Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #30

Good morning, all,

Hope you've been having an enjoyable holiday weekend. It's time for me to discuss the thirtieth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed Ben Grimm duking it out with Spider-Woman in London. The story was called "Battle Atop Big Ben." The issue had a cover date of August 1977.

The tale began in Piccadilly Circus in London, England, as Ben Grimm and his girlfriend, Alicia Masters, were having lunch and trying to take their minds off of the cyborg Deathlok, whom they'd brought across the pond so that renowned professor Kort could try and help the man from the future. Grimm eventually hailed a cab to take Alicia back to their hotel, while he went off on his own for a while. As he purchased a box of cigars from a local vendor, Ben wondered if Alicia would ever want to marry him.

Meanwhile, at Westminster Abbey, a pair of scoundrels were waiting for an explosion that went off moments later. The noise brought several bobbies to the scene. The strangers were ready for law enforcement and dispatched them easily before moving on to their main objective. Grimm came across the unconscious officers and mistakenly assumed they'd been killed. He took his rage out on the intruders before learning that the bobbies had been hit with sleeping darts. 

Ben was about to lay into one of the crooks when he was struck by a blast fired by Spider-Woman. While the heroes fought, the other criminal had enough time to find the silver plate they were looking for. They fled the scene during the confrontation. 

Spider-Woman was acting on behalf of her employer, Hydra, at the time, a revelation that surprised the Thing. She fled before Ben could reply. As she flew off, the woman known as Jessica Drew thought back to the conditions that brought her to be in their service (some of which were chronicled in Marvel Spotlight #32). She returned to their base and admitted her failure to her superior. The Hydra officer then sent Spider-Woman to her quarters after removing her from the mission.

After she left, another Hydra officer emerged, one whose hypnosis had undoubtedly been used on the young woman. They were about to make plans for the serum they'd isolated earlier on another test subject. They intended to have an army of devoutly loyal warriors with powers similar to those of Drew.

By then, the Thing was at Scotland Yard, conferring with authorities and describing his recent experience with the Spider-Woman. A few moments later, SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters Intelligence and Law Enforcement Division) director Nick Fury appeared on a view screen. Grimm was more than familiar with Fury and explained his first meeting with Spider-Woman and how he knew she was being controlled by Hydra. 

Nick wanted Ben to face Spider-Woman again and convince her that they were only trying to help. Grimm agreed, on the condition that Fury would supply him with the best Havana cigars that money could buy. Elsewhere in Central London, the two crooks were using the silver plate they'd purloined to determine the map coordinates that would lead them to the treasure they'd been seeking. 

Ben and Alicia reconvened an hour later at the Tower of London. They were about to head to the location where the crown jewels were on display when the Spider-Woman swooped down toward Ben. She grabbed Alicia in her arms and flew off. While Ben pursued her, the crooks returned and fired at Grimm and the tower guards.

They arrived in the exhibition hall a few minutes later and grabbed the plate that they'd loosened with their torch. Ben charged after them and destroyed their gas gun. The sight of Spider-Woman flying overhead with his lady love set Ben running after them once more. He'd plowed through the crooks and forgotten about them immediately afterward.

Spider-Woman set Alicia down and flew back. Ben jumped from the bridge into a boat that was about to pass underneath. He ordered the captain to take him to Big Ben, where he met up with the flying woman yet again. The two tussled until they each fell from the tower into the waters below. This act emboldened the two criminals, who now felt that they were free to continue with their plot. 

The first Spider-Woman has grown to be a rather interesting character. The events in this storyline laid the groundwork for her solo story. Personally, I thought she was a bit underutilized and often forgotten by the time her title was relegated to a bi-monthly printing status, and I wasn't surprised after learning that her series had intended to kill her off after being slated for cancellation. Fan feedback led to her later resurrection in the Avengers, but Drew wasn't fully back as Spider-Woman again after that for another two decades. 

If you're wondering what happened to Alicia, tune in for my next article. All of that and much more will be described as Ben takes on a mystery menace and the same Hydra threat alongside Spider-Woman. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #29

Good evening,

Hope all's well. The focus of this article is the twenty-ninth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing and Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, squaring off against an army of Hydra soldiers. The tale was titled "Two Against Hydra." The issue had a cover date of July 1977.

The story started a few yards from the legendary Big Ben clock tower in London, England. Ben Grimm and his lady love, Alicia Masters, had recently arrived and were beginning to explore the city. Masters had always wanted to visit London, and was overjoyed at the opportunity to travel there with Ben. 

Grimm had just been reading a newspaper story about his arrival in Great Britain and talked about how others saw him. Alicia knew that most didn't know Ben's softer, gentle side. He displayed that version of himself when he let a pigeon sit in his hands as Alicia fed it. Ben let the bird fly away as the couple walked along together.

They then took a bus to Kensington Street, where they went to see Professor Kort, a brilliant man who might be able to help the time-displaced cyborg Deathlok (who was featured in the previous three issues). However, when they reached his front door, Ben and Alicia were surprised that the door was open. No one appeared to be inside.

What they didn't know was that the criminal organization known as Hydra had already kidnapped the professor. Kort wasn't about to assist the evil army in testing a serum on a woman they'd kept in isolation. His captors demanded his participation, or else they would kill Kort's daughter, who was being held prisoner in her own home at the moment. Upon hearing that tidbit, Kort changed his mind and agreed to help if it meant that his daughter would be unhurt.

Not far away, the man known as Shang-Chi pondered his life while walking across a bridge. His reverie was interrupted by a woman's cry for help. He decided to search for its source and saw Alicia and Ben on the staircase of Kort's home. Ben assumed that the stranger was an enemy and instinctively moved to attack.

Even though the Thing towered over and outweighed him, Shang-Chi was not without his own defenses. His years of martial arts training had kept him well prepared enough to take on any challenger, including those with superpowers. He more than held his own in the brief conflict before asking Alicia why she had screamed.

Masters said that she had slipped and fallen on what was revealed to be blood. After Ben mentioned Kort's name, Shang replied that the name was familiar to him. He was going to contact Sir Dennis Nayland Smith to learn more about the missing professor. Ben explained that they'd traveled to London to recruit Kort's aid in preventing Deathlok's systems from shutting down permanently before long. Even though Shang had walked away from his former employer by then, he was willing to reach out to Smith once more to help his new friends.

Ben and Alicia left the house and returned to town after Shang-Chi's phone call. He and Grimm made a beeline for a local restaurant, where they found a hidden entrance in the kitchen floor. They descended the steps and were met by a squad of Hydra agents. The soldiers were no match for our heroes, who soon located the professor.

After rescuing Kort, the trio then headed for the professor's daughter's residence. They found more Hydra agents inside, and father and daughter were soon joyfully reunited. Afterward, Kort volunteered to do what he could to assist Deathlok. Meanwhile, back at Hydra's headquarters, agents were relieved that a vial on the floor that contained an important chemical compound was unbroken. They planned to use the serum inside to create an armada of obedient soldiers, beginning with the one they'd held in isolation, the first Spider-Woman.

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably know about my fondness for Shang-Chi and his supporting cast. I'm always glad to read more about this non-superpowered hero, who has impressive skills and a strong moral compass. I'd never think that he would match up well with someone like the Thing, but he held his own in battle and proved to be a worthy ally. 

Spider-Woman first debuted in the pages of Marvel Spotlight. Following her appearances in this series, she went on to star in her own title, which lasted for fifty issues before being cancelled. Her title ended with the death of the character, who was later revived in a two-part story in the Avengers. She would later regain her powers and become a member of that superteam and a strong force for good in the Marvel Universe. At this time, she was still a bit of an unknown, and it initially appeared that she might be a villain, controlled by Hydra. 

Speaking of Spider-Woman, she'll get her chance to share billing with the Thing in the next issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The story in issue number thirty of that series continues this plotline, as Ben continues his London vacation with Alicia and ends up tangling with her while trying to prevent the robbery of some very valuable historical items. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #28

Happy Saturday, peeps!

Hope everyone's having a nice holiday weekend. It's time for me to talk about the twenty-eighth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing and Namor the Sub-Mariner squaring off, apparently to save the life of Ben Grimm's girlfriend, Alicia Masters. The story was called "In the Power of the Piranha!" The issue had a publication date of June 1977. 

The tale began with the cyborg Deathlok being examined by Reed Richards, as his Fantastic Four teammates Grimm, Sue Richards/the Invisible Girl, Johnny Storm/the Human Torch, and SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters Intelligence and Law Enforcement Division) head Nick Fury looked on. Reed deduced that Deathlok couldn't be cured. The man from a distant future had gone catatonic after being influenced by servo-pods installed by the Fixer (who was apprehended by SHIELD last issue). 

If the device couldn't be removed, the possibility remained that Deathlok's brain might eventually stop working. The Fixer wasn't about to assist unless he could be freed. Reed then thought of another solution. London professor Louis Kort was one of the world's best bio-genetic and cybernetics experts. He could be the answer to the solution.

Ben volunteered to make the trip, as long as he could take Masters with him. It would be a good excuse for them to visit England together. Reed volunteered his sling-jet for the journey.

Meanwhile, Prince Namor was about to return to his home environment after recent encounters with the Latverian monarch known as Doctor Doom (in the short-lived Super Villain Team-Up title). He had no sooner submerged when Namor was attacked by his old enemy, Piranha. The Sub-Mariner swiftly defeated his opponent, not knowing that his foe's brother had observed the battle from nearby.

Over the Atlantic, Grimm and Masters were flying toward London in Reed's plane, with Deathlok in their cargo hold. They were looking forward to their vacation together when Ben spied Namor flying alongside their ship. Namor explained that he'd been freed of Doom's control and wished him a friendly greeting.

Moments later, the Sub-Mariner was assaulted by the leaping Piranha. The two combatants then fell back into the waters below. Alicia knew that Ben wanted to help their old ally, and he parked the ship long enough for him to do just that. He had just gone under the water's surface when Alicia was taken by another creature who was confident that the Thing and the Submariner would both meet their demise soon.

Ben was able to shove the Piranha aside before going up for air. The Sub-Mariner was attacked by several more similar-looking opponents, some of which went after the Thing after he tried to return to his friend. Sleep venom overtook the Fantastic Four's strongest member, and he was delivered to a chamber where the one calling himself Piranha soon commanded the two allies to fight one another in a contest to the death.

Alicia sat helplessly by her captor, as the being explained that the previous entity known as the Piranha had since perished and that he and his fellow creatures had evolved into duplicates of the original Piranha. They'd joined forces and found the underwater arena where Ben and Namor were now supposed to fight each other. They were also going to feast on the loser of the bout. 

The Thing and the Sub-Mariner made things look convincing enough for a while, until they combined their powers to bring the arena crumbling down. While Ben was tearing the arena apart, Namor took Alicia to safety. Once their foes were presumably crushed by the debris, the trio returned to Reed's floating plane. Ben thanked Namor for his assistance before he and Alicia could resume their journey.

This was Namor's second appearance in this series (the first being in issue #2). He's one of Marvel's oldest characters, and was revived during Marvel's superhero era of the 1960's. He's had several solo ongoing and limited titles, was a founding member of the Defenders, an Avenger, allied with Doctor Doom, and aligned with the X-Men at times. He's one of those heroes who rises to prominence for a while before fading into the background for several years or longer. I didn't know anything about the Piranha before reading this issue, but he seemed like a villain that could be used more often, or paired up with foes like Tiger Shark or other similar denizens of the deep waters. 

That's all for this article. I hope you enjoy these posts as much as I enjoy writing them. Next time, I'll tackle the twenty-ninth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben and Alicia finally reach jolly olde England, but a new danger lies in wait. Ben takes on that threat alongside a character that I've written about rather regularly over the course of these retro comic book recaps. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #27

Hi there,

Today's topic is the twenty-seventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed The Thing and the rest of his teammates in the Fantastic Four (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Richards/The Invisible Girl, and Johnny Storm/The Human Torch) fighting Deathlok, a warrior from the future, along with current-day villains Mentallo and the Fixer. The first part was called "Day of the Demolisher!" The issue had a cover date of May 1977.

The tale picked up right where the previous issue left off. Ben had returned to his team's home, the Baxter Building in New York City, with the Fixer and Mentallo and had been forced to fight his old friend Nick Fury. Fury eventually removed the control device, and Ben Grimm was back to his old self. When the two allies went to face the ones responsible for the predicament, they found the cyborg Deathlok blocking their path.

It became quite clear early on what side Deathlok was on. He listened to the Fixer's words without hesitation and engaged in battle with the stars of the last issue. Mentallo's imagery was impressive, but it wasn't enough to convince Ben or Nick that the dinosaur that suddenly appeared before them was real. Before long, the trio escaped via the Fixer's flying discs before Grimm or Fury could chase after them.

As the longtime colleagues were still trying to figure things out, their opponents were on their way back to Mentallo and the Fixer's mountainside retreat. Mentallo confessed to his partner how he'd learned about their new ally from probing Spider-Man's mind. The web-slinger had just returned from a journey using Doctor Doom's time platform into the future, where he encountered Deathlok (as shown in Marvel Team-Up #46). Mentallo was nearby emptying a vault's contents when he saw Spidey's reappearance and soon realized that Deathlok might be a powerful comrade, one that they might just need for their next objective, which was in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

Chapter two of the story was called "War in Washington!" The Fantastic Four had arrived to ensure that the inauguration would go smoothly. While Grimm was struggling with his tuxedo and Storm was out on flying around to get a break from the tension in the room, the Fixer and Mentallo were equipping Deathlok with a rifle and instructing him on his next task. Fury and the rest of his SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters Intelligence and Law Enforcement Division) were also on the scene, taking no precautions after allowing the villains to enter their helicarrier (in the last issue).

Deatlhok reached his assigned perch and started thinking about his predicament. He thought back to the circumstances that led to his current state as a half-human, half-cyborg. Deathlok was still a soldier at his core. He obeyed orders, but this time he started to question the legitimacy and morality of his latest assignment.

Chapter 3, "Battle With the Bionic Berserker!," began outside the White House, as the members of the Fantastic Four stood around in their formal wear before making long, careful strides toward the nation's capital building. They were greeted by Fury, who informed them that their old foes (from issue #26) were in the area and had something sinister planned for the elected president. That news inspired Reed to excuse himself and make a phone call to someone who would soon be on their way.

Deathlok returned to the Fixer and Mentallo, confirming that he had reconnoitered the area as instructed. He then returned to the ledge, where he could get a clear view of President Carter and the Fantastic Four. Deathlok had the leader in his gunsights before he opted for a different tactic. The cyborg from the future made his way through the crowd and broke through a wooden barrier before taking a shot at the president.

The Fantastic Four lashed out against the assailant, and Sue went to the president to assess his condition. The Fixer and Mentallo then joined the conflict. Johnny's flame melted a projectile that had been fired from the Fixer's gun that was directed toward Reed. The Torch's heat shield prevented Mentallo from being able to thought probe the heroes. 

Johnny then tossed a ring of fire around the podium that Deathlok was now on. The cyborg duked it out with the Thing until Sue formed an invisible bubble around Deathlok to prevent him from harming anyone else. The Fixer boasted that they'd affixed a special mind-control device that not even Richards could remove as he and Mentallo were being herded off into SHIELD custody.

Afterward, the president was revealed to be the Impossible Man in disguise. He was the person that Reed had called earlier. Ben was a bit embarrassed by the fact that the alien had saved them again (the last time was in Fantastic Four #175), but his assistance allowed the inauguration to continue uninterrupted.

The surprise twist at the end was amusing, especially if you're a fan of the Impossible Man, a good-natured being who sometimes does more harm than good. It wrapped up the Mentallo/Fixer epic nicely, and we learned that Deathlok really didn't want to proceed with his mission, but apparently felt compelled to do so. 

That's it for this article. Next up is the twenty-eighth issue of this title. The mysteries behind Deathlok's appearance in this timeline are studied, but before much can be learned, Ben embarks on a quest to save someone close to him from the clutches of another villain, with the assistance of one of Marvel's oldest characters. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #26

Good afternoon,

Hope all's well with everyone. It's time for me to talk about the twenty-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing breaking through the glass windows of a skyscraper, apparently seeking revenge on Nick Fury. The tale was titled "The Fixer and Mentallo are Back!" The issue had a cover date of April 1977.

The story started inside what might look like an ordinary pizza parlor on the outside. Ben Grimm and Fury were chatting at a table before Nick's colleague, Tim "Dum Dum" Dugan, joined them. Moments later, the row of seats started to descend deeper into the headquarters of the worldwide organization known as SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters Intelligence and Law Enforcement Division). 

A hovercraft was waiting for the trio, which they took to SHIELD's floating helicarrier. Fury led their guest to a screening room, where their associate was briefed on the latest acts of violence committed by the criminals known as Mentallo and the Fixer. The duo had been a thorn in SHIELD's side, and Nick wondered if Grimm knew anything about their whereabouts. Ben had never seen them until just then.

Their opponents were hiding out in a mountain retreat. Mentallo was mastering the Fixer's flying disks while they plotted their next moves. A short while later, they made a beeline for the helicarrier. It was child's play for the criminal masterminds to break into the heavily guarded compound. By the time Dugan, Fury, and Grimm were alerted to their intrusion, the villains had overpowered several SHIELD soldiers with electronic mask gadgets that would place their targets in their command.

Ben and Nick took matters into their own hands and took on the subjugated SHIELD agents before falling t to the same devices that did to their comrades. A few extra flying disks were attached to the Thing before his foes spirited him away. By the time Dugan helped Fury up, their opponents and Grimm were long gone. 

While Ben's new masters were taking him back to the Fantastic Four's headquarters at the Baxter Building in New York City, Fury was hot on their tail, thanks to the radar scanner he'd attached to Ben before the attack. The Fixer and Mentallo barely had enough time to gloat over their supposed triumph before Fury burst through a set of windows and launched his own assault on his rivals.

The Fixer ordered that Grimm retaliate, and the two longtime friends engaged in a battle until Nick was able to grab the control beacon from Ben's forehead. The Thing was back to himself again, and they turned to the intruders. However, before anything else could be done, the humanoid from the future called Deathlok the Demolisher stood in our heroes' path. 

Mentallo and the Fixer were a criminal team for some time in the Marvel Universe. I've read about their exploits in this magazine, as well as others like the Micronauts. The Fixer later became a founding member of the Thunderbolts, a team that was comprised of former villains with new hero identities. Mentallo has appeared in various titles from time to time. His costume reminded me a bit of Magneto's initial uniforms. 

Deathlok is another interesting character who has appeared in his own solo tales, as well as Marvel Team-Up, Captain America, and other issues of this series. I prefer this version of Deathlok to the one that was popularized in the 1990s, because it seemed a bit more flawed and human to me. 

If you want to know what happened next, tune in for my next article. That one will cover the twenty-sixth issue of this title. The reasons for Deathlok's emergence in this particular timeline will become clear, and Ben tries to stop him, with the timely assistance of a few familiar faces. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #25

Hi folks,

Today's topic is the twenty-fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Iron Fist trapped between sword-wielding enemies on a narrow rope bridge and flames beneath them. The story was called "A Tale of Two Countries!" The issue had a cover date of March 1977.

The issue began at Shea Stadium in New York, where Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters were at a football game. Neither of them knew that Grimm was being watched from a blimp overhead. A beam soon struck the Fantastic Four member, and grappling hooks carried him skyward until he was aboard the vessels. His captors. stated that their act was for their queen, before going to tell the Dragon what had happened.

Some time later, Ben awoke to see Iron Fist locked up in chains before him. Fist (real name: Danny Rand) presumed that both of them had been hit by the same type of knockout beam before being transported to the blimp that now held them. Danny summoned his reserves and broke free of his bonds before finding the button that would release Grimm. 

The duo then peered out a nearby window and saw that they were flying over an ocean. The lower part of the blimp soon detached, and Danny confessed that their captors had approached him before about taking sides in their conflict. Rand had no interest in getting involved, but was apparently being forced into the conflict anyway. Ben added that the same group had wanted to obtain some of Reed Richard's weaponry, which he promptly denied. 

Before the heroes could say much more, the floor opened up underneath them, and they were sent hurtling toward the ground below. Trees broke their falls, and they learned, thanks to speakers that arose near their landing site, that the warring factions were forced to train their own soldiers, after Grimm and Rand turned down their offiers. The message had no sooner ended when the stars of this story found themselves under attack.

The armed trio were hardly a match for the Thing or Iron Fist, but they provided them with details as to their next destination. The pair soon arrived just outside of the Temple at the Ridge of Four Hells. It was a massive combined structure, one that bordered multiple volcanoes. Rand used a rope for them to glide down gently before busting down the front door.

Once inside, they were accosted by more soldiers, but they still weren't much of a match. One man ordered the cessation of hostilities, before explaining the reason for their conflict. Their highest ranked military member opposed the idea of their queen marrying the emperor of the opposing side, and kidnapped her. Both nations would be forced into war if the queen was not returned within 24 hours. 

That revelation changed Ben and Danny's minds. They followed their hosts until more warriors arrived. After a brief battle, the queen emerged. She ran to the leader named Prince Sen and embraced him. They were in love, but the queen had volunteered herself to the other side for the sake of her country. In the end, she was returned to that nation and honored her commitment. It was an important lesson in sacrifice, even if that sacrifice involved a thing called love. 

This was another morality tale that didn't have a happy ending, but it was okay. We didn't learn a lot about the opposite forces, and I felt like they might have fit in better with Shang-Chi and his companions' involvement. The script was a good excuse for Ben and Danny to interact, although I just wish they would have had more suitable foes to face. 

That's all I have for you for now. Next time, I'll discuss the twenty-sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing allies himself with someone who's been a staple in the Marvel universe for many decades. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #24

Hello all,

It's time for me to talk about the twenty-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted Black Goliath trying to shield the Thing from green tendrils of gas as the Hijacker loomed behind them in one of his large contraptions. The tale was titled "Does Anyone Remember...The Hijacker?" The issue had a cover date of February 1977.

The story started in a lab, where Ben Grimm was begging to be let out of the atmospheric chamber he was in, whose conditions were supposed to mimic those that existed on the planet Venus. Bill Foster was monitoring the situation and wasn't ready to let Ben free just yet. The lab was in Los Angeles, and Foster's employer, Tony Stark, checked in on the test via video monitor from New York. He was confident that the strongest member of the Fantastic Four could endure whatever was thrown at him.

A short while later, a guard outside the research facility was stunned by something that appeared behind him. By the time Foster returned the test conditions to those resembling Earth, he and his colleagues were hit with gas grenades. Grimm watched helplessly as the scientists started to struggle. He then saw the man behind their woes, as the villain called the Hijacker emerged from the gaseous clouds.

Gas was seeping into every chamber except Ben's. Foster was down on the floor below most of the gas clouds, but was still a bit off his game when he grabbed at his foe's foot. He still managed to hit the release button that freed Grimm before succumbing to the mists. Ben rushed inside to save Foster and tore off Stark's exo suit before going after the Hijacker. 

Foster had enough time to recover and donned his Black Goliath costume before his body began to expand. By then, the Hijacker had discovered a weapons cache full of items that he could sell to the highest bidders. However, Ben arrived on the scene before he could take anything. Not even a barrage of missiles could deter the star of this book.

Black Goliath stepped into the room minutes later, and the Hijacker's heat gun provided a brief window for him to retreat and enter his massive armed fortress on wheels. The vehicle was impressive, but not indestructible. Ben and Bill's combined efforts were finally enough to stop the car from moving forward. Foster tore open its canopy, and Grimm wrenched the utility belt from their opponent. Without his weapons and helmet, the Hijacker was no longer a threat. A simple flick of one of Ben's mighty fingers sent their assailant flying. 

This was the first of several team-ups that the Thing would have with Black Goliath (who would later change his superhero name to Giant Man). Ben and Bill also forged a friendship that would last throughout most of the remainder of this series' run. Black Goliath had his own title that lasted five issues in the 1970s. He also appeared in ongoing series like Luke Cage, Power Man, and the original Champions. It's a shame that he's not around anymore. He was one of those underrated characters that we needed to see a lot more of. 

That's all I have for you today. Next time, I'll talk about the twenty-fifth issue of this title. Ben pairs up with Cage's future partner in a yarn that spans across multiple nations. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.