Hulk and Thor’s Marvel rivalry may finally be put to rest

polygon.com:

The opening pages of 1965’s Journey Into Mystery #112 see Marvel’s thunder god swoop down from the skies to break up what looks, from Jack Kirby and Chic Stone’s dynamic artwork, like a riot about to break out between two gangs of angry, yelling youths. Thor’s thought balloon sets the scene for what’s happening: “Those youngsters seem to be arguing about who is … stronger … the Hulk … or myself!”

Journey Into Mystery #112’s cover declared it “The Epic Battle of the Age! The Mighty Thunder God vs. The Incredible Hulk! Here It Is! The Battle You’ve Been Waiting For!” (Of course, whether or not fans really had been waiting for the battle, or if that was merely Stan Lee’s trademark hyperbole, is a matter open to question.) The issue came out just three years after the comic book debut of both characters, and only one year after the two had met for the first time as co-stars of the then-newly launched Avengers. Yet, somehow, the rivalry of Thor and the Hulk had apparently already become such a hot button topic that Marvel was seeking to cash-in.

The thing is, Thor and the Hulk don’t really make sense as frenemies. They don’t share subgenre roots — one is a science fiction character, one a supernatural/mythological character. Or power level — any battle between the two should really be over in seconds because one of them is really strong, and the other one is really strong, is an actual god, and can fly and control the weather. Despite this, Marvel has spent decades attempting to convince fans that they do want the same thing as those teens from 1965. In fact, there’s a new fight between Thor and Hulk arriving in just a few weeks.

Here, fetch happened: “Hulk vs. Thor” is one of Marvel’s more storied clashes, no matter how