Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #19Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #19
Title: “Dogs of War part 6”
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Penciller: Ron Garney
Inker: Sal Buscema
Colors: Steve Buccellato
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Ryker is trying to taunt the Hulk as the Professor is held in restraints that use his own strength against him. Ryker says that everyone thinks that the army is a dinosaur, but Ryker says that they worked out years ago how to keep all the metahumans and mutant prisoner. Ryker says that restraints take the power that they are given and translate it into a nerve impulse energy magnified a hundred times. Ryker says that they are going to get to the bottom of the Hulk because if he resists he will kill himself. Hulk says that Ryker won’t win, but Ryker says to spare him the bravado. Ryker says that Ross betrayed him because of bravado. Ryker says that the two of them are so alike wearing their weaknesses on their sleeves. Hulk asks Ryker what his weakness is. Ryker says that Hulk will never know. Hulk says that he is a lot tougher than Ryker thinks. Ryker says that he knows how tough Hulk is to the nearest decimal point, but that Hulk has no idea about him. Ryker says that he is going to fill Hulk with gamma rays and unwanted memories, and that in the end Hulk is going to cry to him like the day Betty died. Hulk leaps at Ryker, but is shocked down. Ryker apologizes to Dr. Banner, but says that this is going to hurt a lot.
Samson and Angela are sitting in a room together with a camera watching them. Angela asks why Ryker didn’t even bother to lock the door. Samson says that Ryker knows that he could break out of there in a second, but knows that he won’t because innocent people might die. Angela says that it isn’t fair. Samson holds Angela and says that it never is.
Ryker meets with Johnson. He is looking down on Benny Tibbetts. Ryker asks what his profile says. Johnson says that Tibbetts has very low self-esteem and an extreme willingness to please. Johnson says that he is perfect for their needs. Samson’s notes indicate unresolved issues with his mother, and Tibbetts’ fear of women manifests itself in unusual ways. Johnson asks why his mental state is so important. Ryker says that not only is it important, but that it may be the key to Castle Gamma.
Ryker appears to the Professor on a giant screen. He says that he is going to tell him a story about a little awkward boy whose parents did not love him. He says that the boy was gifted and threw himself into his studies. He says that the boy grew and eventually found a girl, but that one day when he wasn’t paying attention she died. Hulk says that he doesn’t care what Ryker knows about him. He says that he knows about him in Dallas. Ryker says that he leaked those photos of himself to sow the seeds of disinformation. Ryker says that Kennedy was killed by two Corsican mercenaries that were paid by Fidel Castro. He says that he blurred what really happened to keep America out of World War III because of the fragile economy. Ryker says that every other word he says is a lie. He says that he lies to everyone from the president on down because that was only he knows what it really happening. Ryker says that he let Hulk get away back in Virginia, and that Hulk will never know the true reason why. Ryker asks Hulk who he thinks is in control. Hulk screams in pain.
Hack meets with Nick Fury. Hack tells Fury that Banner told him that if he didn’t check back with him by 4pm today that he was in trouble. Hack gives Fury a picture of Groom Lake and says that Banner said for Fury to get some of his friends and to come bail him out. Fury says that this isn’t a jailbreak movie.
Ryker goes into
his private room. He talks to the giant orb. He says that he
knows how long “you’ve” waited for this, and that
adds that this ordeal has been just as hard for him as it has
been for “you”. He reaches out and touches the surface
of the bubble near a hand. Ryker says that Banner is answering
their questions, and that it will be only a couple more hours.
Hulk screams in pain while inside his mind
the cave of Hulks has been melted. Different Hulks start
physically manifesting in the restraints. Inside his mind, Banner
stands at the mouth of the cave as thousands of Hulk run past
him. Fixit yells at Banner and says that it is Banner’s job
to keep them in check. Banner says that he has no idea how to.
Fixit says that he had better get an idea and asks if Banner has
any idea what he has just done. As the cave collapses before
Banner the last Hulk walks out of the cave. The Devil walks up to
Banner and says that now they have broken the ice. 
Hulk screams in pain as he changes from Hulk to Hulk. Ryker says that all Hulk has to do is ask for mercy and mercy will be shown. He says that all he has to do is tell him what makes him work. Hulk says, as a new Hulk utters each word, “You… can’t… break… a… man… who’s… already… been… broken.”
Upstairs Ross tells Ryker that he is pushing him too hard. Ross says that Ryker is torturing him. Ryker responds that Banner is torturing himself. Ryker says to note that Banner’s changes seem to come at Ryker’s suggestion. He wonders if the Hulk is Banner’s defense mechanism externalized. Ryker has a feed of Samson holding Angela. Ryker tells Hulk that his wife isn’t even cold in the ground and he is out chasing tail. Ryker says that the object of his affection is in the arms of another. Hulk changes into Mister Fixit and says that he doesn’t care and that there are plenty more fish in the sea. Ryker says that Hulk’s manifestations are adaptive depending on Banner’s subconscious. Ryker shows Bruce images of Betty and his mother and the Savage Hulk comes roaring out. Ryker says that this is how they will control the Hulk.
Ryker goes in to see Benny Tibbetts. Ryker apologizes for making him wait so long. Benny says that Ryker can do whatever he wants, but that he isn’t going to break. Ryker says that Benny is a tough kid. He says that he thought they might take a break of this unpleasantness. He leans over next to Benny’s ear and says that he thought that they might have a discussion about Benny’s mother.
While Ryker is gone the Hulk changes into Bruce Banner. Bruce talks out loud saying that he knows Ross is up there watching him. Bruce asks Ross if he thinks Betty would be proud of him right now. Ross looks down. Bruce asks why Ross won’t help him.
No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10
The writing went from average to below average to above average. The main problem here is that Ryker seems less dangerous once his intention is revealed. What he wants to learn is ridiculous. Ryker didn’t have to spend millions of dollars and take hostages to learn that Hulk was Banner’s defense mechanism externalized. All Ryker had to do was pick up a copy of Samson’s published paper “The Psychological Ramifications of Gamma Radiation”. It seems silly that Ryker was supposedly involved with the Hulk since the original gamma bomb experiment and that he never picked up on what is essentially fairly easy to learn knowledge about him. The cave emptying out and the appearance of the Devil Hulk raised the writing from a two back up to a four. Garney’s pencils are really excellent and I was tempted to give him a five but just couldn’t do it. A 4.5 might be more appropriate, but a 8 feels right for the issue.
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