The Thing Marvel Two-In-One 49 to 50: Doctor Strange, Thing
I love that this next story generates a vibe very much in keeping with it's guest star: Doctor Strange. That's right, prepare yourself for a delightful halloween-style tale.
The Thing decides to take a fishing vacation away from New York City. Here he is nearing the inn where he'll be staying.
The inn looks spooky but notice the heavy inking; that too adds to the mood of the tale.
A young lady encounters some car trouble and the Thing decides to help out in a wonderfully illustrated panel.
I've had the misfortune of having a flat tire myself. Ah, to have that kind of strength. If you think the girl's car was exceptionally illustrated check out Doctor Strange's ride.
The inn is as spooky inside as it is outside.
The Thing is here on vacation, but Dr. Strange's primary role is to protect the Earth from mystic attacks. The Doctor "is on call". He senses a disturbance.
It all starts that night when the girl screams and the Thing launches to her side.
It seems the girl is being attacked by a shadow creature - and she was - but all that is ever found is some wood debris. You'll also notice that Ben destroyed yet another piece of property. He is informed that he will be billed for it; we all know that means that Reed Richards will be billed for it.
The art continues to sustain the mood. Look at these blue panels here, evoking a night illuminated only by moonlight.
Doctor Strange reveals an old sea tale of a wizard and his unwilling zombie creation.
The unwilling zombie is Kemo, an islander, chosen because he was the strongest in the crew. This brings into mind the classic Moby Dick. In that book the most daring, if not he strongest, of the crew, the harpooners, are all islanders.
Before long, the zombie Kemo makes his (it's?) move.
Anytime you're being attacked by a zombie it's always handy to have the Thing around.
I'm not used to a mere zombie being able to fight the Thing to a standstill - Ben should be able to mop the floor with a whole mob of these things - but Kemo is supernaturally powered. Ben is unable to gain the advantage.
While Ben fights in the physical world, Doctor Strange confronts the necromancer Ennis Tremellyn in the Astral Plane.
Back at the zombie fight, the Thing notices the zombie's mystical necklace, and, with an impressive show of strength, he destroys the gem.
This one desperate move traps Tremellyn in the Astral Plane and frees the hapless Kemo.
Oh, look at this. Ben ends up with the girl. A rare sight indeed.
Anybody knows Alicia's number?
We come to the 50th issue of Marvel Two-In-One and I expect the creative team to have paid extra attention to it. So let's see what we have . . .
John Byrne words and pictures. This is looking good.
I always knew this was happening: Reed Richards continues to experiment on the Thing hoping to restore Ben's lost human form. Here is an interesting panel that shows the evolution of the Thing.
Wow. Look at this revelation.
Here goes . . . if I wrote the Thing I would say enough to the 'always a monster' situation. I would introduce a Thing that we have never seen before: Ben Grimm able to transform to the Thing at will. The big guy needs a break.
Ben's idea is actually quite brilliant. He will take Reed's formula, travel to the past, and give himself the formula at an earlier stage of evolution - a time when the formula will work.
And look at this.
The Baxter Building before it became the home of the FF.
Ah, here is the Thing in his apartment, very soon after this unwanted transformation. Troubled and gloomy.
'Bah', yes, the old Thing always said 'Bah'. Trust a fan boy like John Byrne to get this right. More than that, trust a fanboy like John Byrne to take us for a tour of Marvel lore.
Okay. Old Thing meets new.
Wow. This comicbook is delivering.
As you can see, the old Thing is in so much personal pain that he's just a ball of anger.
As an aside, where is Ben keeping that formula? He's just wearing his usual trunks. Plus that thing was in a glass container. I don't see how it can survive this.
The action in this next panel is amazing but the dialogue is the real stunner.
'I would give my soul to look as human as you'. Holy crap.
Plus, let's not forget to dis Victor.
Look at this.
A time when Ben was convinced he was the strongest one of all. Those were the days. Now the Thing is mid-level, well, upper mid level, or is it lower upper level - just a shade below the top-of-the-curve heavy hitters. After meeting the likes of Thor, the Hulk, Juggernaut, Hercules and a handful of others, Ben doesn't mouth these kinds of declarations anymore.
Here we are shown, that no matter the rage, underneath it all is Ben Grimm the test pilot. This is a thinking fighter.
Old Thing, new Thing, no matter who these two are a walking government infrastructure catastrophe.
Here is the most representative Thing vs. Thing panel.
Followed by the victory shot.
I recall reading somewhere that the Thing did not only change appearance through the years. Each later evolution was stronger than the older one.
Finally the formula is administered and . . .
It gets better . . .
Back in the future, the Thing is still the Thing. Reed explains it best.
It seems not only the Thing's body has acclimated to the cosmic rays; his mind has adjusted to the change also. No more rage or depression - at least not so much.
Ok, the 50th really delivered. I love this story. Somewhere in an alternate reality the Thing became Ben Grimm permanently. He didn't have to go through all the alienation and agony of making peace with becoming so different from the rest of us. Somewhere in the time stream, Ben Grimm got the break he so richly deserves. Beautiful. And happy 50th Marvel Two-In-One!
