Incredible Hulk #96

The Incredible Hulk #96

Date: September 2006
Title: Planet Hulk Anarchy Part 1
Writer: Greg Pak
Penciler: Aaron Lopresti
Inks: Danny Miki
Letters: Randy Gentile

Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Artist: Ladronn

A bunch of the people who escaped with the Hulk and Warbound are sitting around a campfire in the Twisted Woods wondering what they do now. Miek is sitting there also and tells them that he has known the Hulk since the beginning and he will save them. Arch-E, the robot the Hulk saved in the Maw, is there also. One of the people who was saved, holds up a plant which grew from the Hulk's blood. The person next to him says they need to open their eyes and that the Hulk is just a monster and killer who eats people. Miek gets upset at this and jumps on the guy. Suddenly the Hulk, Korg, and the Brood appear and the Hulk sarcastically says that he is hungry. The guy mouthing off runs off into the woods and the Brood offers to go after him but the Hulk says no.

The guy communicates with Caiera and tells her that the camp is vulnerable and that she can follow his trace but she tells him to hold his position. Caiera tells one of her soldiers that she is suspicious it is a trap but the solider says that the Hulk is just a gladiator. The guy looks overhead and sees the bombs falling from the sky. He makes a run for it and runs into the Hulk and Korg and gets incinerated from the bombs. Later, Caiera inspects the bombed area and just finds the bones of the spy, realizing it was just a trick and that the bomb wiped away any tracks for them to follow. She suddenly hears a noise and she and the soldiers run towards it to find one of the King's govenors killing a citizen. He explains that he was from a local village who was hiding food that was due the King so he had to kill him to make an example and also to help with bait to draw out the Hulk and his followers. Hulk and his fellow Warbound watch from nearby woods and Elloe and the Hulk are about to go and avenger the villager who was killed in cold blood but Hiroim stops them and points out where an ambush is set up to trap them. Hiroim tells them that if they and the other escapees are going to survive, they need to learn how to fight. Miek says he knows where they can go.

At a nearby village, soldiers are telling the people from the town that if they see the Hulk and his crew, that they should report it immediately. The villagers ask why they are not helping with the Wildebots but the soldier says that is a local problem when suddenly a Wildebot comes up from beneath the water and kills the soldier. More come out of the water and chase the villagers while the remaining soldiers fly away. The head person in charge of the village tells the rest of the men to stand firm to protect the village and that they knew this day would eventually come when the Wildebots would overcome their fear of water. Before the Wildebots can reach the village though, the Hulk and crew destroy the robots. Later, the village is feeding the heroes while some are wondering if they will die for having helped the rebels. Headman Charr says that the empire couldn't even send a patrol to help with the Wildebots and they are safer with the 'monsers.' Korg says that they are not here to fight their battles and they will leave after they eat. Hiroim tells them though that anyone who betrays them will die and he can tell such things. Brood notices Miek slipping away and follows him. Miek is sitting in front of insect bones and the Brood can tell that this was his old hive, his old home. Miek starts chemming and sending visions to the other Warbound. They see him hatching and seeing his father for the first time. Suddenly a squadron of the King's soldiers show up and tell Miek's father that he was not approved for reproduction and that the land as requisitioned by the King. Miek's father reminds the soldier that he is a veteran of the Spike Wars and that the was granted the land. The soldier just says that things are different now and that the children are forfeit. Miek's father refuses and is killed in front of Miek's eyes and the rest of the children are murdered also while Miek hides. The soldier who killed Miek's father is seen to be Headman Charr. Miek escapes and lives the next years as a slave and hiding and stealing.

The Brood explains how Miek has chem-bonded with them all and for all purposes, they are part of his hive now. Miek points out the headman as his families murderer and demands justice. Charr explains how he was just following the Emperor's orders and to avoid a bunch of people dieing, he invokes Imperial Law so that it is just a fight between him and Miek. Later that night, Hiroim is showing the escapees how to fight the soldiers. Charr steps up and tells Hiroim that times have changed since Hiroim last fought in battle and he would show them the proper ways to defeat the Emperor's soldiers. Korg tells Miek he should think about changing his mind about the duel since Charr appears to be an ally. Miek asks the Hulk what he would do and the Hulk just says that Miek brought them all here for a reason and tells them that he would never make them stop paying if it was up to him. Later that night, Charr is telling his children that they must always remember to do their chores, clean the swords, and to feed their pets.

The next day, the duel starts and Charr appears to have the upper hand when Miek purposely loses an arm to get an advantage. He gets Charr to the ground and holds a spear to his neck and can't seem to kill him even though Charr tells him to do it. Miek pulls the spear back and yells and they hear other yelling suddenly. The Hulk determines that it is coming from the ground but Charr says that it is just thrashers but before he can stop them, the Hulk lifts a section of the ground up and reveals a number of insects, all of them Miek's brothers. The Hulk and Warbound realize that Charr and the villagers have been holding Miek's brothers prisoners for all these years and they don't look happy about it.

Later, Caiera and soldiers make it to the ground, to find it totally razed to the ground, with nothing left. One of the soldiers asks Charr if he has seen the Hulk or any other monsters. Charr looks at a reflection of himself in the soldier's armor and says that all he sees is monsters.

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