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

Good morning, peeps,

Hope everyone's having a great weekend! I'm starting the day with a discussion of the sixth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted Doctor Strange and the Thing facing the visage of an unknown enemy. The tale was titled "Death-Song Destiny!" The issue had a cover date of November 1974.

The story started in a New York City subway terminal. Strange and his disciple (and future wife) Clea were standing around with several other city residents. A young girl was playing a harmonica, whose tones elicited different thoughts and emotions from the nearby citizens. One of them moved toward her after the performance ended, which caught Strange and Clea's attention.

The street tough took the instrument from the woman, and she fell into the path of an oncoming train. As the vehicle bore down toward her, the girl exclaimed that the harmonica was more important than her life. Strange grabbed the harmonica from the man, but when he turned to where the girl had been, there was only a shower of bright sparks in her place.

Sparks continued to cascade and shower the corridor, bathing everyone in their immediate vicinity. Neither Strange nor Clea understood just what had happened, but it was certain that the incident was worth investigating. The word "Celestia" had been inscribed on the harmonica. Strange and Clea soon left the station and headed toward their sanctum sanctorum in Greenwich Village.

Meanwhile, in the living quarters of the Baxter Building, the Thing had been fast asleep until he heard the ring of the telephone on his nightstand. Not many people knew Ben Grimm's private phone number, so he figured the caller had to be important. He answered and talked with Mrs. Coogan, one of his former neighbors on Yancy Street. She was calling because something had happened to her grandson (who happened to be the one who'd taken the harmonica from the girl in the subway station). 

Grimm boarded a flier and headed for his old homestead. He'd owed the woman a lot, noting that she helped him stay on the path toward moving out of the slums and pursuing higher education. She greeted him warmly before introducing Grimm to her grandson.

At the same time, Strange was using the Eye of Agamotto to learn more about the girl and the harmonica. An image of her face appeared shortly thereafter. Strange discovered that the girl was not human after all, and later knew that he had to confront the other witnesses of that evening's incident.

He began with the Goldenbergs. Sheldon was conducting his nightly routine when he ran from the bathroom in horror, with his face having suddenly disappeared. Strange's astral form arrived just in time to suggest that it was merely an apparition. The young man looked at the mirror and was relieved to see his face staring back at him again. He then told his wife that what had just happened was probably reflective of his work life, where he felt faceless. Sheldon decided that he'd start work on the book he'd been planning to write and leave the rat race behind.

By then, Grimm had heard Mrs. Coogan's grandson's recount of the evening's events. He found it hard to believe at first and suggested that the pair sleep on it. Grimm went outside for some fresh air, only to find his aero-car defaced by members of the infamous Yancy Street gang. He was angered by their defacing of his vehicle, but before he could do anything about it, Doctor Strange appeared behind him. 

The two old friends walked off together until a loud scream made them turn and look at a large rat that was now climbing up one of the old tenements. Ben grabbed the giant rodent by the tail before Strange attacked it with mystical force. The creature had grabbed Mrs. Coogan's grandson and brought him outside.

While Ben battled the beastie, Strange tried to convince the lad that the Fantastic Four's strongman needed his help. The youth was initially afraid, but eventually came out of his shell and encouraged the Thing, who continued to batter at the rat until it was no more. The crowd cheered, and Grimm and Strange headed toward Greenwich Village.

However, when they arrived, Clea and Wong had bad news to deliver. Clea said that the Valkyrie, Strange's teammate on the Defenders, had just arrived and taken the harmonica. She'd stated that Strange had sent her to obtain the item, which Clea willingly believed, not knowing that neither hero had heard from the Valkyrie that evening. Clea now knew that was a lie, and the heroes were left wondering why she would request or even know anything about the harmonica.

I don't have a lot of issues in my collection drawn by George Tuska, but I always felt that he was a bit of an underrated comic book artist during the 1970s. His art is simple and clean, for the most part. It can be great if it's inked well. This was kind of an offbeat issue, and I thought at first that the sparkle effects would have affected more of the people in the subway in different ways, but for a single issue, the story was fine. 

Later this afternoon, I'll cover the seventh issue of this series. We'll catch up with the Valkyrie and learn why she was interested in the musical instrument. We'll also see the Thing and Valkyrie pair up against a couple of foes who are commonly seen in the pages of The Mighty Thor. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

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

Good afternoon, folks,

Hope all's well. It's time for me to recap the fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed The Thing, Captain America, and the original Guardians of the Galaxy engaged in battle against the Badoon in the 31st century. The story was named "Seven Against the Empire!" The issue had a cover date of September 1974.

On our planet in the year 3014, Earth was ruled by an alien race called the Badoon. The Earthlings that remained were slaves to their alien masters. Cap, Ben Grimm, and Sharon Carter had recently arrived in that timeline to try and protect the people (after being alerted to the crisis by a time-traveling woman last issue), but fell in battle to the Badoon's forces. The defeated heroes were now being brought to the Badoon leader.

A memory device was placed on Captain America's head, so that the villain could learn from its memories how they came to be there. By the time the details had been discovered, Grimm had recovered and was ready to fight once more. He fended off the charge of the Badoon's Zom soldiers and gave Cap and Sharon enough time to awaken and join the fray.

The three warriors were more than ready to battle their foes from the future. They eventually escaped, not knowing that the lady named Tarin that they'd arrived to aid was convening with her associates and recounting her experience in the past. It was finally decided to contact the Guardians of the Galaxy for assistance.

Martinex, Yondu, Charlie-27, and Vance Astro received the transmission and watched the heroes from the past fighting for their lives on the viewscreen. Vance recognized the star-spangled Avenger immediately. He insisted that they set a course for Earth at once to aid them.

Meanwhile, The Thing, Cap, and Carter had finally been found by more Badoon soldiers. One of them swiftly fell after being struck by an arrow fired from Yondu's bow. He and the rest of the Guardians leapt into action, and the combined might of the seven heroes was enough to defeat them. 

Afterward, Astro introduced himself and his comrades and explained how he was originally from their time. He'd been sent to outer space in the first American rocket that was designed for such travel. He'd left the planet in 1988 and arrived on Alpha Centauri some 200 years later to find a colony of Earthlings welcoming him. He had aged during his journey, and his body would now be susceptible to disintegration without his protective spacesuit, which he now had to wear at all times to prevent that possibility. 

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Tarin and her associates. Ben led the charge, and the combined forces stormed into the Badoon headquarters. He and Charlie-27 helped Grimm to exact revenge on the mighty destroyer that had felled him before (at the end of issue #4). In the end, good triumphed over evil, and the Badoon leader was forced to surrender.

Tarin and her colleagues were finally hopeful for the first time in a long time. They joined the Guardians in celebrating and wishing their 20th-century counterparts a fond farewell. Moments later, Doctor Doom's time machine activated, and Ben, Steve Rogers, and Sharon were sent back to their own time.

This was a satisfying conclusion to the two-part storyline. I love a good Sal Buscema issue, and he had plenty of experience in drawing the Guardians and the Badoon in this series, as well as in the Defenders and the Guardians' own book. The Badoon remind me a little bit of the lizard aliens from the "V" franchise, minus their human disguises. I actually prefer the original Guardians of the Galaxy over the more modern team lineups, and have several of their appearances in my growing collection. 

Tomorrow, I'll discuss the sixth issue of this series. Ben will team up with Doctor Strange in an offbeat tale that involves some rather curious fates of several people who initially seem random until you discover their connection. There will also be a bit of mischief from the infamous Yancy Street gang. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #4

Good morning,

Hope everyone's enjoying their weekend. It's time for me to discuss the fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing and Captain America squaring off against a large robot and several human-sized aliens. The tale was titled "Doomsday 3014!" The issue had a publication date of May 1974.

The story began in the Central Park Zoo. Ben Grimm was leading Wundarr, the alien man with the mind of a child, past the exhibits. Wundarr pointed to a cotton candy stand and asked his "Uncle Ben-jee" for some. Grimm obliged, but while he was at the counter, chaos erupted around him.

A lion was released from his cage by the powerful youth, who didn't understand why the animal was caged in the first place. It was up to the Thing to ensure that the beast and other animals Wundarr had freed in a short time were rounded up and prevented from harming anyone else in the zoo. Some of its patrons included Sharon Carter and Steve Rogers, who we all know is Captain America.

The couple saw several patrons fleeing in terror, and the Avenger sprang into action moments later. He reached Ben, who had the animals mostly in control by that point. Steve noticed several crooks taking advantage of the situation to rob the merchant booths. As the heroes were occupied with their respective tasks, Namorita and her friend Annie were also wandering the park grounds.

Nita pointed out Wundarr to Annie, and she was recognized instantly by Wundarr (who met Namorita in issue #2). Ben returned shortly thereafter and was angered by the man-child's actions. Nita begged him not to judge Wundarr too harshly, since he didn't understand why what he'd done was wrong. She explained to Ben that she'd returned to the area to attend college and share a house with Ann. Namorita offered to take Wundarr off Ben's hands for a while, and Grimm was happy to oblige.

Cap and Sharon reached Ben after Wundarr had left with Nita and Annie. Ben explained what had just happened and why on the walk back to the Baxter Building. The trio walked in on Reed Richards conducting another experiment with Medusa (who was Sue Richards' temporary replacement in the Fantastic Four for a while). Reed and Medusa stopped what they were doing and went to welcome their guests. On the way out of the lab, the Thing's hand accidentally moved a power feed switch on the contraption Richards had been using.

The quintet relaxed and talked until a piercing scream filled the room. Everyone ran toward its source, which was a young woman who'd appeared in the lab. She was surprised that the people gathered around her spoke English and said that Captain America had died 1,000 years ago before fainting. Ben brought the woman to a couch. When she awoke, she mentioned the Badoon, whom she seemed to be deathly afraid of.

She said that the Badoon was an alien race that had enslaved her people, adding that the Guardians of the Galaxy had named their ship after Captain America. It was now evident that the stranger had arrived from the future using the time machine that was in the laboratory. 

Cap asked Reed if that machine could be used to send them to the time period of the woman named Tarin. A short while later, Captain America, the Thing, Carter, and Tarin stood on the time platform that once belonged to Doctor Doom. Reed and Medusa stood at the control panels and watched their friends fade from sight as the platform lifted from the floor.

The quartet soon found themselves in the 31st century. New York was quite different from what they were used to, and it was much more hostile. They were soon attacked by beings called Zoms. Their foes could not be harmed or knocked out, proving to be more than a typical challenge for our heroes. 

They fought well, but numbers were not on their side. Things escalated when the monster of Badoon, who looked more like a machine than a mortal being, entered the fray. Not even the Thing's most powerful blows could fell the beast. Cap, Sharon, and the Thing eventually fell to the futuristic warriors. They were then led off, as Tarin observed from nearby. She swore that the Badoon would not enjoy their victory for long. 

This was another fun issue. I always enjoy a good Sal Buscema comic book, and this issue showcased his distinctive art style and his versatility in depicting a wide variety of heroes and villains. It was nice to see Reed and Medusa, since I have most of the original Fantastic Four run, and Wundarr and Nita, even if that plot point was done for a while after the first part of this issue. 

That's it for this morning. Later today, I'll return to recap the fifth issue of this series. We'll find out what happened to Captain America, the Thing, and Sharon Carter. We'll also see the Badoon and their interactions with this issue's featured guest stars, the Guardians of the Galaxy (author's note: this is the original Guardians of the Galaxy who originated in the 30th century and are mostly different from the Guardians featured in the Marvel cinematic universe and Guardians of the Galaxy comics in recent years). Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #3

Happy Friday, folks!

I'm ending the workweek with a discussion of the third issue of the first volume of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing and Daredevil about to join the fray below them, as they stood before a gaping hole in the roof they stood upon. We could see the Black Widow and Nekra as several of the combatants inside the building. The story was called "Inside Black Spectre!" The issue had a cover date of May 1974. 

The tale kicked off inside the Baxter Building in New York, as Reed Richards was trying to learn more about the man called Wundarr (who Ben Grimm rescued last issue), as the Thing tried to fit a workout in. All of Reed's tests resulted in the same information. The adult sitting quietly should have normal intelligence, but had shown no outward signs of that as of yet. 

Ben soon noticed a dial on Reed's indicator diving into the red zone, right before Wundarr's body exceeded the amount of energy it could store. The lad emitted a powerful shock wave, one that took out part of the building's roof. Some of the debris was narrowly evaded by the blind crimefighter known as Daredevil.

Daredevil (aka Matt Murdock) was swinging past with his billy club, hoping to find more leads to the Black Spectre crime organization. The explosion distracted him, and he used his radar senses to avoid the falling stone, but ended up losing control of his weapon and fell himself. Murdock reached for the hook from a nearby crane at a construction site and used it to begin a series of jumps that eventually brought him down to the sidewalk. 

Onlookers cheered his athletic prowess, and a police officer helped Daredevil to his feet. He then informed the costumed crimefighter that the blast had originated from the Baxter Building. Murdock walked over to learn more, realizing that his club had lodged itself into part of the wreckage. However, he couldn't use the elevator, which was only accessible using an electrical eye that members of the Fantastic Four wore on their belts.

He turned to leave until the elevator opened. Grimm stepped out and welcomed his friend inside. They traveled up to Reed's laboratory. Richards stopped long enough to greet their old colleague before returning to his work. Grimm helped Daredevil find where his club was, but it was Reed's elastic arm that brought it to him.

Reed apologized for his brusqueness, explaining that he had to complete what he'd been doing. Daredevil understood, having been filled in on Wundarr by Ben. Reed was working on a new suit for Wundarr. Grimm led the lad to a place where he could change, and Daredevil swung back to rejoin police commissioner O'Hara and Shanna the She-Devil (who had her own short-lived comic book not long before this issue was published). 

Shanna recounted the details that she'd already told Murdock's law partner, Foggy Nelson. Her father, Gerald O'Hara, had been kidnapped by soldiers under the employ of the villain known as the Mandrill. She searched in vain for him for months, until she got the call that her father's body had been found in Cape Town. Gerald's will stated that all of his earnings from his diamond business would be turned over to Hensley Fergus, whom Shanna suspected of being the Mandrill. Daredevil wasn't sure what that had to do with Black Spectre, but Shanna guessed that her father's fortune might be funding their criminal enterprise.

Daredevil moved on, noting that he'd heard the same story before as his lawyer persona. He returned home and changed, just in time to greet Candace Nelson before their theater date. The performance wasn't what Matt was expecting. It turned out to be a show where an actor dressed up as Captain America savagely attacked a black man before being shot and killed by a man dressed as Adolph Hitler. The gunman then used his own weapon on himself, and his suicide set the stunned audience into a panic.

Matt took advantage of the confusion to slip backstage and change into his Daredevil costume. He found someone wearing the attire of a Black Spectre member. The villain was knocked out before he could learn anything, and Matt was then accosted by his former love, the Black Widow. She escaped via helicopter. Daredevil thought that he could borrow a vehicle from the Fantastic Four to follow her.

By then, Wundarr was now wearing his new costume, which had a device in the belt buckle that could be used to disperse future energy buildups without causing further damage. Grimm spotted Daredevil whizzing by from the corner of his eye, and soon met his friend trying to hijack their Fantasticar. Ben wanted an explanation, which was quickly provided right before they caught up with a blimp that passed overhead.

The Fantasticar attached to the vehicle like a magnet. The Thing jumped onto it and pounded at its exterior before a portion gave way. Inside, the heroes found several Black Spectre soldiers, along with the Black Widow and Nekra. The villainess was clearly in command of the legions, which included a brainwashed Natasha Romanov (the Widow's civilian identity). 

Daredevil fought off the soldiers until he was attacked from behind by the Widow. Meanwhile, the Thing went for the leader, only to wind up hypnotized by Nekra. He was carried by Black Spectre soldiers and returned to the Fantasticar with Daredevil. It was up to Murdock to pilot them safely to the ground, but the metal blimp escaped.

By the time they landed, Grimm had woken up from his trance. He explained to DD that he'd just gone numb. The Thing was angry and wanted another shot at redemption, as did his counterpart. However, that would have to wait until the conclusion of this tale, which was recounted in Daredevil #110.

I don't have that issue, and I've also decided to stick to the titles that I'm concentrating on, so if you want to find out how that tale ended, you can pick up the book or read it online at your leisure. Regular readers of my blog know that I'm a big Sal Buscema fan, and I usually try to pick up any issues that he illustrates whenever I can. He had plenty of experience drawing Daredevil and Cap, among others, and I've always liked how his art flows well from one page to the next.

Black Spectre seems somewhat like a Temu version of Hydra, or even the Maggia, to me. I haven't read a lot of comic books that they've been featured in, but thus far they've only been portrayed in this issue and issues 109 through 112 of Daredevil's first mag. I think that they might have been confused with other similar organizations, although I'm surprised they haven't been revived in recent years.

I was kind of surprised to see Shanna the She-Devil, until I remembered her run-in with Nekra in the only issue of her brief solo title that I have in my collection. Shanna later became the wife of Ka-Zar and has primarily remained in the Savage Land with her husband and son when she isn't in America on brief excursions. I think she was included to wrap-up of her storyline following her title's cancellation. 

That's all I have for you for now. Tomorrow, I'll kick off the weekend with a synopsis of the fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing teams up with Captain America to tackle another threat, one that takes them to a place they never expected. We'll also see what happened to Wundarr following the events in this issue. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #2

Hi everyone,

Today's topic is the second issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing and Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, preparing to face off against a foe whose metal hands were shown in the foreground. The tale was titled "Manhunters from the Stars!" The issue had a cover date of March 1974.

The story started with a young man named Wundarr who plummeted into the ocean. His descent was observed by Namorita, a cousin of the legendary Atlantean. She dove into the waters to save him and eventually brought him to land. After reviving him, she asked the stranger who he was.

Unfortunately, Wundarr had no knowledge or memory of his past. He repeated Nita's name and, in doing so, spoke for the first time. Before the duo could continue the conversation, Namor and several of his followers arrived on the scene. Namorita explained what had just happened, but her cousin was wary of the intruder, and Wundarr soon leapt away.

His power reminded Namor of his fellow Defender, the Hulk. Nita felt for the lad and convinced Namor to help find him. Meanwhile, the strange young man was being watched from a spaceship that was orbiting Earth. The ship's occupants were most interested in Wundarr because they knew about his lineage.

Wundarr's father, Hektu, had been their world's greatest astronomer. He informed the government of their planet Dakkam that its sun would go nova. His claims were dismissed, and the planet's security force eventually eliminated him. Hektu had built a rocket ship for his family, which Wundarr had escaped in. The observers wanted to find and kill the boy and were preparing a large robot to accomplish that goal. 

We then learned that Wundarr's ship crash-landed on Earth 20 years before. The infant's ship was discovered by the Man-Thing (who guest starred last issue). By that time, Wundarr's body had aged to that of an adult. However, his mind was still that of a toddler. He had a tantrum after meeting the Man-Thing and eventually fled (a story that was encapsulated in Fear #17).

Back in New York, Ben Grimm and his Fantastic Four teammate, Johnny Storm, had just left a movie theater after watching a screening of the martial arts movie "Five Fingers of Doom." Ben was less than thrilled by the feature, while Storm was enamored with the action and skill of the warriors. Johnny flew off as the Human Torch toward their headquarters, the Baxter Building. Ben decided to walk home.

It wasn't long before the city residents were alerted to Wundarr's arrival. The confused man-child started tossing cars until the Thing intervened. He engaged in battle as Wundarr's fellow Dakkamites watched from afar and Namor and Nita neared the site of their struggle. 

The two Atlanteans learned of Wundarr's whereabouts from a nearby ship captain, whose television set was tuned to the skirmish still in progress. Ben knew that the fight itself didn't make much sense, but he continued until he was tackled from behind by the Sub-Mariner. 

Namor was explaining the reason for his interference right before the robot and its masters landed. The artificial being called a Mortoid loomed over his foes, but proved to be no match for the mightiest Atlantean and the Thing. The two quickly defeated the robot just in time to stop the aliens from abducting Namorita.

The two Dakkamites then returned to their ship and sped away. Namor and Nita described Wundarr's condition to Ben before departing. Grimm was then left alone to carry the unconscious boy to safety. 

Namor is an interesting character. He was one of the company's first superheroes, who was revived in the 1960s in the pages of the Fantastic Four. He's fought against and alongside the super team many times. Namor was one of the original Defenders, sided with Doctor Doom in the Super Villain Team-Up book (that I'll cover at another time), was an Avenger, and even aligned with the X-Men at times. He's one of those characters who will appear for a while and then sort of disappear for a while. Namorita was largely absent during the Seventies and Eighties (except for appearances like this one and guest spots in the Submariner's own title) until the New Warriors were formed in the Nineties. 

Wundarr was a character that I didn't know a lot about until I started collecting this series. Most of his appearances have been in this title. He would later be known as Aquarian, and we'll see more of him throughout this run. His origin reminds me a bit of Superman, and the main character from Marvel's Star imprint brand's series Planet Terry. He has a lot of potential, but hasn't been popular enough to merit his own one-shot or limited series comic book yet. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the third issue of this series. Ben is still figuring out what to do with Wundarr when he embarks on a mission to tackle new foes. We'll also see guest appearances by Reed Richards, Shanna the She-Devil, and the Black Widow in that issue. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

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

Hello there,

Today's topic is the first issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing ramming his fist through the torso of the Man-Thing. The story was called "Vengeance of the Molecule Man." The issue had a cover date of January 1974.

It all started with Ben Grimm's anger increasing after seeing a picture in a newspaper of the Man-Thing. He grew incensed because there was another monster that had a name similar to his. It even caused him to cancel his bus trip back home to New York. He was now set on traveling to Florida to encounter this other super-being in person.

While the poor old man who was simply trying to run a business sat alone in tears after Ben departed, Grimm was reminiscing about his recent battles with the Hulk and teaming up with Iron Man to combat the Blood Brothers (as shown in Marvel Feature #11 and 12, respectively). He may have been a little oversensitive, but the blue-eyed idol of millions had his reputation at stake.

Meanwhile, on an unnamed planet, the Molecule Man was lamenting his poor health while his enemies were thriving back on Earth. The villain had been exiled to that world by the one called The Watcher. He didn't have long to live and was unhappy that he'd never have his vengeance against the Fantastic Four. 

His son vowed to continue his father's mission shortly before the elder passed away. Afterward, the younger man moved to another room and bombarded himself with a shower of ionic particles. They transformed him and helped to renew his devotion to the destruction of Earth's first superhero team. 

Sometime later, the new Molecule Man arrived not in New York as he'd hoped, but instead in the Florida swamps. The first being he encountered was the Man-Thing. He was repulsed by the creature and dropped the wand he'd been carrying. Without that icon, his skin began to wither and weaken. He grabbed for the instrument and felt his strength return almost immediately. 

He knew then that he had to keep the wand with him at all times and walked on, with the Man-Thing following silently behind him. Not far away, Grimm decided he'd had enough travel for a while and ordered the bus driver to stop and let him out. The driver let him out on a bridge, and Ben jumped down. He had no sooner landed in the murky waters below when vines lashed out at him, thanks to the Molecule Man's powers.

Before he could do further harm, the Molecule Man was tossed aside by the Man-Thing. He recovered quickly and used his wand to revert his foes to their human identities, Ben Grimm and Ted Sallis. Ben insisted that they pursue their attacker, knowing that failing to do so could mean the end of his superhero team.

The Molecule Man was mystified as to why his wand was unable to transport him to New York. He continued on to the city of Citrusville, Florida, as Grimm and Sallis made their way out of the swamp. It didn't take them long to find their foe after seeing the destruction he'd wrought in the town in such a relatively short amount of time.

At one point, the villain turned a citizen into a facsimile of Reed Richards and subjected the unwitting resident to feeling the limits of Richards' elasticity. Grim cried out after seeing the helpless man die as a result. His outburst attracted the Molecule Man's attention. He was tired of seeing Ben in his human form and turned him once more into his rocky alter ego.

After being rebuffed by the Thing, Sallis soon reverted back to his monstrous form. The duo engaged in battle again. Upon hearing their mutual enemy laugh loudly at their plight, Ben tossed a bit of the Man-Thing's muck and knocked the wand from the Molecule Man's hand. He ran after it, but by the time he caught up with it, his mortal body withered into dust.

The Thing then picked up the wand. He wasn't able to use it to turn him or his ally back to their human versions, and watched the Man-Thing saunter off. Ben then gave the wand to a little boy, who began playing with it immediately.

The Molecule Man is one of those Marvel characters who appears every so often. Most people in my generation know him from his inclusion in the first two Secret Wars miniseries. I don't know a lot about his history, but I first saw him in the pages of the monthly Fantastic Four and Micronauts titles. He has incredible powers, but his humanity sometimes prevents him from seeing his true potential. 

This was an enjoyable issue. I wasn't surprised to see the Man-Thing, knowing writer Steve Gerber's background with that particular character. Gil Kane's artwork is unique and always fun to add to my collection. 

Except for this one and the second annual, you should be able to find most of the issues from this run in your comic book store's discount bin or at prices that are typically lower than many other issues that were printed during the same time. They're fun to read, but not very highly sought after by most collectors. I decided to collect them all because I enjoyed the run, and it was a less expensive option than other titles that I've read from time to time over the years. This title has been relaunched in recent years, but the newer iteration just doesn't have the same impact on me as the original series has.

Well, that's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the second issue of this series. Ben is back home in New York when he encounters one of Marvel's favorite super-powered characters from the 1940s. The duo also meets a new character whom Grimm takes under his wing in several additional upcoming issues. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Feature #12

Hi everyone,

It's time for me to talk about Marvel Feature #12. The last issue of the first edition of this title was a team-up with the Thing and Iron Man. The two stars were featured on the cover, battling the Blood Brothers. The issue had a cover date of November 1973, and the tale was titled "The Bite of the Blood Brothers!"

It began right where the last issue left off. Ben Grimm was stranded in the desert (after combining with the Hulk to defeat Kurrgo and the Leader). He soon saw Iron Man fly by, but the armored Avenger was too preoccupied with his goals of locating the Blood Brothers and possibly their leader, Thanos, to visit with an old friend. 

Tony Stark had reached his enemies' former base, not knowing that he was already being targeted through a gunsight by one of his foes. The Thing followed Iron Man's path while Thanos was communicating to his lackeys via a Cosmic Cube from the safety of his ship that was orbiting the planet Saturn. The Blood Brothers had located Iron Man and were awaiting orders. His death sentence was permitted, and the aliens swiftly lunged at their prey. 

The founding Avenger's armor and defensive capacities were enough to hold off the villains for a while, but he crashed into the Fantastic Four's strongman as he attempted to leave the compound. The collision knocked both heroes out. Thanos commended his subordinates on their victory from afar. He gave the order to terminate them just before one of the creatures attempted to use his vampiric abilities on Grimm.

His fangs had little impact on the rock-covered superhero, who trounced his attacker. Iron Man recovered during the ensuing melee and joined in the confrontation. The battle eventually brought a nearby mountain down, but Earth's defenders and their foes still fought on.

A combined effort was needed to knock out the Blood Brothers. Thanos continued to observe via the cube and dispatched his lackeys' punishment through it. The Blood Brothers disappeared, leaving the heroes alone. Iron Man said that the conflict had taken too much of his suit's power to assist Grimm, and Ben was left once again to wander the desert seeking a way home. 

This was the last issue of the first edition of Marvel Feature. It's sought after by collectors because of Thanos' appearance, even though he never directly interacted with the heroes in the story. Thanos was killed off a few years later (in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2) and was resurrected in the 1990s. He's appeared from time to time in different Marvel magazines and movies, and still remains a popular adversary.

I enjoyed this issue. It was, to the best of my knowledge, the first story featuring just the Thing and Iron Man in a drawn-out battle. The Blood Brothers were interesting, although I often think of the Hulk's nemesis the Bi-Beast when I hear about them for some reason. They were an early kink in Tony Stark's armor, but I don't think they've returned very often since this tale. 

Marvel Feature would be revived a few years later, and kicked off with a series of Red Sonja stories. The Thing continued on in his own book, Marvel Two-In-One. Next time, I'll recap the first issue of that title, as Ben Grimm runs into the Man-Thing in the deep South. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.