Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #62

Happy Tuesday, peeps!

It's time for me to talk about the sixty-second issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover showed the Thing battling Moondragon, as Ben Grimm's girlfriend, Alicia Masters, sat behind them. The tale was titled "The Taking of Counter Earth!" The issue had a publication date of April 1980.

The story started in New York, with Grimm helping the taxed Starhawk to the Baxter Building. The Thing chose to save the warrior from the future when the being known as Her departed with Masters in Moondragon's ship, on a quest to find the late Adam Warlock on Counter Earth (as shown last issue). The duo went to the hangar and entered a ship that the Fantastic Four had acquired from the Skrulls (in issue #2 of their own mag).

Ben piloted the ship while Starhawk gave directions. Meanwhile, on Moondragon's vessel, the trio rounded Earth's sun before nearing Counter Earth, a duplicate of our own planet that was created by the High Evolutionary. The duplicate planet was not there, but its moon still existed, which is where the ship landed. She gave Masters a space suit so that the three of them could safely venture outside the starship Sensia together.

Entering the planet wasn't going to be easy. Her used her abilities to break through the outer shell. The femaless soon found themselves in the docking bay. They approached the main controls and found the High Evolutionary lying unconscious on the floor. Moondragon could not detect any brainwaves emanating from the lithe body.

They had just made their discovery when Ben and Starhawk entered the room. Starhawk squared off against Her, while the Thing battled Moondragon (whom he'd met in MTIO Annual #2). Starhawk continued to fight his foe, even as his wife Aleta took over and continued the conflict. The fighting ceased only when Alicia spoke up and explained to Ben that she'd gone along on the voyage willingly. 

After things had calmed down, Moondragon ascertained that the High Evolutionary's brain was not in his body. She did sense a strange energy from his form, and worked with Her to return the disembodied spirit of Counter Earth's creator to his human form. The High Evolutionary thanked them for their efforts, noting that he feared the disconnection would have been permanent were it not for them.

Their host then explained how he'd been watching Warlock approach his base, shortly before the late hero accused him of deception. He claimed that Counter Earth had been destroyed, when the High Evolutionary could clearly see from the porthole that it was very much where it had always been in space. Warlock attacked his former mentor in anger. The ensuing melee caused the High Evolutionary's mind to leave his mortal shell. Warlock mourned the loss, thinking that it was a sign fortelling his own demise.

Her explained how she could return the High Evolutionary to his body. She hoped to do the same for Adam Warlock, who had recently fallen in battle against Thanos (both rivals succumbed in the second Marvel Two-In-One Annual). However, this time, it did appear that Counter Earth was missing. 

It soon became apparent that the High Evolutionary was not behind the planet's disappearance. He ran to his controls, and was able to detect some of the radiation that he'd used to develop that world. It would hopefully lead them right to whoever had absconded with Counter Earth. His guests could only stand there and watch as the artificial moon plotted a course that might unravel the mystery.

Starhawk and Moondragon were still relatively new characters to me. I didn't know until reading this storyline that Starhawk shared corporeal existence with his wife. He's one of the members of the first Guardians of the Galaxy team that I don't think received enough attention. It would have been nice to see him in a solo story or short limited series. I was never a big fan of Moondragon, especially during her time as a core member of the New Defenders, because she could be a bit distant and standoffish. She seemed to have a chip on her shoulder at times, and could sometimes be a hero or a villain. This was still an interesting issue, one that kept me reading to the very last panel.

Tomorrow, I'll cover the sixty-third issue of Marvel Two-In-One. This final part of the plot will reveal who was behind Counter Earth's theft. We'll also see if Her was able to find Warlock's grave, and if her goal of reviving her soulmate came to pass. Until then, have a great week and don't forge to be kind to one another.