Of all the superpowered heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe,The Hulkis widely accepted as one of the strongest. But even as unstoppable as Hulk may be,The Boys’answer to the green giant isn’t to fight strength with strength. Instead, one of their most unlikely superhumans has an unbelievably perfect way to stop the mightiest Avenger in his tracks.
The obvious question is solved inIndestructible Hulk#16 by Mark Waid, Mahmud Asrar, Val Staples, and Cory Petit, when Bruce Banner’s assistant Jessup is placed into a life-or-death situation. So, what does a person do when trying to talk down a raging Hulk, if resorting to violence isn’t an option?The answer, surprisingly, is to simply offer Hulk a piece of chewing gum
Strange as it may seem, Hulk enjoys chewing gum so much that, evidently, its mesmerizing effect transforms him back to Bruce Banner. Shockingly, this putsone of the most useless superhumans inThe Boysin the running to become Hulk’s perfect opponent.
The Boys’ Gumchum is The Perfect Counter To Hulk
The Boys Character Was Practically Created To Control The Hulk
Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’sThe Boyshas an extensive collection of Supes, blessed with all manner of powers. From Homelander’s Superman-esque powers to less flattering parodies of recognizable heroes,few seem as useless as Gumchum, a one-off joke more than a legitimate character. There aren’t many reasonswhy Gumchum’s ability to access a never-ending supply of gum would be needed in a fight, other than serving as an incredibly underwhelming pick-me-up. But Hulk’s weakness changes everything.
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Aside from fostering some goodwill among his teammates and friends, Gumchum doesn’t have much going for him. It’s not exaggeration to say a fight against the Hulk would be his one and only major opportunity to do something impressive, an outstanding achievement given how unattainable a feat it normally is, even for the strongest heroes and villains.Where Homelander would struggle to fight the Hulk, Gumchum would thrive in seconds. And that deserves respect.
Gumchum Proves: The Only Way To Beat Hulk is Not To Fight
The Boys' may have intended Gumchum to be one of its worst Supes ever, but it just goes to show that there’s a place for every power… even the most ridiculous ones. Although to be fair, offering Hulk a piece of gum isn’t the only time the Jade Giant has been calmed down by distraction. There’s something inherently childish to Banner’sstandard Green Hulk transformation, and he’s even been soothed by things like adorable puppies (inIndestructible Hulk Special#1), or the sudden appearance of his favorite foods (including baked beans).
As shocking as it seems, an all-out war between the worlds of Marvel andThe Boys’universes might see theHulkunleash his fury across the mightiest Supes Vought could hope to create… while the arrival of Gumchum could render him harmless, all thanks to the power of endless, delicious gum.
