Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #84

Happy Thursday, peeps!

Time for me to talk about the eighty-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Alpha Flight members Sasquatch, Vindicator, Northstar, and Aurora battling Ranark the Ravager. The tale was titled "Cry for Beloved Canada!" The issue had a cover date of February 1982.

The story started in Northeast Saskatchewan, as a couple's camping trip was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of the being known as Ranark the Ravager. He crashed into the campsite and started a swath of destruction after being dissatisfied with their machine used to prepare food. He later slapped the woman and zapped the man before departing, leaving her holding her partner in her arms, still crying several hours later.

In a residential Ottawa neighborhood, Ben Grimm sat with his host, James Hudson (aka Vindicator), Dr. Walter Langkowski (Shaman), and Dr. Michael Twoyoungmen (Shaman) as the events of the last day were recounted to James. Ben finally got to explain the reason for his arrival in Canada, which was to find Langkowski to see if he could help his friend Bill Foster (aka Giant Man), who was rapidly dying from radiation poisoning (all of which was depicted in the previous issue). 

Hudson was glad that Grimm agreed to help them fight Ranark. He knew that he'd need more allies. Snowbird was unavailable, but James hoped that Aurora and Northstar might answer the call. At that time, Ranark was busy disrupting a Canadian military air patrol. He made short work of the jets and forced the pilots to bail out before their ships were destroyed.

In a private home in Lavalle, Quebec, siblings Jean-Paul (Northstar) and Jeanne-Marie (Aurora) Beaubier were debating whether or not to comply with Vindicator's summons. Jean-Paul had grown tired of the hero business, but his sister knew that they'd been given their awesome powers for a reason. She changed into her superhero costume and flew off to assist. Her brother remained behind, thinking that Jeanne-Marie would eventually regret her decision.

Ranark resurfaced in Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital city. He was disgusted by the modern buildings and used his abilities to cause trees to spring from the very ground beneath them. His efforts were met by Alpha Flight and the Thing. The heroes were left to clean up the invader's mess after he flew away. Ben and the Sasquatch concentrated on keeping the high-rises intact, while others like Aurora flew up to help a child who had fallen from his family's balcony.

Meanwhile, back in New York's Baxter Building, Foster had awakened. He felt woozy, but Reed Richards (the elastic Mister Fantastic) insisted that he return to bed. Reed was certain that Grimm would return with Langkowski soon, and that the Canadian professor would be able to share his insight into Foster's condition sooner rather than later. 

Ben had been briefly buried under rubble. Sasquatch and Aurora searched for him before Grimm demolished the rubble. The trio then set their sights on the escaped Ranark.

Their foe was flying over the congested roadways, watching panicked citizens attempting to flee the city. He then caused more chaos by attacking several vehicles. Shaman went to intercept Ranark, feeling responsible for freeing him (also shown in the last issue). He soon landed in Langkowski's arms, as he and Ben renewed their attack on the invader.

The battle was picked up by a TV news crew. Jean-Paul watched the broadcast and fled the room after seeing his sister engaged in the conflict. Shaman tried to calm Ranark's storm clouds, but his foe turned ordinary hail into giant boulders. Sasquatch fended them off before going toe to toe with the ancient spirit once more.

Ranark grew in size and stature as he fought Langkowski. All seemed lost for Sasquatch, until Vindicator struck at the unwanted visitor. Ranark's blast passed through the space that Hudson had just occupied, having transported himself to his friends' side. By then, Northstar had joined the cause.

The combined forces of Alpha Flight and the Thing were enough to allow Shaman to proceed with his incantation, one which caused the mighty opponent to finally shrink down into a small sphere that could be picked up and contained. Shaman took the cocoon for safekeeping right before Ben made a return to New York with Walter. Unfortunately, Langkowski determined that Foster's condition was too advanced for anything to be of significant help. It looked like the end was in sight for Giant Man. 

If you want to learn more about the original Alpha Flight team, read the first two dozen or so issues of their first comic book title. John Byrne provided a lot more background on each of these and other members of the group. I've yet to see Ranark return in any other Marvel mags, but that's not to say that we won't ever see him again. 

The final fate of Bill Foster will be revealed in tomorrow's recap of the eighty-fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben is bound and determined to fight for Bill's life, and crosses paths with someone that he first met during a trip across the pond earlier in this series' run. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #83

Hello there,

Today's topic is the eighty-third issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing in a large forest, with the Sasquatch towering above him. The story was called "Where Walks The Sasquatch!" The issue had a cover date of January 1982.

The tale began in the Baxter Building in New York City, as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Ben Grimm were working to try and help their friend Giant Man (Bill Foster), who'd been slowly succumbing to radiation poisoning for months. Reed was doing his best to save him after Ben found Bill unconscious in the A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) lab where the two of them and Captain America had battled MODOK's forces for a cure to the Virus-X that had mutated Grimm (as shown last issue). Bill had found a gun that contained the antidote, but there was only enough serum to save one of them, so he chose to help his comrade.

Ben left the room feeling rather morose, and his teammate Johnny Storm's (the Human Torch) attempts to cheer him up only made Grimm angrier. The two started another scuffle, which was broken up by Reed's wife Sue (the Invisible Girl). Moments later, Reed entered the room. He announced that Bill's condition was worsening. Foster had started showing signs that his body was decaying, and his internal organs were very damaged.

Still, Reed had some hope. There was a specialist in Canada, Dr. Walter Langkowski, whose research in radiation showed promise. Ben boarded a Pogo Plane a short while later and later arrived at McGill University. There, the Thing met with the chair of the college's biophysics department, only to be told that the esteemed professor was absent. He was rumored to be camping somewhere in northwest Alberta.

Langkowski (aka Sasquatch) and his Alpha Flight teammate Michael Twoyoungmen (Shaman) were on a retreat several hundred miles from the university. Michael was certain that danger was in store. He had joined Walter on the trip to try to find the burial mound of his ancient ancestors. 

The next morning, the two friends set out on that quest. They eventually found hieroglyphs carved on a cavern wall that might hold a clue. While Langkowski returned to camp for equipment, Twoyoungmen stayed behind and accidentally stepped on a stone on the floor that opened a secret passage. Inside was the ancient shamans' tomb!

Back at camp, Walter observed the Fantastic Four's jet setting down not far away. He watched Ben descend from the cockpit and decided to call upon the Sasquatch. After his transformation, the doctor ventured into the woods until he ran across Grimm. While the two were talking, Shaman felt compelled to open the cover of a large urn. Doing so released the spirit of the evil Ranark the Ravager. 

The Thing and Sasquatch engaged in a battle in the woods. As they were figuring out each other's strengths, Shaman was squaring off against the evil tribesman. Ranark briefly glanced upon the modern world through Twoyoungmen's eyes and was sorely disappointed. He vowed to purge the Earth of life and start over.

Walter and Ben were walking towards each other when the ground beneath them started to rumble. Ranark's spirit burst through and flew off to achieve his goal. It was then that the two heroes realized who their common foe really was.

At the time, Alpha Flight had broken up (as of Uncanny X-Men #140). Members of the Canadian super-team would surface in different titles from time to time until they were given their own series, which was initially scripted and penciled by John Byrne. Sasquatch had last appeared in the eighth Incredible Hulk annual. Byrne plotted that issue, and I grew to appreciate both the man and the monster. I only wish that we knew more about both sides of Langkowski's personality. Shaman is another interesting character who grew more as Alpha Flight's first series went on. 

That's it from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the conclusion of this saga with a recap of the eighty-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing and Sasquatch are hot on the trail of Ranark, with the assistance of a few more members of Alpha Flight. We'll also learn if Langkowski was able to help prevent Foster's rapid decay. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #82

Happy Tuesday, folks!

Today's topic is the eighty-third issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed Giant-Man and Captain America behind the Thing, who was mutating as a result of his exposure to Virus-X. The tale was titled "The Fatal Effects of Virus X!" The issue had a publication date of December 1981.

When last we left Ben Grimm, he was all alone in an abandoned AIM facility, just starting to suffer after the villain known as MODOK (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) had exposed him to Virus-X (as shown in the previous issue). He eventually found his way out of the compound and started staggering back to the Baxter Building. 

On the way, the Thing was accosted by several gang members, but he barely noticed them. One person who did pay attention was Steve Rogers, who quickly donned his Captain America costume and rushed to his friend's defense. A simple strike by a baseball bat had knocked Ben down, which was most unlike the strongest member of the Fantastic Four.

A short while later, Ben's teammate Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic) started to examine his old college roommate, with the assistance of Bill Foster (Giant Man) who arrived from Project Pegasus. Cap looked on as the two scientists used the machinery in the lab to assess Grimm's condition. Ben soon woke up and was fighting mad. Reed tried to calm his colleague down, but remembering and seeing the effects of the virus only made Ben angrier.

Reed explained that Foster had acquired a sample of the virus and was going to test it to see if a cure could be found after Ben had calmed down. Grimm knew from experience how that would probably go. He sauntered off toward his jet cycle, saying that he just wanted to be alone for a while. Bill asked to join him, and the two flew off together.

Rogers left after a while and wound up shattering the glass window of a storefront that contained criminals who he knew were laundering money for A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics). He wanted to know how to get in touch with them, not knowing that MODOK and his A.I.M. forces were holed up in a secret base in the heart of the Antarctic. 

An A.I.M. scientist wandered the empty hallways until he came across a stasis cylinder which contained some of his comrades who had been exposed to Virus-X. As he neared the corner, he saw that MODOK had placed the men in the chamber. The A.I.M. member reported to MODOK that Captain America was looking for him and a cure for the virus. MODOK scoffed at the Avenger's efforts, but advised to prepare a warm welcoming committee for the hero.

Ben and Bill landed at an abandoned spaceport. Grimm admitted that the place was where he and his FF teammates had first taken off into space. Their rocket was poorly shielded and soon felt the effects of the cosmic rays, which ended up giving each of them unique abilities. The Thing had been told by Mr. Fantastic before that he'd be able to cure him, but nothing had worked thus far, so he had very little hope now that his mutation could be reversed. Foster felt bad for his friend, and for thinking about his own affliction (he was slowly dying from radiation poisoning)while his friend was suffering. Grimm wasn't about to give up, though, and neither were his friends. 

Some time later, the Thing, Giant Man, and Captain broke into a secret A.I.M. facility and fought bravely against the enemy forces. After the battle, the trio of heroes was transported to MODOK's base via teleporter. There they stood before more A.I.M. soldiers, MODOK, and a large robot that appeared to have taken on Grimm's rocky outer appearance. 

The anticipated battle raged on for some time. At one point, Foster went to find the Virus-X antidote. He eventually found a gun containing the antitoxin, which might also be able to cure him as well. After MODOK's robot was defeated, the villain escaped. In the confusion, the gun was knocked from Bill's hand. 

The gun's casing was now cracked, and it began leaking the antitoxin. He and his friends soon returned to the A.I.M. base in New York, where Foster quickly used the cure on his friend Ben, who swiftly began returning to normal. Bill was thankful that his friend was back to his old self, but wandered off, doubting his own worth.

I liked Bill Foster in his appearances in the Champions, Luke Cage: Power Man, and his own brief title (Black Goliath). I'm glad he was given another chance to star in this series from time to time, but I really feel like he was underutilized. I'm kind of surprised that Marvel hasn't brought him back, like they have other notable characters who have been killed off and later resurrected. 

Well, that's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the eighty-third issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben and Friends focus their attention on Bill's condition, and Grimm travels to our neighboring country to the north, where he meets someone that X-Men and Hulk fans are probably already familiar with. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #81

Happy Monday, peeps!

Time for me to talk about the eighty-first issue of Marvel Two-In-One. On the cover, the Thing and the Sub-Mariner were depicted battling the villain known as MODOK and his forces. The story was called "No Home for Heroes!" The issue had a publication date of November 1981.

The tale began with Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, leaping out of the water and flying toward New York City. He set down near a clothing store and entered the establishment. Namor selected a coat and hat that were to his liking, and paid for the garments with a handful of pearls. 

Elsewhere in Manhattan's Soho district, Alicia Masters was getting settled into her new apartment with the assistance of her boyfriend, Ben Grimm (aka the Thing) and Susan Richards (the Invisible Girl). She had decided that it was a better idea for her to live on her own again, after temporarily residing at the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building headquarters. She didn't want to fret over her or Ben's safety, and tried to assure him that the distance would help their relationship.

Grimm wasn't convinced as of yet, and took a walk after helping Masters place her belongings inside her studio apartment. He was lost in his own thoughts until a scream from a nearby alley roused the Thing from his reverie. He turned the corner and found a large robot beating up a homeless man. Ben rushed to his defense, only to be gassed into unconsciousness by his foe, who soon arranged a pickup for himself and his opponent.

A short while later, Namor wandered some of those same streets. His journey made him reminisce about when he was discovered in a bowery by Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) and eventually remembered his past after quite some time. He asked a man about the whereabouts of Sunshine Mary, a resident whom he'd first met during those desolate years. Namor was well aware that he was being watched as he asked his questions. 

At Project Pegasus, an alarm bell sounded. It brought the security chief, Quasar, flying through the corridor, where he found the reason for concern. His colleague Giant Man (Bill Foster) was lying on the ground, unresponsive. Quasar knew that his ally was slowly dying of radiation poisoning, and feared that he might not have much time left. 

Back in the slums, the Sub-Mariner's host led him to a building that appeared to be deserted on the outside. However, on the inside, a group of men waited to attack the stranger. Namor quickly overpowered them before being told that something or someone had been taking their friends, the last captive being Sunshine Mary. One of the locals then appeared, stating that he knew where their friends had been taken. 

As Namor followed the group, Ben was slowly coming to. He opened his eyes and saw that he was trapped in a glass case, facing his captor: the being named MODOK (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing). He and his soldiers in the A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) laboratory were collecting test subjects for their research. Grimm managed to break free from his trap, but in the process, he was exposed to the compound known as Virus X. 

The security alarm rang moments after Namor and his associates burst into the chamber. The robots and A.I.M. soldiers fought back, and MODOK eventually called forth several super-synthoid robots to take on Ben. Namor soon joined the fray, right before their foe fled in his small spacecraft. However, they learned upon taking flight that the canister of Virus X next to them had been damaged, and they were now exposed to the gas.

Afterward, Namor reunited with Sunshine Mary. He wished to thank the old woman for her kindness years earlier. He was rebuked once the woman learned how different her savior was. Mary left with her kin, and Namor flew off soon thereafter. Grimm was left all alone to exit the base, just as he started feeling the effects of the strange gas that MODOK had subjected him to. 

I've never really thought that Namor could be fully trusted. He was a hero who fought alongside his fellow Invaders, Defenders, and Avengers over the years, but he was also one of the Fantastic Four's first enemies, and sided with Doctor Doom at times in the brief Super-Villain Team-Up title. His affection for Reed Richards' wife Sue, had caused a rift between him and the FF before, so I'm not surprised that he didn't stay behind to ensure that Ben was okay. 

Grimm was clearly struggling, but it'll take a few more friends to help him, as we'll see in tomorrow's recap of the eighty-second issue of Marvel Two-In-One. We'll also find out what happened to Giant-Man and see how Virus-X started to affect the Thing. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #80

Good afternoon, folks,

I'm winding down a nice, quiet weekend with a summary of the eightieth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Ghost Rider engaged in a race along a highway. The tale was titled "Call Him...Monster!" The issue had a publication date of October 1981.

The story started inside Alicia Masters' studio in the Baxter Building in New York City. Her sculptures of different heroes and villains started crumbling as the room began to quake. The blind sculptress unwittingly ran toward the source of the disruption, which was a new automatic punching block that her boyfriend, Ben Grimm (aka the Thing) was using. Fortunately, Ben's teammate Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) extended one of his flexible arms to lift Alicia out of harm's way. 

Frustrated with his inability to save his girlfriend, Ben wandered off, wanting some time to think on his own. Reed explained this to Alicia before going to help her take care of the mess in the studio, alongside his wife Sue (the Invisible Girl), son Franklin, and brother-in-law Johnny Storm (the Human Torch). Alicia was saddened by the loss of some of her work, but knew that nothing mattered more than her relationship with Ben.

 Grimm had made his way to an abandoned tenement. On the rooftop, he took out his frustration by smashing his fists to the floor, damaging most of the building before moving on. As he whizzed by on his jet cycle, he heard sirens, thinking they were looking for him because of the destruction he'd just caused. 

What Grimm didn't know was that the officers were on the trail of the Ghost Rider (aka Johnny Blaze), who was driving his flaming motorcycle down a busy street. The stunt rider evaded the authorities, eventually racing up a stairway until he was driving along a set of train tracks. He neared an oncoming train until jumping off the platform moments before impact.

The cycle landed on a rooftop, and Johnny stopped the bike before summoning it back to where it came and returned to his human form. A short while later, Ben approached him (they had met in the holiday-themed MTIO #8). Blaze hopped on the back of Grimm's cycle as they sped off together. 

Ben let Johnny off at the apartment building he was staying at. Blaze gave him a complimentary set of tickets for the auto show he was performing at as a gift before the two parted ways. Grimm headed home, realizing he had to face the music. He had no sooner landed the craft when Alicia ran for him. She immediately embraced him, wanting nothing more at that moment than to have her love in her arms.

Some time later, Ben and Alicia went to the exhibition at Shea Stadium. They found their seats just before Blaze jumped over a set of cars. What none of them knew was that a few patrons had their eyes set on driving off with one of the featured vehicles. The thieves drove off with the car just after Blaze landed his bike. He then set off after them as the Ghost Rider. 

Ben knew something funny was up, and asked Alicia to find her way home, as he went to his jet cycle to investigate. The Ghost Rider eventually caught up with the crooks, forcing them out of the car before he tossed it at them. Grimm witnessed that act of violence and thought that his ally was out of control. He tried to calm Blaze down, but a confrontation between the two of them was inevitable.

Grimm was finally able to persuade Blaze's personality to come forth, but not after more city property had been destroyed. Johnny reverted to his human self before collapsing in the Thing's arms. Afterward, Ben rejoined Alicia in her studio. He reflected on all the good things in his life, like her, as Johnny drove off toward his next destination.

I haven't read many of Ghost Rider's comics, but I've always found him an interesting character. I was glad that Blaze returned a few years after his monthly title was cancelled. I liked the issues I read, including his role as one of the original Champions before that short-lived team broke up. He's more powerful now, and his popularity wanes at times, but he is still someone who definitely shouldn't be underestimated. I just wish that more stories like this were published that gave us a better glimpse into his human side. 

That's it for me this week. I'll begin a new week tomorrow with a synopsis of the eighty-first issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben will join forces with one of the Fantastic Four's original foes to combat a powerful enemy and its forces. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #6

Good morning,

Hope everyone's been enjoying their weekend. I'm starting this Sunday with a recap of the sixth Marvel Two-In-One Annual. The cover showed images of the Thing, Wyatt Wingfoot, Ka-Zar, the villain Klaw, and a new character called American Eagle. The beginning of the 1981 annual was called "An Eagle From America!"

It all started on what seemed like a quiet night in the Baxter Building in New York City. Ben Grimm was rather grumpy because he was all alone at the Fantastic Four's headquarters. He decided to let off a little steam by lifting weights in the complex's gym. Grimm descended the elevator and was in the middle of a good workout when an alarm sounded.

The buzzer indicated a guest had arrived on the main floor. Ben turned on the viewscreen to see his old friend Wyatt waiting in the lobby. Grimm let him in, and the two old friends caught up for a while. Wingfoot explained that he'd traveled to enlist his allies' assistance in a matter involving a concern with a couple of members of his tribe. He thought that the matter might spell trouble for their land as a whole.

Tribe elders discussed what had happened as having fulfilled a historic legend. The chieftain was fading and unable to lead his people against an upcoming invasion. He sent his two sons to a cavern, where they waited until they were visited by an ancient spirit. The spirit asked the boys who was most worthy. The eldest made his claim, stating that he was wiser since he was first-born. The second said that he was stronger because he was the youngest. 

Both brothers were pitted against each other in an epic trial of strength and will that continued across their great land. One of the brothers eventually emerged as the victor and led his fellow warriors against the invading forces. After their triumph, the new leader rejoiced with his men, only to later become one with the revered spirit that watched over their lands. 

Ben listened intently to the old tale, wondering how it related to recent events. Wingfoot explained that a company arrived on the reservation recently, claiming they had rights to mine on that property. This sparked a quarrel between tribal representatives, brothers Ward and Jason Strongbow. Jason vehemently opposed such actions, while Ward pointed fingers at the contractors and the courts.

Jason went to the courts to plead his case, only to be told that no work stoppage orders would be issued, and that any hearings on the matter would be delayed for at least a month. Before long, several protestors went to the mining site, where a nervous watchman opened fire. Jason went inside the cave to find the watchman, who had retreated inside, and found his brother Ward inside a cavern full of machinery.

The two brothers apparently sparred once more until something strange happened. An avalanche sealed the mine entrance, and Jason emerged seemingly taller and much more powerful. It was rumored that the same great spirits of old had visited him and granted him new abilities. He left the village the next day. Grimm and Wingfoot then boarded a jet en route to that destination, which was in the Antarctic's Savage Land.

Part 2 of this story was titled "The American Eagle." Jason, in that new identity, was hunting, unaware that Ka-Zar was watching his every move from above. What Ka-Zar didn't know was that this stranger was not the true enemy that day. Jason/the American Eagle, was trying to prevent poachers from killing other animals. He had rushed into battle with an unknown man, one who possessed great strength. 

Both combatants eventually realized that they were both on the same side and went after the poachers. They continued on with Ka-Zar's faithful companion, Zabu. Before long, the Fantastic Four's plane arrived. Ka-Zar went to greet his old friends.

Chapter 3 was called "Never Break the Chain!" Ben and Wyatt disembarked and met their companions. As they made camp that evening, Jason explained to his fellow tribesmen what had happened when he last confronted his brother. He and Ward tussled until a fire broke out in the complex. They were then met by other strangers, one of whom was named Klaw. 

Grimm remembered Klaw from their last encounter at Project Pegasus. He was surprised that the villain was alive, after witnessing his disappearance inside his sonic weapon the last time they met (as shown in MTIO #58). Jason explained that the combination of Klaw's sonic device and the radiation emanating from nearby machines in that room gave him his powers. As he was recovering, Jason overheard Klaw and his allies talking about heading for the Savage Land to find vibranium. That's why he chose to follow them.

Jason chartered a plane to the Savage Land and parachuted down. He had no sooner set down when a large dinosaur attacked him. He was victorious, but suffered a minor wound in the process. Jason offered to lead the group in their hunt for Klaw and his allies. 

Chapter 4 of this tale was called "The Dinosaur Graveyard." It began in a pit where several dinosaurs had been caged by Klaw's men. The villain planned to use them as reinforcements against his enemies as needed. The heroes scaled the walls of the pit before Ben met Klaw once more. His foe told him that he was accidentally freed from his weapon by a Project Pegasus cleaning lady, who had noticed the object and activated it. Klaw retaliated against her before breaking out of the facility.

While Grimm was suffering from another of Klaw's trademark sonic assaults, Ka-Zar and Jason had gone to the camp to confront Ward. Ward was stunned to see his brother in his new garb, after thinking that he'd perished during their last meeting. The two brothers fought as Wyatt stepped in to assist Ben.

Grimm broke free of the sonic ray and leapt at Klaw. The two tumbled down the hillside, landing in front of the large cage. Klaw soon released his captives, and it took the combined efforts of Ka-Zar and Zabu to restrain them. 

Jason and Ward continued to battle each other, as the Thing finally managed to knock Klaw out. The violence ended when one of the poachers shot at the warring brothers. The man who ended Ward's life was the same night watchman from the village who had fired at Jason's people before. The trio of poachers fled, but weren't able to evade the oncoming beasts who were stampeding across the plains.

Afterward, goodbyes were said. Ben and Wyatt prepared to board the pogo plane. The American Eagle brought up the rear, holding the body of his late brother in his arms. 

This was a sad story, with a good moral lesson. I remember picking this issue up in the discount bin at my local comic book store, hoping to see more of American Eagle. He was a minor character in other Marvel mags after that and was featured in a few Marvel Comics Presents issues, but really wasn't fleshed out more until more than a decade later. Another character with great potential who has been severely underutilized in the Marvel world.

That's it for this article. Later today, I'll discuss the eightieth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben pairs up with a former Champion on a ride that Grimm never expected to begin in the first place. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #79

Good morning, peeps!

It's time for me to talk about the seventy-ninth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing holding a large boulder to protect himself from blasts fired by a new character called the Star-Dancer, as Alicia Masters sat helpless in a clear bubble and the hero Blue Diamond lay motionless at Ben Grimm's feet. The story was titled "Shanga the Star-Dancer!" The issue had a cover date of September 1981.

The tale began somewhere in deep space, as the person known as Shanga danced across a bevy of meteorites. She thought back to her homeworld, which she had not visited in many centuries, and how her cosmic powers had enabled her to destroy the asteroids that lay before her with ease. The lonely intergalactic traveler's focus soon turned to a small sleepy town in Massachusetts.

That village was named Hartsdale, and it was hosting its annual arts-and-crafts fair. Grimm and Masters were among the many in attendance that day. Alicia was blind, so she used her fingers to ascertain the finer details of a piece of pottery that had piqued her interest, much to the chagrin of the vendor. He grabbed the pot and ordered her to leave before Grimm entered the scene. He went to the nearest tree and grabbed it, setting it down before the shopkeeper to teach him a lesson. Alicia understood, but didn't approve of her boyfriend's brusque approach.

Later that day, Ben set out to do some fishing. He walked past several houses on his way, one of them belonging to a man named Elton Morrow. The elderly gentleman envied the hero whom he spied through the window. To many in the community, he was known as an anthropology professor. However, in his younger years, he was also the costumed crusader known as the Blue Diamond (as seen in issues of the Invaders and Marvel Premiere).

He longed for the days long gone, when he fought against the evils that surfaced during the Second World War. Morrow also missed his wife, who had become severely ill and passed on several years back. Elton never lost his powers and was just itching for a chance to use them again.

Shortly thereafter, Shanga flew down to the sleepy hamlet. She briefly examined its occupants before encasing them in a clear dome. People started to panic. Some of them pointed out Masters, blaming her and her Grimm for their predicament. Alicia was obviously innocent of any wrongdoing and called out for Ben.

Ben was fly fishing and had just landed a great catch that he wanted to show to Alicia when he turned and noticed the dome behind him. While he was trying to break inside, Morrow observed the people outside. He looked at his old costume and wondered if it was time for the Blue Diamond to return. 

Meanwhile, Grimm was doing everything he could to try to crack the dome's surface. He had just made some progress when a gun was pointed at Alicia's head. Fortunately, before anything more could be done, the Blue Diamond intervened. He kept the growing, angry mob at bay while the Thing continued to hammer away at the artificial structure.

The heroes' efforts eventually gained Shanga's attention. She placed Masters in a transparent bubble, away from her attackers. She then engaged in a battle with Grimm across the town. The Blue Diamond finally stumbled up to the Thing, stating that he knew how to defeat his foe. He asked Ben to toss him at the alien, which Grimm did gladly. The duo collided and fell to the ground.

Alicia was released from her bubble and ran to her lover's arms. Shanga lashed out at the Thing once more, before Morrow offered himself as a sacrifice. Shanga examined the Blue Diamond and transmuted his physical form, so that he now looked more like a being comprised of actual diamond. They took each other's hand and lifted off into space. Shanga was no longer lonely. Afterward, Ben and Alicia talked about the beauty of that day, including Grimm's prize catch. 

Knowing when this was written, I'm assuming that Tom DeFalco drew some inspiration for this issue's plot from contemporary films like Flashdance or Fame, and added a science-fiction twist. To the best of my knowledge, Shanga has never appeared in another Marvel publication. That's too bad, because I could see her squaring off against comparably powered beings like the Silver Surfer. Blue Diamond was eventually returned to his traditional superhero form, but no explanation has been given as of yet as to why or when that happened. I think that this issue was a kind of test to see how Blue Diamond and Shanga resonated with readers. Apparently, it wasn't enough to merit any additional stories that featured them.

I am going to take the rest of the day off and enjoy this beautiful Saturday. I'll return tomorrow with a synopsis of the sixth Marvel Two-In-One Annual. We'll see the debut of another new character, and Ben being joined by several very familiar faces. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another.