Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #68

Happy Wednesday, folks!

This article concentrates on the sixty-eighth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing and Angel battling several armored warriors. The story was called "Discos and Dungeons!" The issue had a publication date of October 1980.

The tale began at a new disco club in New York. Ben Grimm and his Fantastic Four teammate Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) were on the dance floor before deciding to take a break. They stepped away to the bar. Johnny returned to the action after finding a new dance partner, Candy Southern, who was there as a guest of Warren Worthington III (the Angel). Ben and Warren spent some time catching up before Warren fell ill.

Grimm took Warren to the restroom. Moments later, a worker put an "Out of Order" sign on the men's room door as nozzles inside the restroom started emitting gas that was strong enough to knock the heroes out. A short while later, the bathroom ascended up an elevator shaft until it reached the building's rooftop. There, it was picked up by a large grappling claw affixed to a helicopter.

When Ben awoke, he saw that he and the Angel were hanging upside down over vats of corrosive chemicals. Warren was the first to free himself. He swooped by, and Ben grabbed one of the Angel's wings, enabling him to break his bonds and swing to safety. Afterward, the two were talking about their predicament when a metal version of Magneto entered the room.

The robot forewarned the heroes about a series of traps that had been laid for them. Ben and Warren fought their way through all of them, until they finally reached the false master of magnetism, standing before his superior: the founding Brotherhood of Evil Mutants member known as the Toad. He was seeking vengeance on those who'd ridiculed him in the past, and engaged in battle with his captives.

Angel and the Thing evaded the artificial soldiers and other dangers that sprang forth as the Toad bounced around between them. The robot informed the Toad of an incoming call, which informed the diminutive mutant that his financier was ending his support. After defeating their opponents, the heroes felt bad for their foe. 

Warren suggested an alternative, and several weeks later, the castle that he and Grimm had been imprisoned in was turned into an amusement park. Worthington, Southern, and Grimm bought tickets to the attraction from the Magneto robot, and Warren figured that his investment in the venture would pay off before long. Ben was just sour that they weren't given complimentary tickets after all they'd been through. 

This story was written while the Angel was a sometime guest of the current version of the X-Men and before his days as one of the New Defenders. The Toad is a villain who we don't see very often on his own. I didn't see him again until a notable issue of the Amazing Spider-Man, where Spidey had to get in the middle of a dispute between him and Frog-Man. Warren's solution was unique, but I don't think that the amusement park lasted long, because I didn't hear about it after this issue was published.

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the sixty-ninth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. A new multi-part storyline begins, as Ben pairs up with several guests from the future who appeared in some of this title's early issues. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #67

Happy Tuesday, peeps!

Today's topic is the sixty-seventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing battling the superhuman from another world known as Hyperion, as Ben Grimm's sometime friend and sometime foe Thundra looked on from the ground. The tale was titled "Passport to Oblivion!" The issue had a cover date of September 1980.

The story started at Project Pegasus in upstate New York, where Grimm was about to hand over the Serpent Crown to Quasar and the other project personnel. He explained how he'd come into its possession to Quasar before tossing the object in a stasis field. Afterward, Ben and Quasar went to the commissary for a bite to eat.

After filling his tray, Grimm sat down. The duo was soon joined by Giant Man (Bill Foster). Foster was in a dour mood after learning that there was no known cure for the radiation poisoning that was slowly killing him. Ben felt bad for his friend. The conversation then turned to Thundra.

None of them knew of her current whereabouts. The attention then shifted to the female strongwoman from another universe. She was traversing the city streets of New York with her new tag team partner, Hyperion, another superbeing from an alternate Earth. They were headed to the secret location of Roxxon Industries. On the way, Hyperion explained that he was from a subatomic planet that was demolished by a cyclotron. He was found by the Grandmaster, a powerful being who placed the lad in a group called the Squadron Sinister, which later battled the Avengers.

Hyperion had seemingly lost all thoughts of revenge at one point, but he revealed that had just been a ruse. He tried to lure a duplicate of himself from an alternate world into his plan to obtain a weapon that he could use to destroy both Earths, but a robot and the mighty Thor defeated him. Hyperion was placed in a cell that sapped his strength until a stranger offered to free him and return him to his homeworld. All he had to do was bring them Thundra.

Once inside the complex, the duo were soon greeted by a businessman who showed them to the portable Nth projector. Thundra hoped the device could send her home, but feared that might not ever be possible, because her planet had been eliminated by a rival world that eventually merged the two spheres into one. One of the technicians brought up the fact that alternate realities existed, including one in which that merge never happened. He offered to start up the projector and show Thundra that planet. It appeared on the monitor moments later. Thundra confirmed that it indeed was her homeworld, and the technician offered to send her there right away.

By then, Ben Grimm had returned via pogo plane to the Baxter Building in New York City. He was greeted by his old college roommate and Fantastic Four teammate, Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic). Ben filled his buddy in on his recent exploits, including his decision to break things off with his girlfriend Alicia Masters because of his concern for her well-being.

Their conversation encouraged Grimm to give things another try with Masters, and he set out a bit later to her apartment. As he neared her home, Ben saw Alicia in the arms of another man. Thinking they were through for good, Ben toseed the bouquet of flowers he'd picked up in the closest trash can and walked away.

At the same time, Thundra and Hyperion watched the scientist use the Nth projector to transport himself to the planet on the viewscreen. Thundra grabbed the device before more could be done, aiming it at anyone who stood in her way. Hyperion pursued her, as did several armed guards in a small flier. 

By the time Ben returned home, the two superpowered beings from other universes crashed up from the subway underneath the street before the Baxter Building. Ben tried to speak to Thundra, but Hyperion interfered. While they fought, Thundra took matters into her own hands, defending herself against the soldiers. 

Not even a strong net could hold the female warrior. She forced the lackeys to desert their ship moments before it crashed. By the time Grimm was back on his feet, Thundra was setting up the projector. She thanked Ben for her help, moments before stepping into the portal. Hyperion flew into the beam seconds later, as Grimm stood by and watched everything happen. He briefly thought about joining them, before realizing that it was probably better to see the people who pained them walk out of his life instead of following them.

This was another of the first several MTIO issues that I picked up as a kid. I now know that Hyperion was Marvel's answer to Superman, but he was still impressive. This version of Hyperion would return in the Squadron Supreme limited series from the 1980s. Like Namor, Thundra rotates from friend to foe from time to time. She was a member of the Frightful Four and an ally of Ben and the rest of the FF every once in a while. It would be nice to know a bit more of the backgrounds of both this Hyperion and Thundra at some point. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow's focus will be on the sixty-eighth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. This one-off story has Ben pairing off with an original X-Man as they go up against menaces sent forth from another character from the Sixties supercharacter era. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #66

Happy Monday, peeps!

Time for me to talk about the sixty-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing and the Scarlet Witch wrapped in tentacles emanating from the Serpent Crown, which was being worn by an unidentified politician between them. The story was called "The Serpent Crown Affair Part Three: A Congress of the Crowns!" The issue had a publication date of August 1980. 

The tale began in the waters off the coast of San Francisco, as Ben Grimm, the Inhuman named Triton, Stingray (Walter Newell), and Dr. Henry Croft were convening at the Fantastic Four's pogo plane, which was floating there. The heroes had battled the Serpent Squad, who had escaped with the Serpent Crown. Now they had to pursue the villains before they could wreak more havoc. 

On the way, Ben called the Baxter Building. His nephew Franklin's sometime caretaker, Agatha Harkness, answered the call. She explained that Grimm's teammate Reed Richards (aka Mister Fantastic) was at a manufacturers' meeting and his wife Sue (aka the Invisible Girl) and brother-in-law Johnny (Storm, aka the Human Torch) were out with the lad. She was there to "mind the store," as she put it. 

Grimm told Harkness to tell Reed to keep an eye out for the Serpent Crown. Upon hearing that, Agatha exclaimed that it was an item that dated back to Lemuria and was capable of granting tremendous psychic abilities while enslaving the mind of whoever wore it. She promised to give her former pupil, the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) a call to assist.

Before Ben could protest, Harkness ended the call. She then focused her mental energies on the Avenger. Wanda answered the psychic summons, and her thoughts drifted to the crown's evil potential. A few minutes later, Agatha's astral image appeared beside the pogo plane, instructing Ben and his crew to head for Washington D.C., where the crown was now located. 

The Serpent Squad's leader, Sidewinder, had the idol in his possession and used his teleportation ability to send himself to the headquarters of his employer, a Roxxon Oil excecutive named Hugh Jones. Sidewinder was surprised when Jones stepped out of the shadows, revealing another Serpent Crown already on his head.

Jones explained that he'd acquired this one, which he originally received from the first Serpent Squad. It had been lost but later returned to him. The crown in Sidewinder's hand came from an alternate Earth, one which the Avengers thought they'd eliminated by throwing it into the ocean. He eagerly discussed his evil intentions before his employee left the scene.

Just outside the nation's capital, the Thing and Stingray walked toward the Washington Monument. They were met by the Scarlet Witch near that landmark. The trio entered the Capitol building to find Jones standing before a pulpit, with simulacrums of other people who had once worn a Serpent Crown flanking him. 

An obvious confrontation ensued. As Grimm and Newell battled the artificial humanoids, Wanda became locked in her own conflict with the Serpent Crown itself. The crown on Jones' head thrust its twin heads at the Avenger. As their fangs locked onto her forehead, the Witch entered a psychic battle with the crown's master.

At one point, Grimm noticed the two standing a few feet away. He realized that he might be able to help and went to wrest the crown from Jones. As he tried, he slowly changed back to his human form. This was enough to give Wanda the advantage she needed, and Ben was finally able to remove the crown.

By the time he did so, Grimm held the Serpent Crown in one hand as it slithered around his arm and rested atop Ben's head. By this time, the Thing was back to his usual rocky self, so it wasn't able to penetrate his skull or influence him as it did Jones. Ben threw the idol to the floor before wrapping it up safely so it couldn't influence anyone else. He left the building with Wanda and Stingray carrying the unconscious oil executive, who apparently was affected by the separation from the ancient relic. Ben was eager to get out of there before the next danger entered the facility, namely the elected politicians. 

This was one of the first handful of MTIO issues I read as a kid. I liked the artwork and the story pacing, even though I didn't know a lot about the characters at the time. The Serpent Crown would soon reappear in a Marvel Two-In-One annual, and the crowns still pop up from time to time. It's an interesting relic that reminds me of some of the ones in the Indiana Jones epics. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the sixty-seventh issue of this series. This storyline is over, but the Thundra subplot still has a few loose ends to wrap up, which I'll discuss with a breakdown of that issue. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #65

Good afternoon, folks,

Hope all's well with everyone. I'm winding down a busy weekend with a discussion of the sixty-fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and the Inhuman called Triton battling members of the Serpent Squad underwater. The story was called "The Serpent Crown Affair Part Two: Serpents From the Sea." The issue had a cover date of July 1980.

The tale began with the new Serpent Squad (Sidewinder, Death Adder, Anaconda, and Black Mamba) standing atop the submarine that they had just emerged from. The quartet announced that nothing would stand in the way of their search for the Serpent Crown. Ben Grimm wasn't scared by the villains, and probably wanted a bit of revenge for his friend Stingray (who had been defeated by the Squad's forces at the end of the last issue).

While Grimm tended to his fallen ally, Anaconda climbed the steps of the oil rig the heroes were on and made the first move. She attacked the Thing, distracting him long enough for Stingray (real name: Walter Newell) to fall into the clutches of her teammates. Ben had little choice but to obey his foes' orders.

Meanwhile, Dr. Henry Croft was floating nearby in the pogo plane that had taken the three of them from the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building in New York to their present location outside of San Francisco. While the scientist wondered what to do, Ben and Walter were secured to a support beam. Both of them were shackled together, which meant that if the Thing exerted significant force to free himself, he might end up harming his new friend. 

Ben thought about the events that led him there just after Sidewinder teleported off the rig and onto his group's submarine. He thought about their current predicament and wondered how Croft was faring. The doctor was sending a Mayday distress signal via radio at that very moment, hoping that whoever heard it would come to assist.

Meanwhile, at Kowalski's gymnasium in New York, the female warrior Thundra was holding up her former manager, Herkimer J. Oglethorpe, after learning that she'd been replaced by Herkimer's newest prodigy, a superbeing named Hyperion. Hyperion had amnesia and was running the health spa where Thundra entered seeking employment not long before.

He ended up battling the Avengers before remembering that he'd come from a subatomic world that had apparently been destroyed by human experimentation on atoms. He still had a chip on his shoulder for that. Thundra was willing to battle the newcomer for her job. Hyperion was fine with Oglethorpe's suggestion of the two of them pairing up as a tag team. He thought about the possibilities and what he should tell his superiors at Roxxon. 

As the hours passed in San Francisco, Ben eventually realized that he could stamp his feet at the bottom of the platform. A few good kicks made enough of a hole in the floor for him and Stingray to descend into the waters below. Once they reached the bottom of the support beam, Grimm kicked once more to weaken the post and allow him to swim up with the unconscious Stingray still chained to him. 

When they surfaced, the Thing and Stingray found a helping hand reaching out to them. The hand belonged to Croft, who pointed out their ally, Triton. Grimm filled his old friend in on the situation. Triton was eager to find their foes, knowing the potential danger that unearthing the Serpent Crown could cause. He dove into the water after giving Ben an aqualung so that he could join him.

However, it seemed that they were too late. The Serpent Squad had reached a certain area, where Anaconda dug in and pulled out the crown. The mute Death Adder pointed out the heroes on their way just in time for Sidewinder and his crew to be on the defensive. During the fracas, Black Mamba used her abilities to temporarily convince Ben that his love Alicia Masters was before him. 

Grimm's mask was taken off before he came to his senses. He lashed out at his opponents with a little assist from the revived Stingray. The villains managed to get away after tossing a depth charge aside from their sub to mask their escape when the weapon went off after being fired upon by Newell. The quartet resurfaced near the pogo plane, knowing that they couldn't let their foes use the Serpent Crown for their evil intentions. 

This was another excellent issue by Ralph Macchio, Mark Gruenwald, George Perez, and Gene Day. This saga is second to the Project Pegasus storyline, in my opinion. The Serpent Squad, like many other superteams, has changed rosters considerably over the years, but this iteration was well-matched against the heroes in this saga. The Serpent Squad still appears from time to time, as does the Serpent Crown, which may very well exist in different forms across the Marvel multiverse.

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll begin a new workweek with a recap of the sixty-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The conclusion of this storyline sends our heroes to find their rivals in a place well known for its history of government leadership, and a new hero is drawn into the fold. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #64

Hello there,

It's time for me to talk about the sixty-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Stingray on separate panels dealing with their own challenges. The tale was titled "The Serpent Crown Affair Part One: From the Depths." The issue had a cover date of June 1980.

The story began on a sad note, as Alicia Masters walked away from Ben Grimm, heartbroken by her love's suggestion that they stop seeing each other, because of his concern that the dangers his role as a hero might bring her. She closed the door to her apartment building angrily. Ben sat there in silence for a few moments before heading home to the Baxter Building.

Grimm had no sooner seen his old friend Reed working on another of his many machines when the doorbell rang. Doctor Walter Newell of the Pacifica Institute of Oceanography was there with a guest. They were seeking the Fantastic Four's assistance under the suggestion of Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner. The mention of Namor's name was enough for Reed to allow the guests in.

Newell and his associate, Dr. Henry Croft, were welcomed in a few minutes later. After Croft shed his hat and showed his face, it became obvious why the duo sought the FF's help. Croft's skin was a distinct shade of light green that led Reed to believe that he was amphibian. Newell explained that Croft had been turned into a water breather against his will. He and the other passengers of a plane heading for Miami several years back were hijacked and taken to a compound known as Hydrobase (as shown in issue #61 of Subby's title).

A man named Dr. Hydro was behind the capture. He thought that the only hope for mankind was in a return to the sea. That's why he subjected the captives to a gas that turned their skin into a scaly shade of green and granted them the ability to breathe underwater. Hydro was eventually defeated by the Sub-Mariner, but their humanity was not yet restored. Those subjected to this treatment still lived as pariahs.

Newell interjected by adding that he'd created a diving suit and gone by the moniker Stingray while in costume. He learned of Croft and his fellow "hydromen" and vowed to do what he could to help them. Newell learned after an encounter with Namor and the Inhuman Triton that the Inhumans might be able to assist. Reed led the two men into his lab so that he could obtain and examine a specimen from Croft. Ben stood by silently, figuring it was going to be a long night, and decided to get some exercise in the gym,

Meanwhile, at a different gym, several blocks from the Baxter Building, the female warrior Thundra from an alternate timeline stood outside the business, thinking back to her recent experiences. She had told the officials at Project Pegasus all that she knew about how her former employers had plotted against them. She returned to Kowalski's Gym to get info for the project about the ones who preyed on her gullibility. 

Tearing the door open with a simple swipe, Thundra ascended the steps angrily, as she thought back to her Madison Square Garden debut. The match against fellow female wrestler Titania was tainted, as Thundra's foe jabbed her with a needle laced with a sedative. When Thundra awoke, she was in an office where her new employer gave orders. She led the other women grapplers into Project Pegasus to place a device in the compound. There, she ran into Ben, who had more questions for her than she could answer.

The gym was full of competitors, but the one person that Thundra was interested in was her former manager, the diminutive Herkimer J. Oglethorpe. He leapt to her with praise, but she had nothing in her eyes but contempt for him. Before much more could happen, Thundra was advised not to harm the man. The words were uttered by Oglethorpe's new protege, another hero from another world called Hyperion.

In another part of the country, the man known as Aquarius (formerly Wundarr) was walking alone down a hghway at night as the headlights of a vehicle came closer to him. He saw a deer wandering onto the road and used his powers to prevent the car from striking it. After the animal had crossed safely, Aquarian released his null field and the motorist whisked by at an unexpected rate of speed.

Back in the Baxter Building, Grimm had dozed off while keeping his feet up against a heavy weight when one of Reed's elastic fingers woke him. He asked Ben to transport Croft and Newell to meet with Triton. Richards had contacted the Inhumans, who were unaware of any of their Terrigen mists being used by anyone else outside of their own community. 

A short while later, Ben was piloting a pogo plane toward that sunny destination. As they neared San Francisco, they spotted an oil rig that seemed to be out of place. Grimm landed the plane in the water, and he and Newell set out to investigate. Dr. Croft was left behind to keep watch.

Ben got the attention of the rig's workers right before an underwater rumble shook the platform. Stingray opted to check things out from the air as the Thing climbed a platform ladder. Ben made repairs while Newell dove under the ocean's surface to find the source of the commotion. Stingray was soon attacked by scuba divers who most likely had set the explosive charges that damaged the oil rig. 

As Newell was addressing that threat, Ben found himself surrounded by angry oilmen. He finally managed to shake them all off just in time to catch Stingray, who flew up into the air, landing in Grimm's arms. A submarine then surfaced, and its passengers stepped out: Anaconda, Black Mamba, Death Adder, and Sidewinder of the new Serpent Squad.

This was also one of the first MTIO issues that I ever read. The storyline was a good excuse to add seldom-seen characters and incorporate a few new and old dangers. The art team of George Perez and Gene Day was phenomenal. They really translated Ralph Macchio and Mark Gruenwald's plot well. 

Thanks for your patience. I took a little time off to travel to the north and south ends of the state over the last several days to see my favorite band, Sevendust, perform. It was good to see them and other members of the Sevendust family again, along with Theory of a Deadman and up-and-comers Return to Dust. 

Later today, I'll cover the sixty-fifth issue of this series. We'll find out what the Serpent Squad's intentions were, and if Triton met his friends at the rendezvous point. We'll also see more interaction between Hyperion and Thundra. Until then, have a great weeekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #5

Welcome to my 750th blog post!

The focus will be on the fifth Marvel Two-In-One Annual. The 1980 annual's cover showed the Thing and the Hulk under the thrall of the enigmatic being known as the Stranger. In the first chapter, called "Skirmish With Death," the Fantasticar was sailing through the New York City skyline with Ben Grimm behind the controls. Ben, Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), Sue Richards (the Invisible Girl), and Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) were idling along when their vehicle was struck by a bolt from the sky.

The Thing was the only one who maintained consciousness long enough to land the car. He managed to get his teammates back to the Baxter Building safely. Once Reed, Sue, and Johnny were placed in lifepods, Grimm learned that they'd been hit by gamma radiation. There was only one expert he could call: a man named Bruce Banner, who we also know as the ever-incredible Hulk.

Part two was named "Sands of Doom." It began with the jade giant landing somewhere in the Southwestern United States. He went to find a place to rest as General "Thunderbolt" Ross and his daughter Betty were driving nearby in a Jeep. They eventually came across the test site where a gamma bomb turned Banner into the Hulk. The Hulk soon entered the scene, knowing it was the place where he'd been born. He was about to lunge at the puny humans when a bolt from the sky struck them. 

The Hulk was knocked off his feet and slowly reverted back to Banner. Bruce saw the unconscious general and Betty. He loaded them into the vehicle and took them to his cavern base. There he discovered that the two of them had been hit by a large burst of cosmic radiation. He decided to call upon the best expert he knew in that field, Reed Richards.

Chapter three, called "There Shall Come a Stranger," started near an artificial world. Below it, the entity known as the Stranger was musing over a possible threat. He decided that two Earth heroes, the Thing and the Hulk, were the best solutions to the problem. The Stranger then walked over to a device and placed its probes on his forehead before disappearing from view.

Chapter four was titled "The Power and the Peril!" Banner could see Ben's pogo plane arriving via the viewscreen in his lab. His passengers were the unconscious Ben, Reed, and Susan. The plane was struck by a beam moments before the Stranger touched down nearby. Seeing Grimm's grim predicament caused Bruce's anxiety to rise, and eventually caused the Hulk to resurface. 

Ben's years of experience helped him guide the craft to a relatively safe landing. He had no sooner left the craft when the Stranger appeared before him. The two engaged in a brief battle before the otherworldly being gained the upper hand. 

After temporarily putting the Thing down for the count, the Stranger could sense the imminent appearance of the Hulk. Sure enough, Banner's alter-ego arrived with fists swinging. He was fighting his foe just as Ben was waking up. Moments later, both strongmen were under the Stranger's command, right before he transported them worlds away. He made sure that both heroes agreed to join his cause before the journey began. 

Chapter five was called "Havoc in Hades!" The trio arrived in an area that smelled like sulfur, with rivers of lava. They were in the nether dimension, which was ruled by Pluto. Several denizens sprang from the shadows to attack the superheroes before their master made his appearance known. Pluto then revealed his master plan: a factory that his underlings were working diligently to fuel. It was designed to consume as much material as possible so that the netherworld would increase its gravitational field until the point of no return was reached, and continue its consumption until the whole universe was swallowed up.

The Stranger's guests rushed to fight the villain until their host pointed out that Pluto could destroy them with a single thought. Ben stayed back for a moment, while the Hulk preferred to press on. This caused a clash between the two titans, and the Stranger traded blows with Pluto. 

Grimm finally got the Hulk to realize that if the Stranger was defeated, they might never return home. That was enough for ol' Jade Jaws to concentrate his anger on Pluto. More and more of Pluto's minions rose from the ground beneath our heroes, even as Pluto held the Stranger's lithe form over a fiery pit. Ben told his partner to stop resisting the rays that were being emitted, and the duo felt their strength start to return.

The Hulk and The Thing were able to knock Pluto from his perch, and Ben grabbed the falling Stranger. Pluto's energy form flew upward, trying to escape the region, right before the Stranger returned his allies to where he'd found them. In the epilogue, Ben and the Hulk were happy to be back on Earth. The Stranger disappeared moments later, leaving them to find their friends slowly recovering.

Betty and her father emerged from the cave that housed one of Banner's hideouts. The Hulk then bounded away after seeing they were okay. Grimm ran to his pogo plane and learned that Sue, Reed, and Johnny were slowly recovering. He was about to explain what had happened to Reed before informing him that they were about to request a ride to the local air force base from General Ross.

I think this was the first Two-In-One Annual that I ever read. I picked it up from the bargain bin at my local comic book store because I loved the Hulk. It was an interesting story, even though I didn't know much about the Stranger or Pluto at the time. Both characters would appear in various Marvel mags over the years. I saw Pluto again in the Champions series, and the Stranger popped up several times, as foe and friend. I understood the plot device using gamma and cosmic rays to draw the FF and Banner together to aid the other side. I just wished that the sidekicks would have been a little more involved in this story. 

That's all I have for you today. I'll be out of town for a bit this weekend, but my next article will focus on the sixty-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. A new storyline begins. This part of the saga has Ben joining someone whom you might have seen in the Sub-Mariner's first title since the old Tales of Suspense comic was retitled the Incredible Hulk (this guest would also show up in the Hulk's mag too). Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #63

Happy Wednesday, folks!

Today's topic is the sixty-third issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing, Moondragon, and Starhawk gathered around the gravesite of Adam Warlock, as a hand lifted up from the ground underneath. The tale was titled "Suffer Not a Warlock To Live!" The issue had a cover date of May 1980.

The story started aboard the artificial satellite of Counter-Earth, both spheres which were created by the High Evolutionary. He and his passengers Ben Grimm, Alicia Masters, Moondragon, Her, and Starhawk/Aleta were following whoever took the duplicate Earth out of its traditional place in space. The purloined planet had finally been located, with a series of gravitational poles orbiting the artificial world.

Starhawk changed places with his wife Aleta before announcing that the satellite in the northern gravitational pole was the abductors' command center. Starhawk, Her, and Moondragon were soon teleported to that orb, where they soon faced and engaged in battle with tall aliens. Ben and Alicia stayed behind with the High Evolutionary on his satellite. Grimm felt the need to protect Masters, but the trio was soon transported to the site where all the action was currently unfolding.

They were greeted by a being named Sphinxor, who had learned English through American sitcoms. He felt that there was a misunderstanding, and the battle soon ended after the High Evolutionary called for a cessation of hostilities. Sphinxor explained that he and his colleagues had been hired by a group called the Beyonders to move the planet. They started observing the world as Counter-Earth was being constructed. 

In doing so, more was shared about the late Adam Warlock. Sphinxor and his associates saw him as a potential threat. Their illusion of Counter Earth's destruction made Warlock lash out at his mentor, thinking that the High Evolutionary was behind that act. After his departure shortly thereafter, the movers added the statis rings and started towing away the artificial planet. 

The Beyonders didn't tell their hired hands what they wanted with Counter Earth. The High Evolutionary pointed out that the world's inner core was unstable and was destined to implode. He allowed Sphinxor and his crew to make off with the planet provided that they let him join their quest to meet their employers, and that his friends could handle a certain matter on that world right away. 

The only issue was the temporary shut-off of the stasis field, a question that Ben fought for and won. He and his associates were transported to Counter-Earth's surface. They soon stood before Warlock's memorial marker. It was flanked by similar headstones for his allies Pip and Gamora. Her used a mystic bolt to send Warlock back to the surface.

She rejoiced, until realizing that Warlock's soul had left his mortal form. His soul had been contained in the Soul Gem Adam had worn on his forehead, a jewel that was now in the possession of the being known as the Gardner. Her returned the body to its resting place, disappointed, before she flew off on her own. Ben, Alicia, Moondragon, and Starhawk were left to ponder their quest and the ideal type of love that Her had been searching for. 

I remember reading this comic for the first time several years ago. I didn't know much about any of the characters, but was tantalized by the story and artwork. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see if the High Evolutionary met the Beyonders, or know if the Beyonders were connected to the Beyonder from the Secret Wars limited series. The message about true love was important, especially for the main character and his longtime girlfriend. I'm glad that I now have a greater understanding of the characters and their storytellers.

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the fifth Marvel Two-In-One Annual. The Thing pairs up with his rival from the very first team-up tale to help some of their loved ones overcome an affliction in a quest that involves squaring off against some incredibly powerful beings from beyond this world. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.