Happy Monday, folks!
Today's topic is the seventy-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. This holiday-themed cover showed the Thing being accosted by an army of toys. The story was called "A Christmas Peril!" The issue had a cover date of April 1981.
The tale began at the Baxter Building, after Ben Grimm, Alicia Masters, Sue Richards (the Invisible Girl), and Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) had just returned home after a Christmas gift shopping spree. They had set the presents down when Alicia talked about writing holiday cards. She suggested that Ben send one to her stepfather Phillip. Grimm agreed to do so, even though he had a difficult relationship with the man who was also known as the villain, the Puppet Master.
Not long afterward, Phillip was released from prison. He was given his possessions, along with the card that Ben had sent before exiting. As he sped off via boat, Masters boasted that the Puppet Master was free again at last. He eventually made his way to his secret hideout, but discovered that his stash of radioactive clay that he used to make puppets with had decayed. He then spied the letter from Grimm in his bag. At first he thought that his old foe was mocking him, but then it gave him a decidedly wicked idea.
On Christmas Eve, the Baxter Building was filled with family and friends. The holiday festivities were in full swing when an unexpected guest arrived. Upon Alicia's urging, Phillip was allowed in. During the gift exchange, Phillip exclaimed that the only gift he wanted was a trip to Europe to visit his homeland. The next morning, Ben, Alicia, and Phillip set off on an FF plane toward that very destination.
The craft landed near the Balkan mountains, and the trio walked to the nearest hotel. They secured lodging in a quaint village that was not far from Wundagore. Later that evening, Philiip wandered out to where he'd first found radioactive clay. He was stopped by a pair of large toy soldiers.
The next morning, Alicia and Ben discovered Phillip's disappearance. The innkeeper didn't see him leave, so the couple checked with the locals to see if anyone had spotted him. One person advised checking with an old woman who lived in a house on a hill. Ben and Alicia found the dwelling and knocked.
They were greeted by a woman wearing a shroud named Bova. She welcomed them in as her ward was resting on the floor, playing with his toys (who we know to be the mystic named Modred). When she removed her scarf, Bova revealed that she had been one of the High Evolutionary's first experiments. She chose to stay behind when her master and his followers left this planet. Bova explained that she'd rescued Modred from the cold, noting his need for assistance as his mind had become rather feeble.
She advised going out to look for Philip that evening, because of an upcoming winter storm. Bova gave them shelter, and as the night crept on, Philip emerged from a toybox alongside other toys. He managed to crawl up to Ben, who had now shrunk down to nearly the same size as the Puppet Master. Alicia remained at her normal size and continued dozing while the two ran to the presumed source of the predicament.
Grimm figured that Modred was responsible for their condition (he and Alicia had met the wizard in MTIO #33, but their memories of that meeting had since been erased). As the Thing opened the man-child's door, an armada of toys ran at them. Ben stood in front of Alicia's stepfather to guide him through the obstacles. As he did that, Philip started sculpting a model of Modred, commanding him to return them to normal.
Modred awoke moments later, as did Bova and Alicia. The women went to Modred's room, and it was Alicia who found her small boyfriend. He explained what had happened to her, and Alicia was able to convince the magician to return Grimm and her stepfather to their usual sizes. The next morning, the Americans departed after Philip showed Modred how he could make toys come to life while he was awake. The trio flew off, having had a most unique, memorable holiday.
Modred would stay with Bova for some time and witnessed the destruction of her home caused by the mutant Magneto. He would appear in different Marvel titles over the years, but his appearances in series like this one and the start of the short-lived Marvel Chillers are what I remember the most about him. He's one of those characters who I don't think is featured enough. He could easily star in an anthology book or even a spotlight story or issue or two. We all know that the Puppet Master would return to his evil ways again, most famously in an anniversary issue of the Fantastic Four where he joined forces with Doctor Doom.
That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the double-sized seventy-fifth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. Ben is about to settle down for another friendly game of poker with some of his pals in the Avengers when duty calls, and the heroes become involved in goings-on in the Negative Zone. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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