The Hulk Often smashes the line between “good” and “bad.” He is the strongest avenger and, in turn, a serious threat to the world, but one strange alien encounter led to the green giant making a truly irredeemable decision. When Hulk and Fantastic Four’s Thing had a chance to make two wishes, potentially improving the fate of the entire planet, he squandered the opportunity forever.
Marvel Graphic Novel #29: The Incredible Hulk and The Thing – written by Jim Starlin, with art by Berni Wrightson – sent Thing and Hulk to an alien world, where they were offered a deal by a being called Malelet. The pair would be given two wishes in exchange for tracking down a missing scientist.
They could have freed the earth from disease, solved world hunger, or instantly removed any number of other calamities the planet faces; instead, Hulk showed the depth of his selfish nature and short-sightedness as he dismissed both world-altering wishes for food and a return trip home.
The Hulk wasted his perfect opportunity to save the world, proving that he is no true hero
Marvel Graphic Novel #29: The Incredible Hulk and The Thing By Jim Starlin, Berni Wrightson, Michele Wrightson and Jim Novak
From that moment, the two heavy weights were carried away in a disaster. However, despite the strange circumstances, they are given an incredible opportunity to save the world in a way that no one has ever managed. Ben Grimm planned to do just that. Although his first thought was to wish himself and Hulk into humans again, he immediately considered using the other wish “for humanity.” Not only did Hulk rob the thing of his one undisputed chance to be “normal” again, But he handily wasted the opportunity to help billions of people.
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Blaming Hulk may be unfair, as he isn’t prone to planning or complex thought, and it’s clear that he doesn’t think beyond his immediate needs. This does not erase the fact that he could have eliminated devastating diseases like cancer or put an end to war. At the very least, he could give Ben Grimm the opportunity to speak as well, and at least make use of one of the two wishes. There are few details about Malelet’s power, but given how quickly he can transport them home, the opportunity was genuine. Unfortunately, it’s also really wasted in Hulk’s most selfish and irredeemable moment.
60+ years after his debut, the Hulk’s selfishness is still what prevents him from fully becoming a hero
Many of the greatest heroes have moments where they slip up and let a selfish desire get in the way of doing what is right. In most cases, they are also capable of recognizing that about themselves and either make amends or change their behavior. It works differently for the Hulk – or at least, the version of the Hulk that accompanies Ben Grimm on the alien world. His childish nature will always prevent him from being a full-time heroAs he is unable to see far beyond what he wants or needs, and Hulk Selfishness kept him from saving the world from suffering.
Marvel graphic novel #29: The Incredible Hulk and The Thing is available now from Marvel Comics.