The Thing Marvel Two-In-One 36 to 38: Mr. Fantastic, Matt Murdock, Daredevil
We come upon the Thing, Skull the Slayer and an intrepid group of adventurers lost in the era of the dinosaurs. As expected, it's a rough place but Ben does
what he can to protect the others. Here he cushions a doctor as they drop down a waterfall.
Ben was built for dinosaur country. These guys would be goners without him - unless Skull the Slayer is as strong as I think he is.
From the previous adventure the group got captured by the Aztecs and now they're going through dinosaur
country. Historically, dinosaurs and men never co-existed. Here's the explanation about why this is happening here.
Personally, I don't think men can survive the world of the dinosaurs. Not without technology dating from at least the 16th century when muskets became widely
available. But then again, what's a musket to a T-Rex?
The crezy priest from last issue is back, but now he's even more impressive.
Commanding a flight of Pterodactyls instead of a small army of Aztecs gets my attention. Alas the aerial fight is not to be as our group manages to escape from
the Bermuda triangle.
The Thing lands the plane in Florida and we get this little tidbit.
And here I thought Cape Canaveral and Cape Kennedy were two different places.
Yippee! Looks like that aerial fight is going to be an air-to=ground slugfest!
And now Mr. Fantastic
A beautiful panel showing the Jaguar Priest approaching Cape Canaveral.
Reed helps to take on the Pterodactyls but as you can see he's not 100 percent.
Mr. Fantastic does a Bouncing Boy.
I wish he wasn't in such pain though. Mr. Fantastic has a great power, and the kind of power that gives great visuals. It's a treat to see him in action
because Reed is so smart that we usually just see him in his lab.
Man, Reed can't finish the fight. Look at this.
Another beautiful panel shot of the Cape.
Skull the Slayer in action here.
What's wrong with this picture?
Ann was in the jaws of the Pteranodon for some time before Ben was able to rescue her but not a tear on that pristine white outfit. Realistically she should be
a bit bloody after that ordeal.
And the story wraps up with our heroes triumphant. Still, the loose ends are a doozy. First, the Miami Police have a time lost Aztec or Mayan priest on their
hands and let's not forget the Pterodactyls in the modern world. The entire thing conviniently - and sloppily - forgotten.
Next it's the Thing and Matt Murdock. Holy Cow, a comicbook with a lawyer in the marquee. We all know it's Daredevil but still, how many copies of this issue
did they manage to sell back in the day?
The story opens with the Thing in the crosshairs. Yes.
But he's also in bed reading a Stephen King novel, eating a box of chocolates and smoking a cigar.
Look at this! I never thought I'd see the day.
The Thing with no money. I'm so used to this guy getting bankrolled by Reed Richards.
I did mention that the Thing was in somebody's crosshairs right? Well, this someone starts shooting. So what happens when the thing gets shot? I was expecting
some fatal or near fatal result but against Ben's rock-hard skin our hero simply feels that he's being assaulted by bees. His reflex action vs these stings plus
his prodigious strength results in some serious infrastructure damage. Here's a representative panel.
Unsurprisingly, he is reported to the authorities and is arrested. What is surprising is the Thing's reaction.
Surprising, yes, but this happens. It's called self-pity or fatalism and is very revealing of the psyche of the man-monster Ben Grimm has become. The fear of
being a monster, no, the tragedy of being a monster, has always weighed heavily on Ben Grimm. He used to be a college jock and hotshot test pilot. Suddenly he's
huge, monstrous and a freak. He's been holding it in but when an unexpected bad day happens it all just comes out. Just like it does for most of us some of the
time. It's also a reminder that the Thing is one of Marvel's outsiders. He just covers it up a lot with his wise cracking.
Remember, in the adventure with Tigra when Ben unlocked a door in the Baxter Building using
his fingerprint and I commented that the Thing doesn't have fingerprints? Well, here the cops are taking down his prints as part of their procedure.
Well, the Thing does have fingerprints after all, just very unique ones - which serves the purpose exactly. Well, no not quite, since the Thing's fingerprints
could probably be forged using a carefully selected piece of gravel.
Then the mug shot, to be followed by the out-and-out ridiculous lineup identification:
Matthew Murdock is Ben's lawyer and his strategy is simple. Get character witnesses to Thing's heroic day-to-day activities and appeal that all charges be
dropped.
Unfortunately, the prosecutor makes an excellent case.
He's right, we're not talking about the past, we are talking about recent acts of property destruction. and yes, you're still reading Marvel Two-In-
One not Gotham Central.
Another witness is called and this one refers to the past (stupidly negating the prosecutor's line of reasoning). A lot of references are made to property
destruction done by the Thing that have been chronicled in the pages of Fantastic Four when the FF were battling the likes of the Hulk and Silver Surfer.
And, of course, the all-important detail about who's going to pay for all this?
Everybody's embroiled in the details but I'm impressed about how Matt can make an appraisal of the 'long view' or strategic view of this proceedings.
Matt is able to grasp the underlying problem and that it does not seem to have a quick solution.
Just like in real life, the times when you have to wait seems to be the hardest times of all.
Just as the jury agrees that Ben must stand for trial the mysterious "stinging" starts up again with violent results.
Daredevil is able to sense more about this courtesy of his heightened senses.
With his whole courtroom wrecked, lets empathize with the judge as he loses his impartiality.
Well the entire story has been virtually in court. I enjoyed it but I pity the youngster who bought this looking for some action. Looks like we'll be getting
it next issue because next up is still Matt but this time as Daredevil!
Here's the front page of the Daily Bugle.
The Thing has a point, it is a news item but to make it into a front page headline? It seems Jameson's enmity towards Spider-Man can spill over to other
heroes.
I know you're angry Matt but did you have to break the phone?
Last issue it was full-on Matt Murdock but, as promised, Matt changes to his alter ego. Here are two panels that show his awesome senses.
The first panel shoeing the cityscape and the moon behind DD is quite nice - I just wish he was facing front.
Daredevil's power can be pretty subtle so I really appreciate writing that shows it to best effect. Like these two panels here.
Now Alex Stone was introduced last issue as the guy who was really pushing to put Grimm behind bars. The guy is drawn pretty buff, not really looking like one
among the crowd of New Yorkers. Now we know why.
Looks like Stone was inspired by Silvester Stallone - just look at that face.
Okay, Stone has super-strength.
The Alex Stone and Daredevil fight does not go well for DD. But there is one good panel, just one, where DD dishes it out in style.
Look at this.
Daredevil is trapped in a car underneath the river. In future days this will happen to him again, shown in the pages of Daredevil Born Again>.
Matt tells the Tbing about all that has transpired and it's enough to snap Ben out of the pity party he's been in since last issue. It happens doesn't it?
You're feeling depressed but once you get moving, working on you're problem, just the act of working it can radically change your mood for the better.
In a hilarious turn, the guy whom the Thing chooses to ask about Stone is the very same guy Daredevil 'interrogated'.
Somebody needs a bar.
Aw, this is a rare sight.
Ben Grimm's Punisher face.
The thugs directions leads the Thing into an uderground lair. Love the display of strength against steel double doors.
At first we don't know what the Thing is up against.
But judging by that fist it's big.
Nicely designed villain and beautiful Sunday punch from Ben.
One should have been enough but looks like a there's a small army.
Even more unfortunate Ben admits that the entire group together rivals him in strength. And who's army is it? The villain reveals himself.
The Mad Thinker.
Well the Thinker begins ranting and proves that he is indeed the Mad Thinker. The guy actually wants to master the element of chance - talk about
mission impossible. Well not for the Thinker, he thinks he has the solution but needs Daredevil's unique abilities to pull it off. In order to force DD to think
his way the Thinker threatens the life of the Thing. And on this cliffhanger the issue ends.
