Comic Book Resources

Man, you gotta love those cover blurbs on FF#25. As if seeing the Thing fight The Hulk with the city in flames wasn’t enough.

I miss Marvel Fanfare. Lot’s of good stuff in there.

No, no, no! The Thing/ Hulk graphic novel by Starlin and Bernie Writghtson, the Big Change, is an absolute classic and far and away the best pairing of the two, and one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. It’s much better than the Starlin piece in Marvel Fanfair. It’s a shame that those early graphic novels Marvel did have been almost completely forgotten, because some of them are amazing. This one is particularly good; if you ever come across it, snap it up.

I have to say that one fight that belongs on this list somewhere is Thing #3 by Dan Slott. Yeah, it’s a little recent, but come on, the robot Thing army vs. a robot Hulk army was priceless. Gotta love robot pirate Thing.

I submit Bruce Jones’s “Hard knocks” miniseries, which was equal parts a barroom (well, diner) brawl and a two-guys-sorting-it-out therapy session. Lots of talk, sure, but lots of rock.

I submit Giant–Size Superstars/Fantastic Four #1 from 1974, in which an accident during an attempt by Reed Richards to cure both Ben and Bruce simultaneously results in their minds being swapped, i.e., they are in each other’s bodies. Sounds like an obvious gimmick, I admit, but they did it well. (By the way, Brian, is this because the new FF show on The Cartoon Network just had one?)

That recent miniseries was pretty good. I especially liked the way the Thing kept punching Banner whenever he reverted back to his human form, because it was the Hulk he wanted to talk to. And great art by Jae Lee!

By the way, I love that cover for FF #26. Kirby was the man. There was a great Tom Strong cover that homaged it.

If you were to do a Hulk’s best against the Avengers, where would you rank Hulk 321 (when he fought the regular and West Coast Avengers combined)? It was probably his best show of force but incredibly poorly written.

Then came Peter David.

(By the way, Brian, is this because the new FF show on The Cartoon Network just had one?)

Did they?

I should give that show a try.

I agree that The Big Change GN was pretty cool. I might’ve included it over the dino-Thing/gray Hulk fight. You definitely chose the right #1, though. Those might be my favorite FF issues of all time.

As for Hulk vs. Avengers, the John Byrne drawn issue where he takes out Hercules, Namor, Iron Man, and Wonder Man is pretty cool.

Big Change is amazing. Bernie Wrightson does some wonderful work–crayons, ink, paints. It’s almost an EC comic starring Hulk and Thing, really, especially with the O Henry ending. And it’s a pretty damn enormous book, too.

“I have to say that one fight that belongs on this list somewhere is Thing #3 by Dan Slott. Yeah, it’s a little recent, but come on, the robot Thing army vs. a robot Hulk army was priceless. Gotta love robot pirate Thing.”

While not technically a fight between the Hulk and the Thing, this at least deserves an honorable mention.

“I should give that show a try.”

No, you really shouldn’t. It’s not that it’s bad, just that it’s… not good. It’s nothing. It’s just there.

I like their match-up in… Infinity War, I believe. It was in the actual miniseries, not a tie-in issue. The two see each other, leave the meeting to go “settle things,” and they turn up later playing foosball or something completely mundane. It was cute.

““I should give that show a try.”

No, you really shouldn’t. It’s not that it’s bad, just that it’s… not good. It’s nothing. It’s just there.”

I’ll second that, except that I’ll say it is definitely BAD.

Fair enough!

I don’t watch superhero cartoons normally.

What, no love for Marvel Feature #11, by Len Wein, Jim Starlin, and Joe Sinnott? (Starlin was really all over the Hulk-Thing battles, wasn’t he?)

I feel like there’s also a Gil Kane Hulk-Thing fight, but I may be getting it mixed up with Marvel Two-in-One #1, in which Ben fought the Man-Thing.

Is FF112 where they battle at the Gateway Arch or is my memory just shot?

The Big Change doesn’t really count, does it? They teamed up in that one, and didn’t really fight until (presumably) some time after the last panel of the comic.

I always liked Incredible Hulk #365, myself, with the Grey Hulk encountering a human Grimm and a Thing-ified Ms. Marvel. The scene where Ben and the Hulk have a drink together is priceless.

I really loved both Marvel Feature #11 and Giant-Size Superstars #1. This article inspired me to write my own little tribute to these 2 issues:

http://www.photontorpedoes.com/archives/2006/11/favorite_thing.php

Only one of the always fun to read Jim Starlin Hulk/Thing
tussles? You are kidding, right?

Best,
Hunter (Pedro Bouça)

Brian:

I haven’t been watching that new FF show regularly myself, it’s just that one of the few I did catch happened to guest the Hulk. What really puts me off it is the characterization of Reed as a wimp, being bossed around by Sue a lot.

i think ff 112 is the best fight between the two. You see the Thing really taking it to the hulk throughout the comic book, becuase when they first start fighting they are very close in strength. (just about even) with ben (the thing) having superior combat skills. But as the fight drones on the Thing begins to wear down a little while the Hulk’s freakish strengh contiues to grow with his rage.Even with this fact the Thing still is dishing out more than he is taking at the end of the battle, only to be knocked out with a classic sucker punch delivered by the Hulk. Clearly their best battle. As for the battle at the gateway arch that is in ff 166 and 167 really takes place in 167

hulk iz da man

I just like to see the bricks fly….

Anyone who knows the Histories of both Ben Grimm, the Hulk,knows that Ben Grimm Beat the Hulk fairly in FF-320.

It took a while for the fight to come to an even point of the original-1st version of the Hulk (grey) vs Benn Grimm-the mighty Thing…(tho mutating)….Grimm is foremost the underdog here B’cause his form is not in flux of burn-off
Gamma ray discharge( bye-bye Hulk )as it happened to Hulk.

Second,other heroes, villains of lesser-equal strength to Ben Grimm have also beaten the Hulk in various issues-in fair fights-Hulk style-all carnage/wreckage included…. (Leader,Thor,Rhino,Wendingo,Abomination,Wolverine,etc)

3rd,betweenthe Jack Kirby,John Byrne era-(great stuff )-
Has the Hulk EVER faced Galactus? -NO! his heralds ?-No! or the Cosmic Cube?-No! Wundarr,the Aquarian? no…!

Hulk ever face a doppleganger of himself ? NO…!
Ben Grimm HAS & won! using both wits & Strength in too many issues & crossover issues to count….

Now I know there are those who’ll argue I’m wrong…But,I have been collecting c-books since 1966 – Marvel & it’s competitors(dont’ get me started on Supes vs Capt.Marvel)
So I know what I am talikng about here “true believers”- as Stan would say….ME & M’bros, have been fans of Marvel since Thor wuz a Godling & needed help lifting Mjolinor!

So if ya wanna brawl,I’m on Yancy street& WAITING… I’ll bring the shield,hammer,claws,armor,cube and a lil cosmic ray generator…you can just bring your trusty gamma bomb.
(tho you’d get a 1 shot deal,bub!)
yeh…ya can bring S.H.I.E.L.D too….along with poker cards for the game…Col Fury loves ta play & have cigars!

I agree…tho the Hulk has greater strengths, he is / has been beaten Fairly! by Ben Grimm-excluding any/all outside interference like Doc Doom, Gen. Ross & crew, other villains,heroes…

soooo NAH-NAH TO YOUZE, ALL YA HULKA-MANIACS!

the Impossible man, the Absorbing man could both beat the Hulk…as would Terrax or Blasstarr.

The Absorbing man-(who hassles Thor by the way)- has beaten the Hulk Fairly only to have a mountain collape on him.