42 Years Later, Hulk & Thing’s Combined Form is Still One of Marvel’s Strongest Characters

The Marvel Universe has plenty of heavy hitters, but the Hulk and the Thing rank among its strongest powerhouses. Few can overcome the Incredible Hulk, and Ben Grimm has stood toe to toe with some of the universe’s most intimidating foes, but one misadventure led them to their most extreme opponent. After being pulled to another world, they faced themselves in the form of an alien calling itself Banger McCrusher.

The Incredible Hulk and The Thing by Jim Starlin, Berni Wrightson, Michele Wrightson, and Jim Novak proved to be quite an adventure for the Thing and the Hulk. After being pulled into another world and tasked with retrieving a scientist, all for the promise of receiving two wishes, they track down the alien criminal holding him hostage.

Unfortunately, that means coming face-to-face with a massive being with the mixed-up appearance of both Ben Grimm and the Hulk, along with a raw physical strength that eclipses their own, elevating Banger McCrusher to one of Marvel’s strongest beings.

Ben Grimm’s Quick Thinking Was the Only Way to Victory

What begins as an opportunity for Banger McCrusher to meet his heroes from “Earth television” quickly devolves into a brawl for the ages. Banger McCrusher admired the Hulk and the Thing so much that he altered his own appearance to mimic them, but he easily towers over the Earth giants and manages to flick Ben Grimm away like a boulder-shaped fly. He also has a startlingly easy time manhandling the Hulk, which few beings in the universe can claim. Not only is he gargantuan, but Banger has the might to back it up – at least at first.

As any Hulk fan knows, the true secret to his strength is anger, and that quality is suppressed in this story by “positive cerebral ions.” It keeps the green Avenger from reaching his full potential, and the Thing needs to break through to him quickly. With some well-placed provocation and insults, and a perfectly timed team punch, the Hulk and the Thing show Banger McCrusher that an imitation will never beat the originals. Even though they secure a victory, Banger McCrusher demonstrates a nearly unmatched strength, and his single, brief appearance still earns him a spot as a serious Marvel powerhouse.

The Marvel Universe Is Filled with Unknown Threats

Even to Its Strongest Heroes

While Banger McCrusher never appears again, his existence shows the potential of the unknown. Even without hopping universes or exploring alternate timelines, there’s always a chance that a new challenger could emerge to test Earth’s strongest heroes. Ben Grimm and the Hulk have grown more powerful in their own ways since the encounter with their big alien fan, but there’s always a possibility that something could upset the balance. With the combined strength of the Hulk and the Thing, Banger McCrusher became one of the strongest characters in the Marvel Universe, and he deserves a rematch.

Marvel Graphic Novel #29: The Incredible Hulk and The Thing is available now from Marvel Comics.