Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #461

Title: “Self Destruction”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: David Brewer

Inker: Andrew Pepoy

Colors: Digital Chameleon

Editor: Bobbie Chase

The Maestro staggers along in the sand. He seemingly has not regrown his eyes yet and stumbles about. He falls to the ground and weakly says, “still… hate…” A group of trolls comes by and lifts the Maestro over their heads. They carry him down into a pit.

In Flagpole, Arizona, the people are gathered around. Ross sits in a jeep. He radios to Colonel St. Lawrence. Cary tells Ross that she wants to once again register her protest. She says that he is entering a situation. Ross says that situation is the same as the situations he was entering while she was still in knee pants. He tells her to be prepared to do her job and to let her do his. Cary says, “Knee pants?’ Jeez.” A local cop runs up to Ross’ jeep. He tells Ross that he is in the café. He says that the waitress recognized him and he admitted it was him. He says that the waitress called him and that he called Ross. He says that he knows what he is capable of. He says that most of his men have wives and children and that he isn’t sending them up against that. Ross tells the cop to calm down. He says that he is blathering and that it isn’t becoming an officer of the law. He tells the man to just keep his men back and leave it to him.

Ross pulls his gun and enters the café. Bruce sees Ross and says that he thought he had gone to the big Pentagon in the sky. Ross holds his gun on Bruce and says that if Bruce was dead as often as they thought that they could fill Arlington Cemetery just with him. Bruce says that is true. He says that Ross must be ecstatic. He tells Ross to sit if he wishes. He says that he is almost done. He says that he would have the waitress bring him something, but that she seems to have run screaming from the building. Ross asks Bruce if that surprises him. Bruce looks at the menu and says that not at these prices it doesn’t. Ross sits all the time with his gun trained at Bruce. They sit there for a minute. Bruce says that he sees Ross still prefers Cuban Manudos Supremos. He says that is impressive taste in cigars, but that he has always been more of a pipe man. Bruce tells Ross that this is a no smoking section and that he knows Ross is a stickler for the rules. Ross says that he is there to bring Bruce in. Bruce asks if he is to go cooperatively. Ross says that is the wish of both him and the government. Bruce says that Ross thinks he is fast enough to pull the trigger before he transforms. Ross cocks his gun and says that he doesn’t want to have to. Bruce says that he doubts that. Ross says that Bruce is his daughter’s husband. He says that it means something to him because it means something to her. He says that he has a duty to her, but also a duty to his government. Ross asks Bruce not to make him choose between the two.

Outside the ground begins to rumble. The ground opens up and a group of trolls rushes out. The Destroyer emerges from the hole. He says, “Huuulllkkk… for years… you have come… to me… now I come… to you!” Bruce says that this is just great. He says that he is gone for months, shunted into another universe, and that he comes back and it’s just as he left it. Ross asks, “What is?” Bruce says this insanity that he calls a life. The Destroyer says that he sensed that Bruce was here. He says that they are linked. Destroyer sees Ross and says that after all these years that this is going to be a pleasure. Ross says that he doesn’t know how he knows him, but that some two-bit armor isn’t going to scare him. Ross fires his guns. He says that he has had experts try to scare him. Bruce says that speaking as one of those experts that he would like to go on record as saying that the two bit armor is making him extremely nervous. The bullets bounce off the Destroyer. He says that he wants to clarify a few things for him. He says that he is not a mere man monster there for him to hound. He says that he was created by Odin. He says that he was designed to be the ultimate weapon. He says that he has fought gods. He is the Destroyer, and they are the destroyed. Destroyer lets off two blasts, but Bruce tackles Ross and gets him out of the way. Bruce tells Ross to stay down. Ross says that the devil he will. He says that he has never been one to let any behemoth push him around… as Banner well knows. He tells Bruce to get his hand off of him, but as Ross talks Bruce changes into the Hulk. Hulk looks at the Destroyer and says that he knows him from somewhere. He says that he knows enough to know that he doesn’t like him at all. Hulk leaps at the Destroyer. Destroyer says that this is a new low for Hulk… protecting Ross of all people. He asks why. Hulk says that if Destroyer kills Ross that they will blame him, and that he is tired of being everyone’s fall guy. Hulk slams into Destroyer, but Destroyer lifts Hulk into the air with one arm. He says that it is a shame that Hulk feels that way. He says that he can assure him that if he tries to match strength with the Destroyer that he will definitely taking the fall. Destroyer slams Hulk into the bank.

The trolls grab Ross. Ross tells them to let him go and says that they don’t know who they are dealing with. Destroyer says that Ross has even less of an idea. He says that so many of his life’s difficulties can be laid at Ross’ doorstep and those of his ilk. He says that he will suffer the full power of the Destroyer. Suddenly Destroyer is hit in the back with the bank vault door. Hulk says that he never shuts up. Destroyer asks where that came from. Hulk says, “up here” and slams down into Destroyer. Destroyer says that the trolls can easily handle Ross while his disintegration blasts handles him. Ross tells the trolls to let him go and that they stink to high heaven. Destroyer grabs Hulk in a bear hug. He asks Hulk if he felt that rib break. He says that he is going to count each rib as it breaks. He says that then they will see how many more bones he can break before he gets bored. Hulk doesn’t pay any attention to the bragging and bluster. He has heard it all before, but he does notice Ross’ imminent demise in the shine of Destroyer’s helmet. Destroyer lets off his disintegration ray. Hulk lifts Destroyer into the air and uses the beam to hit the trolls holding Ross. Hulk hits Destroyer and asks if he is bored yet.

In Cairo, Egypt, Marlo says that this is all her fault. She says that she should have stopped him, but with the show on hiatus that they had some time to themselves. She says that she should have insisted that they go together, but that he said there was some kind of emergency and that she didn’t want to be clingy. Betty tells her that she can’t beat herself over this. She says that she just has to have faith. Rick groans. Betty asks how long he has been awake. Marlo, with tears in her eyes, asks if he can hear her. Rick asks if she can wipe his face and says that there are tears on it. He asks if he is going to be okay. Marlo says that he is going to be just fine. Betty asks Rick if he remembers what happened. Rick says that he remembers something. He sees a foggy shape in his mind. He says that he doesn’t remember, but that he will sooner or later.

The fight has gone on for minutes and taken Hulk and Destroyer to the edge of the Grand Canyon. Hulk’s strength and confidence has grown with his strength, but then suddenly Destroyer blasts Hulk and draws blood from his chest. Destroyer asks Hulk if he really thought he was trading blows with him and that he was designed by the gods. He pummels Hulk with each word and says, “You. Have. No. Chance.” Destroyer tells Hulk to get on his feet and that he wants his followers to see him obliterate a worthy foe. He says, “Get to your feet and die like a man. Oh… but I forgot that would be an unpleasant image for us, wouldn’t it?” Hulk says, Us?” and subconsciously he knows that the Maestro is inhabiting the Destroyer armor. Hulk is filled with rage, and then the Destroyer steps on the blood of the Hulk. Hulk feels a connection like a circuit being completed. Hulk’s body drops to the ground as his subconscious mind flows into the Destroyer. The armor has identified the Hulk and Maestro as the same person and pulls him in. Hulk and Maestro fight with the armor. Maestro tells him to get out. He says that he can’t do this. He says that he is the Maestro and that his strength is supreme. He says that this is his moment of triumph and not his. Maestro says that he will still destroy him. He says that he will build up power again and demolecularize his body. He says that he will be rid of him forever. Just as the Destroyer’s power is being released the Hulk closes the armor’s visor. The force that cannot be stopped is driven back into the Destroyer. The force destroys the entire section that they had been standing on. Half a ton of rubble lands on the Maestro and the trolls, but then it is followed by two more tons of avalanche.

Cary and the troops surround Banner. She asks him how long he has been there. Bruce says that he isn’t entirely sure. Cary tells him not to try a transformation or he will have more bullets in him than a John Woo festival. Ross orders rifles up and says that Banner is his. Ross reaches inside his jacket and Cary thinks that he is going to shoot him. Ross takes out another cigar. He says, “Hmmf, mistaking an uppmann for a manudo. Should’ve expected that from a pipe man.” Ross lights the cigar for Bruce and they stand there surrounded by an army of the army.

No Excuses rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review and pictures 1, 2, and 4 by The Leader

Picture 3 by Captain Nate

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