Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #421

Title: “Pursuit”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Gary Frank

Inker: Cam Smith

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Bobbie Chase

Bruce is walking with Betty when he sees Ajax and then Atalanta’s feet dangling. He shouts for Ajax to put her down. He runs over and hits Ajax and says that he meant it when he told him to drop her. Atalanta falls to the ground. Hulk is about to hit Ajax again, but Atalanta tells him to stop. Ajax looks confused and asks why he is hitting him. He says that he has been good. Atalanta says that he wasn’t hurting her and that they were making up. Atalanta says that they were hugging. Bruce asks how she convinced him. Atalanta says that she told Ajax how Bruce said that she would have to go away unless they worked things out. She says that she will always love him in her own way, and that she got him to sit through a Barney marathon. Bruce asks if that isn’t a little extreme. Atalanta asks if it is as extreme as threatening to take her away from him. Ajax asks him to please not do that. Bruce hems and haws that it seemed like a good idea at the time. He looks at Betty and sees she is giving him a dirty look as well. Betty asks how he could do such a thing and asks if he doesn’t remind him of someone they both used to know. Bruce says that he doesn’t believe this. He says that she is at the Mount for an hour and that he is already having a guilt trip. He says that no one has to leave. He says that he was only trying to control the human wrecking machine and that they are looking at him like the hunter that shot Bambi’s mother. Ajax turns distressed to Atalanta and asks if Bambi’s mother was killed. He says that she told him that she ran away and came back after the movie was over. Ajax starts crying and Betty says, “Nice move, Gene Siskel.” Bruce rolls his eyes.

In New York, Steve Rogers sits reading a paper. He looks out the window. He sees Agamemnon walking down the sidewalk in the rain. He says, “Huh? Is that Bu… aww, no, Steve. Let’s not start that again.” Agamemnon walks down the street. A man behind him says that he is dead if he is late for that audit. Agamemnon looks down and sees Delphi in a reflection of a rain puddle. Delphi tells him to duck. A bullet flies over Agamemnon’s head, as he ducks, and hits the man who is late for his audit. Agamemnon runs from another bullet as he enters the subway. He leaps the turnstile and barely makes a train as the doors close. Agamemnon looks back and sees Jason the renegade. He says, “Then… it’s begun.”

At the Mount, Cassie asks Atalanta if she stopped wearing make up over her freckles. Atalanta says that she wants to get down to business and that this has been eating at her since the Troyjan war. She says that centuries ago that Agamemnon sold his descendants down the river for immortality. She says that he has to pay for that. Paris asks why they should believe what some “ghastly aliens” said. Atalanta says that she thinks that they were on the level and that she demands justice. Achilles tells Atalanta to grow up and asks who she is to judge. Cassie says that she is the one whose head was on the block. Ulysses says that, Heaven forbid, but that he agrees with Cassie. Atalanta turns to Banner and says that she figures he is going to try and cover for the immortal weasel. She says that it might have even been Agamemnon’s idea to shunt her off to another facility. She says that she has noticed that people that get fed up with Aggy tend to vanish… or worse. She asks if he is in charge or if he is his puppet. Banner tells Atalanta to stow the insinuations. He says that he will remind her that he has saved her neck on two separate occasions, and most recently at the cost of a piece of his soul. He begins regularly, but ends shouting, “So I suggest… THAT YOU WATCH YOUR TONE!” Atalanta falls to the floor. Bruce says that he wants position papers from all of them on this. He says that opinions will be kept confidential and that they will have his decision before the end of the day.

Betty sits with Bruce. She asks him if he knows that he is mentioned in a mystery novel “Free Fall”. Bruce says that he knows. He says that the author, Bob Crais, is a friend and that it is a good book. Betty asks what he is doing. Bruce says that he is making an anonymous donation to the AIDS hostel where Jim works… worked. He says that it is enough money to keep them going for a decade. He says that he wishes all problems could be solved with a few key strokes. Betty asks Bruce if he means the Agamemnon thing. She asks if he thinks he can find him. Bruce says that he could do so easily, but that isn’t the problem. He says that he believed in him and asks if he is going to repay him by dragging him back and subjecting him to their “justice”. He says that if he refuses that it could split the Pantheon and that he doesn’t want to lose everything. Betty says that he won’t lose her. Hulk thinks about Maestro telling him that he is going to lose everything and that they are going to take it all away from him. Bruce says that he hopes she is right. They hug. Betty says that to prove it that if they go after Agamemnon that she is coming with them. Bruce says, “Excuse me?” Betty says that she has taken time off her job and that he needs her more. She says that he would bring Rick in a heartbeat. Hulk says that he was trained by Captain America. Betty says that in the beginning he wasn’t. He says that if they get separated that she would be helpless. Betty says to give her a gun. Bruce snickers. Betty tells him to stop it and Bruce lies that it was a hiccup. She reminds Bruce that her father was a general, her first husband was a major, she grew up with guns, and that being the Hulk’s wife that she has kept in practice. Bruce says that he is sure she is a regular Melba Gibson. Betty tells him not to patronize her. Bruce says that he is willing to be convinced.

Betty stands at the firing range pulling off shot after shot. They bring in the paper target to reveal that every shot went right through the drawn figure’s crotch. Ulysses says that he is convinced.

Delphi sits nude next to her pool. Banner stands in the doorway. She says that he has been convinced to seek out Agamemnon. Banner says that there is suspicion and anger regarding Agamemnon and that he knows better than anyone that anger must be controlled. He says that he knows she is close to him and asks if she can tell him where he is. He tells her to drop the arcane rhymes and just tell him. She says, “Very well. Boston. Look for the rebels. And beware of Jason.” Bruce says that Jason’s records end in 1963 and that he is presumed dead. Delphi tells him to never presume. She says, “One last warning… beware the green monster. If it consumes you. You’ll face the storm.” Bruce asks if she means a more savage version of himself. He turns for his answer, but finds that Delphi is gone.

Hulk sits on top of the Mount. Atalanta comes up behind Bruce and asks if he wanted to see her. Bruce says that “want” has nothing to do with it. He says that he had one of the sketch people make a drawing of what Agamemnon really looks like. He tells her to make copies and circulate it to all the core Pantheon members. As he hands her the sketch he tells her that they will move on Boston in an hour. Atalanta looks at the picture and says that he has to be kidding. Bruce tells her to just do it. As she walks away, Atalanta tells Bruce that she wants him to know that she feels grateful. Bruce says that he feels dirty.

In Boston, Paris reports in that he hasn’t seen Agamemnon while watching a recreation of the Boston Tea Party. Atalanta reports in from Beacon Hill and says that she has nothing. Prometheus at Boston Common says that he sees nothing and is headed down to the Combat Zone. Achilles reports in from outside the Bull and Finch. He says that he told then they were wasting their time. Hector tells Cassie to stop playing with his hair as they report in near a hot dog stand.

Bruce sits with Betty. He says that he doesn’t understand this. He says that he gets Agamemnon could be eluding the others, but that Prometheus tracked Atalanta across space and that this should be a cakewalk. Betty says that she doesn’t want to make insinuations, but that maybe Prometheus isn’t trying. Bruce says that he doesn’t want to support insinuations, but that the thought had occurred to him and that he is less than ecstatic about the idea. He tells Ulysses to report in.

Ulysses sits in Fenway Park and says that there is no sign. As he looks through binoculars at the Red Sox’s tribute to the Minute Men he says that he is searching everywhere. Suddenly, Agamemnon runs across the field and right past Ulysses line of vision. Ulysses says that this can’t be happening with Clemens pitching today. He says that he never gets any breaks and then he sees Jason running after Agamemnon. Ulysses quickly reports that Agamemnon is at Fenway and that Jason is there too. Cassie is ordering a hot dog with extra kraut when Hector grabs her. The hot dog stand they were at was in Fenway as well. Cassie says that now he grabs her and that it is lucky for him that she is his sex slave.

Betty says that she thought he told Ulysses to check out Harvard Square and asks why he is at Fenway. Bruce says that it is because he is a baseball nut and that he should have seen this coming.

Agamemnon races through the stands with Jason chasing him. Agamemnon orders Jason to stay back, but Jason says not to make him laugh. A tough looking fan grabs Jason’s shoulder and asks why he doesn’t leave the kid alone. Jason elbows the man in the throat and tells him to shut up and that he is busy. Jason pulls out his gun. He says that running time is over. He says that he may be immortal, but that he isn’t invulnerable. Aggy dodges a shot and races out onto the field. Jason races out after him, but Hector hits him in the back with his mace. Cassie grabs Aggy. Aggy asks if she is there too. He tells her to get out of there and that she is no fighter. Jason is about to shoot Hector, but Ulysses leaps in front of him and takes the shot. Jason says that it is the “fake Ulysses” that cost him an eye and that this is his lucky day. Jason tells Cassie that this isn’t her fight. He says that he has been waiting years for Aggy to sneak out into the light and that she isn’t going to stop him. Cassie says that she won’t have to. The Pantheon ship lands and Hulk leaps out. Bruce tells Jason to hold it. He introduces himself to Jason as the designated hitter and that Jason is his first designation. Agamemnon tells Banner to get out of there and that he is handling this. Bruce says that not anymore he isn’t. Hulk blocks Jason’s next shot. Betty shouts out to Bruce that the green wall is glowing. Bruce tells Betty to get back to the ship, but Betty says to stop Jason and not worry about her. Suddenly there is a loud explosion.

Banner and Agamemnon are suddenly alone in a wintery plateau. Large icy mountains stand behind them. Banner call in for Betty or Hector to report. He asks what happened. Aggy says that he will have him know that he had an emergency escape route hidden in the green monster, but that he wasn’t expecting company. Banner asks, “The green monster?” and Agamemnon explains that is what they call the left field at Fenway. Bruce sarcastically thanks Delphi. Agamemnon says that this has been enchanting, but that he has to be going. Bruce grabs Aggy and says that he isn’t going anywhere. A voice from behind tells the “monster” to unhand the lad. Bruce turns and sees a large red headed and bearded man holding a large hammer. The man says that they don’t believe in bullying in fabled Asgard. He says to unhand him or face the wrath of Thor! God of Thunder! 

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

Review and picture by The Leader

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