Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #1

Happy Thursday, peeps!

Today's focus is on the first Marvel Two-In-One annual. The cover showed the Thing breaking through a wall with four members of the Liberty Legion flanking him. The story was called "Their Name is Legion!" The annual was published in 1976.

The story started after the events in the eleventh Fantastic Four annual. Ben Grimm (in his Thing suit that he wore while he temporarily lost his cosmic radiation-spawned powers) asks the Watcher for a response that he knew he probably wouldn't receive. When diplomacy failed, Grimm resorted to violence, but he couldn't even dent the powerful otherworldly being. He eventually closed himself off from his Fantastic Four teammates and started talking about the team's recent exploits with the Invaders from the 1940s. They engaged in a battle with the Nazi regime, but returned with only half of the vibranium that they'd set out to retrieve.

The other half was still missing. As several familiar buildings from the New York City skyline began to fade from view, it became apparent that they were traveling back in time once more. Ben used the time platform and stood upon it after putting the half-full vibranium canister inside the machine that was connected to Doctor Doom's time-traveling platform. The scenery started to blur, and Ben faded from the current day, drifting back several years. The Thing made this trip by himself, after having shut out his friends to focus on his interactions with the Watcher. One of the first people Ben met on this journey was a young John Romita.

Ben saw a message for the Liberty Legion right before the city was attacked by a squadron of fighter planes. Red Raven, Blue Diamond, and Jack Frost soon arrived on the scene to assist. Another Liberty Legionnaire, known as the Thin Man, was boarding his own plane to combat the menace in the air. His teammate, Miss America, took to the skies to join him in the aerial battle. 

Grimm watched the action before deciding to get involved. He climbed a nearby building and was joined by the Whizzer and the Patriot. The trio watched as Jack Frost and the Blue Diamond released themselves from Red Raven's grasp and took on the enemy aircraft. The Red Raven picked them up after their targeted plane had been taken out. Their actions were observed by the Skyshark and his wingman. 

Afterward, Red Raven, Miss America, the Blue Diamond, and Jack Frost joined their counterparts on the roof where the Thing was. The Thin Man landed moments later, and Ben was soon recruited to join the cause. Further out to sea, the Skyshark's plane descended into a hidden base, covered by dense fog. 

As the Fourth Reich supporters were plotting their next moves, the Liberty Legion and Ben were trying to track down their opponents. A radio broadcast informed them that a giant had invaded New York (how's that for irony, if you're a sports fan). The team rushed to the scene and soon took on the menace known as Master Man. 

The powerful superhuman engaged his foes until he found the experimental cockpit that he'd been sent to retrieve. He took off with it, but the heroes had an idea of where the next target would be. At a local air base, the villain called Merrano or U-Man broke through a fence and located a prototype jet engine that he commandeered for his cause. Not even Red Raven or Jack Frost could prevent his escape.

The Patriot and the Thin Man were aloft once more and saw the Skyshark's plane making a strafing run on a man that they were originally supposed to capture because of his knowledge and research. Their alternative plan took the man out of action permanently, right before the Thin Man's plane returned fire on the Nazis. The German plane eventually eluded its pursuers in thick clouds.

Back in NYC, Ben was visited by the Watcher. The large being stood mute once more, as a flying swastika entered the city and began wreaking havoc. Grimm took it upon himself to leap to the enemy vessel to enact a long overdue dose of clobbering. 

I believe that this story was originally planned for a giant-sized issue, before that quarterly set of publications was cancelled. It was then broken up into this annual and the next regular issue of Marvel Two-In-One. If you like the Invaders series or other similar tales of costumed adventurers from that same era, this storyline should be right up your alley. I love Sal Buscema's artwork, so picking up this annual was a no-brainer for me. The Liberty Legion is interesting, and some of them have appeared in the modern Marvel timeline more than once. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll close out the workweek with a recap of the twentieth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. That one will once again feature the Thing and the Liberty Legion, as this tale concludes. We'll find out what happened to Ben after leaping toward the flying swastika, and learn just what the Fourth Reich's evil intentions were for 1942 America. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #19

Hello, peeps,

We're halfway through the week. Today's topic is the nineteenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing strapped into a strange apparatus that seemed to be transferring some of his strength to an unnamed cat-like humanoid, as the hero Tigra leaped in to intercede. The story was called "Claws of the Cougar!" The issue had a publication date of September 1976.

The story started in Grimm's bedroom in the Baxter Building. The strongman was sleeping peacefully as a stranger entered through the window. He was finally roused by the mystery woman and started trouncing his bedsheets until he saw that the guest was the one named Tigra. She followed Ben to the building's gymnasium and observed Grimm's exercises before explaining herself.

Tigra was once a woman named Greer Grant. She was a typical American housewife until a scientist named Joanne Tumulo transformed her into the hero known as the Cat (whose first superhero costume was later donned by Patsy Walker in her persona as the Hellcat). Greer was later turned into a cat-person and assumed the identity of Tigra. She was at the Baxter Building because she'd learned that one of the cat people who had turned her into her current form was still a menace.

It was a man who wore nega-bands called the Cougar. Tigra had no sooner described him to Ben when a cadre of armed soldiers fired at the two heroes. Ben blamed their intrusion on his breaking of the building's security system, and he quickly tossed a weight he'd been carrying at their attackers. The gunmen's bullets did nothing but bounce off the Thing's rocky hide, and the battle was brief.

Afterward, Tigra picked up a device from one of the men that was tied to her body temperature. That was a sure sign that the Cougar had been tracking her. Ben used a key hidden in a floorboard to open a room that might contain a device that could be used to analyze the machine, after their foes had been safely locked up. Meanwhile, the people responsible for the attack were debating the reasons for the use of the thugs we saw a few pages earlier.

A short while later, the offices of Conklin Enterprises were visited by the Thing and Tigra. Curt was prepared and had set traps that set off gas fumes pointed at our heroes. When they awoke, each of them was bound to a nearby wall. Curt was strapped to a table, planning to use the energies he'd siphon from Grimm to enhance his own abilities as the Cougar. 

He transformed into his brutish alter-ego after the Thing had broken free and helped his companion do the same. The Cougar's energy blasts and athletic abilities were impressive, but not enough to bring the stars of this issue down. At one point, Curt held a positive charge annihilation device in his hand, but before he could use it, he was shot from behind by his business partner and fiancée, Sheila Conklin. She knew that Curt was a great scientist and was aware of his other persona. The company had been in trouble and had believed that Curt could bring them back from the brink. Both of them used each other to meet their needs. In the end, as she led Tigra and the Thing away from the Cougar's now unresponsive form, Sheila noted how people's desire for power can cause them to be eaten up by greed. 

This was another opportunity to showcase a character who'd had limited appearances in other Marvel magazines. I have all four issues of the Claws of the Cat, but I don't have the giant-sized issue where Greer became Tigra yet. Her solo stories in Marvel Chillers are worth reading, as are some of her stints in the Avengers and the West Coast Avengers. Tigra also guest-starred in a few Fantastic Four issues in the late 70s. She's now allied with Moon Knight and remains an interesting, if often underrated, superhero. 

It would have been nice to have learned a bit more about Curt and Sheila, but I still love a good Bill Mantlo/Sal Buscema pairing. I found this to be a fun single-issue story. I was also surprised by how quickly the Thing and Tigra found the trail to Conklin Enterprises. 

That's it for this article. Tomorrow, I'll kick off a discussion of a two-part Marvel Two-In-One storyline. It begins in the series's first annual, and concludes in the twentieth issue of the title. The opening chapters bring a few well-loved friends and foes into the forefront of this saga. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #18

Good morning,

Welcome to my seven hundredth blog post! The focus of this article is the eighteenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing being attacked by someone who looked like his Fantastic Four teammate, the Human Torch, with the character called the Scarecrow bursting through a window to pounce on Ben Grimm's attacker. The tale was titled "Dark, Dark Demon Night!" The issue had a cover date of August 1976.

The story started at an art gallery. Grimm and his sculptress girlfriend, Alicia Masters, were hobnobbing with the party's host, Jess Duncan, and the art critic Harmony Maxwell. We could see a painting of a scary-looking scarecrow on the wall opposite them. Ben would have preferred to be at home watching Space: 1999 ( a British sci-fi series from the 70s), but was doing his best to mingle with the type of crowd that he was rather uncomfortable with.

The scarecrow painting had been purchased at auction by Duncan after a fierce bidding war. After unloading the piece, his bidding competitor, Rovik, and his allies burst into his gallery. They took Maxwell prisoner and were about to sacrifice her to their god Kalumai when the Scarecrow leapt down and defeated the cultists. He took Maxwell to safety afterward.

Grimm believed the story and thought he could still watch the second half of his television program. Alica was left to associate with the other fellow artists and patrons, including Jess' brother Dave. Ben bumped into a rather portly woman before accidentally bumping into and breaking an ashtray.

After the guests were ushered out for the evening, Dave stayed behind to stare at the scarecrow portrait. He wasn't particularly pleased with the image, but didn't know that someone was watching him from the opposite side. A man then struck him from behind, before leaping into the painting. An eerie laugh could be heard moments later. 

As Ben and Alicia were preparing to depart, the group was alerted to a scream. Everyone ran back inside to find a fiery being jump from the scarecrow painting. It fired bursts of flame from its hands, which burned Ben's suit but left him otherwise unharmed. 

A laugh from behind him made Grimm turn around. He saw the scarecrow from the painting standing before the open window. It engaged in battle with the stranger, with Ben jumping in after deciding what side he was on. The being known as Kalumai fought to enter our world for good, but was beaten by the Thing, before changing back to the man who had struck Dave earlier.

After the skirmish, the Scarecrow stared at the painting. He saw one of the cultists and leapt through the frame, before the painting vanished from the wall. The man Ben had defeated had no memory of his recent actions, but the greater concern was that Dave was missing. Harmony started to wonder if Jess' brother was the Scarecrow.

Unfortunately, that's a question that still has yet to be answered. The Scarecrow had debuted in the Dead of Night title, but did not return, probably because this was around the time when Marvel cancelled all of their monster series. This was one of the first issues of Marvel Two-In-One that I ever had, and I still wonder what happened to the character after this story. This Scarecrow is not the same as the DC villain who often opposed Batman, or the other Marvel Scarecrow that began its life of crime in Tales of Suspense, going against Iron Man. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll talk about the eighteenth issue of this series. Grimm joins an infrequent ally of the Fantastic Four and a sometime Avenger as they tackle another fierce foe. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #17

Hello there,

Today's topic is the seventeenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed The Thing and Spider-Man in between the baddie known as the Basilisk. The story was called "This City..Afire!" The issue had a cover date of July 1976.

The tale began in New York, as Spider-Man descended from Doctor Doom's time platform to present-day surroundings. Peter Parker thought back to his recent exploits (detailed in Marvel Team-Up) as the platform disappeared from sight. While he was swinging home, the Thing was still in the Savage Land (where he'd landed last issue), climbing up a volcanic chasm. He'd arrived to search for the source of seismic interruptions, and wound up aiding Ka-Zar and Zabu.

Ben continued to climb, unaware that he was being watched from behind. He finally sought refuge in a nearby cave and was blinded by a burst of brilliant light, which had emanated from the Basilisk. Grimm was still strong enough to fight the foe, but the Basilisk's eye beams grew stronger, and he boasted about his power.

While all that was going on, young Parker was back at home, trying to concentrate on an essay and failing at the task miserably. His mind was still on his time-traveling adventures. An unexpected earthquake broke up his reverie. Mary Jane Watson called, concerned about her friend, because she'd heard that his area was the hardest hit. Peter looked out the window and was astonished by what he saw.

Parker dashed outside, after changing into his Spider-Man togs, leaving Mary Jane wondering what had happened on the other end of the line. The smoke he'd spotted earlier was coming from a volcano that was rising from the middle of the water. Spidey spun a circular web and used it as a coracle to cross over to the volcano, right before it erupted. 

From a safe vantage point, Peter could see a figure holding another figure above him. When he got a closer look, he learned that it was the Basilisk gloating as he held the unconscious form of the Thing in his hands. The villain tossed the strongest member of the Fantastic Four aside. After confirming that Ben was still breathing, Spider-Man went to seek vengeance against this new threat.

The story continued in Marvel Two-In-One #47. You can read the conclusion at your leisure. One fun fact about this storyline is that the creative teams switched books just for this crossover. Spidey encountered the Basilisk in a previous Marvel Team-Up tale, but after this storyline, he disappeared until rising up to try and tackle the Fantastic Four in their new headquarters before being exterminated by the Scourge. He would be resurrected years later by the Red Hood to take on the Punisher. The Basilisk (whose real name was Basil Elks) was a very underutilized opponent. I wish he'd been revived earlier and gone on to get into more trouble. It definitely would have made for some interesting stories. 

Tomorrow, I'll cover the eighteenth issue of this series. The Thing will meet a character that I'd never even heard of before reading this issue, as they combined forces to battle an otherworldly menace. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

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.