Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #419
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #419
Title: “The Last Waltz”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Roger Cruz
Inker: Cam Smith
Colors: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bobbie Chase
As Bruce and Betty dance, one of the workers tells Bruce
that they found his British artist friend passed out behind a potted plant. He
asks what they should do. Bruce says to let him sleep it off and that he hopes
that his friend didn’t have any tight deadlines. Bruce asks Betty if the bride
and groom have left yet. He says that he knows they did the rice throwing
departure, but that they saw them double back. Betty says that Rick is just
being super cautious. She says that they have four different sets of airline
reservations, but that they are actually driving away later. Betty tells Bruce
that after watching Rick and Marlo get married that it made her think about
their wedding and the hopes and dreams they shared. Betty says that she has been
thinking about them, and that now that Marlo is moving out that she has come to
a decision. Betty looks down.
Bruce
tells her not to be afraid and to go ahead and do what she has to. Betty says
that is the point. She says that she realized somewhere along the line that she
stopped being afraid of him and started to count on him again just like the old
days. She says that she believes that he is trying to change and become the
noble self sacrificing man she fell in love with. She says that she wants to
believe in him. She says that she guesses what she is asking is if they have
room at the Mount for one more.
Talos the Tamed is perched on top of the Coliseum. He looks out at the stares and thinks of his former glory. He drinks something down and then throws himself off the roof. Talos passes by the window of Rick’s room on his way to smashing into the concrete face first.
There is a knock at Rick’s door. Rick says that if they are looking for a super-villain to fight that they are too late. Rick opens the door. Betty says that is very funny. Rick asks where Bruce is and Betty says that he is changing out of his suit. She asks what he wanted to talk about so urgently. Rick pulls Betty into the room and says that Marlo is taking a bath, but that he doesn’t know for how much longer. He says that something has been eating at him. He says that he and Marlo are married now. He knows what they had between them, and that he hopes he hasn’t hurt her too badly. Betty asks Rick what he is talking about. Rick reminds her about the time the two of them kissed when Marlo was in the coma. He says that if she found out that it would kill her again. He says that he understands that she has a think for him, and that he is a handsome, younger man. He says that he didn’t want to see her hurt, but then Betty starts to laugh. She laughs so hard that she starts to cry. Rick asks if this is happy crying or sad crying. Betty holds onto Rick as she starts to double over.
Hulk stands on the patio. He says that he could swear that he thought he saw something pass by. He looks down and sees the body. Hulk says that the guy probably lost his life savings and couldn’t stand to tell his wife. He says that there probably isn’t much he can do now, but that he should get down there and try to sort this out. He says that this would be the kind of thing he would have dealt with in his Fixit days and that after the trouble Suzie went through for Rick and Marlo’s wedding that it is the least he can do. Hulk leaps off the patio. When he lands below, Talos starts to get up. Hulk recognizes him from the wedding. He says that everyone left hours ago. He asks why he is still here and why he jumped. Talos says that he jumped to test the Earth’s gravity, and that he is there to ask Hulk to do something for him. Hulk says that he will if he can. Talos hits Hulk and sends him flying. Talos tells Hulk to kill him.
Up in space, a ship of Skrulls watch the fight and shout for Hulk to kill Talos.
Talos hits Hulk again and again. He shouts for Hulk to get up. Hulk palms Talos’ next punch and says that he needs an attitude adjustment. Hulk twists his arm behind Talos’ back and asks what is going on with him. Talos sneaks free. Hulk calls him “little”. Talos says that he may not have Hulk’s height or mass, but that there is more to a warrior than that. He says that there is leverage, pressure points, and studying all the opponent’s weaknesses. Talos knocks Hulk to the ground. He hits Hulk again and tells him to fight now. Hulk crashes into the Benbow Inn. Talos leaps at Hulk. He tells him not to get him wrong and that he expects to lose. He says that he expects this to be his final battle, but that it won’t be easy for Hulk. Talos grabs an axe off his back. Hulk tells him to put that down before he rams it where the Sun doesn’t shine. Talos swings the axe and tells Hulk to save his threats. He swings at Hulk. Hulk says that he doesn’t know what the axe is made of, but that it looks like it could take his head off. All of Talos’ swinging causes the fax sail of the Benbow Inn to fall.
Betty says that her sides hurt. Rick asks what is so funny. Marlo walks out of the shower and also asks. Betty is still crying from laughter when she tells Marlo that Rick thinks that she is in love with him because they locked lips while Marlo was in her coma. Marlo and Rick look shocked, but then Marlo starts to laugh. Rick says that he must be missing something.
The Skrulls in the ship are frustrated since their view is obscured by the fallen sail.
Inside, Hulk tells Talos to at least tell him what shame he is talking about. Talos asks Hulk if he will kill him then. Hulk says that he doesn’t know, but that this isn’t getting them anywhere. Talos says that once he was known as “Talos the Untamed”. He says that a genetic misfortune deprived him of shape shifting ability. He says that if he was not of the royal family that he would not have been allowed to reach maturity. He says that by the time he was grown that he had overcome his disadvantage. He says that through brute strength that he conquered and slaughtered. He says that no one was more feared or respected that he. He says that it was disaster when he was brought down in a cowardly ambush by the Kree. He says that he could have bitten down on a capsule in his teeth that would have given them a corpse instead of a prisoner. He says that would have been the honorable thing to do, but that he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He says that he was returned to his people a disgrace. He says that his niece, the Empress, offered him a chance to commit suicide, but that again he could not. He says that he is a warrior, and that he must die in battle. Talos hits Hulk and knocks him out of the sail. He says that no Skrull will lower himself to battle him and that the battlefields of space are banned to him. He says that Hulk is known for fighting the Superskrull to a standstill, and that word has spread about Hulk slaying Trauma of the Troyjan. He says that Hulk is worthy to serve as the instrument of his demise. Hulk says that he is honored, but that he refuses. Hulk leaps away. Talos leaps after Hulk. He says that he can be honored, but that refusal isn’t an option.
Rick asks Betty if she told Marlo about it. Betty says that she did ages ago. She says that the two of them were tired, stressed, and pressured. She says that maybe there is some curiosity there, but that’s all it was. Marlo says that they don’t want to crush his male ego, but that this isn’t a major thing. She says that she knows Rick thinks that he is God’s gift to women, but asks if he will settle for being God’s gift to her. Betty says that they are all grown ups and that a “hot kiss” is no big deal. Rick asks if he should mention it to Bruce. Marlo and Betty both shout, “NO!”
Talos hits Hulk and says that he can do better than that. Hulk tells Talos to knock it off and that he is warning him. Talos says to stop with the empty threats. He asks where the Hulk’s legendary anger is. Talos says that he is laughing at Hulk, and that he was seeking a figure of mythic proportion and not a hesitant fool. Talos tells Hulk to take his best shot. Hulk says that he has had it. He is about to tear into Talos, but then he remembers Betty telling him that she believes in him. Talos says that still he hesitates and that a novice could take Hulk. Talos tears into Hulk with his axe. He tells Hulk to get up so he can kill him. Hulk begs Talos not to hurt him. Talos asks what nonsense this is. Hulk folds his hands in supplication. He says that he will do anything and to just not hurt him anymore. Talos says that this is the most pathetic stunt he has ever seen. He says that he will have no part of someone that would debase himself this way no matter what the reason. Talos says that even disgraced that Hulk is not worthy to fight him. Talos fades away.
Back on the ship, Talos tells the others that he presumes they are disappointed by his battle. One Skrull says that Talos fought the good fight. Another asks what more can one do. Talos thinks. He smiles and asks, “What indeed.”
No Excuses rating: 5.5 out of 10
Not one of my favorite issues. I’m not so caught up in Hulk “begging” off Talos. I get what he was up to… and sure it’s kind of clever, but pretty much the entire issue is tied up in this fight and to have it go nowhere was kind of anticlimactic. Betty wants to move in with Bruce, and the Betty/Rick kiss is wrapped up. It’s not a bad “tweener” issue, but that’s all it was. Cruz is okay, but he’s nothing to write home about. 2.5 out of 5 for the art.
Review and pictures by The Leader