Retro Comic Recap: Marvel Two-In-One #83

Hello there,

Today's topic is the eighty-third issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The cover depicted the Thing in a large forest, with the Sasquatch towering above him. The story was called "Where Walks The Sasquatch!" The issue had a cover date of January 1982.

The tale began in the Baxter Building in New York City, as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Ben Grimm were working to try and help their friend Giant Man (Bill Foster), who'd been slowly succumbing to radiation poisoning for months. Reed was doing his best to save him after Ben found Bill unconscious in the A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) lab where the two of them and Captain America had battled MODOK's forces for a cure to the Virus-X that had mutated Grimm (as shown last issue). Bill had found a gun that contained the antidote, but there was only enough serum to save one of them, so he chose to help his comrade.

Ben left the room feeling rather morose, and his teammate Johnny Storm's (the Human Torch) attempts to cheer him up only made Grimm angrier. The two started another scuffle, which was broken up by Reed's wife Sue (the Invisible Girl). Moments later, Reed entered the room. He announced that Bill's condition was worsening. Foster had started showing signs that his body was decaying, and his internal organs were very damaged.

Still, Reed had some hope. There was a specialist in Canada, Dr. Walter Langkowski, whose research in radiation showed promise. Ben boarded a Pogo Plane a short while later and later arrived at McGill University. There, the Thing met with the chair of the college's biophysics department, only to be told that the esteemed professor was absent. He was rumored to be camping somewhere in northwest Alberta.

Langkowski (aka Sasquatch) and his Alpha Flight teammate Michael Twoyoungmen (Shaman) were on a retreat several hundred miles from the university. Michael was certain that danger was in store. He had joined Walter on the trip to try to find the burial mound of his ancient ancestors. 

The next morning, the two friends set out on that quest. They eventually found hieroglyphs carved on a cavern wall that might hold a clue. While Langkowski returned to camp for equipment, Twoyoungmen stayed behind and accidentally stepped on a stone on the floor that opened a secret passage. Inside was the ancient shamans' tomb!

Back at camp, Walter observed the Fantastic Four's jet setting down not far away. He watched Ben descend from the cockpit and decided to call upon the Sasquatch. After his transformation, the doctor ventured into the woods until he ran across Grimm. While the two were talking, Shaman felt compelled to open the cover of a large urn. Doing so released the spirit of the evil Ranark the Ravager. 

The Thing and Sasquatch engaged in a battle in the woods. As they were figuring out each other's strengths, Shaman was squaring off against the evil tribesman. Ranark briefly glanced upon the modern world through Twoyoungmen's eyes and was sorely disappointed. He vowed to purge the Earth of life and start over.

Walter and Ben were walking towards each other when the ground beneath them started to rumble. Ranark's spirit burst through and flew off to achieve his goal. It was then that the two heroes realized who their common foe really was.

At the time, Alpha Flight had broken up (as of Uncanny X-Men #140). Members of the Canadian super-team would surface in different titles from time to time until they were given their own series, which was initially scripted and penciled by John Byrne. Sasquatch had last appeared in the eighth Incredible Hulk annual. Byrne plotted that issue, and I grew to appreciate both the man and the monster. I only wish that we knew more about both sides of Langkowski's personality. Shaman is another interesting character who grew more as Alpha Flight's first series went on. 

That's it from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the conclusion of this saga with a recap of the eighty-fourth issue of Marvel Two-In-One. The Thing and Sasquatch are hot on the trail of Ranark, with the assistance of a few more members of Alpha Flight. We'll also learn if Langkowski was able to help prevent Foster's rapid decay. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.