Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #16

Good afternoon, all,

I'm winding down the weekend with a recap of the sixteenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted Ka-Zar and his loyal companion Zabu joining forces with the Thing in tackling a mighty dinosaur. The tale was titled "Into the Savage Land!" The issue had a cover date of June 1976.

The story started with Ben Grimm being dropped from a SHIELD (Supreme  Headquarters Intelligence Law Enforcement Division) plane into the Savage Land. As he fell toward land, Ben thought back to the circumstances that led him there. It began in the Baxter Building in New York, where Fantastic Four team leader Reed Richards had huddled Ben, his wife Susan, and brother-in-law Johnny Storm around a machine showing a significant increase in seismic activity in the Antarctic.

Reed was concerned because the rise in volcanic activity could set off a chain reaction that could impact most of the planet. Ensuing tidal waves, earthquakes, and hurricanes could potentially make life on our planet extinct. We know by now that Ben was selected to investigate the phenomena.

He was just about to deploy his parachute when Grimm saw a pteranodon approaching him. The winged dinosaur flew off for a few moments but returned just in time for the Thing to knock the beast into a wide canyon. He then fell through the hidden entrance to the Savage Land and was greeted by a hungry simian as his chute became stuck in the branches of a tall tree. 

Ben had just freed himself when a large green dinosaur crossed his path. The Thing was raring for action and swiftly knocked his opponent down, only to see him get back on his feet within moments. For the rematch, Grimm was aided by Ka-Zar and Zabu, who arrived just in the nick of time. 

Afterward, Ben explained the reason for his journey and learned that the scientific equipment he'd brought along had just been smashed by their foe. Ka-Zar was aware of the volcanic threat and led his friend just before one of the volcanoes erupted. The eruption scared much of the surrounding wildlife. Ben and Ka-Zar then discovered that the disturbance was man-made, as they noticed a large tank and its occupants.

The operation was headed by a man named Volcanus, or "V" for short. He fired his weapons at the heroes. A short while later, the Thing and Kazar found themselves in a cage suspended above one of the volcanoes. They were being lowered inside as Volcanus turned to leave. Ka-Zar was wise enough to encourage his companion to start swinging their cage, which soon crashed into part of the mountain, setting them free.

They then went to Zabu's side and prevented him from being terminated by one of the guards. After freeing the cat from a nete, Ben and Ka-Zar fought off the remaining guards before Volcanus returned. This time, a tug on the chain above Ben brought the villain down into the lava and his imminent demise below.

I always felt like Ka-Zar was Marvel's answer to Tarzan. His background and origin are similar to the Edgar Rice Burroughs character in several aspects. He's had his own series from time to time and was even killed off and later resurrected. Volcanus was another one-and-done opponent who could have been a thorn in the superheroes' side until his one and only appearance ended. It would be interesting to see if any of his soldiers ever decided to take up his mantle and resume the cause.

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the seventeenth issue of this title. Ben teams up with the one and only Spider-Man in a two-part tale that begins in that issue and concludes in Marvel Team-Up. The longtime friends face off against a character that was recently revived after being taken out by the Scourge several years ago. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #15

Good morning,

I hope that everyone has been having a nice, relaxing Father's Day weekend. It's time for me to talk about the fifteenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Morbius, the living vampire, squaring off before the Living Eraser. The story was called "The Return of the Living Eraser!" The issue had a cover date of May 1976. 

The action started at Alicia Master's studio. The blind girlfriend of Ben Grimm was working on a face sculpt of her beloved, not knowing that she was being watched from the skylight window by the man called Morbius. He entered silently and was soon upon the young woman.

Meanwhile, Grimm was on his way to see his lady love when her screams of terror sent him crashing through Alicia's front door. He was familiar with the character from a tale that Morbius' fiancée Martinee had told the Fantastic Four (recounted in the third issue of Marvel Team-Up), and was more than willing to defend the sculptress. A battle ensued, one that ended with Morbius departing through a closed window.

Ben was still fuming for some time afterward. Alicia tried to calm him down after having sensed her intruder's internal turmoil. Her big heart was one of the endearing qualities that Ben admired. Down on the streets below, a man down on his luck in a nearby alley happened to witness the return of the Living Eraser.

However, he would not remain there long enough to tell others of what he'd observed, as the villain swept his arms and removed him from their plane of existence. The Living Eraser remembered how he'd been sent by the leader from his native Dimension Z to Earth to learn the secrets of the atom for his people. That quest brought him into contact with Hank Pym (also known as the first Ant-Man, Yellow Jacket, and Giant Man) and Janet Van Dyke (aka the Wasp). 

Pym was able to return the people that the Living Eraser had banished back to Earth and caused the villain to go against his people and supremor. The second person that he met upon his return was Morbius himself. The living vampire still thirsted and lunged at his next target shortly before Ben jumped down to intervene. 

The two tussled once more, but their conflict continued into Dimension Z after both combatants had been affected by the Living Eraser's power. They found themselves in a cell where the menace kept Dimension Z's former ruler and his subordinates imprisoned. It was child's play for the Thing to free them, and Morbius started the assault on the guards who waited outside.

Morbius and the Thing were then given a device that would allow them to return to Earth to face the Living Eraser, who had remained behind. Their teamwork was sufficient to subdue their foe. Shortly after his defeat, the new allies from Dimension Z. Their princess had become enamored with Morbius during the breakout, and asked him to return with them. He appreciated the offer, but faded out to deal with his current issues by himself. 

Morbius is another Marvel character who can go from friend to foe in the space of just a few issues. He debuted as a villain in the pages of the Amazing Spider-Man and had several solo stories and guest appearances in titles like this one and the Savage She-Hulk, among others. He disappeared from the limelight for a while before being given another title during the rise of the Midnight Sons line in the 1990s. He still pops up from time to time, but hasn't had much staying power for very long. I always thought that he was a kind of tortured soul, not unlike Bruce Banner.

The Living Eraser is a minor Marvel villain who has only appeared in different comics a handful of times. I would like to learn more about his people, but I don't think there's enough interest at this time to warrant a deeper dive into a character that most modern comic book readers don't even know about. I had to chuckle when I first read this issue, wondering if there would ever be a character called the Living Pencil.

Well, that's it for this article. Later today, I'll cover the sixteenth issue in this series. The Thing will travel to a mystical Marvel land and join forces with a character who first debuted in the pages of the first X-Men title. Until then, have a great Sunday and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #14

Good afternoon,

I hope everyone's been enjoying the wonderful weather this weekend. I'm wrapping up my writing today with a synopsis of the fourteenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Daimon Hellstrom (aka the Son of Satan) preparing to do battle against a sword-wielding rider on horseback. The tale was titled "Ghost Town!" The issue had a publication date of March 1976.

The story started in the deserted desert town of Lawless, Arizona. Grimm appeared to be the only person occupying the village at the moment. It looked like something out of a Western television program or movie. The buildings were literally crumbling around our hero.

Ben thought back to an incident hours earlier, in the lab at the Baxter Building. His Fantastic Four teammate, Reed Richards, was working on a psych-detector, which seemed to indicate a powerful presence in the town that Ben now occupied. Grimm's girlfriend, Alicia Masters, apparently confirmed that suspicion when she felt compelled to place her hand over that section of the map below her, right before she was stunned herself by a similar burst of energy like the one that had just fired from Reed's machine minutes before.

Richards sent his former college roommate out to the quiet town to investigate. By then, he had come across an old saloon and found himself staring at the portrait of a rider that would undoubtedly strike fear in most people. Grimm's sentiment was then echoed by someone from behind him. He turned to see Hellstrom, in his Son of Satan guise, a few feet away.

Daimon had met the Human Torch before (in Marvel Team-Up #32). He explained to Ben that he'd been drawn to the location by the man in the picture hanging on the wall. He was once Jedediah Ravenstorm, a notorious criminal who had been hanged for his misdeeds. However, that didn't mean that his evil was over.

 A few moments later, a whirlwind prefaced Ravenstorm's return. He rode toward the superbeings and ordered them to leave his town, or else harm would befall them. Daimon wasn't about to depart until he'd rid the town of Ravenstorm's possession of its soul spirit. It wasn't an easy battle against someone already dead, but Ben and Daimon fought valiantly.

At one point, Hellstrom tossed his pitchfork at their foe, releasing him of his human shell and allowing their true opponent, Kthara, to take to the air. For a while, things appeared to be most dire. However, it wasn't long before the spirits of the townspeople that Ravenstorm had wronged began to fly toward the mystic villain, and apparently claimed their revenge before vanishing into thin air.

Hellstrom deduced that Kthara was no more, and he and Ben were safe. Grimm thanked his companion for his assistance before the duo made their separate ways. After returning home, Ben told Reed that he hadn't found anything of importance on his journey. Reed was a bit skeptical, but didn't press his friend on the matter, now that he was back home with the ones he loved. 

Before reading this issue, I didn't know a lot about Hellstrom, except for a few of his stories in Marvel Spotlight and some of his appearances in the Defenders before he married Patsy Walker (aka the Hellcat) and the couple left the team before the book had a new lineup and was christened the New Defenders in issue #125. Marvel did more of a deep dive on this character in the Hellstrom series that was released in the 1990s.

Ravenstorm was another one of those one-and-done villains that we'd see periodically throughout this series' initial run. Daimon had tussled with Kthara once before (in the pages of Marvel Spotlight), but there wasn't much time in this single-issue story to delve into his background. I would have liked to have learned a bit more about them, but I guess the tale was okay, especially for those who were just jumping onto this title or who were Bill Mantlo or Herb Trimpe fans. One problem with team-up books like this is that there usually aren't very many multi-part storylines, and the creative teams usually change fairly regularly, so there typically aren't very many opportunities in them to expand upon new or existing characters. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll begin the day with a recap of the fifteenth issue of this series. The Thing will meet a character who initially appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man as they go up against someone who was seeking retribution against one of the original Avengers. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #13

Good morning,

Hope all's well. It's time for me to recap the thirteenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing and Power Man in the clutches of a tall green monster. The story was called "I Created Braggadoom! The Mountain That Walked Like A Man!" The issue had a cover date of January 1976.

The story started in the offices of Heroes for Hire, in the building that also housed the Gem Theater in New York City. Luke Cage was sitting at his desk, listening to a timid scientist who wanted to employ the costumed adventurer. He explained that he was a biological researcher at Krasner Bio-Systems Inc. 

The man had been working on a delicate experiment, and the cellular tissue he'd been using was accidentally combined with an unknown substance. This error caused the solution to bubble over and forced the scientist to drop the beaker. It crashed onto the floor, and a strange green glob emanated from it, growing continuously as it moved along. 

It was finally encased in a glass case, but one of the reporters at a press conference lifted the cover to poke at it, and the entity was consumed along with Krasner. The blob later assumed a humanoid form and kept growing until it broke out of the compound and moved across the city. When Cage asked why the man hadn't contacted the Avengers or the Fantastic Four, he learned that Ben Grimm was battling the beast at that very moment. He was the only one of the FF who had been home and answered the call.

Cage then led the scientist out into the street, heading toward the destruction wrought by the monster. They found Ben and the giant known as Braggadoom in Central Park. It took that name from the sound made after it tossed the Thing into a coliseum seating section. As it fought, its intelligence increased.

Ben and Luke battled the creature until they wound up fighting each other. By then, the monster had taken the scientist named Arnold Krank with him. They went to the Baxter Building and used a Pogo Plane to track the monster. 

Braggadoom was destroying a bridge. The battle resumed until the creature was left alone. It started to shrink until it was about the same size as an action figure. Braggadoom fit right in the palm of Krank's palm, and he carried his creation off, as Ben reminded Cage about the two people who were lost when the substance absorbed them. A short while later, we saw the scientist making an audio log as the beast sat in a playpen. Apparently, Krank took the role of father figure to this being quite literally. 

This was the first of many issues of this series that was pencilled by Ron Wilson. He would also go on to draw most issues of the follow-up book, The Thing, before its cancellation. He excelled at drawing Grimm's rocky alter ego and various monsters, but I always felt his skills were a bit lacking when it came to depicting other human characters. Braggadoom is another baddie that had some potential, but to the best of my knowledge, has never appeared again in any other Marvel comic books. That's too bad. I would have liked to have seen him face off against other characters at some point, especially if his higher-level intelligence returned as well.

That's it for this morning. Later today, I'll tackle the fourteenth issue of this title. Ben goes out West and encounters an unexpected menace alongside someone who you've probably seen in issues of the Defenders and his own solo stories. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #12

Happy Friday, peeps!

It's time for me to talk about the twelfth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed Iron Man (in his infamous nose suit of armor) and the Thing facing off against Prester John. The tale was titled "The Stalker in the Sands!" The issue had a publication date of September 1975.

The story started with Ben Grimm preparing to pilot an aircraft that was designed by Tony Stark (aka Iron Man). Stark and his crew were surprised when the craft didn't lift off as intended. Instead, the plane descended down the launch tube. Grimm walked away from the crash and headed toward a bright light in his vicinity. 

By the time Iron Man appeared to investigate, the Fantastic Four member had fallen before the feet of Prester John. He stood before a stone gate, and as the heroes knelt before him, the long-lived foe recounted his initial encounter with Grimm's team (back in FF #54). Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) had found the Evil Eye that John coveted. He flew off with it before Wyatt Wingfoot blasted the device from his hand.

The Evil Eye went missing for years. Prester searched for it and found many treasures in the meantime, but not the one that meant the most to him. One of his lackeys eventually presented him with a stone that allowed him to see events that spread across timelines. Prester took it to mean that he was the power of the universe, and only awoke after the cavern he'd been in for years was opened by the rocket malfunction.

The two stars of Marvel Feature #12 battled Prester John for control of the stone. The Thing was eventually able to grab it and toss it into the sky, where it soon shattered into multiple pieces. Once it was destroyed, Prester realized that the images were merely those of typical mortal desires, and not as prescient as he'd previously believed. He then asked the heroes to join him on a quest for nourishment.

Before reading this issue, the only other time I'd seen the villain of this tale was in part of the Avengers/ Defenders crossover event from the 1970s. He's another one of those characters who could either be a friend or a foe at any time. I thought he was better suited for an appearance in the Mighty Thor, and even though I usually love Bill Mantlo's scripts, I felt that this one was a bit lackluster. It did give him an excuse to include Tony Stark and his armored alter ego, though. 

Well, that's it from me for today. I'll start the weekend with a recounting of the thirteenth issue of this series. Ben embarks on an unusual battle, teaming up with someone who briefly took his place in the Fantastic Four. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #11

Hello,

Today's topic is the eleventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted Ben Grimm battling the entity known as the Golem. The story was called "The Thing Goes South!" The issue had a cover date of September 1975.

It all began in a busy concourse, with the Thing trying to scramble to help his girlfriend, Alicia Masters, navigate the bustling crowd so they could make their connection to Disney World. The couple was about to miss their train when Ben used his strength to delay the train long enough for them to board. His appearance was enough to make other passengers stop, stare, and decide to sit somewhere else.

Meanwhile, at San Pedro University in Florida, a trio of young adults stood before the Golem. One of them was certain that the living stone figure had moved. They engaged in a spirited debate about prior incidents, and there were definitely doubts about the Golem, even though it had been praised for vanquishing villains. The quartet was being watched from afar by one of the Golem's previous foes, who soon dispatched his minions to embark on a mission of revenge.

By then, Ben and Alicia's train had been moving along smoothly. A radio report informed passengers that a tidal wave had taken out a bridge that connected Saint Petersburg with San Pedro University. The Thing grabbed his lady and headed toward the college town. When they arrived, they found several residents running in panic. A television broadcast showed footage of the Golem smashing up the town. 

It seemed inevitable that the two titans would meet, and their confrontation happened a lot sooner than later. Even though the Golem seemed to be much stronger, the Thing still held his ground. He even created a bridge to separate them from the henchmen of the Golem's arch-rival, Kaballa. The foe eventually appeared on the scene, and things looked dire until Kaballa learned that his disciples had been taken care of.

After the demon disappeared, things quieted down. The Golem's associates thought that people might have a better understanding and tolerance of people who weren't quite like them. Ben knew from experience that it was usually easier said than done.

I understand the moral lesson that scripter Roy Thomas and writer Bill Mantlo were trying to impart upon their audience, but I think the problem was that not a lot of readers knew much about the Golem or his supporting characters before picking up this issue, myself included. I almost confused him with It, the Living Colossus at first. I may have to go back and read some of his previous exploits sometime. He seems like a character that has some decent potential, but wasn't quite popular enough to merit very many feature stories or even a mini-series or ongoing title. Books like this and its counterpart, Marvel Team-Up, were used at times to gauge interest in different guest stars, and this tale was a prime example of just that. A fair yarn, but none that merited a follow-up or garnered a large faithful following.

That's it for now. I'll end the work week with a recap of the twelfth issue of this title. The Thing rejoins an armored Avenger as they battle another lesser-known baddie. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #10

Hi there,

Well, we're halfway through the week. Time for me to talk about the tenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Black Widow fighting off baddies while the Thing tried to drag a large bomb away from everyone. The story was called "Is This the Day the World Ends?" The issue had a publication date of July 1975. 

It all began with a high-speed auto chase down a busy thoroughfare. The Black Widow was driving her sports car away from another vehicle that was occupied by a trio of costumed gunmen. She tried to avoid their fire, but it wasn't an easy task. At the same time, Ben Grimm was having a leisurely walk with his blind girlfriend Alicia Masters, not far from the action.

Before long, the Widow's car headed right for the two lovebirds. Grimm sprang into action, pushing his woman to safety before trying to shield them from the impact of the inevitable collision. Both heroes were eventually whisked away by helicopter by the armed soldiers. Alicia was left all alone, wondering where Ben had gone.

Grimm awoke a while later and demanded answers. The person in charge advised him against brutality, showing that he'd had the Widow at gunpoint. They'd been taken to a floating base in the Atlantic Ocean, far away from land. The leader then brought them to the center of the compound, where a large bomb was being prepared for submersion. The thermonuclear device was intended to trigger tsunamis that would destroy most coastal cities. 

Grimm and Natasha Romanov (the Widow's true identity) were later imprisoned. Ben soon learned that their cell was electrified and that their jailer, Andrei Rostov, once had a personal relationship with the Widow many years ago. She asked for his help in removing a narrow sheet from her outfit that contained the components for a field disruptor rifle that she used to break them out of their cell.

Natasha set off to attack their captors, while Ben went for the bomb. He had to make sure that it didn't reach its designated depth. Grimm was finally able to pull the device up and used part of the cables to lash out at Rostov before he could prematurely end the young adventurer's life. 

After the villains had been detained, Ben and Natasha took control of the facility. Ben understood the gravity of the situation and the many lives they'd saved. He breathed a sigh of relief and allowed himself to celebrate with Natasha once she confirmed that SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters Intelligence and Law Enforcement Division) would arrive and that his girlfriend was fine. 

For a Chris Claremont script, this was kind of a cookie-cutter plot. I've enjoyed the Black Widow's appearances in the pages of the Avengers, the Champions, Daredevil, and Marvel Fanfare, but I don't think that the Thing is really the kind of James Bond-style counterpart that works very well with her. Not Chris' best effort, but I've read worse in my day. The villain wasn't much to write home about. Just another forgettable foe that wasn't affiliated with any major groups like Hydra or the Maggia. Klaus Janson's inks over Bob Brown's pencil work kept me reading this yarn.

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the eleventh issue of this series. The Thing will pair up with a lesser-known character who, before then, was best known for their appearances in Marvel's Strange Tales magazine. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.