Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #12

Happy Friday, peeps!

It's time for me to talk about the twelfth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed Iron Man (in his infamous nose suit of armor) and the Thing facing off against Prester John. The tale was titled "The Stalker in the Sands!" The issue had a publication date of September 1975.

The story started with Ben Grimm preparing to pilot an aircraft that was designed by Tony Stark (aka Iron Man). Stark and his crew were surprised when the craft didn't lift off as intended. Instead, the plane descended down the launch tube. Grimm walked away from the crash and headed toward a bright light in his vicinity. 

By the time Iron Man appeared to investigate, the Fantastic Four member had fallen before the feet of Prester John. He stood before a stone gate, and as the heroes knelt before him, the long-lived foe recounted his initial encounter with Grimm's team (back in FF #54). Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) had found the Evil Eye that John coveted. He flew off with it before Wyatt Wingfoot blasted the device from his hand.

The Evil Eye went missing for years. Prester searched for it and found many treasures in the meantime, but not the one that meant the most to him. One of his lackeys eventually presented him with a stone that allowed him to see events that spread across timelines. Prester took it to mean that he was the power of the universe, and only awoke after the cavern he'd been in for years was opened by the rocket malfunction.

The two stars of Marvel Feature #12 battled Prester John for control of the stone. The Thing was eventually able to grab it and toss it into the sky, where it soon shattered into multiple pieces. Once it was destroyed, Prester realized that the images were merely those of typical mortal desires, and not as prescient as he'd previously believed. He then asked the heroes to join him on a quest for nourishment.

Before reading this issue, the only other time I'd seen the villain of this tale was in part of the Avengers/ Defenders crossover event from the 1970s. He's another one of those characters who could either be a friend or a foe at any time. I thought he was better suited for an appearance in the Mighty Thor, and even though I usually love Bill Mantlo's scripts, I felt that this one was a bit lackluster. It did give him an excuse to include Tony Stark and his armored alter ego, though. 

Well, that's it from me for today. I'll start the weekend with a recounting of the thirteenth issue of this series. Ben embarks on an unusual battle, teaming up with someone who briefly took his place in the Fantastic Four. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #11

Hello,

Today's topic is the eleventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted Ben Grimm battling the entity known as the Golem. The story was called "The Thing Goes South!" The issue had a cover date of September 1975.

It all began in a busy concourse, with the Thing trying to scramble to help his girlfriend, Alicia Masters, navigate the bustling crowd so they could make their connection to Disney World. The couple was about to miss their train when Ben used his strength to delay the train long enough for them to board. His appearance was enough to make other passengers stop, stare, and decide to sit somewhere else.

Meanwhile, at San Pedro University in Florida, a trio of young adults stood before the Golem. One of them was certain that the living stone figure had moved. They engaged in a spirited debate about prior incidents, and there were definitely doubts about the Golem, even though it had been praised for vanquishing villains. The quartet was being watched from afar by one of the Golem's previous foes, who soon dispatched his minions to embark on a mission of revenge.

By then, Ben and Alicia's train had been moving along smoothly. A radio report informed passengers that a tidal wave had taken out a bridge that connected Saint Petersburg with San Pedro University. The Thing grabbed his lady and headed toward the college town. When they arrived, they found several residents running in panic. A television broadcast showed footage of the Golem smashing up the town. 

It seemed inevitable that the two titans would meet, and their confrontation happened a lot sooner than later. Even though the Golem seemed to be much stronger, the Thing still held his ground. He even created a bridge to separate them from the henchmen of the Golem's arch-rival, Kaballa. The foe eventually appeared on the scene, and things looked dire until Kaballa learned that his disciples had been taken care of.

After the demon disappeared, things quieted down. The Golem's associates thought that people might have a better understanding and tolerance of people who weren't quite like them. Ben knew from experience that it was usually easier said than done.

I understand the moral lesson that scripter Roy Thomas and writer Bill Mantlo were trying to impart upon their audience, but I think the problem was that not a lot of readers knew much about the Golem or his supporting characters before picking up this issue, myself included. I almost confused him with It, the Living Colossus at first. I may have to go back and read some of his previous exploits sometime. He seems like a character that has some decent potential, but wasn't quite popular enough to merit very many feature stories or even a mini-series or ongoing title. Books like this and its counterpart, Marvel Team-Up, were used at times to gauge interest in different guest stars, and this tale was a prime example of just that. A fair yarn, but none that merited a follow-up or garnered a large faithful following.

That's it for now. I'll end the work week with a recap of the twelfth issue of this title. The Thing rejoins an armored Avenger as they battle another lesser-known baddie. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #10

Hi there,

Well, we're halfway through the week. Time for me to talk about the tenth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Black Widow fighting off baddies while the Thing tried to drag a large bomb away from everyone. The story was called "Is This the Day the World Ends?" The issue had a publication date of July 1975. 

It all began with a high-speed auto chase down a busy thoroughfare. The Black Widow was driving her sports car away from another vehicle that was occupied by a trio of costumed gunmen. She tried to avoid their fire, but it wasn't an easy task. At the same time, Ben Grimm was having a leisurely walk with his blind girlfriend Alicia Masters, not far from the action.

Before long, the Widow's car headed right for the two lovebirds. Grimm sprang into action, pushing his woman to safety before trying to shield them from the impact of the inevitable collision. Both heroes were eventually whisked away by helicopter by the armed soldiers. Alicia was left all alone, wondering where Ben had gone.

Grimm awoke a while later and demanded answers. The person in charge advised him against brutality, showing that he'd had the Widow at gunpoint. They'd been taken to a floating base in the Atlantic Ocean, far away from land. The leader then brought them to the center of the compound, where a large bomb was being prepared for submersion. The thermonuclear device was intended to trigger tsunamis that would destroy most coastal cities. 

Grimm and Natasha Romanov (the Widow's true identity) were later imprisoned. Ben soon learned that their cell was electrified and that their jailer, Andrei Rostov, once had a personal relationship with the Widow many years ago. She asked for his help in removing a narrow sheet from her outfit that contained the components for a field disruptor rifle that she used to break them out of their cell.

Natasha set off to attack their captors, while Ben went for the bomb. He had to make sure that it didn't reach its designated depth. Grimm was finally able to pull the device up and used part of the cables to lash out at Rostov before he could prematurely end the young adventurer's life. 

After the villains had been detained, Ben and Natasha took control of the facility. Ben understood the gravity of the situation and the many lives they'd saved. He breathed a sigh of relief and allowed himself to celebrate with Natasha once she confirmed that SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters Intelligence and Law Enforcement Division) would arrive and that his girlfriend was fine. 

For a Chris Claremont script, this was kind of a cookie-cutter plot. I've enjoyed the Black Widow's appearances in the pages of the Avengers, the Champions, Daredevil, and Marvel Fanfare, but I don't think that the Thing is really the kind of James Bond-style counterpart that works very well with her. Not Chris' best effort, but I've read worse in my day. The villain wasn't much to write home about. Just another forgettable foe that wasn't affiliated with any major groups like Hydra or the Maggia. Klaus Janson's inks over Bob Brown's pencil work kept me reading this yarn.

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the eleventh issue of this series. The Thing will pair up with a lesser-known character who, before then, was best known for their appearances in Marvel's Strange Tales magazine. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #9

Happy Tuesday, peeps!

Today's focus will be on the ninth issue of Marvel's Two-In-One. The well-drawn cover showed the Thing squaring off against the mighty Thor, with the rest of the Fantastic Four lying helpless in the foreground and the Puppet Master smiling as he held puppets of the two combatants in his hands. The tale was titled "When a God Goes Mad!" The issue had a cover date of May 1975.

The story started with Ben Grimm knocking down Doctor Doom, with the encouragement of Sue Richards (aka the Invisible Girl), Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), and Johnny Storm (the Human Torch). On the second page, we learned that the action was all part of a children's matinee. The audience reacted strongly to the performance. 

Included in the audience were Namorita and her college roommate Ann Christopher, the alien Wundarr, and Ben Grimm himself. Ben was sulking until he noticed that one of the puppets bore a strange resemblance to one of his old enemies, the Puppet Master. When he stood up, the Thing was recognized by people in the crowd, who started to gather around him.

This gave the puppet enough time to slink into the shadows behind the curtains. Afterward, the foursome headed for the Fantasticar and headed home to the Baxter Building. On the way, they narrowly evaded the flying Avenger, Thor. The near collision had been observed by the Puppet Master and an associate who was wearing a radiation suit. 

The villain went to his workbench and picked up a model of the Asgardian. Within moments, the powerful hero was at his command. Thor stopped his flight in mid-air and crashed into the Baxter Building. He quickly took out the Torch, Mister Fantastic, and the Invisible Girl. Moments later, he realized what he'd just done and stamped his mighty Mjolnir to the ground to become his alter ego, Doctor Don Blake.

While the doctor quickly tended to his new patients, the Puppet Master and his ally realized their minion's failure. They tracked the Fantasticar's arrival. Ben saw the hole in the side of the building and was immediately concerned. He burst in to find the doctor caring for his teammates. 

As the doctor explained that the damage had been caused by Thor and listened to the Thing's suspicion that the Puppet Master was involved, the attention was then turned to the villains. We then saw that the Puppet Master's comrade was Radion, the Atomic Man. He helped to supply power to the clay figure of Thor. Blake had left the Thing's company and returned to his heroic form and was enraptured once more. 

Thor started to fight the Fantastic Four's strongest teammate. The Puppet Master brought out his puppets and used Radion's energies to control them. However, they stopped working after the atomic man came into contact with Wundarr. Radion eventually fled, leaving the old man in between his combatants. Wundarr struck to protect his "Unca Benjy" and took the villain out of the fight. Thor thanked Grimm for his assistance before taking off and leaving the group to themselves.

I wasn't a big fan of the art in this issue, but I was okay with the story. The Thing would encounter the Puppet Master several more times in this mag and in its follow-up, which was just named The Thing, both as friend and foe. Thor would also guest star again before this title's cancellation. Wundarr saved the day, although we still didn't know much about him at the time.

Questions about the man-child will have to wait for a while. He wasn't included in the tenth issue of this title, which I'll cover tomorrow. The Black Window is the featured guest star in that issue. She and Ben embark on a covert mission that has implications for the entire world. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #8

Good afternoon,

Hope everyone's weekend was grand. Today's topic is the eighth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing hanging on to the back of Ghost Rider's motorcycle for dear life, as the two heroes sped across a scene that appeared to be something from a centuries-old book. The tale was titled "Silent Night...Deadly Night!" The issue had a cover date of March 1975.

The story started on a lonely highway. Ghost Rider was speeding along when he came across a trio of wise men that Christmas Eve in 1974 (author's note: at the time, most comic books had cover dates that were usually 2-3 months in advance of when they arrived in stores). He slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting them and skidded across the desert sands.

One of the strangers approached him to make sure that he was unharmed. The Ghost Rider was fine, merely stunned by their sudden appearance from out of nowhere. The man explained that the three kings were following a bright star in the sky, hoping it would lead them to a child who had been mentioned in a prophecy. Ghost Rider turned down their invitation to join them and sped off on his way.

Meanwhile, at the Baxter Building in New York City, Ben Grimm was helping his Fantastic Four teammate Reed Richards assemble a new telescope. Ben thought that Reed should be spending more time with his family than staring off into space. After a while, Grimm left Reed alone and wandered off, finding his girlfriend, Alicia Masters, waiting for him,

She and Medusa, Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch), Sue Richards, Reed and Sue's young son Franklin, Wundarr, Namorita and her roommate, Annie Christopher, were gathered in a family room making preparations for the holiday season. At one point, the lights were turned off, and the Torch used his powers to light up the Christmas tree. It went up in a spectacle that was more appropriate for the Fourth of July, but it set Ben off laughing hysterically.

While Ben was trying to calm down, the Ghost Rider continued on until he saw a town appear that seemed to be right out of Biblical times. He rode through the village, noticing that many of the people appeared to be Native Americans. He stopped at one residence, only to be denied entry. The Ghost Rider then saw a couple huddled around a child lying in a manger. However, when he tried to investigate, he was warned not to proceed by a figure cloaked in shadows behind him. 

The figure raised his left hand and sent a whirlwind spinning after the hero. He narrowly escaped injury, as did his motorcycle. It was a strange mystery, one that the Ghost Rider was determined to solve. 

Back at the Baxter Building, Ben tried to get Reed to participate in the festivities. Richards was preoccupied with his observations, which were concentrated on the Konohoti Indian reservation in Arizona, where Wyatt Wingfoot, a friend and sometime aide to the Fantastic Four, and his tribe made their home. Reed ordered Ben to ready the Pogo plane, but Ben wasn't about to completely agree with his leader's plan.

He insisted that Reed join his family, offering to go to Arizona by himself. A short while later, the plane burst into the sky. Its arrival was noticed by Ghost Rider, who greeted the rocky member of the Fantastic Four. He then showed his guest a pair of sentries that had been following him. They overpowered the riders and took their guises to infiltrate the town.

The two heroes' presence was soon detected by the stranger, who we now learned was the Miracle Man (whom the FF first encountered in issue #3 of their own mag). His powers to summon large beasts to defend himself were impressive and a significant leap forward from his previously shown skills. The villain explained that he'd learned such abilities from the mystics of the Cheemuzwa tribe (whom he'd escaped from in Fantastic Four #139). He had gained the power to turn the small village into something completely different.

The Miracle Man swore revenge on the duo that had shattered his new reality. He began to battle the heroes, but was eventually knocked out by one of the Thing's famous "clobbering time" punches. As the villain drifted into unconsciousness, the facade lifted, and the town returned to normal. Spirits of the ancient Cheemuzwa Indians appeared briefly before Ben's eyes, before fading into nothingness. 

A short while later, Ghost Rider and the Thing convened with Wyatt and his friends. Ben pondered why the Miracle Man's flames were ineffective against his comrade as the Ghost Rider drove away. The rider knew what Ben was probably thinking, and figured that he'd been unaffected because of his recent interaction with someone who had helped him (in issue #9 of his own title). He still had plenty of questions about that day, but was thankful to be alive and able to appreciate this holiday, which he felt might have been one of the most important ever for mankind.

Aside from his appearances in the short-lived Champions series and a few odd issues of his solo book, I don't have a lot of comics that feature the Ghost Rider, so this was a welcome surprise, even though it was a bit of an offbeat tale. I was a bit taken aback by the fact that the Thing offered to go alone on Christmas, but this turned out to be a regular habit as this series went on. The Miracle Man is one of those superbaddies that doesn't get enough attention. I sometimes wonder what would happen if he teamed up with the mutant Mastermind from the X-Men comics. 

Well, that's all I've got for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the ninth issue of this title. Ben has his first team-up with the God of Thunder as they try to prevent the rest of the FF from succumbing to one of their oldest opponents (with a little help from another guest star as well). Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #7

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to talk about the seventh issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing, being held by Skurge the Executioner, as the Valkyrie raised a gleaming sword, prepared to strike the ever-lovin' idol of millions. The story was called "Name that Doom!" The issue had a publication date of January 1975.

The story started in Central Park, as a man who looked to be a little down on his luck sat alone on a park bench. He then looked up right before he was grabbed by the Valkyrie, who was astride her winged mount. The trio took to the air before suddenly vanishing.

Meanwhile, the Thing and Doctor Strange were in the sorcerer's sanctum sanctorum in Greenwich Village trying to ascertain the whereabouts of Strange's Defenders teammate. The crystal of Agamotto revealed the town of Cobbler's Roost, Vermont, which apparently had some connection to the harmonica that the Valkyrie had stolen (in the previous issue). 

Strange explained the Valkyrie's development into a woman without a past by the Enchantress, who inhabited the body of a woman named Barbara Norris. The pair then decided to split up. Strange would pursue the old man called Alvin Denton, who had been accosted by the Valkyrie. The Thing took off in the Fantasticar en route to the sleepy Virginia town. 

A short while later, Ben Grimm landed the vehicle outside a small service station. He had no sooner entered the building to ask for directions when he was punched through the front window by the service station's attendant, who was Skurge the Executioner in disguise.

The Asgardian warrior was soon joined by the Enchantress, who used a spell to incapacitate the hero. She then levitated the Thing backward into the repair bay. She also had Denton and the harmonica. The Enchantress kept the musical instrument and used another spell to send her and Skurge away.

Ben and Alvin awoke sometime later. Strange's astral projection appeared before them and stressed that the two must return to New York immediately. Ben was ready to leave, but Denton insisted on returning to Vermont. He was concerned that his daughter was in peril.

During the journey, Denton disclosed that he'd once been a lawyer. His whole world changed after his wife died in an accident. His daughter stayed with him the following summer and helped him deal with the tragedy. She also met her fiancé, Jack, during that time. The couple became involved in a cult and left without warning one day. 

As the Fantasticar neared Cobblers Roost, Vermont, Alvin spied the Valkyrie and proclaimed that she was his long-lost daughter, Barbara. He ran to her as soon as the ship landed. Grimm wondered if the claim was true, and his question was soon answered by the Enchantress, who now stood before them with Skurge. The evil witch explained that the woman was indeed Barbara and removed the Valkyrie from her persona, leaving only a confused, frightened young woman in her stead.

She then summoned forth the harmonica, but before she could do anything further, Denton grabbed the instrument and began to play. As he did so, the Earth itself seemed to split. The human quintet was seemingly left to drift into space. 

At one point, the Enchantress returned the Valkyrie to Norris' form, and Skurge and the Thing were left to race for the harmonica. They soon engaged in a battle, one that the Valkyrie eventually entered to save Grimm. Ben then went up against the Enchantress until she was knocked down for the count. 

The Thing then blew the harmonica, and everyone was returned to Vermont. Valkyrie and the Executioner fought until Ben got his revenge on the mighty Norse warrior. With the villains vanquished, our heroes returned to Alvin, who had passed away. The Valkyrie wept, knowing that she had just lost a piece to the puzzle of her true identity. Ben stood by her, taking the distraught female in his arms to comfort her.

The story continued in the twentieth issue of the Defenders, where Grimm makes a guest appearance. You can read that issue and title at your own leisure, if you like. I have a few assorted issues and reprints of the entire run before it was renamed the New Defenders, and featured the Valkyrie and others after the original Defenders left the group. The Valkyrie's history is interesting, although it's largely forgotten and left untouched after roughly the second half of the title's initial run. I didn't know much about the Enchantress, except for her appearances in the first Secret Wars limited series, before reading this issue, but I knew that she and Skurge had locked horns with Thor from time to time. My only complaint is that we didn't learn very much about the harmonica's mystic background.

Tomorrow, I'll begin the week with a recap of the eighth issue of this series. The Thing meets the Ghost Rider in a tale that could be considered rather unworldly. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

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. 

Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Feature #11

Hi everyone,

I'm starting a new week with a new series to cover. Most of you probably know about Marvel Two-In-One, a regular title in the 1970s and 80s that teamed the ever-loving blue-eyed Thing with different heroes. What you might not know is that the concept began in the pages of the bi-monthly series Marvel Feature.

The first three issues of this title featured the original Defenders (Doctor Strange, the Incredible Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Silver Surfer) before that group got its own book. The issues following that focused on the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym. The Thing made his debut in this series in issue #11, where he went up against none other than the Hulk himself. They were locked in combat on the issue's cover.

The story was called "Cry, Monster." The issue had a cover date of September 1973. It all started in the Fantastic Four's first skyscraper headquarters, the Baxter Building. Reed Richards (aka Mister Fantastic) and his brother-in-law, Johnny Storm (better known as the Human Torch), were trying to prevent the Thing/Ben Grimm from pulling apart a piece of Reed's laboratory machines.

Reed constructed the device as one of his many attempts to turn Grimm back to his regular human form. Ben wasn't having any of it. He had no desire at the time to revert to what he'd been before the fateful rocket ride into outer space that was responsible for the Fantastic Four's creation. Their origin was summarized in the first several panels of the third page. What none of them knew was that they were being observed from afar by the former master of Planet X, Kurrgo (who had only been seen before in Fantastic Four #7).

The erstwhile monarch recounted his initial visit to Earth and how Reed had tried to help his guest save his people from the possible collision of their planet with a different world. Richards had shrunk the populace down so that everyone could fit into a rocket that could deliver them all to safety. Kurrgo had stayed behind when the planet started collapsing and was trapped in the rubble. 

Kurrgo's loyal robot aide came to the rescue and delivered him to a hidden ship. They took off right before Planet X was destroyed. It took Kurrgo several years to find the new world that his people had settled on. However, by that time, they'd decided that they no longer wanted the despot to rule them. They had prepared defenses to drive Kurrgo away. He and his robot fled, but Kurggo would not forget the betrayal.

His ship now hovered over Earth. Kurrgo was searching for Earth's mightiest warriors and came upon the mighty Hulk. He was about to enlist the jade giant to his cause when the Hulk's long-time enemy, the Leader, intervened. The man who was once Samuel Sterns was encased in a cylinder aboard a ship, as he conversed telepathically with Kurrgo. 

The Leader thought that the Hulk's power could help him to recover from his paralysis. Kurrgo proposed that the two of them settle things by having two of Earth's mightiest beings battle for them. The Leader had chosen the Hulk, and Kurrgo opted for the Thing. Whichever one of them won the match would have the services of both champions and the scientific knowledge of the loser. 

The game was about to begin. Back in the Baxter Building, the Thing was about to boot the ball of mechanical junk he'd just made when he was transported into a town that seemed to be right out of the Old West. He had just gotten his bearings when an astral projection of the Leader appeared before him. 

Sterns explained that Grimm had been sent there to serve as Kurrgo's warrior, where he would be going up against his warrior, the Hulk. Ben's temper flared until the Leader showed him an Ultrex bomb that had been activated and was capable of destroying the planet in less than thirty minutes if Grimm didn't disarm its timing mechanism before then.

The Leader's image then disappeared, and Grimm was left all alone. He announced his accomplishment to Kurrgo on the spaceship, where the two villains awaited the reaction from the green-skinned hero. Grimm was still stewing in the Western town when Bruce Banner's alter ego struck the first blow. He was wondering why he'd been sent to that place to fight the Thing. 

The two engaged in a battle that knocked down much of the old buildings around them. Not even Grimm's disclosure of the bomb was enough to deter his foe. The fight continued until the Thing finally was able to subdue the Hulk temporarily. He then turned a corner, and found the bomb that the Leader had shown him, only to learn that it was a fake. 

The Hulk had returned, ready for the next round when a beam from the ship orbiting Earth's atmosphere struck him. Ben grabbed onto a green leg and ascended with him. They were then face to face with the Leader and Kurrgo. Kurrgo dispatched his faithful robot to defend them, which was knocked into part of the spaceship's controls.

Ben decided to bail out before the craft went down. The Hulk followed, and the two of them landed safely back on Earth. The ship exploded and plummeted planetward after the Hulk bounded away. The Thing was then left by himself once more. Now he just had to figure out how he'd get home. 

Even though he wasn't as popular as the Hulk (who is still my favorite Marvel hero), I still admire the Thing. He's strong but also has a good moral compass. He's not as smart as Reed, but usually manages to figure things out and has saved the day plenty of times on his own or with the assistance of other  comrades plenty of times since his creation. This was a fun yarn, one that was my introduction to Kurrgo and featured my favorite Hulk nemesis, the Leader. The Thing and the Hulk had tussled before, and would meet each other many more times as the years have gone on. 

Tomorrow, I'll discuss the final Thing tale from Marvel Feature before he was given his own magazine. Marvel Feature #12 has Grimm teaming up with Iron Man. The two heroes take on a twin terror, and this issue has one of the earliest appearances of a well-known foe who's probably best known lately for his roles in Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade #4

Good afternoon all,

I'm closing out the weekend with a summary of the final issue of Marvel's adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The cover showed Indy duking it out with a Nazi officer atop a German tank. The tale began with Indiana and his father flying in a pirated biplane with a trio of German fighters in hot pursuit. 

Indiana was piloting the getaway vehicle, and his father manned the gunner's seat. He eventually figured out how to use the guns, but accidentally managed to shoot their tail flap, which he blamed on their opponents. The plane landed shortly thereafter, and our heroes commandeered a car, which they used to evade one of the planes that tried to fly through a commuter tunnel.

The elder Jones used his remembrance of Charlemagne to draw the attention of several birds flitting around the beach, several of which caused one of the German fliers to lose sight of his targets and crash explosively. They later reached Iskenderun, where Sallah gave them the bad news about Marcus Brody's kidnapping (as shown in the last issue). 

They followed the Nazi entourage, which now included a large tank. The heavy vehicle spotted the trio's car and knocked it out of commission. However, the Nazis now had to be concerned about the Americans and their ally, and the Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword (who we saw in issue #2 of this miniseries, back in Venice). 

In all the confusion, Jones Sr. found Brody in the belly of the tank. The two old chums later escaped after Indy fought off several SS soldiers. Indiana was still locked in battle with one of them right before the tank careened off a nearby cliff. 

Sallah, Marcus, and Indy's father watched from the cliffside, thinking that the American professor had been lost for good. They were mourning when Indy crawled up, wondering what all the fuss was about. His father hugged him, and they later followed the German forces on horseback.

Both parties found the secret canyon and the temple within. The villains were trying to reach the chamber where the Holy Grail was kept, but with little success. Indy and his companions were soon apprehended by the Nazi sympathizers. Walter Donovan convinced the younger Jones to volunteer after shooting his father in the chest.

Indiana used his father's grail diary to pass through the traps that lay within. He found the last remaining knight inside a small room. Jones was allowed to search for the cup of Christ. Elsa Schneider and Donovan followed after Indy had reached the area. Walter chose a rather majestic-looking chalice. He dipped it into the fountain and soon learned that he'd made the wrong choice, as his body began to atrophy until it disintegrated.

Indy then found what seemed to be a carpenter's cup and tested it. The knight confirmed that he'd chosen wisely. He then took the cup to his father to heal his wound. They observed the knight standing silently behind him, serving as a reminder that the grail could not cross the seal carved into the floor. 

Elsa tried to leap for the cup after the ground beneath them started to split, but she fell into the abyss. Indy was tempted to do the same, until the gentle words of his father brought him back to reality. The quartet then departed just as the temple collapsed behind them. They rode off into the sunset together as the story came to an end. 

The last five pages of this issue were reserved for ad space. If those pages were dedicated to content, this adaptation probably could have been published in three issues instead of four. The only problem I had regarding this issue's content was that they skipped the reason why the younger Jones was called Indiana. I get that not everything could be included, but I felt that was an important part of his lore. Nonetheless, it was still a satisfying adaptation of the third Indiana Jones flick. 

This was the last Indiana Jones comic book published by Marvel. Dark Horse acquired the publishing rights in the 1990s and distributed their own stories, along with collections of the original Marvel ongoing title, from 1994 to 2010. There haven't been any other Indy comics published since then. I think that it would be interesting to revisit the original series and produce new content that features the primary main and supporting characters, as well as some of the more memorable characters from the regular series' run. Maybe that will happen someday. Time can only tell.

That's all I have today. Tomorrow, I'll begin a new series. This one will feature a well-known member of the Marvel universe, one who stands out for his distinctive powers and abilities, and his long-standing feud with the Yancy Street Gang. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade #3

Good afternoon,

Hope everyone's having a great weekend. Time for me to recap the third issue of Marvel's adaptation of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The cover depicted Indy and his father tied to chairs together with flames spreading around them. The third chapter began with Nazi soldiers bursting into the room where father and son had just reunited. One of them asked for the grail diary, which Indy had been carrying.

His father had mailed the book to him, thinking that it would be safe. Indiana took advantage of their open quarrel to distract the Germans and steal one of their machine guns. They left the room, but soon ran into more Nazis, one of whom was holding Doctor Elsa Schneider hostage. Indy lowered the gun right before Schneider took the book from him. 

She led them to her leader, who was sitting before a fireplace. The host stood up and revealed himself as Walter Donovan (whom we met in the first issue). He'd warned Indy not to trust anyone, and that turned out to be an important warning. Elsa paged through the book and noticed the map was missing. She realized that Indy had given those pages to Marcus Brody. Indiana talked up Brody's talents, which were far more impressive than his actual skills.

At that time, Brody had just arrived in Iskenderun and met Sallah. They were swiftly met by foes, who Sallah fought off. Marcus ran right into the back of a waiting truck that had been camouflaged behind a merchant table. 

Donovan and Schnieder left the Americans tied up together in chairs facing opposite walls. They left to pursue the Holy Grail. Indiana had his dad reach for the lighter in his jacket pocket. The elder Jones found it, but fumbled it as it lit, and soon started the carpet ablaze. They hopped toward a platform that spun into the Nazi control room before spinning back to their original position. 

The curious soldiers who emerged from the secret door were overwhelmed by the flames, allowing Indy and his father to escape. They soon found a hidden staircase that led to a pier. Indiana started a boat to serve as a decoy while they fled on a motorcycle that had a sidecar. 

They eventually stopped when Jones' father argued that they had to retrieve the book. Indiana questioned that, knowing that they had to help Marcus. The older Jones pressed the issue, noting that his diary contained information about the traps that they would encounter once they reached the Grail's location. 

Indy changed course, and the pair set off for Berlin. Indiana was able to disguise himself as an SS officer and grab the book from Elsa. He then turned around and faced none other than Adolf Hitler, who stared for a moment before signing the book that was before both of them. The Joneses were then headed for an airfield to depart via zeppelin.

As they waited for takeoff, Indiana noticed the soldiers' presence. He took out a few stragglers before their departure. He and his dad were able to relax for a bit until the younger Jones figured out that they were heading back to Germany. He grabbed his father and set out for the small plane that had been attached to the larger craft.

He detached the biplane and took the controls. His father was in the gunner's seat, and the two of them flew off. Minutes later, a trio of German military planes swooped toward them.

The last five pages of this issue were occupied with paid and house ads. That's my only real complaint for this series. I felt that the writing and art were solid and consistent throughout. There were some parts omitted due to the ages of the series' target audience, but otherwise, this adaptation was very true to the source material. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the last issue of this miniseries. We'll find out what happened to the Jones boys and learn where Marcus ended up. We'll also see if Donovan, Schneider, and company were able to reach the Grail's hiding place and just what they discovered. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to tbe kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade #2

Good morning,

Hope all's well. I'm starting my weekend with a discussion of the second issue of Marvel's limited series adaptation of the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The cover showed Indy and Doctor Elsa Schneider standing before a skeleton resting in a tomb with scads of rats looking on. 

The story began with Indiana driving home. He was concerned after learning from Walter Donovan (last issue) that his father had gone missing while serving as their project lead for the quest for the fabled Holy Grail. He and Marcus Brody arrived to find a mess. The house had been ransacked, and someone had rifled through Indy's mail.

Jones then remembered the book he'd picked up in his mail at Marshall College earlier in the day. It had been sent from Venice, Italy. He unwrapped the package and saw that it was his father's grail diary. Indiana decided to take Donovan up on his offer. Before he boarded the plane bound for Italy, Walter warned him to not trust anyone. Those words would later prove to be rather prophetic.

Jones and Brody arrived in Venice a short while later and were greeted by Doctor Elsa Schneider. She'd worked with Indiana's father and was surprised by his sudden disappearance. They headed toward the library, which was the last place that Elsa had seen Indy's father. She held out a note with the Roman numerals III, VII, and X printed on it. The three and seven could be found inside the library, which was once a Franciscan monastery.

Indiana deduced that the tomb had to be somewhere in the library. He ascended a spiral staircase and saw the Roman numeral ten printed on the floor they'd just been walking across. It turned out that X did mark the spot in this instance. Jones returned to the floor and pried a portion loose to reveal a tunnel underneath.

He and Elsa descended into the sewer. A lit match kept most of the rodent occupants at bay. They found a torch, which they used to locate the tomb. Inside was the body and shield of the second warrior. Indiana used paper and chalk to make a quick rubbing of the inscriptions carved into the tomb's cover before the waters behind them went up in flames. 

The duo had to overturn the tomb and use it as cover until they could swim to safety. Schneider and Jones eventually found a staircase that brought them up to the city streets. From there, they engaged in a race with a boat whose riders were shooting at them. They jumped into another similar boat and followed. 

Indy finally managed to grab their attacker, who disclosed that he was a member of the Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword, and that their organization stood to preserve the grail's secrets for a thousand years. Indy let the man go when they neared a dock. After informing the stranger he was there to find his father, Indy was told that he was being held in Brunwald Castle, on the German-Austrian border. 

Later that evening, Indiana convened with Marcus. They discussed the day's events, including the term Alexandretta, which was a city that had been demolished by the Knights of the First Crusade centuries ago. They also talked about Iskendrun and the fact that Jones' father knew the route but had no place names to identify. Marcus was to head to Iskenduren in the morning to meet with Sallah. Indy was going after his father.

Indy and Elsa arrived at the castle the following day. Their disguises were seen through by the butler, but Indiana knocked him out so they could enter the gates. It didn't take long for them to see Nazi soldiers or figure out where Indiana's father was being held. Indy used his whip to crash through the prisoner's room and was promptly hit on the head by his dad, who thought the intruder was another Nazi officer at first.

They caught up for a few minutes, and Indy filled his father in on his recent discoveries. The elder Jones was grateful that he'd mailed his grail diary to his son so that it would be out of the hands of their enemies. Indy was thinking about that just as more S.S soldiers burst through the room. 

I was hoping for a bit more content, but the last five pages of this issue were dedicated to ad space. I felt like this adaptation was rather faithful to the film. There were a few minor changes, but overall it followed the movie very well. David Michelinie and Bret Blevins made a good team, and it was apparent that they took the source material seriously. I remember watching the castle scenes and describing them to my brother in the theater, knowing that I'd be in that portion of the world the following summer for a while. Even though the castles and other historic buildings I visited that summer after graduating from high school were nothing like the ones in this film, it gave me something to look forward to with optimism.

That's all I have for this morning. Later today, I'll cover the third issue of this miniseries. We'll find out what happened to the Jones boys and see just who they could trust. We'll also learn what happened to Marcus and Sallah, and a lot more. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade #1

Happy Friday!

It's time for me to talk about Marvel's adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This was covered in a Marvel Super Special and a four-issue limited series. I only have the limited series in my collection, so I'll start my coverage by recapping the first issue, which showed young Indy squaring off against a lion, with an image of Harrison Ford's Indy in the background. By the way, the picture of Jones in the top left box is a different image of the American archaeologist, for the first time, since Marvel's publishing rights to the character began in 1981. 

After the splash page, the story started in Utah in 1912. Young Indiana Jones was part of a scout troop that was riding past a rock formation. The group stopped, and Indy took some time to tend to his friend Herman, who had taken ill. The duo separated from the main group and spied on some treasure hunters. Indy noticed that the men had found the Cross of Coronado, which had been given to Cortés in 1520. Its unearthing proved that Coronado had been looking for the fabled seven cities of gold.

Indiana sent his friend to warn the scoutmaster and alert the authorities. He then crept down to retrieve the treasure, but his act didn't go unnoticed. The lad from the cave eventually managed to return to his horse. The animal wasn't much of a match for the vehicles that pursued them, but Jones saw a circus train before them and leapt at the opportunity to evade his foes.

He made his way across the train, landing in a pit of snakes in one car and grabbing a whip to fend off a lion in another. Indy was finally forced topside by the thieves, but a snake hidden in his sleeve kept them from regaining the cross. Indy escaped and high-tailed it on foot to his family home. Inside, his father was at his desk, preoccupied with his latest translation efforts. The elder Jones told the youth to wait and count to twenty in Greek.

Indiana saw a car arrive and ran to tell them what had happened. The constable listened, taking the cross from him, which he gave to the man who had just found it. He smiled, put his fedora on the teenager's head, and informed him that he'd lost that day, but it didn't mean that he had to like it.

The attention then shifted several years later, as Indy was on a boat in the middle of a storm, having to surrender the same item again to the cross's owner. This time he took advantage of the inclement weather and choppy waters to free himself. Jones grabbed the cross before jumping overboard, just as the barrels of fuel ignited and presumably sank the ship and its crew.

Indy caught the attention of an American freighter and returned to his teaching position at Marshall College in Connecticut a few days later. He wrapped up his lecture by informing his students that most of their work would be done researching in the library, that archaeologists followed facts, and that "X" never marked the spot. 

After the bell rang, Jones handed the cross to his colleague Marcus Brody. Brody was pleased with the results of Indy's excursion and allowed him to return to his office, where several frantic students and many messages were waiting for him. Indiana told the secretary to take names and that he'd see each pupil in turn. He then closed the door behind him and started sifting through the mail.

A small package from Venice intrigued him. He decided to slip out the window, putting the parcel in his suit pocket. As he walked, the professor was approached by a car. The pistol in the passenger's jacket convinced Indy that they wouldn't take no for an answer to their invitation to join them.

Some time later, Jones was greeted by Walter Donovan. Indiana was familiar with the man, noting his generous contributions to the National Museum's collection. His benefactor then pulled aside a sheet, and Jones peered at a stone tablet that lay beneath it. He identified it as something that had been constructed during the mid-twelfth century.

Indiana started translating the inscriptions, which talked about the Holy Grail, a historical artifact that his father had spent most of his career searching for. The grail had supposedly been lost for a thousand years before three brothers who were Knights of the First Crusade discovered it. Two of those brothers walked out of the desert. Only one survived the journey, and his tale was told to a Franciscan friar.

The book in Donovan's hands was the manuscript from that friar. It didn't disclose the grail's location, but indicated several markers that had been made. The tablet Indy had just read was one of the markers. The second one had been entombed with the brother who didn't make it through the desert. Donovan's project leader believed that marker to be in the city of Venice, Italy. 

The final brother was rumored to be the grail's keeper. Donovan had asked for Indiana's assistance because their project leader had gone missing. Neither his colleague, Doctor Schneider, nor anyone else on the team knew of his whereabouts. He then disclosed that Indy's father was their project leader. 

Bret Blevins was a good choice for the art duties on this adaptation. His work matched David Michelinie's script and was easy to follow and understand. Looking back, I wish he had been assigned to the regular monthly Indiana Jones title before it was cancelled. He captured the essences of both the young and Professor Indy perfectly. 

That's all I have for now. I'll begin the weekend with a discussion of the second issue of this adaptation. We'll find out what happened to Jones when he traveled to Venice in an attempt to unravel the mystery and locate his father. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.