Retro Comic Recap: The Thing #32

Happy Friday, folks!

I'm winding down this week with a recap of the thirty-second issue of the Thing. The cover showed Vance Astrovik battling Ben Grimm in the wrestling ring, with a gun pointed at the pair. The tale was titled "Home." The issue had a publication date of February 1986.

The story started with an airplane heading for Los Angeles that suddenly started to encounter some mechanical difficulties. The Thing was one of the many passengers on the commercial flight. He came to the rescue and helped the craft land on time. 

A short while later, Sharon Ventura met Ben outside the airport. She questioned his plans to resume his wrestling career, but let him continue on to his hotel. Grimm turned the key to his room and found a stranger ransacking the area that he shared with Vance Astrovik. 

Ben learned that the intruder was a private investigator hired by Vance's parents. He rushed the P.I. out of the room before collapsing on his bed. His headaches had returned, but right now he needed rest.

The next day, Grimm resumed his sparring sessions. He was introduced to a new challenger, who was obviously the 17-year-old Astrovik in a muscle suit. The two friends made their bout look convincing until the private investigator left the arena. 

Afterward, Vance admitted that he didn't want to go home because his father would beat him. It started not long after his powers first manifested. Grimm understood how the lad felt.

The next morning, Ben was being examined by the company physician when he heard gunshots. Grimm ran to the source of the noise, which was the P.I. firing a gun at Vance. Ben confronted the gunman, who was disarmed by another wrestler who broke the investigator's arm with a powerful chop.

Ben followed Vance, trying to convince him to listen. He only relented when his mother walked through the door. She explained that his father was going through therapy. Vance realized that his parents still loved him and was willing to head home. He'd miss his travel partner, but Ben was focused on the unusual strength that some of his fellow wrestlers exhibited after a round of brews, of course. 

It was obvious that Marvel was trying to make Vance a sidekick for the Thing in this series, but that concept didn't really stick, especially since he wasn't very involved with matters while Ben was in the ring. I wasn't a big fan of this storyline, but at least the future Guardian of the Galaxy had a peaceful homecoming, I hope.

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the thirty-third issue of the Thing. Ben continues to face new foes in the ring, and Sharon Ventura returns, as does another recent menace who was known for knocking off certain super-villains at the time. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.