Good afternoon, folks,
Welcome to my 500th retro comic book article! The focus of this piece is the twenty-seventh issue of The Thing. The cover depicted Ben Grimm battling the mysterious Black Marauder, who was featured in the Team America series (the group was now known as the Thunderiders). The tale was titled "The Thing and the Thunderiders. The issue had a cover date of September 1985.
The story started with Ben being knocked from a roadway by the arrival of the aforementioned motorcycle group. Vance Astrovik tried to warn him, but by then, Grimm was already sailing across the street, after being pushed there by Vance's mutant powers. Astrovik helped his travel partner to his feet after the cyclists had passed by.
Ben was convinced that the woman he'd seen on the circus poster (last issue) was riding with them. He set off on foot for her, with Vance in tow. A short while later, the Thunderriders reached their destination. They started talking about seeing the Thing, until he was right in front of them.
Grimm made his way to the woman, but didn't say a word as he went right up to her. The two stared at each other for several moments before she walked away. One of her associates mentioned that they were looking for additional riders before offering him free tickets to their show that evening. He wasn't about to take no as an answer to his invitation either.
Afterward, Ben confided to Vance how confident he was that the woman was Tarianna, the adventurer that he'd met on Battleworld. Astrovik told him that the female was named Sharon Ventura. He encouraged Ben to participate in their rider tryouts.
The first participant in the Thunderiders' tryouts was Richie Champoulion, nicknamed the Champ. After his audition, the Thing was next. Despite his relative inexperience, Ben did quite well, until running into a bit of trouble before the landing, but he still pulled off an impressive performance.
Both challengers were asked to leave the auditorium so that the group could vote in private. Ben offered to buy his rival a beer at the tavern across the street, but Richie impolitely informed Grimm that he didn't drink. He and Astrovik went to the bar to wait things out.
Some of the Thunderiders expressed concerns about the Black Marauder who had appeared numerous times in the past. The rider could be anyone at any time. The votes were then cast, and the Thing was selected as their new rider. Wolf was displeased with the results of the election and disclosed the decision to Champoulion as he exited the arena.
Richie drove away in anger while Ben and Vance waited anxiously in the bar. Ben was certain that it would be just another rejection, one to add to the recent pile. He felt like he messed up meeting Ventura, and was lamenting the rejection of his former girlfriend Alicia Masters and even his old college roommate Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) when the Black Marauder crashed through the saloon's front window.
The mystery opponent made a beeline for the Thing before darting off. Several Thunderiders were on their bikes moments later, watching the Thing take off after their longtime nemesis. Ben went to one of the unoccupied motorcycles outside the bar and took off in hot pursuit.
Grimm was eventually tackled by the erstwhile opponent and forced off the purloined bike. He stood up quickly and was assisted by Ventura, who sped toward him. Meanwhile, Cowboy made a phone call to the team's old associate Honch to inform him that the Marauder had returned. Honch figured that the link was active once more, but had no clue as to who the mystery rider was this time.
Wolf spurred his comrades to action after Ben was slammed feet from where Cowboy stood. They took off and circled the foe. Astrovik used his mental powers to knock the rider off his bike, and the Thing delivered the finishing blow. As the rider collided with his motorcycle, his helmet cracked open, revealing that Richie was the Black Marauder this time.
Afterward, Wolf picked up the call with Honch and gave him the details. Honch concluded that their link could even attract evil. After the call ended, Wolf apologized to the Thing. He was happy to announce that Ben would replace Sharon in the group, much to Grimm's surprise.
I just purchased the complete Team America original series from my local comic book shop today, and I will cover this title in future articles. I remember reading a few of the issues earlier, which were based on a toy line and licensing with Ideal. After the series ended, the group appeared in several issues of the New Mutants, where they learned they were mutants who shared control of the Dark Rider identity, which reminds me of the first costume Snake-Eyes wore in G.I. Joe. The group renamed themselves as the Thunderiders, but haven't appeared in many Marvel mags since this story and the New Mutants storyline were published.
Sharon Ventura would go on to play a significant role in Ben's life. She gradually became his new love interest, and even joined the Fantastic Four after Reed and Sue Richards left to focus on taking care of their son, Franklin. She was later mutated into a She-Thing and returned to human form by Doctor Doom. At one point, she mutated again and fought the Fantastic Four, which by then had regained their original members. She was billed as the new Ms. Marvel, but we haven't seen much of her over the last decade.
That's it for today. Time for me to enjoy some NFL football and read some of the comics that I purchased during this weekend's collectibles convention. Tomorrow, I'll start the week with a discussion of the twenty-eighth issue of the Thing. Ben reluctantly fills Sharon's spot on the Thunderiders, but his attention soon turns to another interest, one that we've seen the Thing engage in at various times over the years. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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