Minnesota Twins 2026 Season in Review

Howdy, folks,

Time for me to talk about the Minnesota Twins' 2026 season. I didn't expect much from this franchise after they traded 11 players from their 40-man roster last year, but they were still in the running for a playoff spot until the last few weeks of the season. I'll go through the roster one player at a time, starting with their offense:

Orlando Arcia (UTIL): .271, 1 HR, 2 RBI in 19 games. This veteran utility man had limited time with the big league club. He provided veteran leadership for the Saints, and I expect him to sign with another club or perhaps play overseas next year. 

Josh Bell (DH-1B): .255, 21 HR, 96 RBI, 2 SB in 154 games. Bell was a veteran leader on the bench and in the field for this team. He led the Twins in runs batted in, and he was a good mentor for many of the young players. We'll see if he's resigned for next year. 

Byron Buxton (CF): .254, 25 HR, 45 RBI, 7 SB in 93 games. Buxton put up All-Star numbers in the first half, before a nagging hip injury wiped out most of the second half of his season. He underwent surgery before the season ended, and should be back patrolling center field in no time. 

Victor Caratini (C-1B): .220, 7 HR, 44 RBI in 106 games. Victor's playing time decreased over the last couple of months, but he's still under team control. If Jeffers leaves via free agency, Caratini will probably be the Twins' main backstop.

Kody Clemens (INF/OF): .239, 27 HR, 81 RBI, 10 SB in 145 games. Clemens had a career year. It's no wonder why he's considered one of the team's MVPs. He reached career highs offensively and proved that he could play all 3 outfield roles along with first and second base. He spent most of the year at second, so that's where I expect him to be in 2027. 

Kaelen Culpepper (SS): .274, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB in 33 games. Kaelen homered in his first big league game in Milwaukee and proved to be well worth the hype with his defensive play at short. He's almost guaranteed to be the Twins' starting shortstop in 2027.

Kyler Fedko (OF): 0 for 16 with 1 RBI in 14 games. Fedko was one of the Saints' best players who received limited playing time during his call-up. He should be one of the Saints' starters again in 2027.

Gabriel Gonzalez (OF): 2 for 8 in 7 games. Gabriel had a brief cup of coffee in the bigs in 2026. I don't see him starting for the team, or any other MLB club, any time soon, but things could change, of course. 

Tristan Gray (INF): .225, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 2 SB in 66 games. Gray beat out Kreidler for one of the utility infield roles at the end of spring training. He had a good start, including a grand slam during the home opener, but faded and was eventually sent down to the Saints as Kreidler and rookie Kaelen Culpepper took over the job at shortstop after Lee moved to the hot corner. I'd be surprised if Gray returns to the organization next year. 

Alex Jackson (C-1B): .304, 1 HR, 5 RBI in 33 games. I didn't expect the Twins to keep a third catcher on the big league team for as long as they did. Jackson is serviceable, but not outstanding. He's one of those AAAA players that many sportswriters talk about. 

Ryan Jeffers (C): .256, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 1 SB in 92 games. Jeffers looked to be a sure All-Star selection until he went on the injured list with a broken hand, but still had a solid season. He's entering free agency, so we'll see if he returns to the Twins or signs with another team.

Walker Jenkins (OF): .226, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB in 26 games. I thought that the Twins would have kept Walker in AAA this year to retain more rights in case there's a lockout in 2027. He came up late in the year, and did a good job manning center field after Buxton went on the injured list. I could see him in left next year for the Twins. 

Luke Keaschall (INF-OF): .282, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 20 SB in 152 games. Luke had a breakthrough sophomore season. He moved from second base to right field during the year and proved to be better defensively at his new position. I'm sure he'll be the everyday right fielder, batting leadoff for the Twins in 2027. 

Ryan Kreidler (INF-OF): .218, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 4 SB in 105 games. Kreidler's versatility kept him with the big league squad for most of the year. He usually played the middle infield or center field, filling in for injuries. Unsure if he'll return in 2027. 

Trevor Larnach (LF-DH): .269, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 2 SB in 122 games. Larnach is a good corner outfielder, with some pop as a left-handed gap-hitter. He was nearly traded to Houston this year, and I'd be surprised if he remains with the Twins next year. 

Brooks Lee (INF): .253, 24 HR, 83 RBI, 8 SB in 156 games. Lee also had his best year offensively. He proved that he could handle the hot corner, moving there from shortstop after Lewis was demoted to AAA St. Paul. Expect to see him as the starting third baseman for the Twins in 2027. 

Royce Lewis (INF): .227, 15 HR, 57 RBI, 16 SB in 125 games. An early-season trip to St. Paul helped Royce regain his confidence. He came back ready to play both second base and first, the latter position being his primary place on the field after his return. His low batting average is cause for concern, and it remains to be seen if the former number 1 overall pick will remain with the franchise or be sent elsewhere.

Austin Martin (OF): .228, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 12 SB in 118 games. Martin's average was down significantly and his season was interrupted by a few stints on the IL, but he was still a solid outfielder. If Jenkins nails down the left field spot, Austin's playing time could be reduced to a bench/late inning defensive replacement role. 

James Outman (OF): .156, 3 RBI and 4 SB in 49 games. Outman was part of the compensation the Twins received for trading reliever Brock Stewart to the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. His stock has fallen fast since his rookie year. Outman was eventually picked up by the Detroit Tigers later in 2026. 

Alan Roden (OF): .291, 1 HR, 14 RBI in 32 games. The Twins acquired Roden in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays last season. He's split his time between AAA and the bigs since that trade. I'm not very impressed with him yet, but his big league experience has been relatively small sample sizes so far. 

Emmanuel Rodriguez (OF): .178, 2 HR, 5 RBI in 13 games. Emmanuel made his big league debut late in the season for the Twins. One reason for his recall was that he was almost out of options. He showed flashes of talent, but he might begin 2027 in AAA again, if he's still with the organization.

Ben Ross (INF): .190, 1 RBI and 1 SB in 10 games. Ross was another star of the Saints who finally got his call-up late this season. I expect him to be back in the same utility role with the organization again next year, barring a trade or release. 

Aaron Sabato (1B): 0 for 6 in 3 games. One of the players who you usually see in the Twins' spring training games finally got the call to the show late this year. He's been with the organization so long, I thought his chance might never happen. We'll have to see what the Twins' plans are for first base in 2027. 

Matt Wallner (RF): .167, 4 HR, 10 RBI in 34 games. The pride of Forest Lake has a great arm, but his 53 strikeouts in just 120 MLB at-bats and his batting average are the main reasons he spent most of 2026 in AAA. I think the Twins have given up on him, and I'd be shocked if they don't trade or cut him before next season starts.

Now let's look at the Twins' pitching staff:

Mick Abel: 1-2, 3.98 ERA in 4 games. Most of MIck's season was lost to injury. Hoping he can return to the promise he showed us in 2026 after being traded to the Twins from the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Garrett Acton: 1-1, 5.73 ERA in 7 games. Like Abel, Acton spent most of the season on the injured list. It's a small sample size of work, but I doubt it's enough to re-sign him for next year. 

Travis Adams: 3-0, 4.58 ERA and 3 saves in 40 games. Adams finally settled into a relief role during his sophomore season and performed adequately. I don't see him being another rotation option anytime soon.

Anthony Banda: 2-0, 4.46 ERA, 2 saves in 39 games. This former Dodger's season was finally starting to turn around for the better when he landed on the IL for the rest of the year. I'd like to see what he can do in a full season. 

Taj Bradley: 12-6, 3.73 ERA in 31 starts. Bradley improved greatly over last year after being acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays. He was the ace of the team's rotation and had his first 200-strikeout season. Look for him to be in the top of the rotation next year.

Kody Funderburk: 3-2, 3.71 ERA, 1 save in 58 games. Kody had an up-and-down year, but he's still a decent left-handed reliever. We'll see where he begins 2027. 

Yoendrys Gomez: 3-4, 3.62 ERA, and 21 saves in 56 games. Gomez was one of the team's best early-season acquisitions. We finally had a capable closer for the first time since Jhoan Duran was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies last year. 

Jeff Hoffman: 0-1, 2.50 ERA and 1 save in 20 games. Hoffman was another acquisition from the Blue Jays. I could see him on this team again in 2027 as another bullpen specialist.

Dean Kremer: 4-1, 3.48 ERA in 10 starts. The Twins acquired Kremer before the trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles. He didn't get a lot of run support, but still made the case to remain a back-end rotation option next year. 

Cody Laweryson: 1-0, 4.86 ERA and 1 save in 15 games. Cody debuted in 2026 and has been up and down for various reasons ever since. He's still in the running for a bullpen role in 2027. 

Justin Lawrence: 0-1, 18.00 ERA in 7 games. I don't even remember this player. Looking at his stats, I can understand why most fans forgot about him. 

Zebby Matthews: 9-11, 4.90 ERA in 23 starts. Zebby was a fixture in the rotation for most of the season. His ERA was a bit higher than expected, and might see more seasoning in AAA if that trend continues.

A.J. Minter: 1-1, 2.78 ERA, 1 save in 25 games. Minter was a good pickup from the New York Mets. He's a free agent, so we'll see if he returns to the Twins in 2027. 

Andrew Morris: 4-8, 4.40 ERA, and 5 saves in 64 games. This rookie had a few hiccups down the stretch but was one of Derek Shelton's most reliable pitchers for most of 2026. I think his best role is late-inning relief. 

Tommy Nance: 2-1, 4.05 ERA in 25 games. Nance was traded to Minnesota in late July from the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched well enough to be a reliable late-inning guy. 

Bailey Ober: 7-7, 4.47 ERA in 25 games. Ober also battled with injuries. He was the only Twins pitcher with both a shutout and a save in 2026. Hope he can turn things around in 2027.

Eric Orze: 2-2, 5.66 ERA and 1 save in 36 games. Tampa Bay traded Orze to the Twins last year after the postseason. I wasn't too impressed with him, mainly because of his high ERA. 

Mike Paredes: 0-3, 4.72 ERA in 9 games. The lone Twins game I attended at Target Field this season was started by Paredes, a loss to the Colorado Rockies that was notable because of DH Hunter Goodman's 3 home runs. He shuttled between the rotation and bullpen, and may do the same next year. 

Connor Prielipp: 6-7, 4.87 ERA in 24 games. Prielipp started to figure things out as the season went on. This rookie should be in the running for the starting staff next year.

Taylor Rogers: 6-4, 4.33 ERA and 2 saves in 65 games. Taylor's return to the Twins started a bit rough, but he eventually had a good season coming out of the bullpen. We'll see if he returns in 2027. 

Kendry Rojas: 1-1, 3.34 ERA in 12 games. Rojas' rookie year was interrupted by injuries. If he stays healthy, he could be a back-end rotation option or a long reliever for the Twins in 2027. 

Joe Ryan: 7-10, 3.79 ERA in 27 starts. Ryan's velocity went down for a while, and he started giving up more long balls for a while. Hopefully, Joe can right the ship in 2027.

Cole Sands: 1-1, 8.25 ERA and 1 save in 13 games. Cole was another lefty specialist hit hard by injuries in 2026. If he bounces back, he could be a good bullpen arm once again in 2027.

Justin Topa: 0-1, 8.05 ERA and 2 saves in 23 games. Topa was one of the players the Twins acquired in the Jorge Polanco trade with the Seattle Mariners a few years ago. Most Twins fans weren't surprised to see him designated for assignment in May. Since then, he signed minor league deals with the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, and New York Yankees this year. 

Simeon Woods Richardson: 0-7, 7.74 ERA in 12 games. Simeon pitched his way out of the Twins organization. He landed with Toronto and pitched a few big league games before eventually signing a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners. 

I have to note that starters Pablo Lopez and David Festa missed the entire big league season due to injuries. 

Manager Derek Shelton was a former Twins' bench coach, so he knows the organization fairly well. I give him credit for having consistent lineups and establishing starter and bullpen roles. However, he's never had a winning season.

The Twins have missed the playoffs for five of the last six seasons. As I said before, I didn't expect much from a team that traded away 11 players from its 40-man roster, but they were still in the running for a playoff spot, or even the AL Central crown, until they faded late again, and the Cleveland Guardians and the surprising Chicago White Sox nailed down the division's playoff spots. 

One gripe that I've had about this organization is that they never seem to really invest much in pitchers. When they have good pitchers emerge from their farm system, they're usually traded off to other teams, and the Twins don't really compete for the top stars in free agency. I know they're a small-market team, but every big league club has to have good starters and relievers. They can't keep relying on bargain-basement pitchers in the hopes that one or two of them might pan out. 

Pitching coach Pete Maki has already been replaced with former big league pitcher Ben Reith. Reith has never coached at the major league level before, so we'll see how the staff responds to him. I thought that Latroy Hawkins did well in his move from part-time color commentator to bullpen coach. He knows the young arms, and his lengthy MLB career taught him plenty to impart on his staff. 

The front office has said they'll spend money next year to field a competitive team, but longtime fans have heard that before. The Twins actually cut payroll right after their last playoff season. Attendance at Target Field was down to its lowest level in years, and it's not difficult to see why. Fans want to see a good team that can win. Whether or not the organization can provide that remains to be seen. 

That's all I have for now. Tomorrow, I'll resume my retro comic book blogs with a recap of the first issue of another short-lived Marvel super-character team-up series. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #36

Happy Monday, folks!

It's time for me to talk about the thirty-sixth issue of the Thing. The cover for the series finale showed the She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) and the new Ms. Marvel (Sharon Ventura) about to face off in the background, with Ben Grimm in agony in the foreground. The tale was titled "Going for Broke." The issue had a cover date of June 1986.

The story started in Avengers Mansion in New York City as She-Hulk was in the middle of a workout when her attention was diverted by a television newscast about the Thing being wanted in connection with violence in Los Angeles. He was suspected of destroying several buildings in the area. It was also announced that Grimm's Unlimited Class Wrestling Foundation had suspended all matches for a week.

Walters started thinking about how Ben's luck had gone from bad to worse lately. She asked the mansion's faithful butler Jarvis if she could borrow a quinjet. Jarvis replied that the government didn't allow them to launch their personal craft from the mansion at the moment, but was happy to reserve her a seat on the next flight to Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Ventura, Lt. Mur,phy, and Grimm were bursting through the Power Broker's headquarters. However, they were suprised to see an empty building. They were followed by Unlimited Class Wrestling Foundation members who had been hot on the trio's trail. The heroes went to defend themselves, including the Thing, who started feeling dizzy again.

The new Ms. Marvel held her own and rushed to Ben's side after he collapsed. The Thing started to mutate after complaining about horrible pain. He ran through the crowd in agony before finally collapsing. Michael Murphy and Sharon joined him in an ambulance, which sped off to the nearest hospital.

In the offices of the Los Angeles Sports Complex, Walters was confronting UCWF head honcho Ed Garner, who was in high demand. He admitted that several of his charges had used the services of the Power Broker, which he had just recently learned. Neither of them knew about the Thing's whereabouts until a subordinate entered, talking about his arrival at the hospital. The She-Hulk and Garner raced out of the room, their next stop being quite obvious.

At the hospital, Grimm was still racked with pain and refused the possible aid of his old friend Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic). His wrestling partner, Demolition Dunphy, was in another room, recovering from the effects of the nerve pills the Power Broker had supplied him. He admitted that the Power Broker had never met the Thing, nor had he supplied him with any drugs.

Ventura spotted the She-Hulk outside the hospital and raced to stop her from entering. The two female titans engaged in a scuffle, part of which Grimm observed before he ran through the hospital wall to escape. He continued on foot until his friends, including Garner, lost him. They wished him well regardless.

The Thing wound up in the back of a garbage truck. He leapt from the moving vehicle and fell down a small hill near a beach. Ben knew the one place where he'd never be called a monster, someplace free from prying eyes and curious onlookers.

This title was canceled along with other ongoing series like Dazzler, ROM: Spaceknight, the Defenders, the Further Adventures of Indiana Jones, Power Man/Iron Fist, and Micronauts: The New Voyages in 1986. I felt like this story was a bit rushed because of the magazine's impending cancellation, but it did bring a bit of closure for some aspects. I still don't know much about the lieutenant who appeared in the previous issue, and it would have been nice to see the wrestling league resume business after the Power Broker business was over. 

Grimm's story was continued in the pages of the West Coast Avengers title. A limited series was planned but never officially released. Barry Windsor Smith later published the planned mini-saga online. The Thing would return to the Fantastic Four in their 25th anniversary issue, and even led the team for a while as Reed and Susan Richards (the Invisible Woman) took a leave to focus on their family. 

Ventura would go on a few adventures with Captain America before joining Ben's new version of the FF, alongside Crystal, a female Inhuman who was once the girlfriend of Johnny Storm (the Human Torch). She would eventually be turned into a female Thing, only to be returned to human form by Dr. Doom. That would cause a rift between Ben and Sharon. She would return as a deformed version of her rocky self, and has popped up again from time to time since then.

She-Hulk would remain an Avenger after leaving the FF. She was still an ally and friend of Ben and attended Johnny Storm and Alicia Masters' wedding. She has had many solo and group exploits since she debuted in the Savage She-Hulk. Her origin story was plotted by Stan Lee and penciled by John Buscema.

That's it for this series. I hope you enjoyed it. My next column will be on the 2026 Minnesota Twins' season. I'll return to my retro comic blogs later this week with another team-up mag. This one was much shorter-lived and featured several characters who will be in the next Marvel movie. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #35

Good afternoon, folks,

I'm winding down a busy, hot Sunday with a recap of the thirty-fifth issue of the Thing. The cover depicted Sharon Ventura as the new Ms. Marvel, with Ben Grimm and a cadre of other characters in the background. The story was named "Power Play!" The issue had a publication date of May 1986.

The tale began with Ventura walking down a street in a seedy section of New York, unaware that a trio of crooks was eyeing her as their next victim. She held her own in the ensuing fight, but a hit on the back of her head made Sharon start seeing what she thought was her father. When her senses cleared, she realized that it was a different man in uniform fending off the attackers.

The soldier helped Ventura to her feet and identified himself as Lieutenant Michael Lynch. She begged off further assistance, and as Lynch walked away, Sharon thought back to her father, another military man who drove her to excellence. Ventura put her all into everything she did. One day at the military academy she was attending, Sharon was asked by her superior to indict a friend and fellow roommate for cheating. She refused and was expelled for failing to obey that order.

That incident formed a rift between Ventura and her father. They barely talked in the year that followed, before the older Ventura's passing. At his funeral, Sharon vowed to be the best she could be at anything she pursued. That determination drove her to pursue some rather dangerous professions.

As Sharon was about to enter the Power Broker's domicile, Ben and his wrestling partner Demolition Dunphy were talking about their upcoming plans. Grimm was still experiencing dizzy spells at times, even after being given a clean bill of health by his physician. Dunphy took a few nerve pills to help calm himself before their video shoot. The two left the hotel room after Ben grabbed the Power Broker's card that he had taken from Sharon (in issue #33).

Meanwhile, Ventura waited in a reception area before being directed to a back room that was pitch black. A spotlight filled the room, obstructing Sharon's vision of the man who sat at a desk before her. He claimed to be the Power Broker and described the upcoming radiation and enzyme treatments that she would undergo, which would be followed by an additional treatment so that she'd be on the same level as the Unlimited Class Wrestling Foundation's female Grapplers.

The first part of the process was administered by Dr. Karl Malus, as Ben and Dunphy were in the middle of their video recording in Burbank. Afterward, Grimm started feeling dizzy again. Once he was feeling better, he was determined to follow up on the Power Broker, someone whom Dunphy knew better than his colleague.

Sharon started to hallucinate while attached to the table during the first session. Malus neared her, and was about to begin the second step, hypodermic needle ready in one hand. She refused, and broke free from the restraints. Ventura ran in terror, while Grimm exited a cab a block away and ran into the same thugs that Sharon had encountered at the start of this story.

Ventura was still inside the Power Broker's complex, and she avoided his henchmen and automated traps. She finally reached an area that contained people who had been locked away in cells, their bodies mutated by the villain's experiments. Sharon jumped through a window, only to land outside in the hands of multiple super-powered men. 

By then, Ben had met Lt. Lynch, and the pair were drawn to Sharon's screams. They burst onto the scene to save her. While the Thing took on the brigands, Sharon and Michael ran to Auntie Freeze's hotel room. She had a costume ready for Ventura, which made Sharon look like a superhero after putting it on. 

Freeze excused herself for a moment, stating she had an important call. Lynch and Ventura barely had time to breathe before the female Grapplers headed directly for them. The Power Broker wanted Sharon dead and had dispatched more underlings to accomplish that goal. 

Ben was back in the hotel, trying to console Dunphy, who was in pain without the nerve pills, but admitted to his friend that the Power Broker had called, wanting Ventura to be eliminated. Ben entered the fray once more and escaped with Sharon and Michael.

Grimm stopped momentarily to call an ambulance for Dunphy before guiding his friends into an empty alley. The angry mob of male and female wrestlers ran past. Ben knew that the posse had relied on the Power Broker to augment their abilities, and some were suffering ill effects without those treatments. That was how he exerted power and control over them. Sharon confessed to having visited the Power Broken, which meant that she was still in danger.

I'm glad that we finally learned more about Sharon's history in this issue. We don't know anything about the rest of her family, but at least we can understand why she was willing to engage in dangerous situations. The character was groomed as the next Ms. Marvel and did wear this costume in issues of Captain America and the Fantastic Four before being mutated into a female Thing. 

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the thirty-sixth and final issue of the Thing. Ben and Sharon continue to search for the Power Broker, even as they're being followed by his loyal recruits. It's a tale that also involves the Thing's replacement in the Fantastic Four. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #34

Good morning, folks,

Time for me to talk about the thirty-fourth issue of the Thing. The cover showed Ben Grimm in an odd pose as he ducked a fist aimed at him by his old enemy, the Sphinx. The tale was titled "Dual Duel." The issue had a cover date of April 1986.

The story started in the Sphinx's mobile flying pyramid, as the decades-old monarch viewed the Thing battling an opponent in the wrestling ring on his monitor. He swore vengeance on the former Fantastic Four member, as his vehicle hovered over a garbage dump. Machines were employed to extract materials from the ground, including lifeless clay that was soon brought on board.

Upon further examination by some of those devices, the clay was transformed into the form of the Puppet Master. The villain had been dismantled after his last encounter with Grimm (in issue #8) and placed in a dumpster, where the Sphinx found it. Upon hearing about his host's plans to destroy the Thing, the Puppet Master offered a partnership. The Sphinx quickly rejected that proposal and kicked the old man out of his flying fortress.

The pyramid flew off, but not before the Puppet Master vowed to find their common foe first. Ben was back in action in the ring at the Unlimited Class Wrestling Foundation's headquarters in Los Angeles a few days later when his sparring partner, Demolition Dunphy, seemed a bit stronger than usual. Grimm eventually realized that his opponent's moves were being deftly guided by the Puppet Master, whom he spied in the arena seats.

After tying up Dunphy, the Thing made a beeline for the elder Masters. He confronted the Puppet Master, who was still angry at him for dating his stepdaughter Alicia. Grimm had to set the man straight. He explained that Alicia had left him for another man, although he wouldn't disclose the fact that her current suitor was his old Fantastic Four teammate, Johnny Storm (the Human Torch). Grimm showed Masters a picture of his current love interest, Sharon Ventura.

The Puppet Master finally started to understand that the Thing simply wasn't interested in Alicia anymore. He fled moments later, leaving Grimm to untie his colleague and explain a bit. He barely noticed that Sharon had gone off with the female Grapplers, but Dunphy reminded him that Sharon was her own woman, and that she needed a bit of space for her own.

Ben was engaged in the marquee match that evening when the contest was interrupted by the arrival of the Sphinx. Their battle raged across town and was captured by local media. Phillip Masters was in a hotel room not far away when his attention turned to a TV broadcast of the destruction. He rushed out of the room after having made a decision to become involved in the affair.

The Puppet Master raced through the crowd of onlookers and neared the two combatants just as it appeared that the Sphinx finally had the upper hand. He used some of his radioactive clay to form a puppet of the Sphinx, which he then manipulated to make the real Sphinx take the Ka stone from his forehead and crush it.

The villain dissipated into dust not long thereafter. Masters walked past Grimm, who was severely weakened from the fight, and announced that the Sphinx would have met his demise anyway once the stone deteriorated. All he did was speed up that process. Grimm was surprised by his old enemy's heroics, but was too spent to do anything more at the moment.

This issue provided a bit of closure from the events that occurred in the ninety-first issue of Marvel Two-In-One. It also showed a different side of the Puppet Master, who was still a bitter rival of the Thing earlier in this series. It did change their dynamic for a while, at least until it was later revealed that Storm was in love with a Skrull who had taken Alicia's place.

That's it for now. I'll return later today with a synopsis of the thirty-fifth issue of the Thing. We'll learn what happened to Sharon Ventura and learn a bit more about her past. Until then, have a great Sunday and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #33

Happy Saturday, folks!

Hope all's well. Today's topic is the thirty-third issue of the Thing. You can barely see the titular character on the cover, as he's swarmed by more than a dozen female wrestlers. The story was called "Battle of the Sexes!" The issue had a publication date of March 1986.

The tale began in the wrestling ring, as the female fighter known as Battleaxe was eventually declared the winner in her match against the grappler called Titania. You may remember Titania and several of her comrades from a Project Pegasus storyline in Marvel Two-In-One.

With her triumph, Battleaxe boastfully stated that it was time that she take her rival's place as spokesperson for the Unlimited Class Wrestling Foundation's female grapplers, much to the chagrin of Titania. Ben had to jump into the ring to help separate the combatants and prevent further conflict.

Battleaxe chatted with the Thing for a while as Titania and her fellow Grapplers conferred in their locker room. They followed the advice of their trainer, Auntie, but some expressed concerns over how their group was viewed because of the original Grapplers' prison records. Titania finally decided that she'd heard enough and went to take a shower. 

The group soon dispersed. One of the stragglers, a newcomer who went by the name Golddigger, exclaimed she was going to try to calm Titania down. She entered the locker room alone and began assembling a weapon.

Meanwhile, Grimm and Battleaxe continued to talk as they walked past the ring setup. Ben was thinking about how he hadn't heard anything from Sharon Ventura since he visited her on the movie set (in issue #31), but when he did see her in the crowd, he walked past, promising he'd be back soon. 

Titania asked the new girl for another bar of soap, only to find the newbie standing before her with a rifle. She fired the gun and proclaimed that justice was served. Ben and Battleaxe heard the shot. Golddigger emerged from the locker room moments later, stating that a man had shot Titania and fled. 

Battleaxe ran to the shower, while the Thing opted to check around back. Battleaxe confirmed Titania's death and was angered because she was certain that her teammate had been murdered by a man. She even lashed out at Grimm for expressing doubt.

Auntie vowed to get to the bottom of the matter, as multiple Grapplers ganged up on the Thing. Eventually, Ventura entered the locker room and urged the ladies to back off. Auntie observed quietly, thinking that Sharon might have what it took to join their group. 

The ladies slowly dispersed, and learned after Battleaxe returned that the Thing was not the gunman, because she was with him when the shot had been fired. Everyone left the room, except for Auntie and Ventura. Auntie expressed interest in Sharon's fighting skills and gave her a card for the Power Broker. 

Some time later, Battleaxe met with UCWF's leader, Ed Garner, to express her interest in fighting a man. She wanted to battle Ben in the ring. Ed entertained the idea before discussing it with Grimm. Ben was not willing to participate, at least not at first. 

He joined Sharon for dinner at a nearby steakhouse afterward. He explained what had just happened before Ventura showed him the business card that Auntie had given her. Ben snatched the card, knowing that name as someone who had given other wrestlers additional strength and ability. He wanted to check it out, fearing for her safety. Sharon resented Ben's position, assuming he thought she couldn't take care of herself. Before storming off, she informed Grimm that she'd already called the Power Broker. 

Left alone, he stood in place for a few moments before finding the nearest phone. He called Garner and told him that he'd agreed to the match against Battleaxe. The contest was held the following week. Battleaxe was confident that she'd win. Grimm held his ground for as long as possible, refusing to return the punches that were thrown at him.

Battleaxe finally knocked Ben down and was declared the champion. Because Ben didn't fight back, she felt cheated and threw the championship belt down. She declared the match to be a forfeit. Grimm thought he had taken the right course of action, but now he was focused on learning more about the Power Broker.

I remember first reading this issue, which was part of a polybag comic book set. I didn't know much about the Grapplers at the time, but this was the second appearance of the Scourge in this series. The villain-killer would go on to eliminate different foes in various Marvel titles at the time, and was mainly featured in Captain America's comic. I was kind of surprised that we didn't see more of Titania's original allies, including Screaming Mimi, who was later known as Songbird in the first iteration of the Thunderbolts. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll start the day with a discussion of the thirty-fourth issue of the Thing. Ben heads back into the ring until he runs across a couple of longtime rivals. Until then, have a great weekend, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #32

Happy Friday, folks!

I'm winding down this week with a recap of the thirty-second issue of the Thing. The cover showed Vance Astrovik battling Ben Grimm in the wrestling ring, with a gun pointed at the pair. The tale was titled "Home." The issue had a publication date of February 1986.

The story started with an airplane heading for Los Angeles that suddenly started to encounter some mechanical difficulties. The Thing was one of the many passengers on the commercial flight. He came to the rescue and helped the craft land on time. 

A short while later, Sharon Ventura met Ben outside the airport. She questioned his plans to resume his wrestling career, but let him continue on to his hotel. Grimm turned the key to his room and found a stranger ransacking the area that he shared with Vance Astrovik. 

Ben learned that the intruder was a private investigator hired by Vance's parents. He rushed the P.I. out of the room before collapsing on his bed. His headaches had returned, but right now he needed rest.

The next day, Grimm resumed his sparring sessions. He was introduced to a new challenger, who was obviously the 17-year-old Astrovik in a muscle suit. The two friends made their bout look convincing until the private investigator left the arena. 

Afterward, Vance admitted that he didn't want to go home because his father would beat him. It started not long after his powers first manifested. Grimm understood how the lad felt.

The next morning, Ben was being examined by the company physician when he heard gunshots. Grimm ran to the source of the noise, which was the P.I. firing a gun at Vance. Ben confronted the gunman, who was disarmed by another wrestler who broke the investigator's arm with a powerful chop.

Ben followed Vance, trying to convince him to listen. He only relented when his mother walked through the door. She explained that his father was going through therapy. Vance realized that his parents still loved him and was willing to head home. He'd miss his travel partner, but Ben was focused on the unusual strength that some of his fellow wrestlers exhibited after a round of brews, of course. 

It was obvious that Marvel was trying to make Vance a sidekick for the Thing in this series, but that concept didn't really stick, especially since he wasn't very involved with matters while Ben was in the ring. I wasn't a big fan of this storyline, but at least the future Guardian of the Galaxy had a peaceful homecoming, I hope.

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the thirty-third issue of the Thing. Ben continues to face new foes in the ring, and Sharon Ventura returns, as does another recent menace who was known for knocking off certain super-villains at the time. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #31

Happy Thursday, folks!

Time for me to talk about the thirty-first issue of the Thing. The cover depicted Ben Grimm in a heroic pose, as he appears to be right out of a Devil Dinosaur comic book. The tale was titled "Devil Dinosaur: The Movie." The issue had a cover date of January 1986.

The story started with Grimm in the wrestling ring taking on another Unlimited Class Wrestling Foundation opponent. The training session was interrupted by the arrival of a member of the National Safety Commission. The man had heard about incidents that had happened recently at UCWF events, and posed the possibility of shutting the league down.

Grimm wasn't about to let that happen, and made his concerns well known to the stranger. The official proposed constructing a transparent dome over the wrestling ring. Realizing he had to choose between that option or shutting down indefinitely, Grimm's boss Garner chose the former. 

The dome would take about two weeks to build. Ben decided to use some of that time to visit Sharon Ventura at the movie set she was working on. Grimm's travel companion Vance Astrovik was a bit wary about Ben's plans, but gave up the argument after Grimm started feeling weak all of a sudden during their conversation.

The Thing arrived on set a few days later. Sharon was glad to see him, and Ben basked in the attention he was getting from Ventura and her female friends. He was setting up a photo of the three women when he spied a large pink dinosaur behind them. 

Grimm leapt into action and took out the monster with one swift punch. He then learned that the creature was a robot, one that was going to be used in the Devil Dinosaur film. The director quickly learned of the mechanical being's fate and was incensed. He noted that the cost of its repairs would come out of Sharon's salary. 

Ben and Sharon took advantage of the downtime to walk along the beach together for a while. The next day, Sharon was in costume for the scenes that featured several primitive warriors facing off against large, winged dinosaurs. At one point, Grimm thought that Ventura was in danger again, and reached out to prevent her from falling off a cliff, not knowing that the scene called for her dropping onto an expensive airbag perched on the shore.

Ben was feeling pretty lousy for having messed things up twice, and went for a walk by himself later that evening. Sharon joined him, and they apologized to each other before returning to the camp for a nightcap. Grimm slept in the next morning, until he was roused from his slumber by the sounds of the crew bemoaning the many trees that had fallen down overnight.

Grimm was the usual suspect, but he swore that he had no knowledge of such an act. The director Trimble, knowing they were now on a time crunch, decided to shoot the big action scene where Sharon's character would be saved by Moon Boy.

Ben retreated to his camper, deciding to stay out of things no matter what. During the shoot, a large green dinosaur emerged from the water. It was apparently behind the destruction the night before. Trimble used his remote control to set his robotic creature against the beast. After biting the mechanized monster, the sea animal soon returned to the ocean. 

Grimm stepped out once things had quieted down. Sharon was right outside his door. They sat together on the beach that night. Ventura told Grimm what happened on set that day. Ben thought that he might know someone who could help with the beast, even if it meant contacting the Fantastic Four. The couple then talked about fantasy and reality for a while before sitting next to each other in silence for a while.

I have a few of Jack Kirby's Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy comics from the 1970s in my collection, and I'm sure this issue made longtime fans of that short-lived series nostalgic. Devil Dinosaur has since returned to the main Marvel Universe, but I don't think we've heard much about Moon Boy since the title was cancelled after nine issues.

The green monster was one that Iron Man fought in his own mag, not long before this story was published. It was rumored to be Godzilla, who Marvel had the license for and ran a Godzilla title for 24 issues in the mid-Seventies. I'm assuming that they couldn't call this creature Godzilla because they didn't have the licensing rights at the time, but it was still an interesting clash between a few familiar titans. 

That's it for now. Tomorrow, I'll close out the workweek with a synopsis of the thirty-second issue of the Thing. Vance Astrovik makes his wrestling debut in a story that marks his exit from this series. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.