SUNDAY FUNNIES WITH KERRY CALLEN!
By KERRY CALLEN
Continuing my series reviewing 20th Century comic books that claim The Battle/Fight/Bout/Showdown of the Century on their covers…
This week’s battle — THE THING vs. THE HULK! First presented in 1964’s Fantastic Four #25. By Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Inks by George Roussos. Published by Marvel (of course):
WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING?
Our story opens in the grand tradition of Stan Lee-penned books where everyone in a panel is saying something. Mr. Fantastic is yelling, “Ben! Come back!” Ben’s on the the wall. I can’t help but feel there is a better way to leave.
Regardless, Mr. Fantastic has an antidote that will change Ben-Grimm-the-Thing back into Ben-Grimm-the-Human. But Ben ain’t having it. He’s afraid his girlfriend, Alicia, prefers him as the Thing. Gather from that what you will.
Suddenly the blind Alicia shows up with a newspaper. Looks like the Hulk’s on the loose!
We join the Hulk and he’s ranting about how much he hates his alter ego, Bob Banner. (Yep. Bob Banner.) He also hates the Avengers. Hate hate hate.
It’s interesting that, besides the paper clipping, the only thing Bruce Bob had in his pockets was a pipe and matches. I’m not sure what he’s been smoking. Something to calm him down perhaps. Tossing it all aside, Hulk begins his jumping journey to New York City! Meanwhile in the Big Apple, Mr. Fantastic collapses! As he attempts to find a cure for Ben’s Thing ailment, he’s gotten sick while messing with viruses. That’s some sloppy science, Dr. Richards.
Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, takes off in the Fantasticar intent on returning with a doctor. He, however, encounters the Hulk wreaking havoc, and attempts to put a stop to it. The Hulk makes quick work of him.
The Thing and the Invisible Girl soon arrive. Sue doesn’t last long either. It’s now just the Thing and the Hulk. Time for the main event! (BTW, if the Thing fails, the Army’s going to drop an ATOMIC BOMB on the Hulk.)
HOW EPIC IS THE BATTLE?
It’s on!
The Thing and Hulk break a lot of things; a warehouse, a bus, the pavement, a dock, a boat, the George Washington Bridge. However, I think it’s most notable when Hulk gets his hands on the Thing and this happens:
It was this very moment, when I saw the building wagging to and fro, that I thought, “Hey! Maybe this IS the Battle of the Century!”
At one point, Mr. Fantastic decides to join the noble fight, but instead lapses into a coma.
Wow. That panel’s just begging for new dialogue.
Sorry. I sometimes distract myself. The battle continues and the Thing manages to wrap Hulk up in bridge cables! Has he won?
Nope. He tuckers out and takes a beating.
Wait! He’s up again!
Whaaaat?! Continued Next Issue? Welcome to the Marvel Age of Comics! Well, the next issue’s cover doesn’t say “The Battle of the Century,” so I’m not reading it.
…
OK, I read it. Spoilers: Rick Jones throws an “emergency gamma-ray treated capsule which Banner gave (him) months ago” into the Hulk’s mouth. He turns back into Dr. Banner. Whether it’s Bob or Bruce, I’m not sure.
WHO WINS?
The Hulk. The Thing fights him more in Issue #26, but it’s Gamma-Ray-Capsule Rick who ends the battle.
BONUS!
I love this panel from Issue #26:
It’s a bit goofy, but it’s also one of the few times Stan kept his words off Jack Kirby’s art.
IS IT THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY?
Until Fantastic Four #25, I’ve considered the Human Torch/Sub-Mariner fight to be the Battle of the Century. Both their fight and the Hulk/Thing battle take place partially on the George Washington Bridge. I haven’t consulted it, but I’m pretty certain the bridge would say the Hulk/Thing fight was the bigger battle. I’m going with that.
The Battle of the Century: The Thing vs. the Hulk, Fantastic Four #25.
At least as of 1964.
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NEXT TIME AROUND: The battle of the sexes! The Thing vs. Thundra! Click here.
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MORE
— What WAS the Comic Battle of the 20th Century? PART 3 — Starring JOE PALOOKA. Click here.
— What WAS the Comic Battle of the 20th Century? PART 2: LI’L ABNER VS. DAISY MAE. Click here.
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Want more SUNDAY FUNNIES WITH KERRY CALLEN? Come back next week!
Want a commission? Send an email to KerryCallenArt@gmail.com. You can also find other work at linktr.ee/kerrycallen.
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KERRY CALLEN spent much of his career as an artist and art director, developing product for Hallmark, but has also dabbled in comics for many years. As a freelancer, he creates work for a range of needs, spanning from Mad Magazine to children illustrations. He has two graphic novels available on Amazon worldwide, Halo and Sprocket: The Definitive Collection, as well as Dirtnap: Mystic Spit.
June 22, 2025
Kirby was just plain awesome. I don’t know if it was labeled “Battle of the Century,” but his Submariner versus Iron Man battle was just as epic.
June 23, 2025
This is the one for me
June 28, 2025
Second that.
June 27, 2025
The fact that Stan Lee kept getting confused about whether it was Bruce Banner or Bob Banner is why they eventually gave his full name as Robert Bruce Banner, so the nickname “Bob” could also be correct. Of course, no one called him “Bob” anymore by that point, as far as I’m aware. Anyway, it implies that Banner probably has Scottish ancestry, since he seems to be named after Robert the Bruce. Has anyone ever explored that?
June 28, 2025
As a little kid still coming off of DC (Weisinger and Schwartz books) this was an absolute, complete mind blower. Not just that the heroes got their asses kicked — that happened all the time, it was, like, every story’s Act 2, yeah? — but how. The brutality was new, a hero fighting a fight he knew he’d lose was new, and one of them just getting sick at the wrong time. Wow, wow, wow.
Spoiler: I’m parsing the Kirby/Lee run and I confess this doesn’t quite hold up by modern standards but… Still a mind blower.