Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #463

Title: “College Daze”

Writer: Peter David

Penciller: Adam Kubert

Inker: Farmer, Green, Delperdang, and LaRosa

Colors: Matthew Paine/Digital Chameleon

Editor: Bobbie Chase

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The giant robot has its fist cocked back. Banner wonders if the Hulk really wants him dead that much or if he is seeing something that he himself is not. Banner realizes that if the robot meant him harm that it could just squeeze him and that hitting him isn’t necessary. He says that they either want him alive or they want the Hulk. Banner tells Hulk that was nicely played. Banner turns to the giant robot and sticks his tongue out. The Troyjan inside reports to Armageddon that Banner is sticking his tongue out. Armageddon asks if he is squeezing him too tight. The soldier says that he thinks it is an act of derision. Armageddon says that he is icily calm. He says that if threats to his own safety don’t daunt him to threaten those with him. The robot cocks its fist back to attack Betty, Rick, and Marlo. Betty tells Marlo to get out of there. Marlo says that she isn’t leaving Rick again ever. Rick says that they can’t help him and that both of them dying does them no good. Bruce and the Hulk both freak when they realize the others are in danger. Hulk comes bursting out so powerfully that he destroys the robot’s hand. The soldier looks at the destroyed hand and tells Armageddon that he has succeeded in his task… sort of. Hulk rips the robot’s head off revealing the Troyjan soldier inside. Hulk recognizes him as a Troyjan and asks him what he is doing there. The soldier says that he isn’t doing anything, but that his allies are seeking a new target and that if he hopes to stop them that he had better follow. The soldier blows himself up. Hulk realizes that he killed himself rather than be his prisoner. Hulk leaps off and says that there are plenty more where he came from.

At Stanford, W.T. Rogers is reporting for CBS news about Chelsea Clinton finishing up her freshman year. The reporter is going on about how there are rumors that her teachers won’t give her anything but straight A’s out of fear of possible consequences. As W.T. rambles on the people around him are freaking out. Giant robots land behind him. W.T. freaks out and says that Clinton has gone berserk.

One of the secret service radios that there are giant robots and to keep “lonesome dove” locked in her dorm room. He calls all the other agents to the north quad and says that they are the first line of defense. The secret service start firing at the giant robots. One of the Troyjans suggests that maybe they have something of value to them. Armageddon says that they don’t have anything and to just step on them.

Betty tells Rick not to worry about Bruce and that he will be fine. Rick says that he knows he will. He says that they both used to be and to look at him now. He says that he will never walk again. Marlo says that Betty was telling her about how Bruce was talking to other scientists. She says that Reed and Stark are going to be working with some guy Eggs O’Skeleton. Betty corrects her, “exo-skeleton.” Rick says that he will be a cripple with pretend legs then. Over in the hallway, Ross is on the phone with Cary St. Lawrence. He says that if he finds out that this was Gyrich. Cary says that Gyrich swears it isn’t him. Ross says that Gyrich would never lie. He tells her not to be naïve. Ross is tapped on his shoulder. Ross, not looking, tells them to use a different phone and that this is government business. Ross tells Cary to dig into this, but then he is tapped on the shoulder again. Ross turns and tells Cary to cancel that. He says that he thinks aliens are behind it. Cary asks if he means Foreign Nationals. Ross says that he means from outer space. Cary asks how he came to that conclusion. Ross looks at the two Troyjans aiming their guns in his face and says that when you’ve done this as long as he has that you just develop instincts.

The secret service men are still firing. One soldier says that the humans seem to want to keep them away from one structure. He decides to see what is of such interest. Hulk flies through the air and hits the giant robot in the face and knocks it to the ground. Hulk says that stupid robots and stupid humans waste his time. The other robots see Hulk and target him with their missiles. Hulk grabs the downed robot and uses it to throw into the others. Another giant robot flies in from the sky and opens fire on Hulk. Hulk tells them that they don’t get it and that he is the Hulk. Hulk leaps into the air and hits the robot in the stomach knocking it back. Hulk says that he is really, really pissed. As they come down, Hulk realizes that they are going to land on a building. He says that if they trash it that they will blame him. He says that he is sick of giving them excuses. Hulk slams his fist into the robot and steers it away from the building as it crashes. Hulk stands over the downed robot. He calls the Troyjan to get out so he can bite his ear off. Hulk realizes that he is standing in shadow and asks, “Oh, now what?”

Chelsea is talking on-line with her mother and says that she wants to know if it is safe yet. The secret service man standing at the window and says that he wouldn’t say that exactly.

A giant Troyjan ship floats in the air above the campus. Armageddon is told that robot shock troops are reporting heavy casualties and that the target appears no worse for the wear. Armageddon tells them to progress with the next stage of the plan. He says to ready the prisoner. The ship calls out to Hulk and tells him to prepare for a holo-projection from High Commander Shon. Hulk sees the projection and asks Shon if he is afraid to face him. Shon says that he just wishes to let Hulk know what it is at stake if this conflict continues. Shon holds Ross and says that they have this human prisoner. He says that they want him to surrender because they know he is of importance to him. Hulk laughs loudly. Ross looks up at Shon and says that he told him. Hulk shouts, “Arrrhhh… not nooowww!” Hulk turns back into Banner. Shon sees Banner and says that the leader is interested in talking to the other one… the intelligent one. Bruce says that he is the intelligent one. Ross looks up at Shon again and says that he told him so. Shon tells Ross to stop saying that and that it is annoying. Shon says that their leader wants the intelligent being named Bruce Banner, the Hulk, to aid him. Bruce guesses that he wanted to gain his help by showing his indisputable superiority and beating the Hulk into submission to do his bidding. Shon says that is correct. Bruce tells Shon that if Ross isn’t harmed that he will cooperate and help him… within reason. He says that otherwise they can stand around and wait until whenever the Hulk comes out again and that he can pound on his people some more.

As the robots fly off with Bruce, WT says that the Hulk has somehow intervened in an alien plot to kidnap Chelsea. He says that he seems he has offered himself in an exchange. He says that it is one of the more selfless acts he has ever witnessed. He wonders what evil plans they had for Chelsea.

As one of the robots flies Bruce up to the ship it mentions to Bruce that his onboard broadcast equipment has noted the repeated mention of a “Chelsea”. He asks what a Chelsea is. Bruce says that it is a section of New York.

Inside the ship, Bruce says that it is an impressive structure. The Troyjan tells Bruce that his opinions don’t matter. He says that if Bruce is planning on turning green, taking Ross back and trashing the ship that even if he succeeds that they will return with three times the forces and wipe out this entire area. The Troyjan tells Ross that he is going to cooperate and that he owes it to them. Ross asks how they figure that. The Troyjan asks if he doesn’t remember them at all. He says that if it wasn’t for them that Ross would be dead. Ross goes limp and Banner helps him. Bruce asks what happened. Ross says that he is starting to remember. He says that he saw an image of one of them, but he was bigger… their leader he thinks. Bruce says, “Armageddon.” Bruce says that Armageddon has a grudge against him. Ross asks why. Bruce says that he, or rather the Hulk, or rather both of them killed his son. He says that if Armageddon is seeking vengeance that he doesn’t know how they are going to get out of there.

Armageddon stands looking out the window of his massive ship. The body of Armageddon’s son, Trauma, is hooked into some machinery.

Outside, the Silver Surfer recognizes the Troyjan ship. He says that he will follow them to their hiding places and deal with them permanently.

No Excuses rating: 10 out of 10

Review by The Leader

Pictures by Captain Nate

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