Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #438

Title: “fragmented personality”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Angel Medina

Inker: Robin Riggs

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Bobbie Chase

Betty thinks about how insane it is for her to be flying an unfamiliar plane after having logged barely any flight time recently. She didn’t ask them, nor does she care, where they got the plane. She only wants to know that her husband is safe. She prays that for once that the Lord will cut them a break. She sees them running up and goes to see if they got Bruce. Betty is stunned to see Bruce brutalized from the exploding grenade. Largo tells Betty that if their maker is a close friend that she had better put in a few words with him on her husband’s behalf… and quickly. Betty comes to Bruce. Largo says that she can’t help him now and that she said they could count on him to fly this thing. She says that Frost was their pilot and that they need him. Betty says, “Fine. Whatever.” Dead Head asks if Betty can take off in the inclement weather. Betty says that she can. She tells him to get back there and keep Bruce alive because he is the only reason she has to keep them in the air. The plane takes off.

Talbot looks at the destroyed prison and thinks about how he would have out Banner down like a mad dog had it been up to him. He asks who did this.

Betty comes back once she has the plane on autopilot. Largo tells Betty that Bruce grabbed a hand grenade while he still thought he was the Hulk. He says that he is still alive, but that he doesn’t know what they can do for him. Betty asks Largo to leave them alone for a minute. Betty leans over Bruce’s mangled body. She says that part of her wants to let him go. She says that he has been through so much in such an impossible life and that if he survives that it will be more of the same. She says that she would let him go if she were a good and decent person, but that she is selfish and can’t give him up. She says that she can’t give up hope. Betty’s tear hits Bruce’s face. Hulk thinks to himself that he hears talking, but that he hates talking. He feels the tear and thinks that it must be raining on him, but then the tear runs into his mouth and he tastes the salt. He sees a vague outline and recognizes it as Betty. Hulk says that Betty is always there for her and that he has to be there for her. He sees that she needs him. The tone of the Hulk’s thoughts change from the savage Hulk’s as he thinks, “She needs me… she always needs me… I’m tired of it… but… what else can I do..? After all… she’s only human… while I’m…” The Hulk sits up, his green skin now a dark olive color, and says, “Hulk… Hulk is… Bruce, I’m… okay, Betty… it’s going to be… okay.” Betty throws her arms around Bruce’s neck. Bruce tells her not to get all weepy on him and then gets a sour look on his face as she holds him.

In Freehold, Hotshot and Jailbait are hanging out in Omnibus’ lab. Jailbait says that Omnibus sure has some weird experiments. She points out the gene-splicing he does on white mice to increase their intelligence. Hotshot asks what is so weird about it. Jailbait says that one of them just acts strange, but that the one with the big head is creepy. She says that he just sat there all day scowling. She asks Hotshot what he thinks he will do tonight. Hotshot says that he will probably do the same thing he does every night… whatever that is. Omnibus bursts in and asks them what they are doing there. Hotshot says that they weren’t expecting him back yet. Omnibus says that he is back now and for them to get out. Hotshot says that Omnibus didn’t used to have a problem with them hanging out in there. Omnibus shouts that he does now and yells for them to get out. Omnibus looks into the mirror and asks, “Well? Where are you?” He says that he came back there because Leader wouldn’t let him be. He tells Leader to come out and face him like a man, or a ghost, or whatever. He yells for Leader to say something. One of the mice says, “narf”.

Largo says that he doesn’t understand how Hulk is walking around. Hulk says that he is feeling kind of achy… arthritic… head throbbing. Hulk smacks the thing Headgear is holding away from him. Headgear says that it is a scanner. He says that Hulk should be dead and not “achy”. He says that the organs have healed around all the fragments in his body, but that they are still there. He says that the biggest problem is the shards in his brain. Hulk tosses him back the scanner and says that is ridiculous. He says that his thought process is fine. Headgear says that Hulk’s skin looks different. Hulk asks who cares and that it isn’t the first time. Betty tries to talk to Bruce, but as soon as she opens her mouth, Hulk shouts, “What is your problem, anyway?” He stops and apologizes. He says that was uncalled for, but that is the pain talking. Headmistress says that the pain isn’t the half of it. She says that if he shifts back into human form that it will kill him. She asks if he has any friends who could help him. Hulk says, “friends?” and then starts riotously laughing. He says that he has no friends… only enemies. Something occurs to Hulk and he snaps his fingers so loud that it hurt Betty’s ears. He says that the Leader once removed a bullet from his brain and that he had the equipment and the know how. Thunder Head says that Leader is the one they wanted him to help them get revenge against. Hulk says that it is a little late for that considering he is dead. Largo asks if he said dead. Hulk says that he saw it himself, but that maybe he left some notes or equipment behind that he could use. Largo says that they are coming and that they want to see firsthand. Hulk tells him to forget it. He says that he isn’t a team player and that the Pantheon showed him that. Betty tells Bruce that they risked their lives for him. Hulk says that they just wanted to use him like everyone else. He says that he is going to watch out for himself. Thunder Head suggests he watch out for them and that they owe him. Hulk grabs Thunder Head and throws him across the room. He says, “I owe you? I owe YOU? All right… I could’ve killed you just now, but I didn’t. Now we’re even.” Betty tells Bruce to stop and that it doesn’t have to be this way. Hulk kisses her head head and says that does actually. He tells her to keep a light burning for him and leaps through the ceiling. Largo shields Betty from the wreckage that falls from the hole Hulk made. Betty realizes that she could have been injured or killed and that he didn’t care. She says that he stopped caring about her… or anything.

Outside, Hulk laughs… stops and then asks what is happening to him.

Talbot shouts at Gyrich that they have to go after the Hulk. Gyrich says that they have to take down the Alliance first. He says that every “bed-sheeted two-bit dictator is nuclear these days.” Gyrich tells Talbot that he is part of a select advisory board and asks if he wishes to continue there or if he should tell the President that he is out. Talbot thinks. He tells Gyrich that he is still there. Gyrich tells him to get back there then. Talbot slams the phone down.

Headgear says that Hulk trashed their plane on the way out and that they can’t go after him. Largo says that he had a feeling. He asks Betty if she knew that the Leader was dead. Betty says that she did and that Bruce told her at the time. Largo asks why she didn’t tell them. She says that their hatred for the Leader was going to spring Bruce. She says that she would have done anything to help him. Largo asks, “Now… what?” With a tear in her eye, Betty says that she doesn’t know.

Hulk leaps past Mount Rushmore as it explodes. He wonders if that was meant for him, but realizes that there was no missile… just destruction. He asks what the point of that was.

The Great Wall of China explodes. Omnibus watches and says that the problem with blowing up the Great Wall of China is that half an hour later you are ready to blow up something else. Omnibus seemingly transforms into the Leader as he says, “It couldn’t be going any better! Soon they’ll all be turning on each other… and it will be left to me… to pick up the pieces….”

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

Review and picture 2 by The Leader

Picture 1 by Captain Nate

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