Episode 126: The Hulk vs. Everyone in the Greatest Marvel Battle Ever (Fantastic Four #25 and #26) -- May 1964

In this episode:

Mike and Ed discuss the threat that is “the Hulk”. What is the Hulk? Is he a human turned into a monster, or a monster with human-like intelligence? Where did he come from? Was he created by the US military? If it takes the entire Fantastic Four AND the Avengers to stop him, how will we protect ourselves from the Hulk in the future?

In these issues:

Fantastic Four #25

Reed Richards is working on a formula to reverse Ben Grimm’s transformation into the Thing, although Ben is reluctant to try the formula as he feels that his girlfriend, the blind sculptor Alicia Masters, loves him as the Thing. Meanwhile, the Hulk is being hunted by the Avengers, and rather than hide, the Hulk decides to take the fight to the Avengers and destroy them. The Hulk rampages through New York City to get the Avengers’ attention, which leads to the Fantastic Four taking him on. The Hulk and the Thing engage in a thrilling fight throughout the city, and into the ocean, leaving the Thing broken and defeated and the Hulk calling out the Avengers.

Fantastic Four #26

Ben “The Thing” Grimm continues to fight the Hulk, with the Army looking on. His teammate, Reed “Mr. Fantastic” Richards, is too sick to join the fight, although Johnny “the Human Torch” Storm, while banged up from his earlier encounter with the Hulk, rejoins the battle. The Hulk more than holds his own against Ben and Johnny, leading the Army to fire a missile at the Hulk, only to see him catch it and throw it into the sky. Finally, the Avengers show up on the scene, and the Hulk takes them on. The Fantastic Four re-engage the Hulk too, leading to these two superhero teams fighting the Hulk at once. The Hulk is finally chased away by the ants that Giant-Man has ordered to race all over him, causing them to itch so much that he is entirely distracted, allowing his young friend Rick Jones to pop an emergency gamma-ray treated capsule into his mouth, turning the Hulk back to Bruce Banner.

And so endeth the greatest fight in Marvel history.

This episode takes place:

After the Hulk has battled the Fantastic Four and the Avengers at the same time, and escaped.

Assumed before the next episode:

People are wondering if anyone can take the Hulk down.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superserious616.com