The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman is a One-Shot crossover between Marvel Comics and DC Comics written by Roger Stern with art by Steve Rude.
The one-shot stars the Hulk and Superman, and is Exactly What It Says on the Tin. It is notable for mixing different stylistic eras of the characters — 1940's style Superman and Lois, 1960's style Hulk and Rick Jones, and Post-Crisis Luthor.
The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman provides examples of:
- Fastball Special: When Lex Luthor tries to use the Gamma Gun to kill the Hulk (unconcerned about the risk to Superman), Hulk and Superman stop their fight and work together, Hulk allowing Superman to throw him at the gun so he can destroy it.
- Genius Bruiser: The Hulk quickly adapts to the fact that Superman is a) invulnerable and b) can fly, and uses various tactics that don't involve brute strength (such as spitting cactus needles at supersonic speed to bring him down.)
- Insult of Endearment: The Hulk has "Cape Man" for Superman.
- Let's You and Him Fight: Lex Luthor provokes the Hulk and Superman into a fight by using a robot duplicate of the Hulk to frame Hulk for kidnapping Betty Ross; the real Hulk finds Betty and destroys the robot, but is then attacked by Superman.
- Lightning Bruiser: Superman attempts to grapple the Hulk to calm him down, only to find himself almost instantly flung into space, causing Supes to remark, "How can someone that big be so fast?"
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Lex Luthor’s determination to be the one to kill Superman ultimately backfires. While Hulk and Superman are fighting, Luthor uses Banner’s Gamma Gun to try and kill Hulk (obviously unconcerned about the risk to Superman in the process), but without Banner to configure it properly Hulk recognises that the weapon could kill everyone in a hundred-mile radius, prompting the two to stop their fight so that they can work together to destroy the weapon.
- Right for the Wrong Reasons: Lex Luthor has deduced that Banner and the Hulk are connected, but believes that Banner’s experiments created the Hulk or brought the Hulk to Earth rather than realise that Banner is the Hulk.
- Superman Stays Out of Gotham: Lampshaded when Lois Lane asks how the Avengers can possibly call themselves "Earth's mightiest heroes" when Superman has never joined their ranks.
- Tranquil Fury: Superman stonily tells Luthor he understands why Hulk gets so pissed off all the time while keeping his cool.
