Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #457Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #457
Title: “Of Course You Realize This Means War!”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: David Brewer
Inkers: Cam Smith and Andrew Pepoy
Colors: Jessi Kindzierski
Separations: Digital Chameleon
Editor: Bobbie Chase
A long time ago in Egypt, Akhenaten is praying to Aten. He says that he told the people that he might grace them with his presence. Within the construct, Apocalypse asks Ozymandias if he hears him. Ozymandias tells En Sabah Nur that it doesn’t matter if he can hear Akhenaten, it only matters if Apocalypse can hear him. Apocalypse says that Akhenaten is calling desirous of his presence. He says that maybe he will indulge himself. He says that being worshipped by those that used to torment him amuses him. “Aten” tells Akhenaten that he will honor him with an audience and that he will be with him “presently”. Akhenaten says that a being as great as he doesn’t measure time the same way they mere mortals do. He asks if he can tell him when “presently” will be. Apocalypse says that he can, but that he won’t. He tells him to take his leave while he still can. Akhenaten says that he will tell the people that he is dwelling on great matters of the state. Apocalypse says that he is actually dwelling on the future.
Juggernaut tells Hulk that when he chooses a name like “War” that it gives him a lot to live up to. Juggernaut says to let them see what he’s got. Cain charges into War and says, “Nothing stops the Juggernaut!”
Rick sits on the ground calling out to Absorbing Man. Janis says that “Gramps” is wasting his time and that he was blown to pieces. Rick says that she doesn’t know Creel the way he does. He says that judging by how fast Hulk took down Creel that he is afraid that Juggernaut may be next.
Juggernaut, who is working for money to help his friend Black Tom Cassidy, continues pushing back War. Hulk begins to glow with a green power. His foot begins to glow as well and suddenly it takes hold and he actually manages to stop the unstoppable Juggernaut. War shoots the cable out of his wrist and wraps it around Cain’s leg. He tosses Cain aside. Juggernaut says that it impossible.
Apocalypse says that it is just as he suspected. He says that the “power of the Celestials… supercedes all but my own.” He says that the day of judgment is coming and that there will be global upheaval from which a new era will emerge. Apocalypse says that of all the X-Men’s non-mutant foes that the Juggernaut is most “puissant”. He says that he will be a valuable test of Celestial might. He says that he only really wanted to know if his power, and therefore by extension the Celestials’, could withstand his own. He says that he guesses that he is receiving his answer.
Rick finishes assembling all the pieces that
used to be Crusher Creel into a crude human looking construct.
Janis says that is “real sharp”, but asks what happens
now. 
Creel begins to
reform and says that now he is really hacked off. Creel snatches
Janis’ staff and absorbs its properties. Creel grabs hold of
Rick and Janis and starts to blast power out of his feet in order
to fly away. Creel says that they’re going to Cairo to see
if there is anything left. Rick asks if he means if there is
anything left of Cairo. Creel says that he meant War and that he
wants a piece of him.
Cain goes flying through the air and almost crushes some men praying at the Mosque of El-Mudyad Sheik. Juggernaut gets up quickly and goes in search of War. He is horrified to discover that a part of him does so reluctantly. He has never backed down from a fight, and though he won’t do so now he is apprehensive. War starts to barrel down on Juggernaut. Juggernaut hits War as he comes down. Juggernaut questions everything that he has taken for granted about himself, but on the outside he is business as usual. War smashes through some cars as he falls.
At the headquarters of the New World Order, one of the members says that it is a shame. He says that Apocalypse would have been a valuable addition, but that according to Ozymandias world conquest isn’t one of his goals. Another says that based on that Apocalypse’s power must be broken and his technology and his altered Hulk must be theirs.
Ozymandias tells Apocalypse that they have brought Rick Jones into this, but that he poses no threat. Apocalypse tells Ozymandias that for one with no powers that Rick has spent a lot of time in situations that would have killed or crippled others. He tells Ozymandias not to underestimate the youth and that some can bring down empires. He says to take Merenptah for example. Apocalypse says that he will never forget him crouching on the field of combat. He had thwarted an invasion by the “sea people”, but only at the expense of his army.
Long ago, Merenptah looks up and sees “Aten”. He asks if that his him. Aten says that it is. Merenptah asks for his help. Apocalypse says that Merenptah’s ancestors came to him once and told him that the power of the gods was too much for a single god. He says that his dynasty restored polytheism. Aten says to let that be a lesson to Merenptah because he could have averted this disaster. Aten says that it is not the weak that survives. He says that it is only the strong that survives and that he is the strongest one there is.
Juggernaut asks Hulk where his cries are that he is the strongest one there is. He asks if isn’t saying it because he knows that it isn’t true. War hits Cain and says, “No. Because it’s just too obvious.” Juggernaut hits a building. Rick and Janis blast and dodge the debris that falls from the wreckage. Janis says that they have to make sure no one gets killed and try to get their attention.
War stands over Cain with his sword in hand.
Cain says that he is just lucky. War pops Juggernaut’s
helmet off. He says, “So: nothing can stop the Juggernaut?
Well, here’re two things that can. My power… and your
imminent beheading.” 
Creel comes
slamming down on War and asks if he missed him. Creel says that
this time they’re playing it his way. He says that he will
absorb War’s power at his pace and that it will still be
fast enough. War swats Creel off and leaps after him. War hits
Crusher and says that he doesn’t get it. He says that he has
never beaten him, but that in the past he has annoyed him. War
says that this is for that. He stabs Creel in the chest with his
sword and begins to blast him full of power. Rick calls out to
Bruce and tells him that he is not a killer. Rick realizes that
he isn’t getting through at all. Janis blasts War off Creel
and says that should get his attention. Rick compliments
Janis’ move and tells her to stop calling him
“Gramps”.
Rick runs up to War. He tells him that Apocalypse did this to him and that he isn’t about love of destruction. Rick tells Hulk to turn around and listen to him. Rick says that there is no way that he is letting “him” win. War turns around and swats Rick away. Rick flies through the air and hits face first against a wall. Janis stands stunned. He rushes to Rick’s side and says, “Scan what you’ve done, Hulk! Scan what you’ve done to him!” Brian’s ghostly form levitates near Hulk and he says, “Well done, son. Well done. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, eh? Bet you thought you were rid of me. Surprise.” Hulk lets out a scream and tears Apocalypse’s armor off. He tears out not only the armor, but the chunks of flesh the armor was imbedded in. He leaps away.
Juggernaut puts his helmet on and says, “So much for War.” He says that at least he left them a souvenir. Creel holds War’s sword and says that is good enough for him. He asks if they’re leaving Rick. Cain says that Rick and the girl saved Creel’s hide and that ought to be worth something even to Creel. Cain says that they’ll take him to the hospital and that he will make sure that the NWO pays “time and a half when we bring ‘em this sword.”
Egypt, in the fourth century, Alexander of Macedonia stands before Apocalypse’s threshold. He says that he has been told that he is considered a god. He says that he has just taken Egypt from the Persians. He says that he is Pharaoh now, and that only Zeus is the prominent god. He adds that when he dies that he will be a god greater than he. He says that the world will have no need for him and that he should cower like the fallen god he is. Apocalypse says, “No need of me, you say? Acceptable… since I have no need of it. But someday the world will fall, and you will be forgotten … You, Alexander… and your ‘greatness’. And I will still be here.” Apocalypse laughs.
In the headquarters of the New World Order, a scientist is looking at Apocalypse’s sword. He says that the metallurgy alone will take months of study. An image of Apocalypse appears and says that it is months that they do not have. He tells them that they have been a mild test for him to gauge the equipment he will use to monitor the “upcoming Celestial cataclysm, and use it to my advantage.” The scientist asks what cataclysm he means. Apocalypse says that it won’t concern him. He says goodbye to them and the headquarters explodes.
Apocalypse ponders those that have spoken to gods and those that seek to elevate themselves. He says that he recalls the story of Noah and how only he had the foresight to prepare for the flood. He wonders if he is Noah or God. He decides that he is a bit of both, and that the truly great are those who are genuinely touched by god and that the touch doesn’t fade no matter how long one lives. On Apocalypse’s screen he watches Hulk stowing away on the landing gear of a plane.
No Excuses rating: 7.5 out of 10
Again, conflict in this issue. Hulk stops the Juggernaut, but really its only with his enhanced power that seems to make this possible. So it’s a win for the Hulk, but at the same time it kind of highlights that without this power increase that it wouldn’t ordinarily be possible. Kubert’s slacking brings David Brewer to the title. Brewer has an appeal, but I’m just annoyed that a great fight couldn’t have been drawn by the book’s regular artist, and one so impressive. Last Juggernaut fight occurred when Keown had left the book and before Gary Frank came on the scene. Taking nothing away from Jan Duursema, but comparing to those two I think speaks for itself. Brewer, in my opinion, is a step up from Duursema, but Kubert should have drawn this book.
Review and pictures by The Leader