Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #454Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #454
Title: “Best Intentions”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Adam Kubert
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colors: Lovern Kindzierski
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Hulk sits on his throne, face painted, drums
pounding, while eating a leg of meat in front of a fire. The
tribesman known as the Locot dance and leap around the flames of
the fire that cook the downed Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Locot
prepare to go into battle with their rivals the Nowek, and they
will do so with the power of a being that just downed the
dinosaur upon which they feast… their new ally and god, the
Hulk. 
The Locot watch
in fear, knowing how mercurial gods can be, as Hulk gets up from
his seat. Hulk is both amused and saddened by it. The leader of
the Locot speaks to the Hulk in a language he doesn’t
understand. He tells Hulk that they have saved the most sacred
part of the kill for him and that the heart will give him the
gift of the beast’s savage spirit. Hulk gulps down the heart
and lets out a monstrous roar that sounds through the night.
Leesha, of the Nowek, tell Kazar and Wolverine that the Locot will move on them soon. Kazar asks how she knows. Leesha says that she can tell by the smell of the air and the beat of the drums. Kazar says that he thought their border disputes were settled. Leesha says that it was only because they had beaten them back, but that with a great green monster with them that they believe they can conquer them. Kazar turns to Wolverine and asks if he really thinks the green monster is the Hulk. Wolverine says that he knows that the Hulk was in Antarctica. Wolverine says that he was there because he heard their were dinosaurs tromping about and that he came to check it out since he knew the Savage Land was nearby. Wolvie says that he thinks the Hulk was there because he is playing a game with Colonel St. Lawrence. He says that he thinks the Hulk picked the most inhospitable climate.
Not long ago, the Hulk stomped across the snowy plain with snow covering his back. Colonel St. Lawrence found Hulk and dropped missiles on him. The missiles didn’t explode, but instead they created an energy draining field in the hopes of draining enough gamma radiation to make the Hulk vulnerable. Hulk starts fighting off the field when suddenly; Colonel St. Lawrence spots a Pterodactyl on the tail of their fighters. Hulk throws one of the missiles up from the ground and pierces the dinosaur’s chest. Colonel St. Lawrence’s snowmobile stops before the Hulk. She wonders if Hulk was really aiming at the monster, or maybe he just missed the jet. She looks up and sees the Hulk standing over her with nine missiles over his head preparing to kill her. Suddenly, a Tyrannosaur came smashing through the ground. The monster and the Hulk fell back together through the hole in the ice leaving Cary looking down. Wolverine arrived shortly thereafter and volunteered to go down after Hulk.
Kazar addresses the Nowek. He tells them that he will not fight the Locot for them, but that he and Wolverine will attend to their green monster.
The leader of the Locot tells Hulk that they are going to destroy the Nowek because their tribe is greater than theirs. He says that it angers his people that the Nowek grow greater with them with every generation. He says that as their shaman that he must give them pride in themselves, but he asks how he can condone what they are going to do. Hulk says that he has no idea what the shaman just said. He turns and walks away.
As Wolverine, Leesha, and all the others
wait in the trees, Wolverine says that this isn’t going to
work. Leesha says that the Locot aren’t much for
imagination. She says that they have fought them on the ground
before and that they will expect another ground attack. Suddenly
the trees begin to rumble. 
The Hulk comes
smashing through knocking the Nowek from the trees. Wolverine
leaps down from the trees at Hulk. He notes that the Hulk seems
stronger than ever, but that he also seems vulnerable in some
way. Wolverine slashes across Hulk’s neck. Hulk grabs at his
throat. He realizes that there is no blood. Hulk says that he
claws aren’t metal and asks if they are bone. Wolverine says
that they are and Hulk laughs at him.
Kazar fights back as the Locot attack him with arrows.
Hulk smacks Wolverine. Wolverine tries to talk to Hulk. He tells him that the Locot are using him. He says that Hulk is the strongest, craftiest guy on the planet and that has wound up as the stooge for Neanderthals just because they tickle his ego. Wolverine says that if he were smart that he would walk away and stop being a dupe. Hulk grabs Wolverine by the throat.
Leesha stands behind the Locot shaman with her spear drawn back. The shaman says that he knows she is there and that she must do as she must.
As Hulk chokes the life out of Wolverine, one of the relatives of the Tyrannosaur Hulk killed earlier smashes through the trees. Hulk clutches his chest as the beast roars. Wolverine leaps clear as the dinosaur bites Hulk all the way down to his feet. It picks him up, shakes him around, and then tosses Hulk aside. Kazar, the shaman from the Locot, and Leesha from the Nowek call for the defeat of the monster. Arrows and spears hit the dinosaur by the hundreds. The beast topples.
Later, the two tribes celebrate around the roasting monster. The shaman of the Locot tells Leesha that their people seem happy together. Shaman says that the peace won’t last. He says that they have had brief moments of peace, but that it always ends. He says that it isn’t what he wants. Leesha says that it isn’t what she wants either. Shaman says that he hopes that she understands that he poisoned the Nowek share of the food. He says that they will all be dead by morning and that there is no cure. Leesha says that she feels less guilty about having poisoned the Locot drinking supply. She says that they will be dead by morning and that there is no cure. The two of them toast happy endings.
Wolverine comes up behind Hulk. He says that was a smart plan, but that it might have been nice if had told him before. Wolverine says that it was clever to pretend that the monster kicked the snot out of him so that the tribes would unite against it. Wolverine slaps Hulk on the back and tells him he did a nice job. Hulk falls over.
CONTINUES IN INCREDIBLE HULK VOL. 2 #-1
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
Cool story and outstanding art. Hulk easily handles Wolverine and might have killed him if not for the dinosaur’s interference. I like Hulk hanging out with the late Locot, but I’ve always kinda disliked Kazar and don’t really care for his involvement. Kubert does an outstanding job in his debut issue of Hulk. He immediately has a feel for him and does portray him well. 4.5 out of 5 for both writing and art.
Review and pictures by The Leader