Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #459Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #459
Title: “Last Legs”
Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Adam Kubert
Inkers: Mark Farmer and Bud LaRosa
Colors: Digital Chameleon
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Abomination stands outside a television store in the rain. He is wearing an overcoat and hat. People are hiding under their umbrellas and looking at the ground to avoid stepping in puddles. Emil stands watching the news. He enjoys the news because it is mostly bad. He views it as a “celebration of the ugliness of mankind”. He celebrates ugliness every time he looks at his reflection. Emil watches a report from the airplane “crash”.
At the scene, the reporter says that details are still unclear, but that they have learned that the Hulk was battling the felon called Mr. Hyde. He says that it is unclear what part, if any, the Hulk played in the failure of the plane’s engines. He says that what further clouds the issue is that the Hulk apparently cushioned the impact of the plane’s crash with his own body. The reporter says that the Hulk is still pinned down under the plane. He adds that the runway has been foamed down to prevent explosions. He says that the constant rain also helps an explosion from happening. Suddenly an engine on one of the fire trucks explodes. The Hulk has climbed out from under the plane. Hulk looks back and instead of seeing the plane he sees a gamma bomb the size of the plane. Hulk screams in terror and leaps from the scene.
At the Pentagon, Ross says that he is back. Colonel St. Lawrence says that it appears so. Ross says that coincides with Gyrich’s report of the Hulk being the Egypt. Ross asks if the plane was out of Egypt. St. Lawrence says that it was. Ross asks if they know which way he was leaping. She says that from the direction it appears to be Manhattan, but that he could just as easily keep leaping on to New Jersey or beyond. Ross says that his gut tells him it is New York. He says that Hulk is hurting and needs a place to hide. Ross says that they can get there quickly. Cary reminds Ross that he isn’t part of the group after the Hulk. Ross asks if that is so. Cary looks away awkwardly. Ross says that he will speak to his superiors and that they will see what is what with the Hulk.
Emil says that the televisions are filled
with images of the Hulk. He says that they don’t know if
they should praise him, condemn him, or feel sorry for him. Emil
says that his mind is not conflicted. 
He says that
they have a score to settle. He says that he could have lived in
peace beneath the city, but that the Hulk’s interference
caused the deaths of innocent sewer dwellers. Emil says that he
will search the city and the planet if he has to. He says that he
has let him live far too long. He says that he got caught up in
the lives of “the Abominations” for too long and lost
focus. He says that no matter where Hulk goes that he will find
him. Emil looks over at the television shop window and sees the
Hulk standing there. He looks away. Stunned he looks back, but
the Hulk is gone.
Hulk staggers down the street racked with
pain. He is oblivious to everything around him from the rain to
the honking of the truck coming straight at him. As the truck is
about to smash into the Hulk, Hulk does register the light coming
from the truck. He thinks back to the light that bathed over him
from the original gamma bomb explosion. His mind wrestles with
the memory. It is too busy to tell his body of the truck that
just slammed into him. Hulk staggers on leaving the mangled truck
behind him.
Marcy watches Hulk as he goes. She tells Hulk to get it right this time. She says that she understands that even with his power boost that Mr. Hyde wasn’t enough to finish him. She says that the Abomination may be. She says that she lead him there so the two of them would find one another. She tells Hulk to be willing to let his burden go.
Emil tells Hulk to turn and face him. Hulk seems to be glowing with power now. Emil says that Hulk should remember him even in his befuddled state. Hulk turns, but instead of seeing the Abomination, he sees the gray Hulk. He says, “You!” “Gray Hulk” answers, “Correct. Me” Hulk punches Emil and says, “You! You did this! If it weren’t for you… I’d never have lived… to hurt so much! It’s all your fault! All your fault!” Abomination starts to get up, but the Hulk sees the Gravage Hulk climbing to his feet.
Abomination and Hulk’s battle goes for
two blocks. Abomination is battling the Hulk, but the Hulk is
only seeing past incarnations of himself. Abomination realizes
that the Hulk’s punches seem to be draining something off of
him. He hits Hulk and knocks him over. Hulk kicks Emil in the
groin. Hulk looks down at Emil on the ground, but sees the savage
Hulk. He says, “Him! You’re… him! The one who
always said… he’s the strongest one there
is…” Emil asks what he is talking about. Hulk goes on,
“Well now I’m the strongest one there is… and
it’s done me… no… good… at all!” Hulk
pounds on Emil over and over. The televisions inside the shop
explode near Hulk. Cars up and down the street have their engines
explode. Emil lies on the ground. 
He sees the Hulk
leap from the flames at him.
Hulk and Emil’s battle rages to the
Queens midtown tunnel. Mercy asks Hulk why he doesn’t just
let Abomination finish him off. She asks why he rages against the
dying of the light. Inside the tunnel, light bulbs overhead
explode as the Hulk runs past them towards Abomination. Emil says
that he doesn’t know how Hulk is doing this, but that he
isn’t giving up his revenge because of it. Hulk doesn’t
even hear him. Now in complete darkness, save for the glow of
power coming off his own body, the Hulk pounds on the Abomination
for a full two minutes. It is the longest two minutes of
Emil’s life. It occurs to Emil that it may be the last two
minutes as well. He weakly says, “E… enough…”
Hulk says, “No. Never enough. Because no matter how much I
take… how much pain… how much abuse… how much
hurt… it will never be enough… to stop me…
I’ll always want… more!” He looks down and sees
the merged Hulk in his Pantheon jumpsuit. 
Hulk punches
him straight through the top of the tunnel.
Hulk is alone muttering that it will never be enough. A drop of water hits his head. Hulk looks up just to in time to see the water coming through and washing him out of the tunnel.
Cary St. Lawrence sits watching the news. They report that the good news is that the water from the tunnel put out the fires from the explosions. It also reports that the Thunderbolts are fixing the hole in the tunnel created by the Hulk/Abomination fight. Ross enters. He says that their superiors want her to head to New York to rein in the Hulk. He says that she will be coordinating with all available superhumans to try and bring the Hulk in. He says that this is her last chance, and that after this they are prepared to put him in charge. He asks if they understand one another. Cary says, “Yes, sir.” Ross closes the door.
Mercy greet Hulk as he lies in the trash. Hulk says that he should have known that it was her. He says that he is weak and tired. He tells her not to wait for him to get strong again. He tells her to finish him if that is what she wants. Mercy says that isn’t how she operates. She says that it isn’t what he wants. She says that in any event that it no longer matters. She says that he may as well stick around and see the very end. She says that “they’re coming”. Hulk asks who. Mercy repeats, “They are.” She says that when they do that Hulk will wish that she had finished him. Mercy says, “Farewell, Hulk. And may God have mercy on you all.”
No Excuses rating: 9 out of 10
The bad first. I’m tired of this storyline. Heroes Reborn was a pretty lame idea and it really wiped its feet all over the Hulk. Thankfully this issue marks the end of that. Now the good. Hulk irradiating energy. The way his delusions cause him to see himself in the Abomination. I love the Hulk taking out his frustrations with himself on the Abomination. The first time I read the story I was a little upset with how easily the Abomination seemed to be handled, but after looking closer he makes a good showing. Kubert does a really nice job with the issue. The close ups of Abomination and Ross are exceptional. 4.5 out of 5 for both.
Review by The Leader
Pictures (except the last one) by Captain Nate