Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #27

Good afternoon, folks,

Welcome to my 500th retro comic book article! The focus of this piece is the twenty-seventh issue of The Thing. The cover depicted Ben Grimm battling the mysterious Black Marauder, who was featured in the Team America series (the group was now known as the Thunderiders). The tale was titled "The Thing and the Thunderiders. The issue had a cover date of September 1985.

The story started with Ben being knocked from a roadway by the arrival of the aforementioned motorcycle group. Vance Astrovik tried to warn him, but by then, Grimm was already sailing across the street, after being pushed there by Vance's mutant powers. Astrovik helped his travel partner to his feet after the cyclists had passed by. 

Ben was convinced that the woman he'd seen on the circus poster (last issue) was riding with them. He set off on foot for her, with Vance in tow. A short while later, the Thunderriders reached their destination. They started talking about seeing the Thing, until he was right in front of them. 

Grimm made his way to the woman, but didn't say a word as he went right up to her. The two stared at each other for several moments before she walked away. One of her associates mentioned that they were looking for additional riders before offering him free tickets to their show that evening. He wasn't about to take no as an answer to his invitation either.

Afterward, Ben confided to Vance how confident he was that the woman was Tarianna, the adventurer that he'd met on Battleworld. Astrovik told him that the female was named Sharon Ventura. He encouraged Ben to participate in their rider tryouts.

The first participant in the Thunderiders' tryouts was Richie Champoulion, nicknamed the Champ. After his audition, the Thing was next. Despite his relative inexperience, Ben did quite well, until running into a bit of trouble before the landing, but he still pulled off an impressive performance.

Both challengers were asked to leave the auditorium so that the group could vote in private. Ben offered to buy his rival a beer at the tavern across the street, but Richie impolitely informed Grimm that he didn't drink. He and Astrovik went to the bar to wait things out.

Some of the Thunderiders expressed concerns about the Black Marauder who had appeared numerous times in the past. The rider could be anyone at any time. The votes were then cast, and the Thing was selected as their new rider. Wolf was displeased with the results of the election and disclosed the decision to Champoulion as he exited the arena.

Richie drove away in anger while Ben and Vance waited anxiously in the bar. Ben was certain that it would be just another rejection, one to add to the recent pile. He felt like he messed up meeting Ventura, and was lamenting the rejection of his former girlfriend Alicia Masters and even his old college roommate Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) when the Black Marauder crashed through the saloon's front window. 

The mystery opponent made a beeline for the Thing before darting off. Several Thunderiders were on their bikes moments later, watching the Thing take off after their longtime nemesis. Ben went to one of the unoccupied motorcycles outside the bar and took off in hot pursuit. 

Grimm was eventually tackled by the erstwhile opponent and forced off the purloined bike. He stood up quickly and was assisted by Ventura, who sped toward him. Meanwhile, Cowboy made a phone call to the team's old associate Honch to inform him that the Marauder had returned. Honch figured that the link was active once more, but had no clue as to who the mystery rider was this time. 

Wolf spurred his comrades to action after Ben was slammed feet from where Cowboy stood. They took off and circled the foe. Astrovik used his mental powers to knock the rider off his bike, and the Thing delivered the finishing blow. As the rider collided with his motorcycle, his helmet cracked open, revealing that Richie was the Black Marauder this time.

Afterward, Wolf picked up the call with Honch and gave him the details. Honch concluded that their link could even attract evil. After the call ended, Wolf apologized to the Thing. He was happy to announce that Ben would replace Sharon in the group, much to Grimm's surprise.

I just purchased the complete Team America original series from my local comic book shop today, and I will cover this title in future articles. I remember reading a few of the issues earlier, which were based on a toy line and licensing with Ideal. After the series ended, the group appeared in several issues of the New Mutants, where they learned they were mutants who shared control of the Dark Rider identity, which reminds me of the first costume Snake-Eyes wore in G.I. Joe. The group renamed themselves as the Thunderiders, but haven't appeared in many Marvel mags since this story and the New Mutants storyline were published.

Sharon Ventura would go on to play a significant role in Ben's life. She gradually became his new love interest, and even joined the Fantastic Four after Reed and Sue Richards left to focus on taking care of their son, Franklin. She was later mutated into a She-Thing and returned to human form by Doctor Doom. At one point, she mutated again and fought the Fantastic Four, which by then had regained their original members. She was billed as the new Ms. Marvel, but we haven't seen much of her over the last decade.

That's it for today. Time for me to enjoy some NFL football and read some of the comics that I purchased during this weekend's collectibles convention. Tomorrow, I'll start the week with a discussion of the twenty-eighth issue of the Thing. Ben reluctantly fills Sharon's spot on the Thunderiders, but his attention soon turns to another interest, one that we've seen the Thing engage in at various times over the years. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #26

Good morning, peeps!

I'm starting the day with a synopsis of the twenty-sixth issue of the Thing. The cover showed Ben Grimm locked in a battle with several members of a circus. The story was called "Runaways." The issue had a cover date of August 1985.

The tale began with Grimm staring at a circus poster, mesmerized by the beautiful woman who was featured in the advertisement. Ben thought she was identical to Tarianna, the woman who perished back on Battleworld. He decided not to get back on the bus and remain in Ohio, determined to find her.

Ben headed for the local mall to pick out a trench coat and hat, so he would be less conspicuous walking around the carnival grounds. He didn't see anyone familiar until he recognized a young magician who was Vance Astrovik (who Grimm met in an earlier issue of Marvel Two-In-One). Vance recognized him and stopped to chat after seeing Ben in the crowd.

Grimm wanted to take Astrovik back to his parents, but the young mutant wasn't about to let that happen. He brushed the Thing back with a small sample of his powers. As Ben was recovering, a fellow carnival worker named Lauren approached her coworker.

She was concerned about the recent disappearances of some of their colleagues. All of the people who'd vanished were suspected by their boss of squealing. Vance promised to meet Lauren later that evening after the show.

Ben overheard the conversation and asked Vance if the woman from the circus poster was among the missing. Astrovik walked away after asking the Thing to mind his own business. Ben knew that the lad was now someone to watch over. Vance went to his employer, who tried to downplay the matter. After he left, the mystery boss called one of his lackeys, ordering him to go after Lauren Anderson.

Vance wandered around after the evening's performance. He wondered where Lauren was, since she failed to meet him as originally promised. Worried, he ran to her trailer, finding that it had been ransacked and she was nowhere in sight. 

The youth heard noises emanating from inside the storage tent and decided to investigate. He climbed a stack of crates to see Lauren bound to a chair before their employer, who was the villain known as the Taskmaster. He was trying to persuade Lauren to admit she was an undercover agent who planned to expose the fact that the circus was a front for the Taskmaster's plans to train workers who would later be used as underworld enforcers.

A crate fell between them during the interrogation, putting the Taskmaster on edge. Vance finally faced his boss as he drew back the string on his bow and fired at the lad moments before Grimm stepped in front to intercept the arrow. Ben let Vance free Lauren, while he went after their common foe.

The Taskmaster had escaped long enough to send a cage full of lions at his pursuer. Ben was backed against a tree as the cage collapsed. Vance used his powers to corral the cats before Grimm used a nearby ticket booth to serve as a temporary holding cell for them. 

The duo then set off for the big top, where the Taskmaster's star pupils were waiting. Each of them posed individual threats, but the combination was no match for the heroes. Afterward, Vance saw the Taskmaster fleeing again, but this time he wound up in the hands of law enforcement. Lauren admitted that she was a Secret Service agent before bidding Vance farewell. 

Ben was about to take off too. He had no intention of letting Vance tag along with him until he disclosed that the woman Grimm was looking for had indeed been part of the circus, but had left about a month before others from their crew started vanishing. Knowing very little about the object of his affection, Ben realized it was probably better having Vance around, at least for a while, anyway. 

I first read this issue as a kid, which was part of a polybagged comic set. I didn't know much about the Taskmaster, but when I saw the cover, I thought that the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime might be the main enemies. Looking back, I see how they could have partnered with the Taskmaster to supply all the muscle that his employers might need. A wasted opportunity, I guess, but still a decent story. 

That's it for now. I'll be back later this afternoon to write my five hundredth retro comic book blog post. This one will cover the twenty-seventh issue of the Thing. Ben and Vance are still traversing across the country and meet Ben's love interest, who was working with a group that had their own monthly Marvel mag for a while. Until then, have a great Sunday and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #25

Happy Saturday, folks!

Hope all's well with everyone. Today's topic is the twenty-fifth issue of the Thing. The cover depicts Ben Grimm holding up part of a burning building. The story was named "Legends." The issue had a publication date of July 1985.

The tale began somewhere in New York. The Thing was wandering through a forest when he heard the telltale sound of gunshots nearby. He ran toward the source of the sound and found a man firing his rifle at something. The man turned and fired at the Thing, only to have the bullets bounce harmlessly off of his rocky exterior. 

The hunter warned Ben about who he was defending, but Grimm wasn't about to listen. He then ran off a short while later. Ben heard the horn from the bus he'd been riding on and hurried as fast as he could, but arrived at the roadside after the bus had already left. He contemplated standing there until the next bus arrived, until it started to rain. 

The rain increased, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Grimm sought shelter in a nearby barn. It appeared to be deserted. All that was inside was some hay and several kegs of beer. The Thing helped himself to a bit of brew. He thought about being alone, noting that the only one he wanted with him at the time was Tarianna, who perished right before Battleworld collapsed.

Ben started to doze off, but a rumble of thunder jarred him awake. He was stunned to see several leprechauns standing before the beer kegs. One of them stepped forward, thanking Grimm for saving them earlier. 

He went on to explain that the man named O'Keefe had grabbed him that morning, but he bit him and ran away. O'Keefe was firing at him when Ben entered the scene. The diminutive leprechaun claimed he'd been at Grimm's side ever since, and was glad to offer his savior three wishes.

Ben realized that O'Keefe's name was on the beer kegs in the barn. The leprechaun replied that the kegs were his, but the barn belonged to them. They consumed enough beer to cover rent. He then reminded Ben that he'd used one of his wishes to find shelter from the storm.

His next wish was to be human again. That was easily accomplished. The leprechaun blew a bit of powder in his face, and when Ben rubbed his eyes, he was human again. He rejoiced at the sight of his regular self, but began to despair when the barn was suddenly set on fire.

Back in the Baxter Building in New York, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) was conversing with Wyatt Wingfoot, and the She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), who was still serving as Ben's replacement in the Fantastic Four. Reed still felt responsible for Ben's recent departure (as shown in issue #23) and knew that Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) and Alicia Masters, Ben's former girlfriend, also shouldered some of the blame. Before they could lend more thought to the matter, their headquarters started to shake violently.

Ben used his last wish to turn into the Thing, and was able to put out the fire by grabbing a grain silo, and dipping it in the closest body of water to use as a makeshift extinguisher. The rain let up long enough for Grimm to reach the highway again and flag down an oncoming bus.

The driver let Grimm aboard. By then, Ben didn't care where the bus was headed. He just wanted to put some distance between himself and the events of the day. As the bus left, the leprechauns could be seen waving at Ben from the roadside. Grimm sat and stewed for a while. He turned to look out the window and saw what he thought to be the Baxter Building blasting off into space (which it was, in the Fantastic Four's own title). He briefly thought to ask the bus driver to let him off, but then changed his mind, thinking that his replacement could help them resolve the issue. He had places to go and things to see.

This issue quickly negated the assertion that Ben's human self was dead and gone, because he quickly reverted to human when one of his wishes was granted. He would go on to remain human for an extended period during Walt Simonson's run on the Fantastic Four. It kind of made that whole plot line seem rather insignificant. The leprechauns were an amusing touch, but as far as I know, no other Marvel character have encountered these specific characters ever again.

That's it for today. Time for me to get out and enjoy a nice Saturday. I'll be back tomorrow morning to write about the twenty-sixth issue of the Thing. Ben's travels take him to a circus, where he sees someone he thinks he recognizes, reconnects with an old friend, and goes up against a menace who debuted in the Avengers' first comic series. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #24

Happy Friday, folks!

Wrapping up the workweek with a summary of the twenty-fourth issue of the Thing. The cover showed the Thing taking on the Rhino, a Hulk-level villain who is one of Spider-Man's oldest enemies. The tale was titled "One Man's Prison." The issue had a cover date of June 1985.

The story started at Project Pegasus in upstate New York. The Rhino was in protective custody and about to be transported via semi-truck to a new location. Meanwhile, at New York's Port Authority, Ben Grimm was purchasing a bus ticket, heading for the very location that the Rhino had just been transported out of. Grimm once served as security chief for the facility and was hoping to reconnect with his old friend Quasar. What he didn't know was that his old enemy, the Miracle Man, was standing right behind him in line. 

He boarded the same bus as Ben and sat across from him, as he thought back to his earlier defeats at the hands of the Fantastic Four and the Defenders. Grimm was engrossed in memories of his own, ranging from the day when he first became the Thing, to his return to Earth to find that his girlfriend Alicia Masters had fallen in love with his teammate Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) to the blame Ben placed on his best friend Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) for his inability to ever return to human form. His seatmate tried to get Ben interested in a game of Trivial Pursuit, but by the time Grimm replied, the stranger was no longer willing to play.

Eventually, the bus driver brought the vehicle to a stop. It was a decision that was not his own. As the passengers tried to figure out what was going on, the Miracle Man hopped out and entranced the driver of the big rig in the opposite lane. It careened into a cliff, falling on its side. This allowed the Rhino to bust free and fall under the influence of the Miracle Man.

Most of the bus passengers had disembarked during the confusion. Only Ben remained inside, poring over his newspaper. He soon felt the impact as the Rhino charged the bus, causing it to tumble down a tall hill. Ben emerged as the last fragments of the vehicle were sliding away. He climbed the hill, looking for the person responsible. 

This was Ben's first encounter with the Rhino. The duo tussled for a while, until the Rhino admitted that he didn't want to be a villain. He'd grown tired of being used. Ben felt for the misguided superhuman and tried to reassure him that he'd help. 

The Miracle Man had gained control of the minds of the other passengers, who held him back while he tried to convince the Rhino whose side was correct. The Rhino eventually turned against his new ally. The Miracle Man was left alone, except for the passenger who had sat next to Ben on the bus. He pulled out a strange-looking rifle and fired it at Mr. Miracle before fleeing. This character was the infamous Scourge, who killed multiple super villains during that time.

The Rhino was the first to find the Miracle Man's body. Fearing that he'd be blamed for the death, he ran across the forest. Ben followed him, and the two fought briefly again before Grimm was able to persuade the Rhino to return to Project Pegasus. Afterward, Ben was about to depart after asking for directions to the closest bus stop. 

The Miracle Man debuted in the third issue of the Fantastic Four's first series. He wasn't very impressive, but still managed a few encounters with superheroes before his untimely demise. The Scourge was a character who killed off villains that were relatively minor in scope during the mid-1980s. Some of them were later resurrected, or had their mantles taken up by other people. This wouldn't be the first time that the Scourge would appear in this title. I was surprised that the Thing had never faced the Rhino before, considering how he was more of a match for him than someone like Spider-Man. If the Rhino were more motivated, I'm sure their conflict would have easily taken up a full issue or more. 

That's it for now. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the twenty-fifth issue of the Thing. Ben continues to trek across the country by bus. This time, he takes a rest stop at a quiet farm that's more than it appears to be from the outside. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #23

Happy Thursday, folks!

Today's topic is the twenty-third issue of the Thing. The cover depicted Ben Grimm walking away, apparently done with the Fantastic Four. The story was called "Remembrances." The issue had a publication date of May 1985.

The tale began with Grimm cleaning out his old room at the Baxter Building in New York City. He was angry with his life, mainly because when he arrived back on Earth from Battleworld, he found out that his longtime girlfriend Alicia Masters was now seeing his teammate Johnny Storm (the Human Torch, in an episode chronicled in the Fantastic Four's own magazine). He was angry enough to punch through his bedroom door.

As Ben sorted through his belongings, he came across an old photo of Johnny. That jogged some old memories of the hijinks he and Storm used to go through back in friendlier times. They included being woken up by music playing from two large speakers posted on either side of Ben's bed, the old dip a person's hands in warm water trick, and being bombarded with a volley of lemon meringue pies.

Storm asked to enter as Grimm was packing up his things. He wanted to apologize for what had happened and admit that he really was in love with Alicia. Ben said nothing, keeping his back turned to Johnny. Storm eventually left Ben to continue with his task.

Reed Richards entered the room after Grimm packed away pictures of the two of them during their college days and a photo of Alicia that had him thinking back to their relationship. Reed wanted to know if there was any way that he could help his old friend. Ben replied that he felt like being alone for a while, having grown accustomed to it during his days on Battleworld following the Secret Wars.

Reed admitted that he'd made a mistake regarding Ben's sojourn on the patchwork planet. If he'd known his thoughts about Alicia at the time, he would have advised Grimm against remaining there. Reed had tried multiple times to cure his friend of being the Thing.

That was old news to Ben. What he didn't expect to hear was Reed's announcement that Ben could always change back to his human form, but a mental block had prevented him from doing so. The fact that Richards had never told him that until now enraged Grimm. He went for his friend, who did his best to peacefully restrain the Thing so he could hear him out.

Ben felt that his current condition was all Reed's fault, adding that he'd killed the human portion of himself on Battleworld because he had to save himself from that twisted version of his own personality. Ben rushed through the wall, passing Johnny, Sue Richards (the Invisible Woman), and Sue and Reed's son Franklin along the way. He hailed a cab, unsure where his next destination would be. Back in his old room, Reed stood holding a broken picture of him and Ben, while Sue, Johnny, and Franklin stood by him in silence.

By this time, John Byrne had given up writing chores on the book, and Mike Carlin stepped in full-time to resume the story that Byrne started. The one thing that's surprised me is that Marvel has never returned to the fact that there's still a human part of Ben that exists within the monster, as evidenced by a portion devised by Reed and Sue's children that allows him to be human again temporarily. If that human form still exists, then it's reasonable to assume that the mental block might also be there as well.

We would learn several years later that at the time, Alicia had been kidnapped and replaced by the Skrulls. The woman Johnny fell in love with was an impostor. The real Alicia Masters would eventually be freed, and several years later, she and Ben would marry and adopt a pair of alien children. 

Ben's solo journey continues in the twenty-fourth issue of the Thing, which I'll cover tomorrow. It's briefly interrupted by one of the Fantastic Four's oldest enemies and one of Spider-Man's old opponents that's more in league with the Thing's power levels. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #22

Happy Wednesday, folks!

We've finally reached the conclusion of the Rocky Grimm, Space Ranger storyline. The cover of the twenty-second issue of The Thing showed Ben Grimm cradling Tarianna carefully in his arms on a deserted planet. The tale was titled "To All Things An Ending." The issue had a cover date of April 1985.

The story started with Ben running to his girlfriend's doorstep with a box of candy and a bouquet of flowers. However, Alicia Masters quickly rejected her boyfriend and began swinging her fists at him, even after he changed into the Thing. When Grimm opened his eyes, he found himself inside a large arena.

Ben was now staring directly at the enemy who had tormented him for much of his time after the Secret Wars. He told his rival that he'd created a psychological block that prevented him from becoming human, because he felt that Alicia had preferred his superhero self. The stranger let down his hood to reveal that he was Ben Grimm. 

He explained how he was created, so that Ben could examine the lives of his human and superhero identities. This version of Ben's self was determined to keep his human form, which he felt less and less of every time Ben changed into the Thing. He started hatching a plot after finding Ultron's head. 

The evil android was not needed to destroy the Thing. Ben's doppelganger leapt at his twin, He lacked the hero's fighting ability, but still pressed on nonetheless. In the meantime, Tarianna was breaking free of her bonds, eager to return to Grimm's side.

As for Ultron, he had been revived (as shown last issue) and had assembled a machine army ready to take over the patchwork planet. Both battles raged on simultaneously. Tarianna eventually leapt to her love's side, and lodged her sword deep into her captor's side. He cried out not in pain but in anger. 

The action caused the stadium to collapse, and Ultron's forces to disappear. Ben was now left with Tarianna dying in his arms. After she passed on, he walked alone. Now there was nothing keeping him on that world any longer. He realized that killing the human side of him was his idea all along. He grabbed Ultron's head that was lying nearby and pressed the remote control that his teammmate Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) had left him. Moments after the Thing left Battleworld, the planet began to collapse in on itself before finally exploding, its debris left to orbit endlessly in space. 

This was the conclusion of this storyline and Battleworld, but the implications would carry over into the next issue. The revelation and final struggle in this particular story would stay with Ben for some time, but I really feel like this should have been revisited. It reminded me of the identity crisis that Bruce Banner had at about the same time. 

You'll probably see what I mean tomorrow, when I cover the twenty-third issue of the Thing. Ben is back on Earth, but he definitely isn't home. Tune in on Thursday to find out what happens to Grimm once he tries to reconnect with people that he's known for years. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #21

Happy Tuesday, folks!

Time for me to talk about the twenty-first issue of the Thing. The cover showed the titular character surrounded by green fist-wielding arms. The eleventh chapter of Rocky Grimm, Space Ranger was named "Revelations!" The issue had a publication date of March 1985.

The story started in a secret lair, where a man who looked identical to Ben Grimm was basking in an apparent victory over the star of this series, with Ben's love, Tarianna, still at his side as a captive. He then turned his attention to the monitor on the other side of him and listened to his doppelganger's words.

Grimm knew that the events that had unfurled after he chose to remain on Battleworld were largely his doing. His foe seemed to indicate that his enemy was more right than he knew, and that such influence had also been exerted by the participants of the first Secret Wars. The villain claimed to be the inner Ben Grimm, an assertion that the now-alert Tarianna seemed to doubt.

She then called her kidnapper a monster, and was slapped immediately after uttering that declaration. He lashed out at her, and she doubled over in pain. While his opponent basked in victory, Grimm found that he could change into the Thing again after all, a feat that his rival thought to be impossible. His ranting gave Tarianna enough time to try and figure out how to free herself.

Meanwhile, Ben was outside the duplicate Baxter Building, wondering how to enter. He realized that if he wanted an entrance, he'd have to create one. Thinking about an entry button caused one to appear alongside the front doors. He pressed it and was met by the Fantastic Four's guard, Houlihan.

This was not the same man that Grimm knew back on Earth. The guard questioned the stranger and fired a shot from his pistol before Ben took him out with one punch. He set the man down gently and opened the elevator doors, thinking he'd have to climb up to his destination. As he began, the wall that had been shot started to buckle as if it had been injured.

Elsewhere on Battleworld, the girl known as Llrllllnnllyyrrl began whipping her subjects into shape. The reason for their slave labor was soon revealed, as the girl entered a chamber to place Ultron's head back upon its body. Moments later, the android revived. It thanked the girl by obliterating her. Ultron then began making plans of his own.

As Ben continued to climb the empty elevator shaft, his duplicate started taking on the Thing's rocky appearance as he continued to torment his captive. Tarianna watched in shock, knowing that the villain was as of yet unaware of his transformation. He finally figured it out and controlled the change.

At the same time, Ben finally changed into the Thing for the first time in a while. His newfound strength enabled him to leap to the top and tear through the elevator doors. Ben found himself in an empty chamber that was soon filled with large green fists that seemed to spawn from the very walls around the Thing.

The artificial appendages started to grab at Grimm, intending to toss him into an open maw. Ben used his reasoning to make the apparitions disappear. He was now back in the elevator shaft. This time, the Thing fell into his foe's lair. Unconscious, he was unaware that his tormentor was stepping closer to him, promising the end. 

This chapter revealed some of what longtime readers already suspected. It's all leading up to the final chapter of this storyline, which I'll summarize tomorrow. It's something that will have a major impact on Grimm's life, but for some reason isn't really explored much afterward. 

The final part of the Rocky Grimm, Space Ranger, will be discussed tomorrow with my article on the twenty-second issue of the Thing. Ben will finally face off against and learn all there is to know about his rival. We'll also see what happens to Tarianna, and what role Ultron will play in this drama. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.