Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #15Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #15
Title: “Dogs of War part 2”
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Penciller: Ron Garney
Inker: Sal Buscema
Colors: Jason Wright
Editor: Tom Brevoort
A scientist is describing to General Ryker how their latest test subject died from gamma exposure. Ryker says that he doesn’t want to know how the test subject died, but rather why he died. The scientist says that he thought that would be fairly obvious. He says that a body usually does disintegrate after exposure to radiation. He says that the artificial genetic mutation Ryker is looking for cannot be predicted. He says that they are needlessly killing these people. Ryker says that they are not people and that he will not call them such in his presence again. He says that these homeless are filth that they are cleaning off the street. The scientist says that the amount of agony that they endure is more than any of God’s creatures should have to endure. Ryker says that he wants an autopsy not a eulogy. Ryker walks out of the room. Ryker tells Johnson to show Doctor Vasir the pictures of his wife and children and to stress the importance of his work. Ryker says that with a few exceptions that they are no closer to unlocking the potential of gamma rays than they were when they began. Ryker says that they need a key. He says that they need Banner. Johnson says that they have a new lead. He says that they have discovered the identity of Banner’s girlfriend. Ryker looks up at a test subject floating in a vat. Johnson says that they traced her car to an address in Belton Virginia. He says that she and Banner went to the same college. Johnson says that Lipscombe is a shrink. Ryker suggests that they take a trip out to Belton and that he wants to set up a session with Dr. Lipscombe.
Bruce sits thinking about how he is going to die and drooling on himself as Angela is trying to talk to him. Bruce says that he doesn’t have the energy for this. Angela says that she understands and that she is just trying to determine why he is deteriorating so quickly. She says that it is like he is falling apart. Ryker and Johnson arrive and knock on Angela’s door. Angela answers the door with a gun in her hand behind the door. Ryker and Johnson pose as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Angela blows them off, but Bruce seems to recognize Ryker’s voice. He peeks out the window. He thinks that the street is more illuminated than it usually is. Bruce spots some silhouettes hidden in the bushes. Bruce then spots Ryker and remembers him from the day of the gamma bomb test.
Out on the street Ryker warns the men to be on alert. He says that Banner is inside. Suddenly a desk smashes through the window. The gray Hulk stands holding Angela “hostage”. He tells them all to back off or he will take out the blond. Ryker says, “So Fixit does exist”.
Angela asks Bruce if he knows what he is doing. Hulk says that he has a plan and tells her never to call him Bruce again. Angela says that this must be the fabulous Mister Fixit. Hulk laughs and says to Banner that he got himself a little blond “to warm his toes on”. He says so much for the dead wife. Fixit asks Angela if that is her real hair color. He says that he could never be sure with the other one. Fixit says not to answer and that she should just sit back and admire him. He says that if she plays this right that he might let her play with “Big Joe” later. Angela says that she doesn’t date teenagers.
Hulk looks out the hole in the wall and stares down Ryker. Ryker tells his men to shoot the hostage. Fixit crashes through the roof with one hand while holding somebody in his other hand. Ryker blows the roof and Hulk falls to the ground empty handed. Hulk asks if that is all they got. Hulk sits on the ground. They manacle his hands as Hulk holds them together.
Ryker walks up and says that he has been
waiting a long time to meet Banner. Hulk repeats not to call him
Banner. Ryker wonders out loud if there is some sort of trade off
in lesser strength for increased intelligence. Fixit says that
it’s a real mystery. Ryker asks Hulk what he is concealing
in his hands. Hulk says that it is a surprise. Ryker says that he
doesn’t like surprises and that he will do what he has to
find out as Hulk’s newly dead girlfriend will attest to. 
Hulk asks if
Ryker is military or government. Ryker says that there is no
government. He says that people are too stupid to question what
is, and that is why he can wage a drug war on Colombia, or
commission a human experiment facility in Utah, or get a
satellite to trace a man’s radiation signature. Hulk says
that now he knows all about Ryker. Hulk says surprise and breaks
the manacles open. Hulk takes a quick picture of Ryker with the
camera in his hands. Ryker’s men are discovering that
Hulk’s “girlfriend” was nothing more than a
skeleton. Ryker orders them to open fire, but Fixit runs back
inside the house.
Angela is hiding in her bra and panties inside the closet. Hulk compliments her outfit, but Angela tells “Big Joe” to keep his eyes facing away. She asks if his plan worked and says that she can’t believe they would fall for something so stupid. Hulk says that it’s the oldest trick in the book. Hulk grabs Angela and leaps away.
No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10
Both above average writing and artwork. Again it doesn’t seem like all that much is happening. Ryker’s experiments do lend a feel of creepiness to his villainy. The set up however is fairly generic. Garney continues to impress. His work makes the ordinary activities seem less ordinary, and the experiments definitely lend towards the creepiness.
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