The Thing stars with...
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If you are a Marvel comics fan this is superb value for money. You get 29 episodes (although some stories run over more than one episode) featuring The Thing with a variety of other Marvel superheroes. The Hulk, Sub Mariner, Dr Strange, Daredevil, Captain America, Thor, Iron-Man and many others battle alongside, and occasionally against, Ben Grimm in these stories.
The artwork as always is marvellous, and whilst some of the stories now seem a little hackneyed to my cynical 40 something eyes, once I've been reading for a while I am transported back to 30+ years ago and all such thoughts are banished as I become completely lost in the Marvel Universe.
These essential Marvel series of books are so good. I just hope they keep them in print long enough so that I can buy the whole lot! Wonder if I can get a 2nd mortgage to pay for them?!
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Bashful Benjamin gets his own Team-Up series
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Following on from Spider-Man's successful Team Up comic Marvel gave the FF's ever lovin' blue-eyed boy, Ben Grimm, his own series.
These tales cover the whole gamut of the Marvel universe with most of the the major heroes appearing and more than a few welcome appearances from the FF themselves.
There's the return of some of the FF's memorable early foes, starting with a Thing/Hulk combination as they take on Kurrgo last seen in FF#7 and the Leader. The Molecule Man and Miracle Man also return from the distant past to haunt the Thing. It's not all about the past though as Thanos, one of the new (then) breed of cosmic villains appears as the Thing and Iron-Man take on his minions the vampiric Blood Brothers.
Other tales see Ben combine with The Man-Thing, Sub-Mariner, Daredevil and the Black Widow, Captain America in a superb tale set in the future as he and Ben aid the Guardians of the Galaxy as they battle the reptilian Badoon; Doctor Strange and the Valkyrie, Ghost-Rider in a yuletide special, Thor (this sees another old FF favourite the Puppet Master), The Black Widow again, The Golem, Iron-Man returns in another slice of Marvel mythology with Prester John, Power-Man, Son of Satan, Morbius (when the Living Eraser returns), Ka-zar in a tale that leads into a Team-Up cross-over as Ben and Spider-Man take on the scaly and menacing Basilisk. Not a series to keep to the straight and narrow path, we then get The Scarecrow followed by Tigra. It was nice to see Morbius become less of a villain here.
Then Ben and the FF go back in time to an alternative WWII and meet the original Invaders as they take on Baron Zemo, followed by the Thing himself meeting a brand new and less memorable WWII group The Liberty Legion.
Thor returns in a great 2 parter featuring the Egyptian Gods as Seth the God of Death seeks revenge. The last two tales are so-so, Black Goliath sees the return of an old Ant-Man villain who would have been best forgotten and ending with Iron Fist in an odd morality tale.
It is not complete as Two-in-One #21 is missing, where Ben meets Doc Savage, presumably over copyright issues, which makes the link to the next 2 issues a little odd, as does the fact that during this time Ben wears an exo-skeleton as he has become human again. The relevant FF tales have still not been released in the Essential series.
The scripting is wonderful throughout as Ben's wise-cracking nature is given full reign; the artwork handled by several of Marvel's finest is by and large excellent. The series also cleverly links several supporting characters especially Wundarr and Namorita. Ben Grimm is one of Marvel's most entertaining creations and this series of tales shows that brilliantly.
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Not a bad thing !
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What a great idea team-ups were.Have one main character and showcase others who currently appear in their own comics !.This also makes each story fresh. Marketing aside, the Thing is one of Marvels more non serious characters, lets face it he's made out of orange rocks !. Marvel two in one gave us the Thing and put his witty banter alongside many A and B list characters. Indeed it's his humour that always makes these stories great. Some of the tales are a little weak, especially the time travel team ups with the Invaders and the Liberty Legion (featuring a Nazi villain in a flying swastika - c'mon !). Nevertheless anybody who likes world conquering villains, the inevitable Hulk and (vs !) Thing and even a team up with a ravenous vampire will love this.
This may be for fans of pure nostalgic 70's tales, but any new marvel reader could do no worse than to see how comics used to be. Can't wait for vol 2 and more 'clobbering time' action. .
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