Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #6

Happy Wednesday, folks!

Time for me to talk about the sixth issue of the Thing. The cover showed Ben Grimm preparing to punch someone. The story was called "Mindscape." The issue had a cover date of December 1983.

The tale began in Ben's mind. He thought about how he'd just been forced into fighting his friends Wonder Man, She-Hulk, and Spider-Man (last issue). Grimm then pondered the person behind such attacks, who lashed out at him moments later. The Puppet Master, adorned in a shiny new costume, struck his old opponent, who in this reality was just ordinary Ben Grimm.

Alicia Masters' stepfather stood in front of his foe, feeling triumphant. He explained to his opponent what had happened since their last encounter. The Puppet Master had allied himself with Doctor Doom to subdue the Fantastic Four and place their minds in small puppets that were then added to a miniature town called Liddleville. The heroes believed that was their life, until they started to unravel the deception. 

The members of the Fantastic Four eventually regained their powers and control of their own bodies. They'd even tricked Doom into being thrown into suspended animation. Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) believed that it would be safe for them to transport Doom's body, not knowing at the time that his rival had transferred his mind to the body of his Liddleville puppet.

Doom found himself facing a revolt led by the Puppet Master. Before he could claim a final victory against the Latverian monarch, one of Doom's robot doppelgangers destroyed the tiny town and Masters' robot body. He had no physical form and became synthesized with this radioactive clay. The Puppet Master manipulated it into assuming the form he'd used to return to New York, just as he now controlled Grimm's body.

The emboldened Puppet Master lashed out at Ben repeatedly until Grimm changed into the Thing. Ben had usually held back a bit during their previous battles because of the Puppet Master's relationship with Alicia. This time, he had no such qualms. He pushed his foe out of that plane before finally breaking free of the blackness.

When Grimm stepped out, he saw the devastation that his battles had wrought across several city blocks. He was coming to terms with that reality when his rival, appearing as a white version of the Thing, stood before him. This time, Ben's words caused the hardened block of clay to crumble, once the Puppet Master knew that his longtime rival wasn't afraid of him. 

The Puppet Master has been one of the Fantastic Four's oldest foes. He's had a sort of love/hate relationship with the group over the years, primarily because of Alicia. This was one example of writer John Byrne trying to show readers how much of those struggles were mental, although there was a significant physical portion to this conflict as well. 

That's it for now. Next time, I'll sum up the seventh issue of the Thing. This issue was published during the infamous assistant editors' month, so expect some hijinks that are a bit out of the ordinary. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #5

Hello there,

Hope all's well. I'm not in the best of moods today after hearing that my aunt passed away yesterday, but I'm going to do the best I can. Today's topic is the fifth issue of the Thing. The titular character was being attacked on the issue's cover by She-Hulk and Wonder Man, as Spider-Man swung into view. The tale was titled "With Friends Like These..." The issue had a publication date of November 1983.

Ben Grimm was leaving the hospital on a nice day after visiting his girlfriend, Alicia Masters (who was still recovering from injuries suffered at the hands of Annihilus in the Fantastic Four's book). Ben took a cab back to the Baxter Building, where he was met at the building's elevator bank by Wonder Man (Simon Williams). Simon explained that he was there because of an urgent call he'd received from Ben.

Grimm replied that he'd made no such call. Wonder Man's face shifted, and he went silent before punching his old pal. Ben flew through the wall and out into the street. He was puzzled by the sudden attack, but barely had time to catch his breath before Simon continued the assault.

While the duo fought, She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) was trying to make sense of one of Hank Pym's texts while on monitor duty at Avengers Mansion. She was interrupted by a phone call supposedly from Ben. The caller asked for her assistance at the Baxter Building. 

Jen brought up a map on the computer, which indicated that there were signs of distress in that area. She then told the butler, Jarvis, that she was going to investigate. Meanwhile, the conflict between the Thing and Wonder Man continued. 

Ben quickly realized that something was off with his opponent. It seemed like Wonder Man was not in control of his body. He had no sooner defeated Simon when the She-Hulk knocked him through a bus. As they battled, an observer noted that Walters were losing, and that maybe strength alone was not enough to stop Grimm. 

The Thing was surprised by this new confrontation, noting that this challengers was just as quiet as the last. That was most unlike the rather chatty She-Hulk. The mystery person reached out to another hero, who just happened to be the ever-amazing Spider-Man (Peter Parker). Spidey was zipping by on a webline when he felt the influence of another mind. He soon leapt toward Ben, knocking his surprised friend off his feet.

Ben went through a similar conflict with Spider-Man, paying attention to how his foe seemed unfamiliar with his own abilities. As this continued, the cloaked stranger split off into several smaller beings who departed the alley they'd been lurking in. 

A few moments later, several citizens made a rush toward the Thing. Ben had a good idea by then who was behind all of this, but didn't want to hurt innocent people. He fought them off easily, and then the smaller beings combined into a duplicate of the Thing. Ben stood for a short while surveying the aftermath of the day's events, before he too was enthralled by an entity that he was rather familiar with by then. 

I felt like this was an okay issue. Nothing spectacular, and the idea of having several allies influenced into attacking the Thing is not a new concept. It did remind me of someone the Fantastic Four have faced before. 

If you think you know who the mystery villain is, or even if you don't and want a better clue, tune in tomorrow for my summary of the sixth issue of the Thing. We'll find out what happened to Ben after his possession, and the mental conflict that he engages in before it's all over. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #4

Happy Monday, folks!

I'm starting a new week with a discussion of the fourth issue of the Thing. The cover showed Lockjaw and Ben Grimm, with a mysterious being behind them. The story was called "I, Monster!" The issue had a cover date of December 1983.

The tale began outside a small shack on a warm day. An old woman was tending to her crops before an angry mob began assembling near her domicile. She quickly ran indoors, concerned for the safety of her son, Lucas, a frightened young boy who doesn't appear to be quite human. She went outside to address the townspeople's concerns. They demanded the monster and began throwing whatever items they could get their hands on at Sarah Anne Jackson to force her to comply with their demand.

A few moments later, The Thing and Lockjaw arrived. The Inhuman had teleported them right into the midst of the confrontation. Ben was unhurt, but tried to squash the unrest before things got out of hand. He and Lockjaw stood their ground until the sheriff arrived.

The lawman had never seen anyone like Lockjaw before, but Grimm assured him he was okay. Meanwhile, many miles away, in what appeared to be a deserted castle, several lumps of clay sitting on a table began to move. They slowly coalesced until they formed a gray humanoid.

Back at the cabin, Ben was filling Ms. Jackson and the sheriff in on his return from Atillan. He said that Lockjaw didn't bring him to the Baxter Building because Lockjaw sometimes focused on the mental energies of people in need of help. Apparently, he thought the single mother and her child fit that description.

Grimm wasn't ready to head home just yet. He left Lockjaw with Sarah and her son Lucas, while he rode into town with the sheriff to make a phone call. Life for many in the village had started going downhill at around the same time as Lucas' birth, some twelve years earlier. 

Ben called the Baxter Building, but his friend Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) wasn't around. He had just hung up with their robotic receptionist, Roberta, when Lockjaw appeared beside him. The Inhuman fell over, and Grimm saw that he had been shot. The sheriff asked his deputy to find a medic while he and Ben sped off toward Sarah's cabin.

The angry mob had returned to encircle the small house. Ben waded through them, but was unable to prevent all of them from lashing out. One of them threw a rock that crashed through a window and struck Sarah in the forehead. It was the last thing she'd ever see.

Lucas stepped outside to find his mother lying lifeless on the front stoop. He looked out at the crowd and could feel their jumbled emotions. After a while, the people who'd arrived to harm him no longer felt like doing so. They walked away peacefully.

Afterward, Lucas and his new friends buried Sarah. Lockjaw teleported the orphan to Atillan. Ben realized that was one place the boy could be where he'd never be viewed as a monster.

This story reminded me of a tale in an issue of The Incredible Hulk that was plotted by Jim Starlin, where the titular character encountered a child who had been considered an outcast because of their unusual appearance and abilities. It's a theme that we often see in some of the X-titles and spread throughout other books from various publishers. We as humans often fear what we don't know, and sometimes that fear leads people to commit harm against those who are different. Maybe if we took the time to get to know others as the unique human beings that they are, we might be in a better place as a society.

That's all I have for now. Time to have dinner and think about the memories of my aunt, who just passed away earlier this morning. I'll return tomorrow with a recap of the fifth issue of the Thing. The strange being in the abandoned castle we saw earlier will take on a larger role in that script. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #3

Good afternoon all,

I'm wrapping up this weekend with a discussion of the third issue of the Thing. The cover showed Ben Grimm shackled to a wall, as members of the Inhumans entered a doorway behind him. The tale was titled "Turning Point." The issue had a cover date of September 1983.

The story began in a typical hospital, where patients with various maladies were being treated. However, none of those inside were prepared for the arrival of the two Inhumans, Crystal and Lockjaw. Grimm was not far away, taking some time to pick up a bouquet in the gift shop for his girlfriend, Alicia Masters, who had been recuperating at that same hospital from injuries suffered at the hands of Annihilus (a saga that was covered in the Fantastic Four's title). 

Ben left the shop and immediately met his old friends. Crystal leapt into his arms before tears started falling down her cheeks. Grimm carried her to a couch, went to the water cooler for a cup of water, and listened to the tale she was about to tell. Ben was horrified by what he'd heard, and immediately agreed to allow Lockjaw to transport him to the Inhumans' refuge of Attilan, which was in the blue area of the moon.

After ensuring that Crystal would be taken care of, the Thing and Lockjaw transported to the Inhumans' land, where Ben was brusquely told that those in charge could not be interrupted. Ben was on a mission to see Black Bolt and wasn't about to let anyone get in his way. A fight broke out, one that ended with Grimm being stunned by a weapon. He and his comrade Lockjaw woke up imprisoned.

Ben was on the verge of freeing himself when Black Bolt, Medusa, Karnak, Gorgon, and Triton entered the room. Crystal's child, Luna, was about to be exposed to the Terrigen mists that endowed unique abilities to each Inhuman. Grimm protested, noting that although Luna's father Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff) consented, Crystal argued against it, because their child was of both human and Inhuman origin.

Karnak asserted that it was the father's decision, something that Grimm countered when speaking to Crystal's sister, Medusa. She said nothing in response before she and her colleagues left the room. Ben and Lockjaw were finally able to free themselves after Ben produced a heart-shaped locket that he'd purchased for Alicia and used it to short-circuit the cell that had prevented Lockjaw from teleporting away. 

Moments later, the pair arrived right before Pietro, who was about to place his child in the Terrigen Mist chamber. Neither Ben nor Lockjaw was going to let Maximoff proceed with that plan. Lockjaw grabbed the child and teleported away, with Quicksilver running after him, leaving Ben to follow.

Ben was met by his old Inhuman allies and others who were determined to let the ceremony continue. Black Bolt flew toward the Thing, and the two engaged in another destructive conflict. The skirmish continued until Lockjaw reappeared with Crystal at his side, holding Luna in her arms. She appealed once more to her husband and fellow Inhumans.

It wasn't until Lockjaw spoke up that people finally started to change their minds about the situation. Ben was shocked, unaware that his old companion was capable of speech. A few hours later, Ben bid goodbye to his teammate Johnny Storm's (the Human Torch's) former love, as Lockjaw teleported him back. On the way, Lockjaw admitted that he'd never spoken to Ben before because he simply hadn't had anything to say. 

This was an interesting and enjoyable one-off issue. It was good to see the Inhumans again, including past and future FF members Medusa and Crystal. They will probably always be connected with the Fantastic Four, which isn't surprising, considering they debuted in that series during the Stan Lee-Jack Kirby days. I had no idea that Lockjaw could talk, and I was not expecting the Inhumans to assent to Crystal's position. 

If you want to find out where Ben and Lockjaw went after this story, tune in tomorrow for my recap of the fourth issue of The Thing. They don't return to the Baxter Building or the hospital just yet, and encounter a family in need of consideration for their unique settings. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one anothe. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #2

Good morning, folks!

Hope everyone's been enjoying the weekend. I'm starting the day with a synopsis of the second issue of The Thing. The cover showed a side view of the Thing's head, with images from Ben Grimm's college days superimposed on it. The tale was titled "For Beauty Passed Away." The issue had a publication date of August 1983.

The story started in the Baxter Building in New York City, where Grimm was picking through the wreckage that had been wrought by the Fantastic Four's foe Annihilus while the team was traversing the Negative Zone. As he was picking up, Ben found Annihilus' helmet. He crushed it with the rest of the garbage and tossed it into a nearby disposal chute.

Afterward, he got dressed and prepared to leave, heading for the hospital, where his girlfriend, Alicia Masters, and his godson, Franklin Richards, were recuperating from the villain's assault. On his way out the door, Grimm was intercepted by mailman Willie Lumpkin, who had a first-class priority envelope to hand him.

Ben opened the envelope during the taxi ride to the hospital. He noticed that it had been sent from Central City, California. Grimm froze after reading the message that was inside, but decided to set it aside once he arrived.

Ben's teammate Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) met him on the tenth floor. His son and Alicia's conditions had not changed. A few moments later, Reed's wife Sue (the Invisible Woman) and Ben's uncle, who was a doctor, entered the room. He informed the trio that recovery would take some time, but they were stable. 

Grimm headed for Alicia's room after promising to visit Franklin later on. The shock of seeing Alicia bandaged in her hospital bed was something that Ben was still getting used to. He worried about her, of course, but Alicia could tell that something else was on his mind. Grimm admitted that he had another concern and removed the letter from his pocket before starting his story.

Back in college at Empire State University, Ben and Reed were roommates. One evening, Grimm pried Richards from the laboratory to enjoy a night at the pub. Grimm's lady, Allyn Cambers, was waiting for them, along with a woman named Nan Freeman, whom the couple was trying to set Reed up with. Reed already had his eyes set on his landlady Mrs. Storm's niece Sue, but the quartet went out anyway.

A couple of weeks later, Ben was about to take the field with the rest of his football team when Allyn approached him. She embraced him fiercely before announcing that she had to leave, without explaining why. Reed caught up with her in the hallway, where she also exclaimed that she was leaving. Both Ben and Reed were puzzled, but continued on.

Richards cheered on his friend from the stands, but Grimm eventually noticed Allyn's absence, and it affected his performance on the field. His frustration carried over into the locker room after the game. Only his roommate was able to calm him down. The two friends talked hours later. Ben was convinced that he had to let Cambers know how he really felt about her.

Allyn had left the university, but had not moved away. It took three weeks for Ben to track her down, but they finally had a quiet afternoon together. As they walked, the couple came across a tree where Ben had once carved their initials. He reached into his pocket and produced his mother's ring. Grimm wanted to give it to Allyn, but she refused. She had dreams of becoming a movie star, and couldn't let anything get in the way of that dream. She walked away once more, presumably for good. Ben tossed the ring in the pond behind him moments later.

Ben and Alicia were quiet for some time after Grimm had finished telling his tale. Masters knew that Cambers had become a Hollywood starlet and was surprised that she was now reaching out to Grimm. Ben noted that Allyn had asked to meet her, and he was scared of seeing her again after all this time. Alicia's encouragement gave him the strength to see what she had to say. As he exited the room, Alicia softly wished that Ben would be careful.

Grimm waited alone in the Baxter Building for several hours before Allyn arrived. Her appearance was not what Ben expected. A recent stroke had paralyzed the right side of her body. It was something that she'd managed to keep out of the news thus far, but knew that she couldn't deal with it alone. She leaned on her old love for support.

The next day, Ben returned to the hospital. He conferred with Reed, Sue, and his uncle. Because of the attack on Alicia and Franklin, Reed was concerned for their safety. He announced that his family was moving out of the Baxter Building. Grimm was worried that this news might spell the end of the team.

This story was continued in issue #257 of the Fantastic Four. I remember first reading this issue as a kid, back in the days when you could get polybagged comics at the local shopping center or grocery store. It was a very human issue that Ben dealt with, one that made me wonder what happened to Allyn after reuniting with Ben. 

That's it for this morning. I'll be back later today with a recap of the third issue of the Thing. Ben will be called upon to assist some old allies in a single-issue story. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #1

Good morning, peeps!

I'm kicking off the weekend with a discussion of the first issue of the Thing, a series that began after Marvel Two-In-One ended. The John Byrne-drawn cover showed a triumphant Thing standing in the midst of wreckage all around him. The tale was titled "Lifelines." The issue had a cover date of July 1983.

The story started on Yancy Street, where Ben Grimm grew up. The Thing walked around his old neighborhood, realizing how much things had fallen into disarray since he'd left. He walked into a mostly deserted apartment building and wandered around until he heard noises coming from the basement.

Ben went down the steps and found nothing at first. He moved across the old superintendent's office until breaking down the door nearby. Inside the room was a gang of young teens, who threw everything they had within reach at the intruder. Grimm was unfazed and announced that he wanted to have a few words with the boys.

The leader of the gang came forward when called for and started for a long time at the Thing. Both men looked at one another for several long moments before Ben began a tale from his past. He used to play stickball with his friends, and grew up with his parents and his older brother Dan not far from where they were now. 

Dan led the gang at the time, a fact which often caused several arguments with his folks. Ben listened quietly until he saw his brother leave their shared bedroom one evening. The curious young lad followed his older sibling, and witnessed a violent rumble. He also saw the fatal stab that ended Dan's life. Ben ran to his brother's side, but he was already gone.

Ben was filled with rage, and did the only thing he could think to do at the time: he fought back. His parents were furious with him when they picked him up at the police station, but that night had changed things for Ben. In time, he supplanted his brother as leader of the gang. One day, he headed for home and found his uncle Jake standing before their brownstone.

Jake informed Ben that his parents had passed away. Grimm didn't want to believe the news at first, but finally relented. He agreed to move in with his uncle and his wife, Alyce. Ben wasn't accustomed to the higher standard of living that his aunt and uncle had, but he turned a new leaf after a while.

He began to appreciate all of their kindness, even when he was his cruelest to them. Ben figured out that high school wasn't all that bad, and he became a star football player. Being on the field helped Grimm cope with the loss of his parents. It also paved the way for an athletic scholarship. Ben met a young Victor Von Doom at the university before coming face to face with his new roommate, Reed Richards.

Richards and Grimm struck up a lasting friendship. Ben promised to fly the rocket that Reed promised to build, even though he didn't know at the time that he'd honor that promise. Grimm later joined the Air Force and became a skilled test pilot. Reed called upon those abilities once his rocket was finally complete. 

Reed, along with his girlfriend Sue Storm and her kid brother Johnny, had signed up for the trip. Grimm was a bit hesitant because of the cosmic rays. None of them were aware just then how much that would play a role in their excursion.

The quartet snuck onto the government base and boarded the rocket. Ben took the controls, and they flew off into space together. Each of them was affected by the cosmic rays and swore to use the abilities that they'd gained from them for good. 

The gang leader wasn't impressed with Ben's narrative. He pointed out that he hadn't been given the lucky breaks that Grimm did. That was true, but Grimm knew from experience that it also took a certain mindset to break out of unfavorable habits and conditions. 

Afterward, Ben left the building to confer with his friend who was waiting outside. He admitted that he'd shared more personal information with the gang members than he'd ever disclosed with Reed or Sue. The gang leader was his friend's son, and he hoped that his words would get through to him sooner or later. It was a favor Grimm was glad to repay his old pal, but he still wasn't certain that he got through to the boy. His father gave Ben credit for the attempt, which was probably more than most would even try to do. They walked off together to drown their sorrows with a couple of cold beers and talk more about the past. 

As you can probably tell, this book began in a different direction than its predecessor. Writer John Byrne, who was in the middle of his legendary run as writer/artist of the Fantastic Four title at the time as well, took a closer look at the man who is Ben Grimm. We saw what motivated him and how he turned from street punk to the ever-loving blue-eyed idol of millions. 

There would be more examination of Grimm in upcoming months, including the second issue that I'll recap tomorrow morning. Ben will be revisited by an old flame, and he'll find out that what he remembered from someone he was once very close with has changed drastically over the years that they spent apart. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #100

Happy Friday, folks!

I'm closing out the workweek with a recap of the one hundredth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Ben Grimm standing together in the midst of a wrecked city, with the Thing declaring it to be the end (which was the end of this series' run). The story was called "Aftermath." The issue had a cover date of June 1983.

The tale began with Grimm looking back to when he used Dr. Doom's time machine to go back to a period where he thought he could cure his younger self of becoming the Thing. He eventually ran into that version of Grimm, and the two Things battled before the one from our era administered a potion that reverted the younger version of Ben to his human form.

Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) was watching that playback on a video monitor at the Baxter Building with his old college pal, and told him that was when he found his friend in the timestream to retrieve him (as shown in issue #50 of this title). Ben wondered why Reed was bringing up the past. 

Richards reminded Grimm how his actions created an alternate reality. He then brought up a Daily Bugle newspaper headline that mentioned a nuclear explosion in New Amsterdam from that particular timeline. It seemed that Ben's interaction affected more than he initially knew. He was thinking that his other self might still be alive, just before Reed's wife Sue (the Invisible Girl) reminded him of his promise to take her out that evening. The happy couple left Grimm to his own thoughts, which inevitably drifted back to that alternate timeline.

He returned to the time machine, adjusted the controls, and set the timer for the day before yesterday before stepping onto the platform. Moments later, Ben emerged in a deserted Baxter Building in the bombed-out city of New Amsterdam. He slowly made his way down the elevator shaft before exiting the building and seeing for himself how devastated the city really was.

Grimm was approached by a violent mob that he dispatched with ease. He then found his counterpart from that timeline, who led him into an underground subway terminal where several had sought refuge. The Ben Grimm from that era then told his duplicate what had happened since their last encounter. His teammates were glad to see he'd returned to his human form. This Ben opened a tavern and was replaced on the Fantastic Four by Spider-Man. The team still battled threats from Earth and beyond, but finally met their match when Galactus arrived. The world devourer downed them one by one.

This reality had no Silver Surfer to confront Galactus. Other super-powered beings tried, but none of them proved to be worthy of such an ultimate challenge. Galactus built one of his machines atop the Baxter Building that consumed as much of the planet's resources as it could, leaving the Earth a mostly dead, dried-up world of little use to anyone. Its remaining inhabitants clung to life after his disappearance and tried to make things as normal as possible.

Grimm admired his double's efforts to help people after such decimation. However, before this Earth's Ben could finish his story, the Thing ran into intruders from the next threat: the Red Skull. The German monarch's minions quickly overpowered the Thing, who soon found himself shackled to a table in the villain's lair, which was in the remains of what once was the World Trade Center.

As Ben and his fellow survivors went to save their guest, the Thing listened to his captor, remembering that Namor of this Earth probably never found the ice-encased body of the Skull's rival, Captain America. The Red Skull continued to taunt his prisoner, while new hostages were herded inside his camp, including a blind woman named Alicia Masters.

Ben's group posed as soldiers and infiltrated the base. They entered the Skull's lair just after the Thing was being tortured by the Skull. The distraction allowed him to break free and join the fray. He learned about the Skull's Red Dust and blew it back at his foe, which soon ended the villain's life. 

Afterward, Ben returned to the Baxter Building with the Thing. He thanked his visitor for his assistance, thinking they probably wouldn't meet again. The time platform descended on the modern-day Ben Grimm, and he stood alone for several minutes once he was back in his old surroundings. He thought about both versions of himself before deciding that he'd choose himself in a heartbeat.

This was a rather appropriate ending to this title, and a nice resolution to the events that occurred in issue #50. The series, along with others like Spider-Woman, Master of Kung Fu, and Ghost Rider, was cancelled about the same time in 1983. However, unlike the others, the Thing would return in another title that was initially scripted, but not illustrated for the most part, by John Byrne. It wasn't a team-up book. Although there were several guest stars from time to time, this one was centered mainly around Ben Grimm's life both before and after he became the Thing. 

I'll start the weekend with a synopsis of the first issue of The Thing. Ben returns to his old stomping grounds on Yancy Street, where he tries to advise several youths in the neighborhood, a task that made him contemplate the old days and where his life had taken him since then. Until then, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another.