Fantastic Four #25
Fantastic Four #25 delivered the first full-length, dedicated slugfest between the Thing and the Hulk — a matchup that had been teased since their brief encounter in Fantastic Four #12 — and it stands as one of the defining brawls of the Silver Age. Beyond the spectacle of the fight itself, the issue is a landmark in Marvel's evolving shared-universe storytelling: it picks up unresolved threads directly from Avengers #3–4, weaves in the newly revived Captain America, and requires readers to follow multiple titles to get the complete picture, a then-novel demand that helped define how Marvel's interconnected universe would function for decades. The issue also inadvertently gave Bruce Banner his full canonical name: Stan Lee's in-story error of calling the character 'Bob Banner' was later addressed in the Fantastic Four #28 letters page, where Lee retroactively declared the character's legal name to be 'Robert Bruce Banner' — a piece of continuity that has remained part of the Marvel canon ever since. The story ends on what many fans and critics have called the first genuine cliffhanger in the Fantastic Four's run, with a beaten but unbowed Ben Grimm vowing to continue the fight regardless of the cost.
In "The Hulk Vs. The Thing," the Hulk returns to New York with a vengeance, driven by betrayal after Rick Jones leaves him for the Avengers. With the Fantastic Four in his path, the Thing stands alone as the only one who might stand against the gamma-powered rage. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby, with inks by G. Bell and lettering by S. Rosen, this 1964 classic features cover art by Jack Kirby and George Roussos.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
The issue was written and edited by Stan Lee, penciled by Jack Kirby, inked by George Roussos (working under the house pseudonym George Bell), and lettered by Sam Rosen; it went on sale January 10, 1964, with an April 1964 cover date. It was the direct sequel to the crossover momentum built across Avengers #3 and #4, making this two-part arc (concluding in FF #26) the Avengers' first sustained appearance outside their own title. One widely reported behind-the-scenes curiosity: Kirby reportedly drew the face of Marvel bullpen production artist Sol Brodsky onto the Hulk for a single panel — an in-joke that made it into the published book and was not corrected. The story was reprinted as early as 1966 in Fantastic Four Annual #4 and has since been collected in multiple Marvel Masterworks and Omnibus editions, as well as dedicated thematic collections such as Hulk vs. The Marvel Universe.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Written by Stan Lee, penciled by Jack Kirby, inked by George Roussos (as 'George Bell'), lettered by Sam Rosen; on sale January 10, 1964 (cover-dated April 1964).
- First dedicated, full-issue battle between the Thing (Ben Grimm) and the Hulk (Bruce Banner); their only prior clash had been a subplot in Fantastic Four #12 (1963).
- The Avengers — including the newly introduced Silver Age Captain America (Steve Rogers), Thor, Iron Man, Giant Man, and the Wasp — appear as key supporting characters, making this one of the earliest and most substantial Avengers crossovers into another Marvel title.
- Stan Lee accidentally refers to Bruce Banner as 'Bob Banner' in this issue; when readers pointed out the error in the letters page of Fantastic Four #28, Lee officially retconned the character's full name to 'Robert Bruce Banner,' a name that has remained part of Marvel continuity.
- The issue ends on a cliffhanger — with the Thing beaten but refusing to quit — making it the first true two-part story in the Fantastic Four's run; the conclusion appears in Fantastic Four #26, which also brings the full Avengers roster into the conflict and ties directly into Avengers #5.
- Jack Kirby reportedly drew the face of Marvel bullpen production artist Sol Brodsky onto the Hulk in one panel of the fight sequence, an Easter egg that was left in the published issue.
- The issue's letters page includes a special announcement giving the on-sale date for Daredevil #1, placing it at a notable moment in early Marvel history.
- Reprinted in Fantastic Four Annual #4 (1966), Marvel Treasury Special (1974), Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 2, multiple Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 3 editions, and thematic collections including Hulk vs. The Marvel Universe and Avengers vs. Fantastic Four.
Cast · 25 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Hulk understands that Rick Jones has deserted him for the Avengers. He comes back to New York to get his revenge on the Avengers but the Fantastic Four are there to stop him. And the Thing is the only one with a chance to defeat him.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).