Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #79

Good morning, peeps!

It's time for me to talk about the seventy-ninth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing holding a large boulder to protect himself from blasts fired by a new character called the Star-Dancer, as Alicia Masters sat helpless in a clear bubble and the hero Blue Diamond lay motionless at Ben Grimm's feet. The story was titled "Shanga the Star-Dancer!" The issue had a cover date of September 1981.

The tale began somewhere in deep space, as the person known as Shanga danced across a bevy of meteorites. She thought back to her homeworld, which she had not visited in many centuries, and how her cosmic powers had enabled her to destroy the asteroids that lay before her with ease. The lonely intergalactic traveler's focus soon turned to a small sleepy town in Massachusetts.

That village was named Hartsdale, and it was hosting its annual arts-and-crafts fair. Grimm and Masters were among the many in attendance that day. Alicia was blind, so she used her fingers to ascertain the finer details of a piece of pottery that had piqued her interest, much to the chagrin of the vendor. He grabbed the pot and ordered her to leave before Grimm entered the scene. He went to the nearest tree and grabbed it, setting it down before the shopkeeper to teach him a lesson. Alicia understood, but didn't approve of her boyfriend's brusque approach.

Later that day, Ben set out to do some fishing. He walked past several houses on his way, one of them belonging to a man named Elton Morrow. The elderly gentleman envied the hero whom he spied through the window. To many in the community, he was known as an anthropology professor. However, in his younger years, he was also the costumed crusader known as the Blue Diamond (as seen in issues of the Invaders and Marvel Premiere).

He longed for the days long gone, when he fought against the evils that surfaced during the Second World War. Morrow also missed his wife, who had become severely ill and passed on several years back. Elton never lost his powers and was just itching for a chance to use them again.

Shortly thereafter, Shanga flew down to the sleepy hamlet. She briefly examined its occupants before encasing them in a clear dome. People started to panic. Some of them pointed out Masters, blaming her and her Grimm for their predicament. Alicia was obviously innocent of any wrongdoing and called out for Ben.

Ben was fly fishing and had just landed a great catch that he wanted to show to Alicia when he turned and noticed the dome behind him. While he was trying to break inside, Morrow observed the people outside. He looked at his old costume and wondered if it was time for the Blue Diamond to return. 

Meanwhile, Grimm was doing everything he could to try to crack the dome's surface. He had just made some progress when a gun was pointed at Alicia's head. Fortunately, before anything more could be done, the Blue Diamond intervened. He kept the growing, angry mob at bay while the Thing continued to hammer away at the artificial structure.

The heroes' efforts eventually gained Shanga's attention. She placed Masters in a transparent bubble, away from her attackers. She then engaged in a battle with Grimm across the town. The Blue Diamond finally stumbled up to the Thing, stating that he knew how to defeat his foe. He asked Ben to toss him at the alien, which Grimm did gladly. The duo collided and fell to the ground.

Alicia was released from her bubble and ran to her lover's arms. Shanga lashed out at the Thing once more, before Morrow offered himself as a sacrifice. Shanga examined the Blue Diamond and transmuted his physical form, so that he now looked more like a being comprised of actual diamond. They took each other's hand and lifted off into space. Shanga was no longer lonely. Afterward, Ben and Alicia talked about the beauty of that day, including Grimm's prize catch. 

Knowing when this was written, I'm assuming that Tom DeFalco drew some inspiration for this issue's plot from contemporary films like Flashdance or Fame, and added a science-fiction twist. To the best of my knowledge, Shanga has never appeared in another Marvel publication. That's too bad, because I could see her squaring off against comparably powered beings like the Silver Surfer. Blue Diamond was eventually returned to his traditional superhero form, but no explanation has been given as of yet as to why or when that happened. I think that this issue was a kind of test to see how Blue Diamond and Shanga resonated with readers. Apparently, it wasn't enough to merit any additional stories that featured them.

I am going to take the rest of the day off and enjoy this beautiful Saturday. I'll return tomorrow with a synopsis of the sixth Marvel Two-In-One Annual. We'll see the debut of another new character, and Ben being joined by several very familiar faces. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #78

Well, we made it to Friday, folks!

Time to cap off another busy week with a synopsis of the seventy-eighth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed Wonder Man battling the Thing on a Hollywood set. The story was titled "Monster Man!" The issue had a publication date of August 1981.

On the first page, we see the rocky hand of Ben Grimm holding a tabloid that was open to an advertisement for a new television program called "Monster Man." The lead character, played by Simon Williams (aka Wonder Man), looked very similar to the Thing. Ben went on a rant about the plot and how he never got credit or was even asked to be involved with the program. 

Ben's friends and teammates tried to convince him to let the whole affair go, but Grimm wasn't about to do that just yet. He soon set off for the studio in Queens, New York, to set things straight. Meanwhile, at the studio, production of that show was proceeding as planned. Executive Ted Silverberg was calling the shots, and the show's star was questioning the plot of his latest script, but was advised by his director to proceed with his instructions anyway.

A short while later, the Thing arrived on the lot. He made sure that Silverberg was well aware of his disappointment that the show was being made. After turning a camera into a ball of junk, he tossed the debris to Wonder Man before leaving the stage. As Williams chased Grimm, Silverberg retreated to a trailer at the back of the lot. Once inside, he explained his predicament to Mr. Moses. The elder gentleman reassured his employee that things would be okay. Ted went off to take a nap while the old man noticed how Ted and others of his kind had no clue what was really going on. Moses' true intentions had implications for the entire human race.

The next morning, at Avengers Mansion, Williams was letting out his frustrations on a device meant to test his strength. He discussed the situation with his close friend, Hank McCoy (aka the Beast). as he pounded on the large tackling dummy machine. The more Simon punched, the angrier he seemed to get, until one mighty blow demolished the device. 

Meanwhile, at the law offices of Murdock and Nelson, Matt and Foggy conferred with their client Grimm. Murdock gave his friend some bad news. The characters were somewhat similar to him, but different enough so as not to be identical. Ben walked out of the office with several young children swarming him, thinking that he was their TV idol, Monster Man. Grimm explained that he wasn't their idol, but would let him know if he saw him, something which he then set out to do.

Back at the studio, Williams was busy submitting his resignation. Silverberg didn't take the announcement very well. He pointed out the contract that Simon had signed. Wonder Man agreed to fulfill the rest of the contract, but planned to leave immediately after that. Afterward, Silverberg shared the news with Moses, who then felt that he had to become personally involved sooner rather than later. 

Moses stood in his office and transformed into his true form, that of the alien being known as Xemnu the Titan. He thought back to his initial arrival on this world and defeat at the hands of the original Defenders. He knew that the show had to continue if his plans for world conquest would be successful. To accomplish that goal, he would need a star who was a bit more willing to comply.

He then looked through his one-way window into the makeup room. Simon was sitting in the chair as the makeup man was applying a concoction that made him look like the tacky character he was portraying. Surely this was part of Xemnu's plan.

By then, Ben was back in the Baxter Building, sulking about his situation with his lady love, Alicia Masters. He was still upset about the Monster Man show that his godson, Franklin Richards, was now watching. He even became a bit enthralled by the program until the next commercial ran. That incident was enough to convince Grimm that there was more going on, and he was determined to find out just what that was.

A short while later, the Thing returned to the TV studio in Queens, and burst into the soundstage. All he found was a motion picture camera. He examined it and noticed an unusual-looking device inside. Before he could look at it further, Williams arrived. He didn't acknowledge his old friend, and seemed to be hypnotized. 

Williams lashed out at Ben, who fell to the floor before Simon's puppet master stepped behind him, Xemnu. Ben evaded Wonder Man and the other threats that the titan threw at him. As his tussle with Simon continued, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) tried to reassure Alicia that her boyfriend would be all right. Little did they know the dangers that Xemnu had in store for Grimm.

Ben grabbed the heavy barbell that Simon had been using earlier, but Xemnu used his ability to change inanimate items to twist the metal contraption into a trap. Williams then grabbed it and tossed it at the nearest wall. Ben finally broke free, and their conflict continued through the studio landscape. 

The trio interrupted a taping of the popular game show "The Survive and Win Show." During the fracas, Ben spied a camera that was very similar to the one he'd just examined minutes before. He tossed Williams at the camera, and the Avenger soon came to his senses. Silverberg then knew that something was up, but before he could confer with Moses again, Xemnu was already holed up inside his office, and by the time Ben and Simon arrived, he was blasting off in his own miniature spaceship that was part of the studio trailer.

Silverberg was enraged by the destruction and the damage done to the show. That didn't last long, though, as he soon came up with a new idea. Ben offered to buy Simon a root beer, and the two comrades walked off together. A few months later, Ben checked in on young Franklin, who was enjoying a new program called the Xemnu the Titan show. 

Xemnu is a longstanding Marvel character. He was originally called the Hulk, years before Bruce Banner was created. He would eventually return to torment the Defenders and other gamma-powered heroes. I'm kind of surprised that he usually acts alone, because he could easily pair up with other similarly-minded and powered villains. 

Wonder Man was in his actor phase at the time, before he changed significantly and joined the Avengers' West Coast branch. He recently had his own Disney+ show. I'm not a huge fan of the character, but I don't mind seeing him every now and then. The premise of this story reminded me a bit of the short-lived Thing Hanna-Barbera cartoon, which had the Thing as a teenager who could transform into the rocky member of the Fantastic Four. 

Well, that's all I have for you for now. Tomorrow, I'll cover the seventy-ninth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing will pair up with another Marvel character from long ago to tackle a new menace. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #77

Happy Thursday, folks!

Today, I'll be summarizing the seventy-seventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover's artwork depicted the Thing with the Man-Thing behind him, underneath which was a banner talking about a tale from Ben Grimm's past that had him working with Nick Fury and his legendary Howling Commandos. The tale was titled "Only the Swamp Survives!" The issue had a cover date of July 1981.

The story started, like most FF epics, in their Baxter Building headquarters in New York. Reed Richards (Fantastic Four leader who also went by the moniker Mr. Fantastic) was using another one of his machines to test Ben's strength. The Thing was pushing against a pair of large panels with all his might as Reed and Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) looked on. Grimm was only supposed to press his palms lightly against the titanium steel panels, but he exerted enough force to destroy them. 

While Reed was lamenting the work he'd put into creating the machine, Johnny noticed that the guest scanner had buzzed. He turned to a monitor and saw Nick Fury standing alongside an older gentleman. The trio greeted their guests moments later. Fury's associate introduced himself as Dr. Hansdor, one of the top SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage and Law Enforcement Division) scientists. Hansdor wanted Ben's help to test-pilot a new experimental plane that could go Mach 6 and beyond. Its flight radius had not been learned yet, but the duo knew that Grimm was the best man for the job.

Ben took his time pondering his decision. A heart-to-heart talk hours later with his girlfriend Alicia Masters convinced him to accept the offer. Grimm endured several physical and mental tests before boarding the rocket that would be tracked by NASA's existing systems. As the jet took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, several poachers not far away were about to experience a bit of karma. They stopped setting alligator traps long enough to notice the macabre Man-Thing shuffling toward them. The hunters became afraid, and as diehard Marvelites know, whosoever knows fear is bound to burn at the Man-Thing's touch. 

At the same time, Ben's rocket had just reached Mach 6 when one of the turbine intakes experienced an electrical issue. The starboard rockets were still working, unlike the now inoperative portside engines. Ben managed to level the craft, but didn't eject, knowing that at the speed he was traveling, a concussion could very likely end his life. As systems shut down, Grimm kept bringing the ship down until it landed not far from the Man-Thing and the two poachers.

The creature wandered off to investigate the fiery crash as Ben opened the hatch and crawled outside slowly. He was very weak and weary, but trudged on nonetheless, with the Man-Thing sauntering behind him. Reed, Johnny, Alicia, and the ground control crew members frantically scrambled to try to regain contact with the downed jet, as Grimm's travels reminded him of a time during the Second World War when he embarked on a notable adventure with Fury and his Howling Commandos. 

Ben could feel bullets whizzing by, but thought they were part of his memories, not knowing that they were from the hunters who were still pursuing the Man-Thing. The creature lunged with one arm and took out that threat. Meanwhile, Nick, Johnny, Reed, and his wife Susan Richards (aka the Invisible Girl) had found Ben's downed plane. They figured that Grimm must have escaped on foot, and the Human Torch took to the air to try to find his teammate.

Grimm was still lost in his memories of yesteryear, thinking back to another time during the war when he, Nick, and company came across a house where several prisoners were being held. The heroes were able to free them before the building was destroyed. Grimm then started to choke and fell to the swampy ground. The Man-Thing watched as Ben's mind was filled with more recent images of people he loved and trusted, including Alicia. 

Fear rose in the Thing, which roused the interest of the beast. Ben instinctively waved his fist behind him, quelling the fear for the time being in the process. The Man-Thing stood there silently as Ben got to his feet and ventured deeper into the swampland. Johnny finally caught up with him and made sure that Ben received proper medical attention not long thereafter.

Some time later in a hospital room, Ben was surrounded by his friends. His right leg was set in a sling, but Grimm was happy to see his guests. He admitted that he'd never felt alone on his long walk, not knowing that the Man-Thing had been gently walking behind him almost the entire way. 

I'm not usually a big fan of flashback stories, but I didn't mind this one. It was a nice bridge between heavier plots in more recent issues. More of these exploits with the Howling Commandos would be published years later in a miniseries. Even though the Man-Thing didn't do much more than react and observe, his presence was enough for the type of tale that was told. For some, he's a character that they either love or despise, but I'm ambivalent about him. I see him in enough issues to appreciate the Man-Thing for who he is. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the seventy-eighth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben returns to Hollywood to join forces with an Avenger against one of the Defenders' earliest enemies. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #76

Happy Wednesday, folks!

We made it halfway through the week already! Time to celebrate with a synopsis of the seventy-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Ringmaster leading several of his associates against the Thing and Iceman, with a special appearance by Giant Man. The tale was titled "The Big Top Bandits." The issue had a cover date of June 1981.

The story started at a circus, where Ben Grimm, Alicia Masters, and Ben Foster (aka Giant Man) were having a grand time. Ben had already won several prizes and was thoroughly enjoying himself. The trio stopped for ice cream when Grimm overheard a fellow patron complaining that a strength competition might be rigged. He went over to the booth and decided to put one fist down, causing the weight to knock the bell at the top of the tower off its mooring. Ben then asked that his prize be given to the people who had complained earlier.

Alicia chided her boyfriend for showing off, which was observed by a clown riding a unicycle. The circus worker then hightailed it to the big top, where he met fellow members of the Ringmaster's Circus of Crime: Tarrax the Tamer, the Flying Gambonnos, Cannonball, the Firebreather, and Princess Pythona. The clown asked where their leader was and was informed that he was in the back working with his new machine.

The clown made his way to the Ringmaster, who was tinkering with a large device that had one of his trademark hypnotic discs affixed to it. He informed his boss that the Thing was there, news that set his employer off instantly. The Ringmaster thought back to their humble beginnings in a small family-owned circus in Europe before the Second World War changed things drastically and caused his move to America.

After losing his parents in the Blitzkrieg, the Ringmaster started over in a new country, but eventually found himself resorting to crime to survive. He and his crew ran across other heroes like Daredevil, Spider-Man, and the Incredible Hulk over the years. The Ringmaster was defeated every time, but he swore this would change, confident that his new hypnotic eye would catapult him to criminal greatness.

Unlike his previous similar weapons that relied on visual contact, this new weapon would prey on brain waves, making it much easier for the Ringmaster and his associates to loot the unsuspecting public at large. He was determined to not let the clown's news interrupt his progress. After all, as he declared, the show had to go on.

Elsewhere in New York, a refrigerated truck stopped long enough to let its rear passenger, the former X-Man and Champion known as Iceman (real name: Bobby Drake), exit. He rode a slide of ice into a nearby alley before changing to his human form. A few minutes later, Bobby arrived at Terri Sue Bottoms' front door in time for their date. Drake was trying to live a normal life, but secretly longed for the excitement of his superhero days. 

Back at the circus, Ben was excitedly describing the events in the big top to Alicia. Things grew quiet once the Ringmaster turned his hypnotic eye on the crowd. This eye still depended on visual contact, so the blind Ms. Masters was unaffected. She tried to revive the enthralled Grimm and Foster as the Ringmaster's lackeys were removing money and other valuables from the patrons. 

Tarrax grabbed Alicia at one point. Her screams broke Ben out of the trance, and his anger quickly grew. Tarrax soon found him flying through the air, right toward the acrobatic Gambonnos. Alicia's scream was heard outside the tent by Drake and Bottoms, who were trying to enter even though the show inside had already started. Bobby ordered Terri to run, letting a small ice slick out behind them, which the attendants barring their entry slipped on. Drake asked his date to call for help, while he sought to assist in a different way.

Iceman soon appeared inside the big top, and went right to work attacking the Circus of Crime members. Pythona's pet wrapped its slender body around the Thing, while the performer named Cannonball aimed right for Grimm's rocky hide. All he received was a dented helmet for his efforts.

That distraction gave Ben enough time to use the snake to play crack the whip before the animal served as a temporary bond to wrap up a trio of circus workers. Iceman was doing well until the Firebreather melted his ice slide. He landed inside a net set for him by the Gambonnos, but it was child's play for him to freeze the net enough to make it shatter. Drake then froze the swings that the aeralists used, causing them to collide in mid-air.

Iron Jack Baker ran at the Thing holding a heavy dumbbell, not realizing how easily the Thing could lift him and the weight together. Tarrax dispatched his jungle cats at the heroes, as the Ringmaster summoned the clown to take Alicia as a hostage. A gas globe enabled him to elude the Iceman and nab the girl. 

Stilt walkers weren't enough to stop Drake, but by then Grimm saw his lady love in the Ringmaster's clutches. He ran for her as the villain released his trance on the crowd just as the rest of the circus animals were let out of their cages. Foster was among those awakened, and he didn't hesitate to grow in size and don his Giant Man costume. His secret identity wasn't worth much to him then, knowing he was slowly dying of radiation poisoning. He caught the Cannonball with one large fist and sent him hurtling through a newly-made hole atop the circus tent.

Ben was handling the beasties long enough for Bobby to create ice cages to contain them. The Ringmaster was now activating his hypnotic eye machine. It made moving difficult for the heroes, but Iceman managed to coat the eye's surface long enough for it to explode spectacularly. 

The Ringmaster barely had enough time to mourn the loss of his latest creation before the clown persuaded him to escape. Ben threw a circus tent peg at their van, preventing it from ever working again. A few minutes later, Bottoms arrived with members of the local police. Things were swiftly wrapped up. Foster felt a bit envious of Ben's life, but knew that his efforts meant something that day.

Bobby reunited with Terri. Both were thankful to be together again, as were Ben and Alicia. Foster joined them for the trek home. 

This issue and ROM: Spaceknight #19 were my first non-Star Wars Marvel comics. I remember reading these issues at the doctor's office where my mom was waiting for a prenatal exam a few months before my brother was born. I loved the storytelling and the artwork in both, and they introduced me to the Marvel Universe. This was a good jumping-on point for me, and it fueled my desire to collect the entire run, a goal that took several years to accomplish, but was well worth the effort. 

Jerry Bingham never drew many comic books, having abandoned the field in the 1990s for more commercial art projects, but I always felt that he was a very underrated artist. He could have easily been a regular on a newspaper comic strip or comic book title if he wanted to. Iceman was between teams at the time. He was a founding member of the X-Men and the short-lived Champions. A few years later, he would become part of the New Defenders before helping to form X-Factor and returning to the X-Men fold.

The Ringmaster and his recruits still appear in different Marvel mags from time to time. I later saw them in issues of Ghost Rider and the Sensational She-Hulk. Their appearances are usually light-hearted and resolved quickly. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll talk about the seventy-seventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben volunteers for another test flight, one that takes him to Florida, where a certain swamp-dwelling character lives. His adventure will remind him of another excursion back in his younger years that had him fighting alongside another guest whom we've seen in this series before. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #75

Howdy folks,

Hope all's well on this fine Tuesday. Time for me to talk about the seventy-fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover art depicted the Thing and his Avengers allies Iron Man, Captain America, the Wasp, the Beast, and Hawkeye battling the Super Adaptoid, Annihilus, Blastaar, and other villains. The tale was titled "By Blastaar..Destroyed!" The issue had a publication date of May 1981.

Things started innocently enough with Ben Grimm doing a little light cleaning around the Baxter Building in New York as his teammate, the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), flew around him. Ben had invited some of his friends from the Avengers over for a poker match. Johnny flew off just before Sue Richards (the Invisible Girl) and her son Franklin met Ben in the hall. They were planning to go away for the weekend, but were waiting for Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), who was late as usual.

Grimm found his old college roommate lingering in the space-time lab. He apologized after seeing Ben, noting that he'd been so caught up in his latest experiment that he'd simply lost track of time. His space-time viewer had detected something unusual, but Reed didn't stay around long enough to investigate it. Grimm always had an uneasy feeling about the Negative Zone, but he was looking forward to the upcoming festivities once the Richards' plane departed. Ben's girlfriend Alicia Masters was at an art fair out of town, so Grimm would have the whole headquarters to himself for a while.

Meanwhile, in the Negative Zone, a trio of winged creatures returned to their master empty-handed. Disappointed with their failure, Annihilus ended his lackeys' lives with a single power burst. He then turned to his current project, which was restoring a very powerful artifact acquired after it had been drifting near the far reaches of his territory. It was almost ready, but unfortunately for Annihilus, not in time to help him fend off an attack from Blastaar.

The entity known as the living bombburst used his legendary power to strike at his old enemy. Blastaar lured Annihilus further into the Negative Zone before explaining the reason for his intrusion. He was there to offer him wealth beyond his wildest imagination. Blastaar said that he came from a planet that hosted many fierce warriors. He was eventually cast out from his world, left attached to an asteroid to drift helplessly (as shown in Fantastic Four #62). 

Blastaar longed for his lady love back home and offered to serve as Annihilus' general in upcoming combat. Annihilus knew of the dangers Blastaar's soldiers posed, thinking that he alone could not defeat their considerable defenses. He agreed to the proposition, and the two villains joined their life forces to seal the deal. Annihilus called for a celebratory feast as he flew off, knowing full well that he intended to betray his new temporary ally as soon as he got the chance to do so.

Back on that world, Blastaar's lady Nygla and others were being herded into the area of no return. They were being led into a sort of gladiatorial arena, one where a large octopus-like beast called Sascra already occupied space on Annihilus' behalf. He and Blastaar watched the combat until Blastaar spotted his love in the pit below.

Blastaar leapt down to save her, swiftly defeating the large creature and sending it out into the depths of the Negative Zone. Annihilus then flew down and vanquished all the remaining contestants except for Nyglar and Blastaar. He then brought them back to his compound to display his latest weapon: a robot called the Super Adaptoid. Annihilus had captured the machine after it floated by following recent defeats by the Avengers and Captain Marvel. 

The Adaptoid's artificial intelligence was now controlled by Annihilus. The two titans walked on with the robot, but Nyglar stayed behind. Even though she loved Blastaar dearly, she knew that she couldn't let them bring their evil plans to fruition. She found a communications console and sent an emergency transmission.

On Earth, Grimm was engaged in his poker contest with the Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, the Wasp, Hawkeye, and the Avengers' faithful butler, Jarvis. Things were going well for some players and worse for others when an alarm interrupted the game. It came from Reed's space-time lab. The heroes made their way to that part of the floor, and Ben manned the controls to ensure that the message came across clearly. 

The connection didn't last long, but Nyglar was able to communicate Blastaar and Annihilus' intentions before fading out. The Avengers disputed the proper course of action to take until Ben got their attention. He had reason to believe that the call was legitimate and eventually convinced his friends to join him on a quest into the Negative Zone.

The heroes donned power packs, and Ben explained to Jarvis that they had seven hours to investigate before the power packs ran out. Jarvis stayed at the console to watch the clock, as his comrades crossed through the barriers and encountered the first threats along the way. Meanwhile, Nyglar expressed her concern for Blastaar's safety, but was brushed aside as her love moved forward with their plans of conquest.

By then, Annihilus had gathered his troops, which were dispatched against the Negative Zone newcomers moments later. The Thing and the Avengers fought bravely against the aliens and their ship. Blastaar soon arrived on the scene and tussled with Grimm once more. After Ben was blasted through several asteroids, the Beast and the Wasp renewed the attack on Blastaar, while Iron Man concentrated his efforts on the alien ship and its crew.

Hawkeye was later captured along with the Wasp and the Beast and brought to Annihilus' vessel. He ordered the Super Adaptoid to bring the sphere they had been encased in to his private cruiser for further study. Afterward, Nyglar expressed her unhappiness with her love's intentions to steal from undiscovered portions of the Negative Zone.

Jarvis maintained his watch on Earth as more enemy ships were launched in the Negative Zone. Ben was later found by Cap and Iron Man, who were resting on another small asteroid. Blastaar once again led the raiding forces, unaware that Nyglar was eavesdropping on his new ally, and learned of his plans to dispose of him once his usefulness was at an end.

Iron Man led the charge against the reinforcements, followed by the Thing and an injured Captain America. Annihilus was observing everything from his ship and ordered the Super Adaptoid to join the fight. As he and Blastaar were attacking the heroes, Nyglar worked to free the captured Avengers. She returned Hawkeye's gear to him and guided them to safety, unaware that Annihilus was lurking from behind a corner. 

He retaliated against her by striking a deadly blow right before Blastaar returned. He grabbed his lady before her body could grow cold, but still wouldn't seek revenge against his host. Ben and Cap finally defeated the Adaptoid before reuniting with the rest of their colleagues.

In the meantime, Annihilus' invasion forces were nearing Blastaar's homeworld. What they didn't know was that the warriors who had been trapped in the bowels of that planet were merely political prisoners who had been sentenced to death. The real danger was the native Balluans on the world's surface who had lain in wait, anticipating just such an attack.

It was something that had been planned for months, after Blastaar regained leadership. He grabbed his rival's cosmic control rod before flying homeward. The Avengers returned to the Baxter Building with minutes to spare and the Super Adaptoid safely under wraps. Ben observed that in life, unlike poker, you sometimes had to play the game as best as you could, even if you didn't know the rules right away. 

I was somewhat surprised to learn that this was the first meeting between Blastaar and Annihilus. Both of them had menaced the Fantastic Four before, and it was clear that Annihilus was the superior intellectual of the two. I find both characters intriguing, for different reasons. This was my first time seeing the Super Adaptoid, and his abilities remind me of those of the villain Taskmaster, who can easily imitate the fighting styles of heroes he sees. Although the art for the house ads for this issue was better than the art for the actual issue, it was still an interesting story, one that began with the familiar poker matches with Ben and his Avengers friends.

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the seventy-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing tries to have a nice, relaxing day off, until trouble starts. He manages to overcome the obstacles set before him, thanks to the timely assistance of a couple of guest stars. I'll also talk about why this is one of my favorite issues of the series next time. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #74

Happy Monday, folks!

Today's topic is the seventy-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. This holiday-themed cover showed the Thing being accosted by an army of toys. The story was called "A Christmas Peril!" The issue had a cover date of April 1981.

The tale began at the Baxter Building, after Ben Grimm, Alicia Masters, Sue Richards (the Invisible Girl), and Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) had just returned home after a Christmas gift shopping spree. They had set the presents down when Alicia talked about writing holiday cards. She suggested that Ben send one to her stepfather Phillip. Grimm agreed to do so, even though he had a difficult relationship with the man who was also known as the villain, the Puppet Master.

Not long afterward, Phillip was released from prison. He was given his possessions, along with the card that Ben had sent before exiting. As he sped off via boat, Masters boasted that the Puppet Master was free again at last. He eventually made his way to his secret hideout, but discovered that his stash of radioactive clay that he used to make puppets with had decayed. He then spied the letter from Grimm in his bag. At first he thought that his old foe was mocking him, but then it gave him a decidedly wicked idea.

On Christmas Eve, the Baxter Building was filled with family and friends. The holiday festivities were in full swing when an unexpected guest arrived. Upon Alicia's urging, Phillip was allowed in. During the gift exchange, Phillip exclaimed that the only gift he wanted was a trip to Europe to visit his homeland. The next morning, Ben, Alicia, and Phillip set off on an FF plane toward that very destination.

The craft landed near the Balkan mountains, and the trio walked to the nearest hotel. They secured lodging in a quaint village that was not far from Wundagore. Later that evening, Philiip wandered out to where he'd first found radioactive clay. He was stopped by a pair of large toy soldiers.

The next morning, Alicia and Ben discovered Phillip's disappearance. The innkeeper didn't see him leave, so the couple checked with the locals to see if anyone had spotted him. One person advised checking with an old woman who lived in a house on a hill. Ben and Alicia found the dwelling and knocked. 

They were greeted by a woman wearing a shroud named Bova. She welcomed them in as her ward was resting on the floor, playing with his toys (who we know to be the mystic named Modred). When she removed her scarf, Bova revealed that she had been one of the High Evolutionary's first experiments. She chose to stay behind when her master and his followers left this planet. Bova explained that she'd rescued Modred from the cold, noting his need for assistance as his mind had become rather feeble.

She advised going out to look for Philip that evening, because of an upcoming winter storm. Bova gave them shelter, and as the night crept on, Philip emerged from a toybox alongside other toys. He managed to crawl up to Ben, who had now shrunk down to nearly the same size as the Puppet Master. Alicia remained at her normal size and continued dozing while the two ran to the presumed source of the predicament.

Grimm figured that Modred was responsible for their condition (he and Alicia had met the wizard in MTIO #33, but their memories of that meeting had since been erased). As the Thing opened the man-child's door, an armada of toys ran at them. Ben stood in front of Alicia's stepfather to guide him through the obstacles. As he did that, Philip started sculpting a model of Modred, commanding him to return them to normal.

Modred awoke moments later, as did Bova and Alicia. The women went to Modred's room, and it was Alicia who found her small boyfriend. He explained what had happened to her, and Alicia was able to convince the magician to return Grimm and her stepfather to their usual sizes. The next morning, the Americans departed after Philip showed Modred how he could make toys come to life while he was awake. The trio flew off, having had a most unique, memorable holiday. 

Modred would stay with Bova for some time and witnessed the destruction of her home caused by the mutant Magneto. He would appear in different Marvel titles over the years, but his appearances in series like this one and the start of the short-lived Marvel Chillers are what I remember the most about him. He's one of those characters who I don't think is featured enough. He could easily star in an anthology book or even a spotlight story or issue or two. We all know that the Puppet Master would return to his evil ways again, most famously in an anniversary issue of the Fantastic Four where he joined forces with Doctor Doom.

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the double-sized seventy-fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben is about to settle down for another friendly game of poker with some of his pals in the Avengers when duty calls, and the heroes become involved in goings-on in the Negative Zone. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #73

Good afternoon, peeps,

I'm winding down the weekend with a recap of the seventy-third issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing and Quasar battling dinosaurs. The tale was titled "Pipeline Through Infinity." The issue had a cover date of March 1981. 

The story started with Ben Grimm and Project Pegasus security chief Quasar (Wendell Vaughn) floating together through a space between worlds. The duo had been hot on the trail of people who had infiltrated the project some time ago. The heroes had finally caught up with their quarry when they were blasted by a ray (looking similar to the Nth projector from a few issues back) and were soon in a world where dinosaurs were the dominant workforce.

Large structures were being built with the creatures' help. Before Ben or Wendell could investigate further, they were under attack by a trio of manned fliers. The friends were separated during the conflict. Vaughn was thrown clear of the area, while Grimm was captured by one of the attacking craft. 

Quasar passed out and was soon found by several natives. They put him on a stretcher and brought him to their chief. When Wendell awoke, he talked with the leader, who assured him that they were on the same side. The men who'd arrived recently were with an oil company from Earth. The chief then showed Quasar his dinosaur army, who were soon put to the test by another attacking ship. He and his legions put up a strong defense. Vaughn observed and agreed to join the chief's cause. 

Meanwhile, Ben found himself sitting before Roxxon Oil executive Bennett Pittman. He was responsible for the construction in this alternate world. His team was there to build machinery to drill for oil and construct pipelines to transport it back to Earth. He tried to persuade the Thing to join him, but the founding member of the Fantastic Four wasn't about to side with evil. 

While Grimm was trying to break free from his bonds, the opposing forces, assisted by Quasar, struck at the base. Wendell and Ben eventually reunited during the fracas, but unfortunately, Pittman and his Nth projector escaped. The heroes were saddened by this, thinking that device would have been their only way to get back home. 

After the natives' triumph, they learned that might not necessarily be the case. Upon examining the machinery that was used to send oil back, they realized that it might send them back home as well. They followed the oil and returned to Earth, finding Pittman and his men not far away. They rounded up the villains, and even though it might prove difficult to prove the connection after the Nth projector was destroyed, at least the Thing and Quasar could rest easy knowing they'd protected the populace of another Earth and helped to prevent further damage to their own planet, at least for a while, anyway.  

I'm not a big fan of Ron Wilson's artwork. He can draw people well, but the creatures and machines he illustrates often look a bit rough, in my opinion. Chic Stone's inks don't provide much difference in the original pencil art. Sometimes it seems like Wilson tries to emulate Jack Kirby, which isn't always a good thing. The story by Ralph Macchio was okay, but it still left more questions about Roxxon and didn't really prevent them from continuing their greedy plans. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the seventy-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. This special holiday issue (remember that at the time, comic book cover dates were usually about 2-3 months before they were released at stores or on newsstands) has Ben and his friends up against things that weren't always as they seemed. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.