It is one of the all time classic confrontations, in one corner the gamma spawned goliath in green that is the incredible Hulk and in the other the everlovin' blue eyed idol o' millions Ben Grimm alias the Thing. What we need to know is which fight was your favourite? Here are some suggestions:
Fantastic Four #12
 |
| Fantastic Four #12 (March 1963) Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: Dick Ayers |
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby bring us the very first encounter shortly after the Hulk's own title had been cancelled and before the foundation of the Avengers. This is real primordial Marvel Age creativity here but is it the best?
.jpg) |
| Hulk versus Thing from Fantastic Four #12 (March 1963) Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: Dick Ayers script by Stan Lee |
Fantastic Four #25
 |
| Fantastic Four #25 (April 1964) Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: George Roussos |
Stan and Jack brought back the Hulk for a rematch after the inconclusive ending to Fantastic Four #12 and in Fantastic Four #25 we get a result as the Hulk defeats the Thing after an epic one on one fist fight. Surely this is the best fight?
 |
| Hulk versus Thing from Fantastic Four #25 (April 1964) Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: George Roussos script by Stan Lee |
Fantastic Four #112
 |
| Fantastic Four #112 (July 1971) Pencil Art by John Buscema, inks: Frank Giacoia |
Stan Lee with the awesome pencils of John Buscema bring us the next contender for best fight as we enter the Bronze Age. Unfortunately for the Thing this is another victory for the Hulk.
 |
| Hulk versus Thing from Fantastic Four #112 (July 1971) Pencil Art by John Buscema, inks: Joe Sinnott |
Marvel Feature #11
 |
| Marvel Feature #11 (September 1973) Pencil Art by Jim Starlin, inks: John Romita |
Len Wein and Jim Starlin bring us another battle to savour in Marvel Feature which led to the Thing's own feature Marvel Two-in-One. This is one fight to savour but is it your absolute favourite?
 |
| Hulk versus Thing from Marvel Feature #11 (September 1973) Pencil Art by Jim Starlin, inks: Joe Sinnott script by Len Wein |
Fantastic Four #166 - #167
 |
| Fantastic Four #166 (January 1976) Pencil Art by Rich Buckler, inks: Dan Adkins |
Roy Thomas and George Perez bring us a fight that lasts for two issues, this time the Thing gets the upper hand but feels guilty about his victory so ends up temporarily joining up with the Hulk to fight the rest of the FF. Of course the Thing ends up fighting the Hulk but he gets knocked off a bridge which turns him back into Ben Grimm. So that has to be the best, right?
 |
| Hulk and Thing from Fantastic Four #166 (January 1976) Pencil Art by George Perez, inks: Vince Colletta |
 |
| Fantastic Four #167 (February 1976) Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, inks: Joe Sinnott |
 |
| Hulk versus Thing from Fantastic Four #167 (February 1976) Pencil Art by George Perez, inks: Joe Sinnott script by Roy Thomas |
These are my suggestions you may have others. It is a difficult choice, Kirby, Buscema, Starlin, Perez? Which is the best Hulk versus Thing fight?
My hands-down favorite is still FF #112, mostly because the two are still in their original forms without any other variables in play (aside from the Thing's experiment-induced aggression); but aside from that, it's one of the best overall fight issues I could name. It just looks and reads great.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, John Buscema produced some very fine books when he had to step into the void left by Kirby's departure to DC.
DeleteAh, but what about Giant-Size Super-Stars #1? That was also a belter! Let's face it - they were all good!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read that one I will have to look out for it, Conway, Buckler and Sinnott sounds good to me!
DeleteI've always like the Jim Starlin drawn clash that involved Kurrgo and the Leader. Was it from Marvel Two-In-One?
ReplyDeleteOops! I've just spotted the panel from it in your post and it was in Marvel Feature.
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed in the pages of Marvel Feature that Kurrgo and the Leader manipulated another confrontation between the Hulk and the Thing and a very fine comic it is too!
DeleteFF 25 was easily my favourite. In fact, one of the greatest comics ever. Prior, and indeed post, that fight, there was always something that stopped a hero from losing. A distraction. Too evenly matched. Turning into an alter ego. But here? Amazingly, the Thing, whose power is raw strength, is shown to be far weaker than the Hulk. Now that was unexpected. Made Marvel different from the rest.
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly an all time classic and highly unusual with a clear conclusion!
ReplyDeleteWas there ever a fight where the Thing won hands down...no weird circumstances?
ReplyDeleteWas there ever a fight where the Thing won hands down...no weird circumstances?
ReplyDelete