Hulk and Thing: Hard Knocks (2004 series) #4

Thing continues his tale of how he beat the Hulk: Thing sought out Hulk in the desert and was able to clobber Hulk who was still weakened by the Wrecker’s ray. As Thing stood over the defeated Hulk, a photo was taken by a US Navy jet flying overhead. And then Hulk transformed back into Bruce Banner, surprising Ben who did not know of Hulk’s dual identity. This made Thing realize that a man is made by what is on the inside, not the often monstrous outside. He then left Banner alone and went home to mull over the lesson. And he now thanks Hulk for that…

..and then the US Army fires a rocket at the Hulk. When his mind clears, he hears Thing arguing with the army over a radio, telling them they weren’t supposed to fire so Hulk punches Thing through the air so that he lands on a tank. Thing again rebukes the army for firing and heads back to talk to Hulk. The army follows. Hulk accuses Thing of setting him up; Thing says the army found him first and he asked to talk first (this as they are fighting); the army arrives and the tanks and helicopters just become weapons in the hands of the two combatants. A missile hits them but they don’t blink. They decide to catch their breaths while waiting for the Navy jets to arrive and go back to the ruins of the café, talking over a book deal….