Incredible Hulks #622

Mar 16

Mar 16 Incredible Hulks #622

God Smash (Conclusion)

Following the Chaos War, the Hulk has gone to Mount Olympus to demand that Zeus use his power to heal his friends and find them a new home. Fearing for his safety, the two She-Hulks, Korg and Skaar have taken a vessel to go after him. However, once out in Long Island Sound, they are attacked by a massive Cetus. Skaar thinks this will be an easy fight ahead, but She-Hulk warns him that gods are an entirely different opponent. No sooner does she say this do they see a powerful lightning bolt explode from the top of Mount Olympus.

There, the Hulk has been knocked down by a powerful lightning bolt thrown by Zeus, as punishment for daring to demand something of the Olympian All-Father. Examined by Hephaestus, it is determined that the Hulk is still alive after the powerful jolt. Hera warns the Hulk to leave as Zeus is more powerful than he is. Recovering, the Hulk calls Zeus a coward, angering the god even more than ever before. The Hulk points out that he and his family were instrumental in stopping the Chaos King and that they owe him. While this may be true, Zeus still recalls how the Hulk once turned on the Olympians when they were trying to capture the escaped Titans and return them to Tartarus. As such, Zeus decides to grant the Hulk's request to beat him to death in hand-to-hand combat.

The Hulk's first blow sends Zeus crashing into a nearby building. Zeus then returns this with an even more powerful blow. The ruler of the Olympians than overpowers the Hulk, and ultimately knocks him off Mount Olympus. He lands in the water below, right in front of the ship carrying his family. The Hulk helps them fight off the Cetus but yells at them for coming, telling them that if they don't leave now, they will ruin everything. He then leaps back up to the top of Olympus to renew his battle against Zeus. This time, Zeus' blow is so powerful that it pulps the Hulk's innards, causing him to vomit up blood. Hera approaches the gravely wounded Hulk and tells him to give up this foolish battle as he will surely die. However, the Hulk doesn't care as long as the gods give his family what they need. Hera scans the Hulk's mind and learns about his injured and mentally ill allies. Hera is amused that Banner, an atheist, would sacrifice himself to the gods in order to get a miracle. Zeus then arrives and tells Hulk that if sacrifice for the sins of others was what he was looking for, he has come to the wrong religion and strikes the Hulk with yet another overpowering blow. This blow sends the Hulk partway down the mountain where he is impaled upon the rock. Seeing his father, Skaar calls out to him but is pulled underwater by the Cetus.

The Hulk blacks out, but when he comes to he finds himself shackled to the rocks by Hephaestus, who assures him that he will never break free from the chains and that he will pay the price for angering Zeus. No sooner is the Hulk chained down, do massive vultures swoop down from the skies and begin feasting upon the Hulk's body. Zeus gloats over this punishment and watches at the massive carrion birds feast upon the Hulk's body for days, thanks to his enhanced healing abilities. On the third day salvation finally comes from Hercules who kills the vultures with his bow and arrow. He is joined by the rest of the Hulk's family who has not given up on coming to his aid. As Hercules and his allies carry the Hulk away, the rescue is observed by Hera and Zeus. Hera complains how Zeus is always lenient with his son and merciful for letting the Hulk live. However, Zeus disagrees, telling her that he accomplished his goal: he taught the Hulk the length of his power. As for his punishment, Zeus remarks that the Hulk brought true punishment onto himself so long ago.

Meanwhile, in the Savage Land, the survivors from planet Sakaar who journeyed to Earth with the Hulk have set up a village called New Imperia. Since then they have grown bitter that their former ruler has been free for some time now and has apparently forgotten about them. This news angers their new leader, Miek, who vows to live by the Hulk's own motto of "never stop making them pay" by destroying the Hulk and his new family.

Recurring Characters

Hulk, Red She-Hulk, She-Hulk, Skaar, Korg, Hercules, Zeus, Hera, Hephaestus, Pan, Miek,

Continuity Notes

The events of the Chaos War, particularly the fall of Zeus and the Hulk's part in defeating the Chaos King are recounted in this story. Those events occurred in Chaos War #1-5.

Zeus still remembers how the Hulk had turned against him to help the Titans. That happened in Hulk vs Hercules #1.

The Sakaarans gloss over their departure of Sakaar in Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #105, and the Hulk's failed war against Earth in World War Hulk #1-5. This ended with the Hulk's capture. However, he eventually escaped in Hulk Vol 2 #3.