Warning: contains potential spoilers for Clobberin’ Time #1Longtime rivals the Hulk and the Thing are combining their strength to take on a Marvel god. In a preview for Clobberin’ Time #1, the two goliaths find themselves on a distant world. The two are soon forced to team up against a giant monster native to the planet; the Hulk and the Thing had best save their strength, as the two must also team up against one of the powerful and mysterious Celestials. Clobberin’ Time will pair Thing with some of Marvel’s heaviest hitters, including his frenemy the Hulk.
The book is written and drawn by Steve Skroce, colored by Bryan Valenza and lettered by Joe Sabino. The preview opens with the Thing and Bruce Banner looking on in bewilderment at a new planet. They quickly meet the planet’s tiny inhabitants, who are being threatened by a “Titan.” Just then, a giant kaiju roars through; Banner “Hulks” out and he and the Thing make short work of the creature. While the preview ends there, Marvel has revealed the two titans will also collide with the mega-powerful Celestials in this issue.
For over 60 years, the Hulk and the Thing have been rivals. The two first met in 1963’s Fantastic Four #12, but Marvel had been seeding the rivalry even longer than that; nearly a year before the two met, the Thing had a visceral reaction to learning of the Hulk’s existence. Much of this animosity comes from their opposing views of their powers – Hulk is happy as a monster but simply wants to be left alone, while the Thing desperately wishes to reclaim his humanity and be accepted by society at large. Each reflects everything the other rejects, and despite being the more traditional hero, Thing often leaves his judgment at the door when the Hulk is involved. Their fights have been legendary, but now they must work together to save a planet from not only giant kaiju, but Celestials as well.
Despite Their Rivalry, Hulk and Thing Are a Great Team
The Hulk and the Thing are two of Marvel’s strongest characters, and they will need all the strength they can get to help save a planet under siege. The preview offers an excellent demonstration of the Thing and the Hulk’s powers, as the two quickly defeat the giant Titan. What is truly remarkable is the duo work together with no issues; they trade barbs, with Hulk calling Thing “crack face” at one point, but never exchange blows – proving that they can instinctively work together when confronted with a bigger threat.
However, the Titan that the Hulk and the Thing defeat is only the tip of the iceberg for this issue, as Marvel has revealed the two will also fight a Celestial. The Celestials work on a universal canvas to govern the process of life spreading from planet to planet, and have wiped out entire worlds that displeased them. They’re a whole other level of power to Thing and Hulk‘s strength, and yet the two heroes will need to find a way to win.
Clobberin’ Time #1 is on sale March 29 from Marvel Comics!
