced the new leader… the Hulk. Hulk said hello and told everyone that no one was more surprised than he was. Achilles said that it was an outrage and that he wouldn’t stand for it. Paris pointed out that he was standing, but Achilles just told him to shut up. He said that the Hulk wasn’t one of them and asked if Agamemnon was saying that he was more qualified or better suited. Agamemnon said that he had his reasons, and that he wouldn’t have him question them. Ulysses told Achilles to calm down and that they had always trusted Aggy’s judgment in the past. Achilles said that Ulysses was just relieved that Agamemnon didn’t put him in charge. He said that Ulysses wouldn’t want anything to distract him from chasing after Delphi. Ulysses punched Achilles in the face and knocked him down. Achilles asked how that happened, but Paris reminded him that he was vulnerable when “Bobby” was around. He said that it looked like that hurt. Ulysses apologized and said that he just lost his temper. Achilles walked off. Hulk told him that he hadn’t dismissed him yet, but Achilles told him, “Dismiss this.” Agamemnon told Banner that he would learn about being the leader and knowing when to let someone cool his head. He says that it would be one of many lessons he would learn. Agamemnon faded away. Hulk said that it was time to get to work.

Hulk tosses “Earl” off of him. He says that whatever trick he has working for him that it won’t work this time. He says that he has braced himself this time. “Earl” slams into Hulk and knocks him clean off his feet. Hulk and “Earl” fall off a waterfall. Hulk says that he might be crazy, but that he doesn’t think that this guy is an ordinary construction worker. Hulk comes out of the water. He says that he has had enough of this. He asks who and what he is. “Earl” pops out of the water and says that what he is, is behind him. He says that they will see how good he is at holding his breath when he tears his lungs out. “Earl” pulls Hulk back under water.

In Reno, Betty lets Samson into the apartment. She thanks him for coming. Samson says that he wasn’t sure what kind of reaction to expect from her. He brings up the last time they saw one another. Betty says that she is sorry, and that she was very upset. She says that everything with Bruce caught her off guard. Samson says that it was his fault and that he didn’t prepare her well enough. Betty says that nothing could have. She says that she is glad to see him. Samson and Betty watch as Rick does the “eensy weensy spider” with Marlo. Afterward, Rick tells the vacant Marlo to rest and that he has company now. Samson asks Rick how long it has been since he slept. Rick says that he isn’t tired. Samson tells Rick to sit over there while he looks at Marlo. Samson asks if Marlo responds to any stimuli. Betty says that she just sits there and stares. Samson says that her eyes dilate and contract. He says that is something. Samson says that he needs to run some more tests, but that it seems she is in a waking coma and withdrawn completely into herself. He says that he can’t determine if there is any brain damage yet. Betty says that Rick swears that she is in there and just has to be coaxed back. Samson says that may be right, or that it might just be wishful thinking. Samson turns to Rick to ask him why he thinks that, but Rick is out cold on the chair. Betty asks Samson if she can get him anything. Samson says that he could use some coffee.

In the kitchen, Betty says that she read that he attended the execution of that crazy assassin woman. She asks what that was like. Samson says that it was nothing he would care to discuss. Samson says that he is glad she called him. He says that he never meant for Bruce’s therapy to end so abruptly. He asks when she last saw him. Betty says that it was yesterday.

Yesterday, Bruce watches Rick trying to get Marlo to squeeze a ball. Betty asks Bruce to come outside. Bruce says that Rick didn’t even notice he came in. He says that it is crazy for him to try and do this himself. Betty says that she is there for him and that they will manage. Betty asks Bruce if he is really in charge of the Pantheon now. Bruce says that it is an amazing opportunity. Hulk says that there are so many places in the world to help. He says that the Pantheon has resources that Betty wouldn’t even suspect. He says that he is off to the Amazon Rain Forest. He says that some mysterious developer is leveling tons of acreage. He says that he is going to persuade him otherwise. Betty tells him to have a good trip. Bruce says that he would like Betty to be waiting for him at the Mount. He says that he wants her to live there and that she would be happy. He says that they can get care for Marlo there and that staying in Reno is pointless. Betty says that her mind hasn’t changed about this. She says that she doesn’t want to shut herself off from the world. Hulk says that she has made herself clear and that he won’t bother her again. Hulk is about to leap off, but Betty says that he could commute. Bruce asks “what?” Betty says that husbands commute all the time. She asks why it has to be “your world” or “my world”. She tells him to stay with her whenever he likes. Bruce asks where he would sleep. Betty says that it would be the couch at first. She says that she wants him to promise her that he will start seeing Samson again. Bruce asks why. Betty says that he is familiar with him, and the one that did the merging. She says that she is concerned about him, and that for her to be totally relaxed that she wants not to be concerned. Hulk says, “Women! Okay. Bring on Samson, if there’s one thing I’ve proven… it’s that I can roll with the punches.”

Earl punches Hulk in the face. Earl says that Hulk thought it would be easy to come down there and throw his weight around. He says that it isn’t as much fun when he is the one throwing Hulk’s weight around. Down in the water, Hulk grabs a handful of sludge and rams it in Earl’s face. Hulk tosses Earl and says that he admits that he is giving him a good workout, but that sooner or later he is going to get hurt. Earl says that it will be much later. Hulk asks again who he is. Earl says that he is just a worker for the guy that he is trying to shut down. Hulk says that it isn’t that simple and that he knows him from somewhere. “Earl” says that only the future matters, and that Hulk hasn’t got one. “Earl” lunges at Hulk, but Hulk leaps over him. “Earl” falls into some quicksand. Hulk climbs onto a tree over the quicksand and reaches down for “Earl”. “Earl” tries to pull Hulk in so Hulk lets him go down. Suddenly, “Earl” bounds out of the quicksand and hits Hulk. He hits him again and again. Hulk asks what it takes to stop him. “Earl” says, “Stop me? Don’t you get it yet? Nothin’ can stop me! Nothing on this planet! Nothing in this galaxy! Nothing in the universe can stop me!” “Earl” punches Hulk in the face over and over. Hulk thinks to himself that he isn’t getting time to recover. He says that he didn’t realize his power, and that he has gotten too used to the Pantheon covering his back. “Earl” keeps pounding Hulk until the Red Skull tells him to stop. He tells Marko that he doesn’t want him dead yet, and that he can be of use to them. Red Skull says that his sources tell him that the Avengers have learned of his plans. He says that they don’t know that he is the Red Skull, but that they are on their way. Red Skull says that it would be pleasant if they had an encounter with the Hulk and that they put and end to them. Red Skull asks what hope they would have of standing up against the Hulk… and the Juggernaut.”

Elsewhere, a guy in a truck picks up the hitchhiking Agamemnon. The truck driver says that he is going to Los Angeles. Agamemnon says that will be fine. As Agamemnon climbs into the back of the truck, he wishes Hulk good luck in dealing with responsibility and staying in touch with his humanity. He thinks that if Hulk can’t do it that none of them are going to make it.

No Excuses rating: 7 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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