Fantastic Four #25: Hulk vs The Thing Round 3.6

Fantastic Four #25, page 21, panel 2

Sensational Story by: Stan Lee

Astonishing Art by: Jack Kirby

Incredible Inking by: George Roussos

Lighthearted Lettering by: S. Rosen

This is it. The final blow in this near-issue-length fight between the two biggest brawlers in the Marvel Universe at this time. It’s a slightly disappointing panel – Kirby saves the big moment for the Hulk storming away, looking for the Avengers, giving it a full 2/3-page panel.

However, there is no doubt about it in Fantastic Four #25 – the Thing is beaten thoroughly, and it’s only the Hulk’s true aim – to track down and destroy the Avengers – that keeps him from being killed. This then feeds the first true cliffhanger in the Fantastic Four, where a battered and beaten Ben hauls himself to his feet, vowing to stop the Hulk, even if it means his death. It’s a phenomenal note to end the book on, and one of the greatest cliffhangers in Marvel’s history.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #25 on our twenty-fifth episode: It’ll Be Our Little Secret, with special guest-host Michael Bailey