Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #424

Title: “Fall of the Pantheon part 1 of 2: Trial”

Court Reporter: Peter David

Sketch artist: Darick Robertson

Ink artist: Ron Boyd

Color commentator: Glynis Oliver

Defense Attorney: Bobbie Chase

Agamemnon sits on the floor of a cell not moving . The two guards talk to each other. One says that the kid is creeping him out and asks if he is breathing. The other says that he thinks so and asks if the first has any idea who he is. The first guard says that he doesn’t and that none of the big guns are saying. Agamemnon sits silent while a message is being sent out, “Heed me, Endless Knights. Your time has finally come.”

Hulk and Thing, each wearing a virtual reality helmet, are sword fighting. Hulk shouts that he will shish kabob puny Rock Man. “Thing” says that he is a riot and knocks Hulk back with his sword. He leaps with his sword in the air and says that with all his brains that he is still fighting like a brute. He says that sooner or later he is going to have to learn that finesse counts for something. Hulk rolls out of the way as “Thing” brings his sword down. Hulk gets up. “Thing” tells him to get his guard up because it is coming and that he doesn’t want any excuses. Banner tells him to shut up, but the sword comes through and hits Hulk across the throat. “Thing” tells him that he knew it was coming, but that he still couldn’t do anything about it. He says that he has to start working on his reflexes. Thing raises his sword over his head for the “killing blow”, but Hulk swings his sword around and hits him. He says that he has to work on his over confidence and that it will be the death of him. Thing drops his sword. Hulk leaps at Hulk, but Thing steps on his sword and points the edge up. The sharp end goes right into Hulk’s chest and Thing hits him and knocks him further onto the sword. Thing says that maybe it will, but that it won’t be today. Hulk lies on the ground impaled and says, “Nice move.” “Thing” says that Achilles taught him. Betty asks Bruce if she is okay. Bruce takes off his helmet and says that it is all simulated. He turns to “Thing” and tells Ulysses that he seems to be back to 100%. Ulysses says that it doesn’t feel that way. He says that Jason’s cellular breakdown weapon almost finished him. He says that it still hurts and that he gets winded faster. Ulysses says that the others are wondering about Aggy. Bruce says that the “hearing” will be when he says so. Betty asks Bruce what the point of putting it off is. Bruce asks her to please stay out of it. Betty says that she is there now and that his problems are her problems. She says that she can see that this is a big problem for him. She says that maybe they should talk about it. Bruce tells her that for months she has been telling him to respect her feelings. He says that she told him to stay out of the way and not intrude where he wasn’t wanted. He says that he thinks that he is entitled to the same consideration. He walks off and Betty says that she misses Marlo.

Achilles walks up to Agamemnon’s cell. He tells the guards that he wants to talk to the prisoner alone. They tell him that they aren’t supposed to leave, but Achilles tells them to get lost on his authority. He opens the bars on the cage and says that it has come to this. He says that he told Agamemnon that Banner would be nothing but trouble. He says that if he wanted to go on walkabout that he should have left him in charge. Agamemnon just scowls. Achilles says that he is his son. He says that he has always been good enough to do what he needed before. He asks why he didn’t trust him. Agamemnon still doesn’t reply. Achilles says that now he isn’t even good enough to speak to. He says that he sold his soul to him and that he deserves something in return. Achilles grabs Agamemnon and pulls his fist back. He says that he could crack him like an eggshell. He says to speak to him, but Agamemnon remains silent. Achilles drops him. He walks out of the cell and says that Agamemnon just lost the best friend he had there.

Jason thinks about how he had to come back through Asgard and take out a god or two to do it. How he had to fight his way past Heimdall to slide down the Rainbow Bridge. He says that now things are going to get difficult. Hulk stands in front of him with his arms folded. Bruce says that he thought that when their monitors picked him up that they were mistaken. He says that he didn’t believe he would be this brazen. Jason says that renegade or not that he is still Pantheon. He says that he understands they are bringing Agamemnon to account that he wants to be heard. He says that Hulk is a latecomer to this and that he can’t deny him. Bruce says that if he wants to have his day that he will, but that he will also be made to account for his own actions. Jason says, “Whatever.” Bruce says that he has caused a great deal of trouble. Jason says that he had an excellent teacher.

At the Mount, Cassie joins Betty in the steam room. She tells Betty that those are some nasty bruises she picked up, but that it was a rough caper. She says that for a norm that she put on an impressive display. Betty says that she was petrified. Cassie says that she didn’t act like it. Betty says to never let them see you sweat. She says that she had to be there for Bruce. Cassie says that Bruce is built like a fleet of tanks and that he would have survived without her. Betty says that isn’t the point. She says that his life is risk, and that if she is going to share in his life that she has to share in the risk. Cassie says that Betty is classy, nuts,  but classy. Cassie asks her what she thinks about Agamemnon. Betty says that she doesn’t know and that Bruce won’t talk to her about it. Cassie says that it is too bad the two of them got caught up in it. Betty says that she wishes that the two of them could just take a vacation. Cassie tells her that the Mount has ships that could take them to Maui in no time. Betty says that she always wanted to learn to hula. Cassie pulls Betty up and says that it is a snap. She says that the hands tell the story, but that hardly anyone ever watches the hands. Atalanta comes in on Betty and Cassie doing the hula. She says that she hates to break up the floor show, but that the trial is starting in the main conference room in fifteen minutes. Cassie asks if Atalanta thinks she should come like this. Atalanta says that Cassie would be the hit of the hearing. Atalanta tells Betty that she doesn’t have to come, but Betty says that she will be there. Atalanta tells her to suit herself.

Hector is chasing after Ulysses. He says that he wants to talk to him. Ulysses tells him to talk. Hector says that he doesn’t get it. He says that Ulysses has been busting his chops about being gay. Ulysses says that it has been an issue for Hector, but that it isn’t for him. Hector tells him that Ulysses has made it clear that he hates his guts. Ulysses says that it wasn’t clear to him and that he thought he loved Hector like a brother. He says that Hector has always been more intellectual, and that he must have known his own mind better than he did. Hector says that he was trying to thank him for saving his life. Ulysses says that he wishes he was as smart as Hec so he could tell if he really meant that.

Bruce walks into the group. Agamemnon sits on the floor surrounded by all the others. Bruce asks where Delphi is. Cassie says that no one has seen her lately. Bruce says that they will start anyway. Bruce asks Agamemnon if he knows why he is there. Agamemnon says, “Yes. Very much so.” He says that most of them have not seen him this way. A ghostly image of the old Agamemnon appears and he says that most of them are familiar with him this way. He says that they are the first family in millennia to see him as he truly is. He asks what they think. Ajax says that he thinks he is cute. Agamemnon smiles and thanks him. Bruce says that they have questions that they would like him to answer. Agamemnon asks if they will beat it out of him if he refuses to answer. Atalanta says that maybe they will. She asks if the truth scares him. Agamemnon says that there is so much anger in her and that there always has been. He says to save the schoolyard taunts and that his schoolyard was dust centuries before Atalanta’s great, great grandmother once removed was conceived. He says to ask their questions. Atalanta asks him if he sold them out to the Troyjans to gain immortality for himself. Agamemnon says, “No”. Atalanta asks if the Troyjans were lying. Agamemnon says, “Not precisely. Their technology helped me to crack my genetic encoding, reducing immortality to a formula… one that I was able to use to augment the genetics of my offspring.” He says that his genetic structure had less effect on his offspring as time went on, and that the Troyjans helped him develop a “miracle pill”. Atalanta grabs Agamemnon and says that he promised them their pick of his descendants forever. She calls him a creep. Agamemnon drives his palm up into her nose. He knocks her over and says that humans are a constantly evolving species and that he did what he had to, to compensate. Ajax gets up and shouts that he hurt Atalanta. Agamemnon shouts, “SIT DOWN AJAX!” Ajax does so. Agamemnon says, “Who do you think you are to judge me! You presumptuous fleas! You cannot hope to fathom what I’ve experienced! If any of you had to face the life I’ve had, you would have gone insane!” Betty asks, “And you haven’t?” Agamemnon smiles and then starts laughing. Ulysses tells Agamemnon that he can’t do whatever he wants and that he is not god. Agamemnon says that is the foundation upon which the Pantheon is built. He says that they reveled in the lawless society until it suddenly impacted directly on them and that now they throw their high handed morality on him. Agamemnon says, “You say I’m not God? I say… prove it!” Bruce says that something Atalanta said something about how people that disagree with Agamemnon tend to disappear. Agamemnon asks what he is implying. Jason says that Banner doesn’t have to imply and that he knows. Banner tells the others to stay back and that he wants Jason heard. Jason says that it is time that they all woke up and realized what kind of creature is running this show. He says that they are all disposable to him and that he has lost the ability to care about anyone beyond the notion of their being his personal lab rats. Jason says that he should know and that he was his personal trigger man for years. Achilles says that Jason is raving. Jason says that he promised him what he always promises: power, but that eventually he had enough. He says that it was when he wanted him to take out Ulysses. Ulysses says that there was no way he would pass on a chance to take him out. Jason says that he was referring to his predecessor who died in the riots. He asks if Ulysses really thought a normal gun could take out Pantheon. He says that it was one of their weapons and that Achilles stepped up when he refused. He says that is why he ran. Suddenly there is a loud rumble. Agamemnon says, “You know… once upon a time… there was loyalty… dedication. Battles were settled man to man. Not anymore. Now it’s too impersonal, and man will never again see that golden age. I understand that now. Everything Jason says is absolutely true. But none of it matters anymore. That rumbling is the sound of the Endless Knights. I’ve summoned them. Chivalry may be dead, doctor… but so are all of you.”

No Excuses rating: 6.5 out of 10

Review and picture by The Leader

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