Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #37

Good morning, peeps,

Hope everyone's having a great weekend. Time for me to talk about the thirty-seventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted Ben Grimm in a court of law. He was sitting in a chair, bursting a set of iron chains that had been shackled around his wrists after being sentenced to a term of 20 years, with his lawyer, Matt Murdock, just as incredulous as the Thing was. The tale was titled "Game Point!" The issue had a cover date of March 1978.

The story started in Grimm's bedroom. He was trying to get into the Stephen King novel The Shining, not knowing that he was in someone's crosshairs. A few moments later, the Thing was struck by a dart. It was enough to cause him to break the bed he'd been sitting on in the flophouse that he now occupied after the Fantastic Four broke up.

Grimm went for a walk, where he was targeted and struck once more. Ben lashed out at a lamppost with his fist and pounded his feet on the ground as he continued to be hit by undetected pellets. His destruction was soon noticed by a local business owner and the police. The Thing was placed in handcuffs and later led away by several officers.

Ben was booked at New York's 53rd precinct. He was placed in a lineup, where the man whose storefront had been damaged had picked him out. Grimm was later placed in a crowded cell with another man and a kid who was looking to make some easy money through a game of craps. Murdock arrived to represent the former Fantastic Four member a couple of hours later. 

The next step in the process was a preliminary hearing. Matt defended Ben as he listened to witness testimony. One of the witnesses was Alex Stone, the man who brought up Grimm's initial charges. He talked about several incidents where the Thing caused property damage and endangered nearby citizens (covered in Fantastic Four issue #s 25, 26, 111, and 123). Ben listened and started to wonder if he really was a menace after all.

One distinct difference with the most recent incident was the fact that Reed Richards (aka Mister Fantastic) had paid for the damages in the past. With the team's disbanding, that option was no longer available. Stone expressed his concern for the safety of children if Ben couldn't control himself. Grimm's anger continued to rise, but Matt and his partner, Foggy Nelson, did their best to try to calm their client.

Ben's girlfriend, Alicia Masters, was kept out of the courtroom until it was declared that Grimm be brought up before trial. The Thing then unleashed his anger on the courtroom. After his outburst, Alicia and others saw the strongest member of the Fantastic Four facing several police firearms trained upon him.

The judge declared Grimm guilty. He was ordered to be chained up and taken away, never to be seen by the judge ever again. Murdock noticed a low hum before the outburst and guessed it might be why Ben lost his temper. Ben started to doubt himself as he was taken away. Meanwhile, Stone started to grin, noting that things were going just the way he wanted them to. 

This wasn't your typical Marvel comic of the time. Most people don't think about the property destruction incurred by superhero/villain fights (at least, not before Damage Control was created). This was an opportune storyline, in the wake of the FF's breakup (although that proved to be temporary). If you're thinking that Ben was set up, you may be more right than you know.

Later today, I'll discuss the second part of this saga with a recap of Marvel Two-In-One #38. As Ben prepares to face the music, Murdock's costumed alter-ego Daredevil digs a little deeper into the circumstances surrounding his friend's scrutiny, especially the strange sound that his keen hearing noticed right before the sentence was given. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #36

Hello there, friends,

Hope you're having a great weekend. Today's topic is the thirty-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed Mister Fantastic trying to corral a flying dinosaur, as the Thing attempted to rescue an unidentified woman. The story was called "A Stretch in Time..." The issue had a publication date of February 1978.

When we last saw Ben Grimm in this series, he was swimming for his life, along with his new ally Skull the Slayer and his colleagues in a strange time rift that apparently only existed inside the Bermuda Triangle. The area was rife with dinosaurs as the adventurers now saw four brontosaures staring curiously at them.

The adventurers escaped the danger, but only after narrowly avoiding injury while trying to avoid falling down a waterfall. They found the jet that brought Skull (Jim Scully) and his companions to the area and salvaged a few parts that were soon placed in the ship that Ben had arrived in. Some time later, the quintet blasted off.

The sun priest (whom we saw last issue) had taken to the air riding one of his prehistoric animals, and even followed the jet back to twentieth-century Earth. Grimm set the plane down in modern-day Miami, where they were met by Ben's Fantastic Four teammate Reed Richards (aka Mister Fantastic). Reed was relieved that Grimm was safe. Ben's girlfriend Alicia Masters had feared the worst after Ben's disappearance (which happened at the start of issue #35). 

The priest and his flying forces soon burst upon the scene, and the heroes joined forces to tackle enemies that had probably never set foot on this sphere of existence before. Although Reed's stretching abilities had been weakened lately, he was still powerful enough to repel some of the invaders' attacks. The group was victorious, and the sun priest was defeated.

Afterward, the villain was apprehended. Scully and his friends set off for new lives for themselves. As they drove away, Richards assured his old friend that the dinosaurs that followed them would be safe and right at home in the Savage Land.

This was an effective way to wrap up the events that occurred in Skull the Slayer's own book after its cancellation. However, we wouldn't see Scully again in another Marvel title for more than a decade. His appearances have been few and far between since then. He's another character who has great potential, but we rarely see him in any series for more than an issue or two at a time. I don't think that his supporting cast has shown up much at all since this storyline wrapped up. 

That's all for this article. Next time, I'll discuss the thirty-seventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing is in trouble, and enlists the assistance of someone who most Marvelites will recognize as an expert in his particular field. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #35

Happy Friday, folks!

It's time for me to talk about the thirty-fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing dispatching baddies alongside Skull the Slayer. The tale was titled "Enter: Skull the Slayer and Exit: the Thing!" The issue had a publication date of January 1978.

The story started in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Ben Grimm had recently returned from London, England, and had been recruited because of his experience as a test pilot to fly a new experimental vessel to the Bermuda Triangle. Grimm agreed to the mission and soon found his craft ensnared by a giant flying dinosaur.

The ship soared through a vortex and wound up in a land full of prehistoric creatures. Ben had no idea where or when he was, but there were others below who would enter the fray. Skull the Slayer (real name: Jim Scully) and his companions were engaged in a conflict with a mad priest. The Americans wound up in this predicament after their plane journeyed to the same unexpected destination some time before. 

Skull's comrades, Jeff Turner, Ann Farrow Reynolds, and Raymond Cory, had been tied to a column, which left their friend all alone to face their foe. That is, until their enemy's dinosaur returned with Ben's plane clasped in its jaws. Grimm emerged from the experimental craft after the beast set it down, and he was recognized almost immediately by one of the captives.

It didn't take Ben long to sort out the good versus bad, and he went to fight the priest's warriors. Facing the priest himself proved to be a bit more of a challenge, but the strongest member of the Fantastic Four found a way to ascend the stone stairs before the temple started to collapse. He helped Scully free his partners before more of the priest's men were upon them.

Skull was wanted for murder back home, although his comrades knew that the death of Scully's brother was an accident. They were more than willing to assist him in overcoming the onrushing natives. After the battle, Scully introduced himself and his companions to Grimm, and explained where they were and how they'd arrived there. 

Grimm's plane might be the answer to their problem, but it would need a bit of work first. An idea was shared to use the craft that Jim and his crew had arrived in to repair the jet. The plan was agreed upon, but now they had to reach the downed aircraft. The journey proved to be difficult, as several dinosaurs got in their way.

Ben and Jim led the way once more, but just when they thought they were free and clear, things turned from bad to worse. They had no sooner escaped a large dinosaur and dove into the water, when they surfaced to find four more dinosaurs staring down at them. It seemed as if the goal might be almost impossible at that point.

Skull the Slayer was a title that ran for eight issue before being cancelled. It was an interesting premise, one that was popular at the time because people were always wondering about the Bermuda Triangle and making all kinds of wild theories as to what really happened in that area. It's a good book, but I can see that it probably suffered from low readership/subscriptions and changing creative teams.

Aside from this two-part story, Scully doesn't appear in very many Marvel comics afterward. He hasn't been featured in any Marvel issues since 2015. That's a shame, because I felt that a limited series or a brief run in a tryout mag like Marvel Comics Presents or something similar might bring back fans of his old series or introduce him to new readers.

If you want to find out what happened to Ben and company, tune in tomorrow for my synopsis of the thirty-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Grimm, Skull, and the rest of the gang in the unknown Bermuda Triangle region will be featured, along with another member of Ben's regular team. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #34

Happy Thursday, peeps!

Today's topic is the thirty-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Nighthawk before a strange humanoid being with tentacles, whom Ben Grimm was trying to protect from several gun-toting men. The tale was titled "A Monster Walks Among Us!" The issue had a cover date of December 1977.

The story started as the Defender known as Nighthawk was flying off to a meeting in London, where his alter-ego of Kyle Richmond was needed for a business meeting. Kyle was only two hours late, for which he used the excuse that his jet was hijacked (even though his Nighthawk costume's jets allowed him to fly). 

Mr. Marcus Welby and Dr. Reginald Johnson St. Martin Casey had an important discovery that they wanted Richmond to examine. They were optimistic that it could be the discovery of a lifetime. Meanwhile, in another part of London, Ben Grimm was awaiting the good news about the cyborg from the future, Deathlok, from Professor Kort. Kort was able to revive the warrior from the 30th century. He was no sooner awakened when SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters International Intelligence and Law Enforcement Division) head Nick Fury and his associates arrived.

Fury and his men carted Deathlok away after Nick gave Ben a single Havana cigar, instead of the box of cigars that Grimm had bargained for. A phone call would later bring Kort and Grimm to Richmond's lab, where the trio watched Casey and Welby activate a neutron ray that was aimed at the strange stone that had been recently uncovered.

The beam was powerful enough to cut the rock and let the strange creature it had contained free. It emitted a strange gas that rendered its witnesses unconscious. The being did not know that the others of its kind who had arrived on Earth had perished in a nuclear explosion in 1908 in Siberia.

The creature later left the laboratory and came across a young girl, in a scene that was eerily reminiscent of a similar one in a famous monster movie. The girl was initially terrified of the beast, and her scream brought her father and his friend running after her. The two men were armed and ready to defend the child and themselves.

As the otherworldly being ventured farther, the witnesses in the laboratory woke. Ben and Nighthawk set out in search of the creature. The girl was now safe in a hospital, where she was met by a stranger. The creature had found a deer trapped under rocks and went to free it, right before he was fired upon by the girl's father and his accomplice. 

While Nighthawk and the Thing were trying to prevent further unnecessary violence, the girl pulled an electrical wire by the plug, and moments later, the hospital she was in caught fire. The heroes now had a mission: to save all of the hospital's occupants. That was a task that the strange creature embarked on as well.

Richmond entered the building and retrieved several children. Ben had an idea for extinguishing the flames. The creature also freed children from the burning hospital. For his efforts, he was fired upon. Even after being injured, the monster still continued to try to help the youngsters. 

Grimm had reached a nearby bell tower and removed the bell. He dunked it into a stream and flung the water at the hospital to douse the fire. The last person that the creature saved was the little girl Maggie, whom he'd met earlier, and whose father had shot at him before it passed on. Nighthawk admonished the gunmen for their actions, since it was now clear who the real monsters were in this scenario. 

This was a typical moral tale of the time, but one that still matters. We still often fear the unknown and are prone to act defensively or with violence toward those things. That doesn't solve anything, and in many cases makes things worse. 

Nighthawk was a solid member of the Defenders for many years, and a de facto leader and mentor to many younger superheroes before his character was killed off. He's reminiscent of Warren Worthington III and Bruce Wayne, but was different enough to stand out on his own. I liked how he redeemed himself from his days as a villain and became probably a better person than he'd initially expected himself to be. 

Next time, I'll cover the thirty-fifth issue of this series. Ben embarks on a multi-part storyline that features a character who had his own short-lived series for a while. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2

Good morning,

Welcome to my recap of the second Marvel Two-In-One Annual. The Thing and Spider-Man received top billing on the cover, as they battled Thanos, with the face of Adam Warlock looking on in a large soul gem. The faces of Captain Marvel, Thor, Captain America, Moondragon, the Vision, Beast, the Scarlet Witch, and Iron Man were also featured on the left side of the cover. The title of the 1977 annual's story was "Death Watch!"

The tale began with Peter Parker, wincing at the sight of a large starship nearing the sun in his dream, which was the site of a spectacular battle fought by Marvel, Warlock, and several Avengers against otherworldly creatures. In the middle of the conflict, Warlock, Marvel, Iron Man, and Thor flew toward the far side of the sun. Their destination was a twin of the ship that their comrades were on. This one was home to the terrible titan named Thanos. His power was impressive, but he seemed to suffer after Iron Man destroyed the large soul gem that was comprised of five smaller gems. Warlock's soul gem was now the only one of its kind. 

Thanos then vanished, fleeing to his other spaceship. Moondragon's mental plea reached Parker, a call that he knew he had to answer eventually. Thanos began dispatching the Avengers one at a time. Some heroes required more force than others to defeat, but all fell at the madman's feet. The only casualty was Warlock. His hirelings brought Adam to Thanos, and he plucked the soul gem from his forehead. 

Peter awoke moments later. As he changed into his Spider-Man costume, celestial beings calculated that the young adventurer would seek the assistance of Ben Grimm. Sure enough, Spidey soon made his way to the Baxter Building, figuring they would have a vessel that could reach the Avengers (author's note: the battles fought by the Avengers from Pete's dream happened in Avengers Annual #7). 

Ben was home alone, engrossed in the Stephen King novel Salem's Lot. Spider-Man had quite a story to tell his longtime friend. Grimm believed it, and the pair took off shortly thereafter. Peter guided them to the massive space station. Ben guided the ship into the docking bay. When they exited the craft, they were met by more of Thanos' sentries. 

They were taken out by a laser blast. Their fate was observed by the same celestial forces we saw earlier. Inside the soul gem, Warlock and his companions Pip and Gamora were reunited. Adam hoped for happiness, but that wouldn't be the last we'd see of him in this issue. 

Ben and Peter awoke a while later to their captured comrades. Thanos was about to place his new captives in similar stasis. He explained his plans to use the power of the gem to cause Earth's sun to go nova and destroy the solar system. Ben took a direct route to the villain, but was soon knocked out once more.

Spider-Man left the scene and used his agility to evade multiple guards. As Lord Chaos and Master Order continued to observe his progress, Parker landed atop the chamber that held the Avengers. He crashed through it. The destruction caused the Avengers and Marvel to spring to life and renew their assault on their captor. 

By then, Grimm had revived, and a titanic tussle began between Earth's heroes and Thanos and his entourage. During the melee, Spider-Man was drawn to the pedestal that the soul gem rested on. He knocked the gem free from its mooring, and a flaming form of Warlock appeared in its stead.

The resurrected Warlock caught Thanos' attention, and the warlord could not escape his foe's fiery grasp. He was turned to stone before his opponent disappeared. With their leader beaten, Thanos' soldiers quickly surrendered. Warlock was later buried alongside his love and true friend. His battlemates eulogized him before heading home.

Even though Parker didn't know Warlock very well, he felt a bit of remorse for him. He felt that they'd all lost something that day they might never see again. Ben understood the sentiment and preferred to think that the events would spur a better, brighter future for all.

Warlock was content, knowing that Thanos had finally paid for his crimes. He was confident that he, Pip, and Gamora could live together without pain, problems, or worries just fine. Lord Chaos and Master Order said that Thanos was destined to spend infinity trapped inside the frozen form of his own corruption, regretting the actions he'd taken in his life and feeling sorrow for a love that would never be fulfilled. 

As most Marvelites know, Thanos would return, as would Warlock and his colleagues. They were interesting characters who had risen to prominence for a while, only to fade away quietly several years later. This is one of the more difficult Marvel Two-In-One issues to acquire, along with the first issue, so if you have it in your collection, congratulations! Hold on to it if you're a fan of this story or the title in general. It's a great story that stands the test of time. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the thirty-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing pairs up with a longtime member of the Defenders on an intriguing little caper. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #33

Hello there,

It's time for me to talk about the thirty-third issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed Modred the Mystic fending off a giant fiery hand as the Thing and Alicia Masters struggled to stay afloat in a tidal wave. The story was called "From Stonehenge...With Death!" The issue had a cover date of November 1977.

The tale began with Ben Grimm and Alicia embracing after Masters had been cured of the mutation that had transformed her into a spider-like being. She had battled the Thing and Spider-Woman in her mutated form, but was finally back to normal. The two lovers could continue with their European vacation and were about to visit Stonehenge.

Meanwhile, back at Parliament, the blue chest that a pair of thieves had uncovered (last issue) continued to glow until a giant claw emerged from it. Alicia and Ben eventually made it to their destination, unaware that an apparition or that Spider-Woman (real name: Jessica Drew) had been following them. They had no sooner arrived at the legendary monument when four large elemental beings appeared.

Each one of them looked menacing, and they began to attack the newcomers. Ben and Spider-Woman leapt to defend Alicia from the new threats. Grimm's anger continued to rise as he followed the beings down below the surface of the Earth, leaving Alicia behind. Grimm and Spider-Woman stood before the four elementals, wanting to know more.

It all started in the days of Arthur Pendragon when a young wizard designated to serve as Merlin's apprentice refused to be taken to their master, and sought the demise of the mighty magician. The student found the book known as the Darkhold and used it to send himself into a deep sleep that he'd only awakened from in the last year. Merlin required the return of his vassal and created the beings that now stood before the Thing and Spider-Woman to find him. They were determined to achieve that goal, even if it resulted in the planet's destruction.

Ben and Jessica weren't about to let that happen, and began battling the four fearsome foes. The fight continued even as Merlin's wayward student, Modred, appeared. He joined the conflict against Merlin's minons and conditions underground started to worsen.

At one point, Ben was floating in the waters beneath the surface, when he spotted one of the crooks he'd spied in London earlier, and the arrival of his lady love Alicia. The couple floated off together while Spider-Woman and Modred continued the skirmish. One by one, the elementals were defeated.

Modred returned the underground captives to the surface, which Ben and Alicia had already reached. Modred's spell erased Grimm and Masters' memories of what had just transpired, and he turned to Drew. She was now free to start her life anew. 

The end of this story set up the first ongoing Spider-Woman series. It would last for fifty issues. I have the entire run in my collection, and there are some great moments and some forgettable ones, but overall, it's a good series to collect, read and enjoy. I remember Modred from the first two issues of Marvel Chillers. After his appearances in the first year of so of Spider-Woman's book, he would show up sporadically in different titles afterward. He's one of those characters that has great potential, but is severely under-used. 

That's it for this article. Tomorrow, I'll sum up the second Marvel Two-In-One annual. The Thing, Spider-Man, the Avengers, and Captain Marvel join forces to tackle a titan. It's a legendary issue that shows the fate of a pair of iconic characters. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #32

Happy Monday, peeps!

It's time for me to talk about the thirty-second issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and his Fantastic Four teammate, the Invisible Girl, stuck in a web that was apparently woven by the mutated version of Ben Grimm's girlfriend, Alicia Masters, with Spider-Woman swooping in from behind the trap. The tale was titled "And Only The Invisible Girl Can Save Us Now!" The issue had a publication date of October 1977.

When we last saw the Thing, he was tangled in a web right before his lady love, Alicia, who had been transformed into a spider-like creature by the scientists of Hydra. The control chip on her forehead kept repeating deadly instructions to her, ones that Spider-Woman was determined would not be carried to fruition. She felt partly responsible for the mutation, since a serum was devised using her blood to mutate Grimm's girlfriend.

Ben finally freed himself from the web and grabbed Spider-Woman (aka Jessica Drew). Alicia followed them across London. Drew kept her occupied while Ben found a nearby telephone booth and made an important call. Meanwhile, the crooks from last issue had finally opened the hidden treasure, only to find themselves sucked inside the ominous-looking box that they'd just unearthed.

The local police became involved in the chase and did their best to prevent pedestrians from being hurt. Grimm stood between them and Alicia, fearing that a stray bullet could harm her. The chief constable was upset but not deterred, vowing to return with a full squadron who would stop the new menace, one way or another.

In Chapter 2, titled "Assault on a Monster!," Ben still held his ground. He also fended off his mutated love until he could rip the control device from her head. At Hydra headquarters, the loss of contact with their new test subject was recognized immediately. It meant severe punishment for the ones who had engineered this effort.

Even without Hydra no longer commanding her, Alicia still lashed out at Ben and Spider-Woman. The timely intervention of Susan Richards (aka the Invisible Girl), the one whom Grimm had called before, helped to lessen the damage. With a force bubble around her head, the heroes were able to bring Alicia to Professor Kort, who was determined to reverse the serum's effects. He'd also been able to prevent the cyborg Deathlok from perishing (he was brought to London with Ben and Alicia a few issues back). 

Kort made no promises, but vowed to do the best he could. Ben took a walk with Sue later on and was soon blamed by some of the townspeople for the recent destruction. Sue tried to encourage her friend, knowing that Alicia would want him by her side. The two returned to Kort's residence, knowing that Masters needed her boyfriend now more than ever.

One thing I found interesting about this story was that the blind Alicia Masters could apparently see in her mutated form. I'm still a bit surprised that Marvel hasn't turned her back into this state yet, since they have turned other supporting characters into super-powered beings from time to time. I guess this was a storyline that most would like to forget. 

Next time, I'll cover the thirty-third issue of this series. We'll find out what happened to Alicia and see where she and Ben went next. Spider-Woman will also stick around as the two lovers encounter new dangers and an unlikely ally. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.