Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #100

Happy Friday, folks!

I'm closing out the workweek with a recap of the one hundredth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Ben Grimm standing together in the midst of a wrecked city, with the Thing declaring it to be the end (which was the end of this series' run). The story was called "Aftermath." The issue had a cover date of June 1983.

The tale began with Grimm looking back to when he used Dr. Doom's time machine to go back to a period where he thought he could cure his younger self of becoming the Thing. He eventually ran into that version of Grimm, and the two Things battled before the one from our era administered a potion that reverted the younger version of Ben to his human form.

Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) was watching that playback on a video monitor at the Baxter Building with his old college pal, and told him that was when he found his friend in the timestream to retrieve him (as shown in issue #50 of this title). Ben wondered why Reed was bringing up the past. 

Richards reminded Grimm how his actions created an alternate reality. He then brought up a Daily Bugle newspaper headline that mentioned a nuclear explosion in New Amsterdam from that particular timeline. It seemed that Ben's interaction affected more than he initially knew. He was thinking that his other self might still be alive, just before Reed's wife Sue (the Invisible Girl) reminded him of his promise to take her out that evening. The happy couple left Grimm to his own thoughts, which inevitably drifted back to that alternate timeline.

He returned to the time machine, adjusted the controls, and set the timer for the day before yesterday before stepping onto the platform. Moments later, Ben emerged in a deserted Baxter Building in the bombed-out city of New Amsterdam. He slowly made his way down the elevator shaft before exiting the building and seeing for himself how devastated the city really was.

Grimm was approached by a violent mob that he dispatched with ease. He then found his counterpart from that timeline, who led him into an underground subway terminal where several had sought refuge. The Ben Grimm from that era then told his duplicate what had happened since their last encounter. His teammates were glad to see he'd returned to his human form. This Ben opened a tavern and was replaced on the Fantastic Four by Spider-Man. The team still battled threats from Earth and beyond, but finally met their match when Galactus arrived. The world devourer downed them one by one.

This reality had no Silver Surfer to confront Galactus. Other super-powered beings tried, but none of them proved to be worthy of such an ultimate challenge. Galactus built one of his machines atop the Baxter Building that consumed as much of the planet's resources as it could, leaving the Earth a mostly dead, dried-up world of little use to anyone. Its remaining inhabitants clung to life after his disappearance and tried to make things as normal as possible.

Grimm admired his double's efforts to help people after such decimation. However, before this Earth's Ben could finish his story, the Thing ran into intruders from the next threat: the Red Skull. The German monarch's minions quickly overpowered the Thing, who soon found himself shackled to a table in the villain's lair, which was in the remains of what once was the World Trade Center.

As Ben and his fellow survivors went to save their guest, the Thing listened to his captor, remembering that Namor of this Earth probably never found the ice-encased body of the Skull's rival, Captain America. The Red Skull continued to taunt his prisoner, while new hostages were herded inside his camp, including a blind woman named Alicia Masters.

Ben's group posed as soldiers and infiltrated the base. They entered the Skull's lair just after the Thing was being tortured by the Skull. The distraction allowed him to break free and join the fray. He learned about the Skull's Red Dust and blew it back at his foe, which soon ended the villain's life. 

Afterward, Ben returned to the Baxter Building with the Thing. He thanked his visitor for his assistance, thinking they probably wouldn't meet again. The time platform descended on the modern-day Ben Grimm, and he stood alone for several minutes once he was back in his old surroundings. He thought about both versions of himself before deciding that he'd choose himself in a heartbeat.

This was a rather appropriate ending to this title, and a nice resolution to the events that occurred in issue #50. The series, along with others like Spider-Woman, Master of Kung Fu, and Ghost Rider, was cancelled about the same time in 1983. However, unlike the others, the Thing would return in another title that was initially scripted, but not illustrated for the most part, by John Byrne. It wasn't a team-up book. Although there were several guest stars from time to time, this one was centered mainly around Ben Grimm's life both before and after he became the Thing. 

I'll start the weekend with a synopsis of the first issue of The Thing. Ben returns to his old stomping grounds on Yancy Street, where he tries to advise several youths in the neighborhood, a task that made him contemplate the old days and where his life had taken him since then. Until then, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #99

Happy Thursday, folks!

Today's article is one that I've been looking forward to writing for a while. The cover showed the Thing alongside ROM: Spaceknight. The tale did not have a title. The issue had a cover date of May 1983.

Ben Grimm was alone in the Baxter Building in New York on a rainy night, reading a book of ghost stories, when he heard a loud hissing sound from above. He went upstairs to investigate and opened the roof access. Shortly thereafter, a tall metallic body fell down the steps at him. Grimm recognized it as belonging to the Spaceknight called ROM.

The Thing placed the Galadorian on a table and turned on the sensor slab. The Spaceknight's armor slowly started functioning normally. ROM rose from the table to thank his friend. He explained that when they last met, the Spaceknight had borrowed a ship from the Fantastic Four to search for his homeworld of Galador. He later returned to Earth and flew above a castle not far away from where he was now.

He ventured inside and saw several of his mortal enemies, the Dire Wraiths, standing around the armor of his Spaceknight comrade, Firefall. The wraiths had once used that armor to house a human, but now the armor was vacant once more. They continued their incantations until the Firefall armor broke free of its bonds and started after ROM moments after the Galadorian made his presence known. 

The possessed Firefall armor flew at ROM, and the two continued their battle outside in the rain. Even though ROM knew that the armor no longer contained his friend Karas, he held himself back during the confrontation. The wraith-controlled armor had no such compunctions, and eventually unleashed a major blast at ROM, one which left him drifting helplessly down toward the roof of the Baxter Building.

The sizzling that Ben had heard earlier was ROM's armor steaming in the rain. Grimm agreed to join his armored friend in stopping the Dire Wraiths' plans. They went to the same castle where ROM had been earlier and were soon attacked by Firefall. Ben ripped up a stretch of ground to shield them while his alien counterpart flew to face the threat once more.

The flame hurled from the Firefall suit was living, although its most recent wearer was not. ROM and Firefall continued their aerial combat as Ben climbed the castle steps. Inside, he came face to face with wraiths for the first time. The Thing tried not to let his fear get the best of him, but pressed on as the unearthly spells were cast.

At one point, the Firefall armor lost direction and headed toward the storm's epicenter. ROM summoned his neutralizer and blasted the empty armor, sending it falling to the ground. He then flew to the castle to find Ben now under the influence of the Dire Wraiths. 

ROM then entered a struggle he didn't want to partake in, much like his first encounter with the Firefall armor earlier that evening. He defended himself against his hypnotized ally and tried to strike at his alien masters when he could. ROM finally fired his neutralizer at the Fantastic Four's strongman, who slowly turned back to his human form.

Ben was astonished by the unexpected change and was no longer hypnotized. He continued to fight back against the wraiths as the Galadorian neutralizer in ROM's hand sang its familiar song of banishment to the dimension known as limbo. Before long, the battle was over.

ROM tried to console Ben afterward, confessing that he was unaware that a man existed under the Thing's rocky exterior. However, the neutralizer's effect on Ben was only temporary, because as they talked, his cosmic ray-generated alter ego took hold. He was relieved and extended a hand to his friend from a galaxy far, far away. 

This was only the second time that the Spaceknight was primarily featured in a Marvel title other than his own. The first was a story that started in Power Man and Iron Fist and ended in ROM's mag. Longtime readers of this blog know that ROM and Marvel Two-In-One were my first non-Star Wars Marvel titles that I ever read, so this pairing was right up my alley, and of course it was scripted by ROM plotter Bill Mantlo. My only regret was that it would have been nice to have seen Karras, the Galadorian who was the first to don the Firefall armor, step inside the suit one more time. Oh well. By the way, Image Comics just released a new issue of ROM in the last few weeks, but that version is more similar to the one that had a short-lived IDW run a few years back than the Marvel title that spun off from the Parker Brothers robot toy. 

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll close out the week with a discussion of the one hundredth and final issue of Marvel Two-In-One's initial run. John Byrne returns to craft a tale involving Ben and someone from another landmark issue that he was involved with in this series. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #98

Happy Wednesday, folks!

Today's topic is the ninety-eighth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed Ben Grimm's face as he played a video game. The tale was titled "Vid Wars!" The issue had a publication date of April 1983.

The story started at a video arcade in New York, where the Thing stood next to his godson, Franklin Richards, who had just defeated him in the game Star-Fighter 15 times in a row. Afterward, Ben asked Franklin if he was interested in a game that was more in line with Grimm's physical abilities. Franklin politely declined, and the two headed back to the Baxter Building.

On the way, Ben asked his godson how he got to be so good at games like that. Franklin replied that he merely observed patterns in the game. At the entrance, they were met by the doorman and overheard a stranger trying to enter, who wanted to find a way to market his new video game. Ben's ears perked up upon hearing that, and he allowed the man inside.

He introduced himself as Dr. Giles Niven, and he was hoping to market a game he'd created called Space Saver. Niven was inspired by the odd sounds he'd been hearing from deep space. Once inside the Fantastic Four's headquarters, the good doctor brought out the console and loaded the game disk.

Ben took to the controller and started playing immediately. In a setup similar to the Pac-Man franchise, players moved their character around the screen to set up shields in the maze before them while trying to evade the enemy known as the Grungy Gobbler. Grimm had no sooner plugged in a set of controllers and pressed the interactive mode button on the computer when he, Franklin, and Giles disappeared.

They arrived on a plane named Krith, which was occupied by tall, green alien humanoids. One of them, called Sharilla, was the leader of their security forces. She had brought the humans to their world to assist them in getting rid of a large monster that looked very similar to the antagonist in Niven's video game. 

The doctor saw the correlations to the current threat and his game, and asked Sharilla if they had any vehicles capable of producing force fields. They did, and he, Ben, and Sharilla set off in one. Franklin tried to warn his uncle about the patterns from the game, but Grimm didn't make time to hear him out. 

It wasn't long before the trio found one of the monsters, which soon spewed smaller red gobblers from its maw, just like in the video game. Ben eventually found himself face to face with two of the red gobblers, who crashed into each other and were destroyed after Grimm ducked out of their paths. The smaller drones were surprisingly intelligent, but still beatable. 

Niven took the controls of the ship and launched a force field bomb at one of the drones, encasing it in a transparent bubble. Afterward, the flier landed to pick up Ben before returning to the base. Franklin continued talking to the Thing about the patterns, which Sharilla noted might be true after all. They discovered where the larger creature went to recharge, which was identical to the game.

The shuttle set out again in search of the gobbler, who had retreated to a large circular generator. It resumed its defense upon seeing its attackers, and while Ben led the forward charge, the doctor and Sharilla examined the structure. Giles and Sharilla figured out that if they sent the ship into the belly of the generator, it would explode.

After the detonation, the gobbler lost its primary power source, and soon disappeared into nothingness. K'rith had been saved. The doctor chose to stay behind on the planet to further aid its people. A while later, Franklin and Ben were having a rematch on a console back at the Baxter Building. Franklin's parents, Reed (Mr. Fantastic) and Sue (the Invisible Girl) were watching. Reed remarked that the game was selling well, and that they planned to use the proceeds to establish a grant in Giles' name. Franklin won again, leaving his uncle to wonder if they might have been better off playing checkers instead. 

This issue was billed as a team-up with Franklin Richards, although he didn't contribute as much to the plot as other guest stars have during this series' run. It was still in line with the video game craze of the Eighties, and a decent single-issue story before the title's cancellation. 

That's it for me today. Tomorrow, I'll talk about the ninety-ninth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing pairs up with someone who was the subject of my first retro comic book series to take on a terror that most of us thought had been extinguished quite some time ago. Until then, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #97

Good morning, folks,

Happy Tuesday! I'm winding down the original Marvel Two-In-One run. Today's focus is on the ninety-seventh issue of that series. The cover depicted the Thing and Iron Man locked in a battle with several large dinosaurs. The story was called "Yesterdaze!" The issue had a cover date of March 1983.

The issue began with Ben Grimm staring at a contract from Silver Screen Productions, along with a $10,000 check made out to a children's hospital. Grimm had received the mailing, which offered him a starring role in an upcoming monster movie. He discussed the matter with his housemates, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Sue Richards (the Invisible Girl), Franklin Richards, and Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), along with his girlfriend, Alicia Masters. 

Reed scanned the contract to make sure it was legitimate. After confirming that it appeared to be valid, Ben thought about how the money could help the children's hospital and started letting fame get to his head. At the Hollywood studio, producer Ted Silverberg was in the middle of filming his latest blockbuster. He wasn't too concerned about the actors' abilities, thinking he could still profit from the film. 

Silverberg's career had been promising until a recent venture was foiled by the Thing (and Wonder Man, in issue #78 of this title). Ted retreated to his trailer, where he talked with Professor Frankheimer. The European scientist had developed a three-dimensional movie camera that could take images from the past and present them as if they were real in the present. He demonstrated the device by showing Silverberg an ancient lizard on the screen. Frankheimer used the sophisticated camera to project a lifelike replica of the lizard that appeared on the table before them.

Ted was amazed by the invention and agreed to the professor's terms, which were a credit on each film that it was used in and $5,000 for the rights to the camera. The professor warned the director not to forget to turn the camera off, noting that the circuits could overheat if it was left on for prolonged periods of time. Ted was the one who had sent Ben the $10,000 check, figuring that the expenses would be worth it to see Grimm humiliated. He then left the trailer after turning the camera off. The lizard was no longer on the screen, but something knocked a soda can off the desk after the director and his associate had departed.

Ben arrived at the studio bright and early the next day, dressed for his part as a leading man. Meanwhile, Iron Man neared the studio. He landed, and Tony Stark changed into his businessman identity, where he was approached by a movie starlet. Before the two could converse much, Grimm entered the scene. He was about to star in a picture that Stark's accounting partners had him buy into. 

The two old friends walked off together toward the dressing room. Grimm received his first directions while still in the makeup chair. At the same time, Silverberg was using the new camera to grab images of three dinosaurs from the past. They were to be Ben's foes.

Grimm was obviously surprised to see his opponents disappear, but he charged on anyway until he realized that Silverberg's acts were designed to humiliate him. Stark tried to calm his comrade, but things changed once Ben kicked one of the dinosaurs and felt that it was solid, unlike the images that had disappeared before. 

It soon became quite obvious that the dinosaurs were real. Ben started battling the beasts while Stark retreated to the actress Bo Drip's trailer to change into Iron Man. The battle raged on across several sets on the lot. 

After using a freon capsule from an epaulet in his armor, Iron Man realized that cold was the key to stopping the creatures. He convinced Ben to join him at another set where they eventually used freon cannons to freeze the creatures in their tracks. Afterward, the beasts were hauled away via helicopter to the Savage Land.

Ben and Tony found Silverberg lamenting the loss of his equipment. Stark rationalized that Ted could take a tax write-off on the production if he handed over the film, which could embarrass the Thing. Silverberg gave up the film reel. As the heroes walked off, Ted wondered if Steven Spielberg ever had days like that.

This was a bit of a resolution regarding Silverberg. Not a bad single-issue story, especially for readers who were new to this book. It's a light-hearted plot that was a bit familiar to Ben's previous Hollywood affairs. For the fourth-to-last issue of this title, it wasn't bad. There were tongue-in-cheek nods to various big-budget blockbusters and celebrities at the time. The only thing I wondered after reading this issue for the first time was if the professor ever learned that his invention had been used to bring real dinosaurs from the past onto the Hollywood studio lot. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll talk about the ninety-eighth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben has to deal with an intergalactic menace, with the assistance of someone he lived with at the Baxter Building, but probably not a person you'd initially guess. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #96

Happy Labor Day, folks!

Today's topic is the ninety-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing recovering in a hospital bed, with flower bouquets from the Avengers and the Yancy Street Gang sitting on a table, as his nurse tried to shush the crowd again, which included Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Wolverine, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Colossus, and Cyclops, battling against the Mole Man, Mirage, the Melter, and several Mole Men. The tale was titled "Visiting Hours!" The issue had a publication date of February 1983.

The story started with Ben Grimm lying in a hospital bed after recent injuries sustained during battles with Gladiator (in issue #249 of the Fantastic Four) and the Champion (as I talked about in my coverage of the seventh Marvel Two-In-One annual). He was surrounded by his Fantastic Four teammates, Reed, Sue Richards (the Invisible Girl), and Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), as well as his girlfriend, Alicia Masters, and his comrades from the Avengers, Iron Man and Captain America, who promised to postpone their poker matches until Ben was fully recovered. 

Ben was even visited by his old pal Ben Foster (formerly Giant-Man) and his lady Celia. Bill was recovering from radiation poisoning and on the mend. Reed wanted Grimm to stay in the hospital to receive the best possible care, but worried that his old college roommate might be attacked by any of their numerous enemies.

One such foe was plotting in his hideout. The Mad Thinker was confident that at least one of Grimm's rivals would reach him while he was recuperating. Meanwhile, Spidey was purchasing a get-well bouquet for his old pal when a minor villain known as the Mecho-Marauder burst out of a van that was parked in front of the hospital where Ben was. It was easy enough for Spider-Man to clog the finger blasters in his opponent's costume, which caused the suit to overheat and explode. Afterward, Spidey scaled the building and jumped into the open window to offer his well wishes. 

Eventually, Ben's nurse ushered all of his guests out of the room once visiting hours were over. She also extinguished the cigar that Grimm had just lit. While Ben was lamenting the loss of his stogie, the villain known as Mirage entered the hospital lobby undetected until he was stopped by Daredevil. His keen radar senses allowed the hero to detect the real villain from his duplicates.

As Ben started to feel bored in his room, Dr. Don Blake was about to pay him a visit when his travel was interrupted by the arrival of the Mole Man and his minions in a vehicle that burst through the surface of the Earth. Blake quickly changed into his alter ego of the mighty Thor and took on his opponents. A lightning storm scared them back underground.

While Ben's nurse was taking his pulse, armed guards outside the hospital were knocked out by a gas round fired by Shellshock (last seen in MTIO #70). The villain had a new costume and upgraded weapon, but ran into a challenge in the form of the new Ant-Man (Scott Lang). Lang telepathically called to his legion of faithful ants, several of which infiltrated the villain's costume and sent him running away, itching as he did so. 

The next challengers to arrive on the scene were Letha, Titania, Poundcake, and Screaming Mimi. The female wrestlers wanted revenge against the Thing, but first they had to face Captain America, who dispatched the females one at a time.

Cap was then joined by the current iteration of the X-Men, moments before the Highwayman's newest vehicle bore down toward them. Thankfully, the car was halted by Iron Man's defensive efforts. All the while, Ben's boredom continued to grow, as he tossed paper airplanes at the wastebasket in his room.

News of Ben's hospitalization had even reached as far as Latveria, where the country's monarch, Doctor Doom, read of his condition in a newspaper. Although it would probably be quite easy for Doom to vanquish his foe, he opted not to take advantage of a rival who was in a weakened state. 

Meanwhile, the Torch flew down a hospital corridor toward his friends, who were gearing up for a large-scale assault by the villains who were marching there. The next few pages featured a grand battle between characters, including the Hulk, Sasquatch, the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Avengers, MODOK, the Mole Man, Whiplash, the Melter, Daredevil, Spider-Man, Namor, the Rhino, the Beetle, the female wrestlers that Captain America had just defeated, the Mecho-Marauder, Mole Man, and a few others.

The Mad Thinker was right in his prediction that an old enemy would reach Ben. His error was thinking that the person in particular was still a rival. As the conflict raged outside, Grimm was surprised to see the Sandman standing before him. He explained that he used his ability to sneak past the hospital staff to see him. He shared a six-pack with his new friend, and they started up a friendly conversation.

The plot to this issue reminded me a bit of the third Fantastic Four annual, where a bevy of heroes and villains arrived to try and interrupt Reed and Sue's wedding. It was a light-hearted story, and even though the final results of the climactic battle were not shown, I have to assume that the good guys won once more. It wasn't a traditional team-up issue with the Thing, but seeing as how the title was nearing its conclusion, I don't really think that many fans at the time minded. I think they were more concerned with Ben's well-being, and a good old-fashioned clash between several well-loved characters (and some whose names I didn't even know) was probably well appreciated and enjoyed. 

That's it from me. Taking off to enjoy the rest of this holiday. Make it a good one! Tomorrow, I'll return to summarize the ninety-seventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben is lured back to Hollywood again to engage in another production, but runs into the kind of trouble that an Avenger can help him to get out of. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7

Good afternoon, folks,

Hope everyone's been enjoying the weekend. I'm winding down the day with a discussion of the seventh Marvel Two-In-One annual. The cover showed the Thing in boxing togs alongside Colossus, Sasquatch, Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Hulk, Wonder Man, and the mighty Thor. The title of the 1983 annual's story was "And They Shall Call Him...Champion!"

In Alicia Masters' sculptor studio, the Thing was about to lose what remained of his patience. He'd been standing in the same pose for quite some time to accommodate Masters' request to help her finish a new sculpture. She worked on that miniature before working on a likeness of the Avengers' arch-enemy, Ultron. Ben Grimm was distracted by a bright light that signaled the arrival of a four-armed alien named Proja. 

The stranger was a promoter who arrived to offer Ben an opportunity of multiple lifetimes. He proposed that Grimm join in a contest for the championship of the galaxy. Proja left his business card before disappearing the same way that he'd arrived. The alien would go on to offer the same proposition to Thor, the Hulk, Doc Samson, Colossus, Namor, Sasquatch, Wonder Man, and the Vision. He disqualified the Vision after learning that the Avenger was a snynthoid. The Scarlet Witch fired a hex bolt at him just as the intruder vanished from their room. 

The other heroes that Proja had approached were transported to an artificial world together. They were then introduced to their host, an otherworldly being who called himself the Champion. He wanted to battle Earth's strongest warriors to determine who was the best. They rushed at him before being dismissed. The Champion left the room, leaving the heroes behind to be trained by his lackeys.

Ben's disappearance from Alicia's studio apartment was eventually noticed by his Fantastic Four teammates Sue (the Invisible Girl) and Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic). Alicia explained to them what happened. Sue tried to console Ben's girlfriend, while Reed used one of the many machines he'd created over his lifetime to scan the room for any traces of energy left behind by Proja. Reed learned that the Thing had been taken by someone whose strength rivaled that of Galactus himself, but chose to keep that knowledge to himself for the time being.

While Colossus' teammates and mentor, Professor X, were trying to determine who was responsible for their friend's kidnapping, he and his fellow captors were going through their initial workouts under the tutelage of the Champion's assistants. Doc Samson was the first challenger to be eliminated, followed closely behind by Namor, who refused to partake in the training sessions. 

Colossus, Sasquatch, the Hulk, Wonder Man, and the Thing pressed on. Their match would be held at Madison Square Garden in New York, and news of the event spread across the globe. Tickets were sold, and final contracts were signed before the event was about to begin.

Thor was the first hero to be summoned to the ring, which was enclosed under a transparent dome in the center of the stadium floor. It was strong enough that Wolverine and Cyclops' attacks on it were ineffective. The Champion took his place in the ring and greeted his first challenger before the initial bell rang. Thor was disqualified for using his hammer Mjolnir, and the (now-intelligent) Hulk was chosen to replace him. Hulk became more savage with each passing second and was also eliminated, since the Champion preferred not to battle a savage combatant.

Sasquatch soon took his place. He stood his ground before finally falling to the Champion's mighty blows. Colossus was next, but was removed after being unable to defend himself from more volleys flung at him by the alien. Wonder Man was next, but he was disqualified for trying to tear the floor of the ring out from underneath them.

The Thing was the only hero left to face the Champion. He was ready, but it turned out to be one of the most brutal fights of his lifetime. Grimm had faced many powerful foes before, but this one was in a league above most of them. Ben outpaced the friends before him and actually lasted three rounds before giving out after the bell rang for the fourth round.

The Champion smiled and held his trophy belt high to the disbelief of the audience. Ben crawled to face him, ready for a rematch. The Champion would not grant him that opportunity, and he and his referee vanished from sight moments before Grimm collapsed to the floor. His friends propped him up and carried him off.

I think that the script for this issue was likely influenced by the popularity of the Rocky movies. We would later learn that the Champion was an Elder of the Universe. He has since battled similarly powered beings like Galactus, Thanos, and the Silver Surfer, but as far as I know, he has not gone up against Grimm or his comrades since. I'm kind of surprised that a person who could pose that much of an intergalactic threat hasn't taken on other teams like the FF, X-Men, or Avengers at least once. 

If you want to find out what happened to Ben on his road to recovery, tune in tomorrow for my recap of the ninety-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. That story reminds me of a similar plot that was rolled out in an often-reprinted Marvel Annual. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #95

Good morning,

Hope all's well with everyone. I'm starting the day with a recap of the ninety-fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted Ben Grimm and the Living Mummy battling several large green snakes, with a trio of unidentified people behind them. The story was called "The Power to Live...The Power to Die!... The issue had a publication date of January 1983. 

The tale began at Alicia Masters' studio apartment in New York. Her boyfriend Grimm (aka the Thing) had intercepted a package delivery for her. As Alicia opened the box, Ben read the inscription on the included card. It mentioned becoming a new powerful Egyptian god. Inside the box was an ornate headdress. Once Masters donned it, she started to glow and seemed to be under the influence of the strange hat.

Alicia exclaimed that she was the new bride of Nephrus, and a beam emitted from the headpiece knocked Grimm across the room. She swore his death if he continued to intervene in the activities of immortals. Ben recovered, but by the time he left the apartment, Alicia was nowhere in sight. 

He decided to get a little insight on the situation by visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Thing arrived at the ancient Egyptian exhibit, where he was met by a curator named Lillian Temple-Worth. She initially rebuffed Ben, but changed her mind after showing him a picture of the headdress that Alicia now wore. Temple-Worth then showed Grimm a photo of Gamal Hassan, the man who had stolen that artifact from the museum. 

Ben had never seen the man before. Lillian replied that he'd been her superior before going off on his quest for a power stone that Hassan was certain had belonged to his Egyptian ancestors many years ago. By then, Alicia had arrived at the New York harbor and used the headdress's power to transform an ordinary-looking boat into a historic-looking skimmer that she flew off in as Ben was convincing Lillian that they needed to go to Egypt to address the threat.

In that very land, the figure known as the Living Mummy sat alone. He thought about some of his many adventures over the years. He'd survived for three thousand years and continued on to pursue power. He was determined to either live as a man once more or die so that his abnormal imitation of life would finally cease.

As he sat, the mummy noticed a caravan carrying a chariot that bore Alicia and Gamal. They were heading to a small dwelling nearby, one that Hassan was convinced contained within it the secret to immortality. They came across the building, which was supposedly constructed by Nephrus himself. Once they disembarked, Hassan bid Alicia to eliminate their servants, so they could continue on in peace.

While Hassan began his search with the aid of the purloined crown of Hathor that Alicia wore, Ben and Lillian were busy acquiring supplies in a local town. This included a pair of camels, who were initially a bit reluctant to obey the whims of their new owners. Ben fought off a few invaders before the duo rode off into the desert. 

At the same time, Alicia and Gamal entered the temple to find the spirit gem of Nephrus. Hassan stood guard while Masters searched and dispatched defenses upon seeing the pair of camel riders. The cannons were somewhat effective against Ben and Lillian, but he hadn't counted on the Living Mummy's intervention. 

The mummy entered the room where Hassan was watching the heroes and demanded that Nephrus make him human. Gamal fled, leaving the Living Mummy to look for the same power source that Masters and Hassan were searching for. Alicia eventually uncovered the stone, which Gamal grabbed and brought toward his chest.

As Ben and Lillian were wandering the tents surrounding the small domicile, the mummy emerged from one of them moments before the newly powered Gamal and Alicia burst into view. Grimm threw the first stone before Hassan, with the spirit of Nephrus inhabiting him, relished the thought of facing his old enemy N'Kantu (the Living Mummy) again after many long years. 

Hassan was about to fire a beam at the Thing before Temple-Worth jumped forward holding a mirror, which reflected the bolt back at the villain. He was temporarily incapacitated, and the Living Mummy moved closer to him. Lillian tossed an electrical cable at Alicia, which severed her link with the helmet.

Masters was back to her old self again. Temple-Worth brought her to Ben, right before the mummy and his longtime rival renewed their centuries-old rivalry. Ben interfered, tearing down a stone pillar that he hurled at Hassan. His foe used his supernatural abilities to transmute arrows into large snakes at the mummy. Lillian advised Alicia to use the crown she wore against their common foe. She used it to fire a beam at Hassan, which cleaved the jewel from his chest.

Gamal fell to the sand below, and the gem landed in one of Ben's mighty palms. Hassan pleaded for its return, but soon disintegrated into dust after Ben crushed the jewel in his hand. Grimm held Masters close to him, as Lillian looked on and the Living Mummy wandered off on his own, knowing that part of his past was permanently over. 

I don't know much about the Living Mummy, but I have read a few of Marvel's other monster titles from the 1970s. I guess this was a bit of closure for that character. He would return again from time to time, but this was a satisfying single-issue story that ended a threat before it could have had far-reaching repercussions across the entire world.

That's it for now. Later today, I'll discuss the seventh and final Marvel Two-In-One annual for this series' run. The Thing joins several other similarly strong adventurers in a battle royale against an intergalactic menace. Until then, have a great Sunday and don't forget to be kind to one another.