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Fantastic Four #25 (1964) — CGC 2.0: A Heavyweight Bout in a Featherweight Grade
I have always felt that a CGC 2.0 is the most honest grade a comic can receive. It is a grade for the realist. While a 9.8 is a pristine, untouchable object that lives in a climate-controlled vault like a frozen heiress, a 2.0 is a book that has actually lived. It has been carried in a back pocket, traded for a ham sandwich, and read under the covers with a flashlight. It is paper that has seen the world and decided, quite rightly, to look a little tired.
The Publication History
Released in April 1964, this issue arrived at the height of Lee and Kirby’s creative frenzy. It was a time when Marvel was less of a company and more of a loud, beautiful argument. This particular issue is the first half of one of the most famous two-part battles in history. It’s the sort of book that 1960s children would fight over until the staples gave up, which is likely how this copy achieved its current, humble status.
The Narrative (Or: Why Everyone is Throwing Bricks)
The story is titled "The Hulk vs. The Thing," a title that gets straight to the point, much like a punch to the jaw. The Hulk arrives in New York looking for the Avengers but settles for destroying a significant portion of the local infrastructure instead. The Fantastic Four are sidelined by a virus—except for Ben Grimm, who has to face a giant, green personification of rage while feeling remarkably under the weather. It is a story about the futility of effort; the Thing gets pummeled, flattened, and tossed through buildings, yet he keeps getting up. It’s a bit like my experience trying to assemble IKEA furniture, only with more property damage and fewer Allen wrenches.
Collector Significance
This is a "Mega-Key." It is the first time the Hulk and the Thing truly go at it for an entire issue, setting the standard for every superhero misunderstanding that followed. For the collector, it is a cornerstone of the Silver Age. For the rest of us, it is a reminder that even if you are made of orange rocks, life is still going to be difficult.
Condition Note (The "Good" Grade)
This copy has been officially certified by CGC as a 2.0 (Good). In human terms, this means it has the character of a seasoned character actor—someone who has been in a few bar fights but still remembers their lines. There are creases, there is some significant wear, and the edges look like they were trimmed by a very enthusiastic goat. But it is slabbed. It is protected. It is a piece of history that you can hold without feeling like you’re defiling a holy relic.
Item Specifics:
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Issue: #25
Date: April 1964
CGC Grade: 2.0 (Universal Grade)
Key Feature: Epic Hulk vs. Thing battle.
Creators: Lee & Kirby (The "A-Team")
Ships in a box sturdy enough to withstand a Hulk-level tantrum. No returns—once you own a 2.0, you are committed to the struggle.
