Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #420

Title: “Lest Darkness Come”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Gray Frank

Inker: Cam Smith

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Bobbie Chase

Jim Wilson stands at a protest rally holding a sign that reads “Ignorance Breeds Fear”. He is hit in the back of the head with a large flashlight and knocked to the ground. Jim is cut and his blood begins to flow. Hildy Johnson is reporting from the scene at Theodore Roosevelt School. Hildy says that originally the school authorities ruled that an AIDS infested student could remain at the school, but that the decision has brought a firestorm of protest from parents. Inside the school, supporters from both sides are meeting, but that outside tempers have flared.

Betty is about to leave her job at the Help Line. As she starts to walk away from her desk, her phone rings. She asks if anyone can get that, but when no one does she picks it up. The man on the other end says that his name is Chet. He asks who she is. Betty says that they aren’t supposed to give their names. The man asks, “please?” Betty lies and says that her name is Vicky as she sits back down. She asks how she can help him. Chet says that he shouldn’t have called and that she sounds rushed. Betty looks at her watch and says that it is okay. Chet says that he just found out that he is HIV positive and that he is going to kill himself. He says to forget it and hangs up.

Jim asks Hildy Johnson for help, but she can’t hear him because of all the shouting. As the police arrive, there is a loud slamming noise. Hulk tells Jim that it is okay and that he is there. Hildy shouts, “Lou! Swing the camera around, for Chrissakes! It’s the Hulk!” Lou reminds Hildy that her microphone is live. The cop cocks his shotgun. He tells Hulk not to move. He says that he has heard stories about him, but that he isn’t convinced. Hulk tells the cop to get out of his way. The cop fires the shotgun into Hulk’s chest. Hulk leans over and bends the end of the shotgun over. He says that if he hadn’t spread his arms open that someone might have gotten hurt from the ricochet. He tells him to think before his shoots his mouth, or his gun, off. As Hulk walks away, the cops says, “Since… since when can the Hulk talk good?” Hulk says, “Talk well.” Hulk tells Jim that he is there. Jim asks him how he knew. Hulk says that his people have been keeping tabs on him since the Speedfreek incident, and that they alerted him that he was in another dangerous situation. Jim says that it isn’t as dangerous as when they were partners. Hulk asks who did this to him. Jim says that he didn’t see. Hulk turns and coldly says, “All right… which of you dead men hurt my friend?” Everyone runs. Hulk says that they need to get him someplace safe and leaps away with Jim. Jim says that there is no such place.

Betty’s phone rings again. She picks it up immediately. Chet says that he called to say that he was sorry for taking his anger out on her. Betty says that she was praying that he would call back, and that she wants to put him in contact with an AIDS hotline. She says that they have important information for him. Chet asks if they can tell him what happens after he dies. Betty stammers. She looks at an index card and tells Chet that he can remain symptom free for another seven years. She says that there are drugs like AZT. As she tells him what AZT stands for, Chet asks if she is reading this off an index card. Betty puts down the cards and says that she isn’t. She admits that she is, but that really this hotline is an information and referral service. She says that they usually handle tough stains, consumer complaints, raw data and that kind of thing. She says that she isn’t trying to pass the buck, but that there are people that are trained for his kind of situation. Chet says that he likes the sound of her voice. Betty thinks. Chet says that her voice would be a good last thing to hear. He says that he is calling from his car and not to bother tracing it. Chet says that he has to think and that maybe he will call again.

At the Mount, Dr. Harr tells Bruce that he told her that her that Jim was only HIV positive. Bruce says that is what he was lead to believe. Dr. Harr tells Bruce that he was misled. She says that he has full blown AIDS and that he has had it for a while. She says that he also has two busted ribs he picked up from having Pneumocystic Carinii Pneumonia, and that they have drained a lot of fluid from his lungs. She says that she is amazed he was still walking around. Bruce says that maybe they should start him on AG-34. Dr. Harr says that they aren’t ready to test on humans. Bruce says that Jim has nothing to lose. Dr. Harr says that despite the Pantheon’s anarchic attitude that it is illegal and immoral. She says that she won’t do it. Bruce shouts that he isn’t asking her. He says that he is telling her and that he is dying. Hulk smashes the table. He looks at his fists and says, “He… he uh… sorry. Forget I said that.”

Jim asks Bruce if that is him. Bruce asks if he has to ask. Jim asks what this place is. Bruce says that this is the Mount. Jim says that this is the miracle place he runs and asks if there are any miracles for him. Bruce sits down. Jim says that he must know that he has full blown AIDS and that he must want him to die comfortably. He asks what the point of that is. Jim looks at Bruce. He says that he knows that he is holding something back. Jim says that death wants him, but that he is going down fighting. Bruce says that it is only experimental. He says that it isn’t ready for humans and that he can’t cross that line. Jim says that he can cross borders to make wars, but that he can’t help a friend. Bruce says that he is sorry. Jim says, “Screw your ‘sorry”. Bruce gets up to leave. Jim asks if blood transfusions are illegal. Bruce says that of course they aren’t. Jim asks Bruce for a transfusion of his blood. Bruce says that he can’t do that. Jim asks where the She-Hulk came from. Bruce says that was then, but that this is now. Jim says that Bruce can help him. He says that if he doesn’t that he is killing him just as much as the virus is. Bruce says that isn’t fair. Jim asks if he is telling him about fair. Bruce says that his blood isn’t some magic cure and that the dangers would be astronomical. He tells Jim not to ask him to do this. Jim says that he isn’t asking… he is begging.

The phone rings and rings. Betty runs towards the phone, but the line is dead. She sits down and the phone rings again. Chet guesses she was in the bathroom. Betty asks what he expects with all the coffee she has been drinking. She says that she thinks that he must want to live or that he wouldn’t keep calling. She says that there are things to live for. She says that it could be up to ten years and to think of everything that he did in the last ten years. Chet sits in a football field and says to believe him when he says that he is. He says that he wasn’t a half bad quarterback. He says that the body is an incredible thing and that he took such good care of his. He asks if she knows what AIDS does to the body. He asks if that is worth living for. Betty says that he is living for hope. Chet asks Vicky if she is religious and that God made man in his own image. Betty says that she does believe that. Chet says that if God does this to himself that it is a sick joke. She says that Adam and Eve, God and his children are dysfunctional families and that it is no wonder they are screwed up. Betty says that God also put her there to talk to him, and that together they can find the light at the end of the tunnel. Chet asks, “What’ll they think of me?” Betty asks who, but Chet is gone again. Betty swears that she will save him.

Dr. Harr hooks up the blood transfusion for Jim. Jim says that he owes Bruce. Bruce says that Jim didn’t leave him much of a choice. He asks Jim why he lied to Rick about the extent of his situation. Jim says that he didn’t think that Rick could handle it. He says that when he brought it up that Rick turned, and Bruce asks “white”? Jim says that it was more so that usual, and that Rick always was one of the whiter white boys. He asks if Bruce ever heard Rick sing Motown. He says that it is like nails on a chalkboard. Bruce tells Jim that he doesn’t want to hedge here and asks if he understands that this is a long shot. Jim says that all he cares is that it is a shot. Jim says that when he was little that there was an old man that lived upstairs named Smiley. He says that Smiley got so old that he couldn’t take care of himself anymore, and that when Smiley died that Jim prayed not to let him get old and helpless. He says that this is some answered prayer. Bruce tells Jim not to count himself out yet. Jim tells Bruce to tell him the truth about something. He says that if he were in a jam, and only had one partner to pull him out of it, would he want him or Rick. Bruce says that it depends. Jim asks what on. Bruce says, “On whether it involved singing Motown.” Jim starts to laugh, but then he starts coughing up blood.

Hildy Johnson says that young Joey Harris is being forced to leave his school. A woman says that they had to weigh all the parents’ concerns. She says that if they had started pulling their children that they would have had to close their doors for good. A man says that he has to watch out for his own kid. He says that he feels bad for the little kid and that it isn’t like he is gay.

Hector works out on the punching bag while Ulysses watches the report. Joey Harris say that he is sorry he made everyone upset. He asks if he promises to be good if he can come back and that they are painting eggs at the Easter party. Hector says that the whole “gay equals AIDS” thing really bothers him. Ulysses says that they have themselves to blame for that jumping from bed to bed. Hector punches Ulysses. He says that he could spend half an hour telling him how wring he is, but that he knew it would come down to this and that he thought he would save time. Ulysses asks if Hector remembers when “gay” meant “happy” and that he misses those days.

Jim lies in bed. He says that he can feel it working and that Bruce can be a hero if he just makes an antidote for everyone. He says that there really is hope. Jim asks Bruce if he can talk to Dr. Harr for a moment in private. Bruce says “sure”. Bruce steps out of the room and Jim quietly asks Dr. Harr if this isn’t really Hulk’s blood pumping into him. Dr. Harr admits that it isn’t. Jim says that he figured she wouldn’t lie to him, but that Bruce wants him going out feeling hopeful. He says that it is okay and that he knows why he didn’t. He says that it was his fault for asking. He tells her not to let Bruce know that he knows. Bruce steps back in and asks what the mystery is. Harr says that Jim was asking her on a date. Jim says that is how much better he feels. He says that he is going to leap out of the bed in a few minutes. He says that he has to take a rest first and then they are going to see something. Jim’s face goes blank as he falls silent and dies.

Later at the Mount, Bruce looks down at the empty bed. Harr says that she is sorry. Bruce says, “He figured it out, didn’t he? And told you not to tell me.” Bruce looks at Harr. She looks back. Bruce turns and walks through a wall.

At Help Line, Bruce tells Betty that maybe he should have tried the transfusion. Betty says that if he had given Jim his blood that he could have been turned into a monster ruining his life and maybe ending the lives of countless others. Bruce asks why destroying things is so difficult and saving them is so difficult. Betty says that she is as upset as Bruce is, but then the phone rings and Betty scoops it up. Chet says that it has been a long night for both of them. Betty tells Chet that her real name is Betty Banner. Chet asks if she is the Hulk’s wife. Betty says that she is and that he knows that her life hasn’t been a cakewalk either. She asks who he meant when he asked “What will they think?” Chet says that he meant the guys. He says that they will all wonder if he is gay even though he isn’t. Betty asks who cares what they think. She says that it is okay to be afraid, but that bravery is about rising above the fear. She says that he can’t give up. Chet says that he hasn’t given up… he’s made a decision. Betty says that he sounds drunk. Chet says that he makes the final play and not some disease. He says that he doesn’t want to be scared anymore. Scared of dying or what his girl would say if he told her. Betty tells Chet that she is at risk, and that he has to tell her. Chet says for God to bless Betty and that she has been terrific. Betty asks what the noise getting louder is. Betty realizes and tells Chet to get off the train tracks. Betty tells Chet to tell her his girlfriend’s name. She says that she has to know and that she will make it right. Chet starts to tell Betty his girl’s name, but then his eyes get caught in the blinding glare of the oncoming train. He says, “Wow. That train sure moves fas….”

No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10

Review and picture by The Leader

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