This season just keeps giving. We’ve had Iron Man and War Machine in full force, Doom at his theatrical best, and now Chuck McCann returns as the Thing — not just reprising, but elevating. His performance here is his finest, full of heart and hilariously reactive timing. And despite the obvious Hulk vs Thing showdown, the story doesn’t retread Nightmare in Green. Instead, it folds the Fantastic Four into the Hulk’s world with surprising finesse, while embracing its place in the Marvel Multiverse.

At the heart of it is Jennifer Walters. Her transformation into She-Hulk has ripple effects — Bruce feels guilty, and Jen feels guilty that she doesn’t. She loves the change. She owns it. And Bruce, ever the tortured soul, can’t understand that joy. It’s a quiet feminist beat: he insists, she resists, and she wins. But Jen’s confidence is new, and that too brings guilt. She doesn’t want to give it up — even if her cousin sees it as a curse.

Her entrance here is a delight. She flirts with the Thing — honestly, comfortably, and with zero hesitation. He’s petrified. Watching Ben Grimm, who’s punched Galactus in the face, recoil from Jen’s sassy charm is pure gold. She even carries him through a doorway at one point — a literal and symbolic threshold crossed. It’s playful, but layered. Jen isn’t just strong. She’s free.

The episode balances ensemble dynamics with emotional fallout. Bruce is haunted. Jen is radiant. The Thing is rattled. And the fight choreography, while explosive, never overshadows the character beats. There’s legacy here — not just in casting, but in tone. It’s a story about guilt, transformation, and the right to enjoy your own power.

The search for answers leads Banner and She-Hulk to New York, hoping that Reed Richards might hold the key to a cure. But fate intervenes. An explosion on the pier traps Banner beneath. The cold water, the pressure, the panic — it forces the change. Hulk erupts to save himself. Elsewhere, Rick Jones moves through the city, unaware that the Leader’s gaze is fixed on him.

At Four Freedoms Plaza, Reed and Sue depart, leaving Ben Grimm to hold the fort. He chooses the zoo — a moment of quiet. Rick follows. But peace shatters when the Leader’s latest creation, Ogress, attacks. Rick falls into the crocodile pit. Banner and She-Hulk arrive just in time. Hulk and Thing pull Rick to safety while She-Hulk takes on Ogress. The fight is brutal, but the team holds. They return to the tower, ready to attempt the cure.

But the past won’t wait. The Gamma Warriors strike, freezing Banner and abducting him. Thing, She-Hulk, and Rick pursue — to the Statue of Liberty, where the battle resumes. Banner, still frozen, falls into the water. The cold triggers the transformation. Hulk breaks free, saves She-Hulk, and joins the fight. Together, they bring the Gamma Warriors down.

But victory is never simple. The authorities arrive. Hulk, as always, chooses exile over escalation. He vanishes into the city — a shadow among monuments.

Beau Weaver briefly reprises his role as Mr. Fantastic at the opening of the episode. Johnny and Sue are seen briefly, but don’t speak due to availability issues. Chuck McCann guest stars throughout as the Thing, giving one of his best performances in the role. When Four Freedoms Plaza is shown, the Fantastic Four theme can be heard briefly and several of the Thing’s music cues are used.

In the comics, She-Hulk served on the Fantastic Four – as the Thing’s replacement! Her pointing at the Four on his uniform is a nod to this.

Ogress is based on the character of the same name from Incredible Hulk #345 as part of the Leader’s mutated Riot Squad. The Gamma Warriors are loosely based on them.

The Thing makes reference to meeting Rick Jones and Bruce Banner in Nightmare in Green.

The Thing and the Hulk have battled many times. For more, see the article here.

Since the end of the Fantastic Four series, Alicia Masters has apparently ended her relationship with Ben.

Tahiti – it’s a magical place.

The Statue of Liberty has been the site of more than one battle across the multiverse: the X-Men took on Magneto there in the inaugural X-Men movie, whilst three different Spider-Men battled their foes atop the modified statue in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Doomed | Mortal Bounds