Recently in one of my classes we were assigned to read The Curious Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The final chapter of that book was a letter that Henry Jekyll had left his friend explaining that everything that had happened during the first part of the book was entirely true, and that he was in fact Mr. Edward Hyde. For our final project of the class my teacher allowed us the option to rewrite a portion of one of the texts from the class. I felt it was a golden opportunity to put two things I loved to good use; those being comics and writing. So here it is, my adaptation of Dr. Banner and Mr. Hulk.
To whom it may concern,
My
name is Dr. Bruce Banner, and this letter will serve as both my confession and
my reconciliation with the world. At the time of your viewing this letter I am
either dead or, at the very least, I have allowed my sins to consume me, both
mind and body. For the sake of those I love, I pray it be by death that they
may be spared the knowledge that you are about to partake of. Within these last
simple words you shall come to know the truth of my horrendous ordeal that was
both my life’s work and my lifelong curse. Alas, before you subject yourself to
this message, be wary that what prayers you may have for me now will soon wilt
within shame; for when you have heard my story you shall see no justification regarding
my actions, and if but only one request be granted me by God, it be that He
show you mercy in this; for I too feel as you soon shall feel, you will see
through my eyes, and the truth shall give me no quarter from those who may
judge righteously.
My
story begins a few years back, the exact dates I can no longer recall, but the
duality of my life feels like I have lived for two men rather than only one. I
had sought out to use my youthful but ignorant knowledge to better the world
through the use of gamma radiation. The government had hired me to find a means
that would save lives in the battlefield by using the radiation as an
accelerant that could diffuse hostile situations in times of crisis. Of course
this knowledge was never presented to me upon the request that I continue my
research under the watchful eye of a government facility. I was naive and a
different man than what I am now; the promise of greatness at my fingertips was
more than enough to wet my appetite, and my palate was eager to experiment with
new things. Little did I know that soon I would learn the error of my thinking,
and the realization that men are only capable of deceiving one another is by
first deceiving themselves.
It
was only another year that would go by until happiness fell into my life again.
My work had become my jealous lover when I was given my assistant, Betty Ross.
Betty was magnificent; she stole my breath away from the moment I had first
laid eyes on her; and still to this day I have found no equal or opposite to
her. We had only started dating when my accident took place; I wish I had had
more time with Betty, but much like Frankenstein’s monster I was condemned to
walk a solemn road of restlessness. I could not bring myself to share the truth
of my work with Betty and therefor saw it wise to forsake her to a life of
warmth and love rather than the path I have smashed out for myself.
It
was as poetic as any conventional horror story; one night while working late in
my laboratory, an accident occurred while I was working with the gamma rays.
Explosions, screaming, and destruction were all that would follow me for the
rest of my life. What was once the work of turning men into gods became my vice
and exaltation. Yes, this was the manifestation of my inner demon. The intense
feeling of power became so intoxicating that I began to believe what people
were calling me; indestructible, incredible, unstoppable, were but a few that
come to mind. Many newspapers had many names, but one always remained the same;
HULK.
Over
the next few months I wrestled with myself in reverence of the beast. Its power
was magnificent, but justifying its thirst for destruction was what waned
heavily upon my soul. It pains me to write these truths but I only do so that
every man may become privy of my mistakes. Eventually I learned that anger was
what called forth the beast from the depths of my consciousness; and at times I
would beckon it for my own sinful pleasures. Perhaps it is true that the nature
of man is the cause of calamity; and I pray you dear reader, forgive me for
when I say that living in the shell of my doppelganger, I found paradise.
Now
my story must draw to a close, for even as I write this letter with regret
hanging in my heart, I can feel the beast climbing his way out from the pit.
The creature has no boundaries and has surpassed all surmountable odd thrown at
him; and I am but a single man of no consequence. Truth be told, I am surprised
as to how long I have been able to contain my Abaddon; my strength and will
have wavered many nights these last few years and quite frankly I am tired. I
fear that the beast seeks to consume me now and as I write these words you will
take notice that my hand shakes wildly. If this is to be the last legacy I
leave behind, I wish it to reveal the damnation that consumes me, and that it
allow to fade silently away into the dust from whence I was conceived; but for
the creature, let he live to be a testimony to those who seek godhood. I pray
once his task has been served that he be dealt with swiftly and to no fault of
those who swing the mighty axe of execution. Let the tyranny of the Hulk
forever stand as a warning to those men who seek power; let them see how the
fruits of their labors spoil before the harvest.
My
pain grows sharper now, both mentally and physically. My beloved Betty, I pray
you not learn of this letter, but if it comes to that please know that the man
I once was died years ago. The pieces of my heart have become too broken from
the destruction I have caused in this world, but my life without you has
shattered those fragmented remnants. I beg of you to forgive this wretch of a
man inside a hollow machine of emerald. I was blinded by my own guilt and saw it
fitting that my last act of humanity be one of piece and not chaos; to let you
live a life of your own away from my madness proves that still some part of me
remains, even when all seems clouded by rage. I love you Betty, and I beg that
you try to find it in your heart to forgive me.
“Whenever
science makes a discovery, the devil grabs it while the angels are debating the
best way to use it.” ~Alan Valentine
Unhappily,
Dr.
Bruce Banner
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