Friday Night Fights: How Do You Solve a Problem Like the Rhino?

Though the average supervillain will stick to fighting the same superhero for their entire evil career, there have been rare occasions when a supervillain will jump ship and move to another superhero's rogues gallery.

One of the most high profile transfers was The Rhino. Originally a foe of Spider-Man, the Pachyderm Powerhouse left Spidey's rogues gallery for a shot at the Major Leagues, namely by taking on THE HULK himself!

Making his Hulk-foe debut in The Incredible Hulk #104 (1968), the Rhino received an upgraded costume and a strength-enhancing blast of Gamma Rays from the same guys who originally made him a Spider-Man supervillain. Sent to snatch Bruce Banner from military custody, the Rhino predictably triggered Banner's transformation into the Hulk, who then let loose with his customary smashing and alienated soliloquies.

In the resulting chaos, the Rhino attempted to slip away...which prompted the fight-hungry Hulk to bait him with "Why do you run from Hulk? Are you AFRAID?"

With that, the battle begins (click on the panels above for a ringside seat).

Illustrated by Marie Severin (one of my absolute favorite Hulk artists), enjoy this lesson in abject humiliation, face-to-pavement interaction, and ill-advised career moves.

Why do I celebrate such brutal violence? Ask Bahlactus!