Two of the MCU's Most Powerful Tools Might Have Just Kickstarted the End of the Marvel Universe

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John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.

The Hulk just gave one of his oldest enemies the perfect chance to pilfer some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's greatest assets.

While the titular behemoth of Hulk Smashes Everything #1 (by Ryan North, Vincenzo Carratù, Federico Blee, and VC's Joe Caramagna) tears his way through New York City while being pursued by Doctor Strange and Wong, the villainous Doctor Samuel Sterns, better known as the Leader, is taking full advantage of the chaos. All it takes is a simple disguise for the Leader to set the Hulk's fury into motion, giving him the chance to steal both the Ring of Zona and Doctor Doom's iconic Time Platform.

Hulk Smashes Everything #1

Written by RYAN NORTH
Art by VINCENZO CARRATÙ
Colors by FEDERICO BLEE
Letters by VC's JOE CARAMAGNA
Design by GABRIEL MATA
Main cover art by ADAM KUBERT & RACHELLE ROSENBERG
Variant covers by ADI GRANOV; LUCIANO VECCHIO; MARK BROOKS; and PAULO SIQUEIRA & RACHELLE ROSENBERG

The official solicit synopsis for Hulk Smashes Everything #1 from Marvel Comics reads, "A GUARANTEED SMASH HIT!!! Is Hulk really the strongest there is? Sure, he’s stronger than most PEOPLE... but is he really stronger than EVERYTHING? Dinosaurs? Planets? Gravity? Cosmic forces??? Find out here because when we say Hulk takes on all-comers in this new miniseries, we really mean it!!!"

First seen in 2020's Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality #2 by Peter David and Greg Land, the Ring of Zona is one of Marvel Comics' many Sling Rings. Like those introduced in Marvel's Doctor Strange Prelude by Will Corona Pilgrim and Jorge Fornés, which was released just ahead of the 2016 MCU film Doctor Strange, the Ring of Zona is capable of conjuring temporary portals that allow safe and easy passage to anywhere the wielder desires.

The Time Platform of Doctor Doom is a far older Marvel Comics artifact, with its first appearance taking place all the way back in 1962 in the pages of Fantastic Four #5 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Created by Doctor Doom through both modern super-science and ancient magic, the Time Platform allows near-instantaneous traversal of the timeline.

Although Doctor Doom's Time Platform has yet to make an official MCU appearance, it likely won't be long before it does, especially when Doom's own official MCU debut is barely a year away. Set to arrive in theaters on Dec. 18, 2026, Avengers: Doomsday will mark the next major MCU crossover event, as well as Robert Downey Jr.'s proper return to the franchise, this time in the role of none other than Doctor Doom.

While there are currently no firm details on the overarching narrative of Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige previously confirmed that the film will see characters from multiple realities brought together by devastating Multiversal Incursions. In the pages of Marvel Comics, Incursions were responsible for the destruction of entire realities, including that of the original Ultimate Universe, otherwise known as Earth-1610.

"For people who know the comics and know the word incursions, those are universes coming together," Feige said during a CBR roundtable back in July. "We will see, yes, we will see that universe. We will see this world that we've introduced, these sets... we're shooting on all the same sets that we built for Fantastic Four." Feige added, "And it is very fun."

Hulk Smashes Everything #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.