Essential Marvel Two-in-One: Vol. 2
Back in the ’70s, I always preferred Marvel Comics’ MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE team-up series featuring The Thing rather than the better-known, higher-profile MARVEL TEAM-UP featuring Spider-Man. My choice was strange, given that The Thing isn’t really that interesting of a character, and I’m annoyed by his Brooklyn accent and constant self-pity.
But the guest stars that shared each issue tended to fall on the obscure side, so you never quite knew what you were going to get. Sometimes the result was staid, but other times it was downright surreal. Roughly the series’ third and fourth years are collected in the new ESSENTIAL MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE: VOL. 2.
One thing notable but also a real stretch is how a continuing storyline will play out over several issues, yet encompass a new guest star each time. Thus, The Thing may start out aiding Nick Fury, but then he’ll be fighting Deathlok, only to be bickering with the Sub-Mariner, then sent to London where he encounters the Master of Kung Fu, and then fight Spider-Woman, and … well, you get the picture. It goes on and on, to the point where you forget what the hell started the whole thing.
Another arc sends The Thing back to prehistoric times, where he meets Skull the Slayer, and is chased back to the present by dinosaurs, with Mr. Fantastic stepping in to help. (It’s one of just many appearances – individually or together – by members of the Fantastic Four, which feels like a cheat for a supposedly solo spinoff.)
Oh, you’ll get your fair share of big names: Spider-Man, Daredevil, Dr. Strange, a hodgepodge of Avengers. But you’ll also get your fill of supernatural horror and fantasy with Man-Thing, Moon Knight and Hercules, as well as lesser ’70s heroes like Captain Marvel and Nova.
Then there are the guests so arcane, even I’ve never heard of them: Modred the Mystic, Nighthawk, Jack of Hearts and – who the fuck? – the Yancy Street Gang, which appears to be comprised of burly construction workers who wear hats that shield their faces at all times.
The best issue of them all is also the most self-referential and funniest, where The Thing – jealous of the TV success of Hulk (who had the real CBS hit at the time) – goes to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune. He’s offered a job by Howard the Duck, but holds out for the big bucks and finds big trouble when the real Hulk – upset over his boob-tube counterpart – wreaks havoc on the studio where it’s filmed.
Equally as ambitious but not quite as creatively successful is the issue that sends The Thing back in another time rift, where he battles himself, albeit the way he looked when the FF first debuted (i.e. how Jack Kirby drew him).
As interesting as some of the talent behind this compendium – Frank Miller and John Byrne among many – is how instantly the series dated itself, with a story taking place at the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter! –Rod Lott
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• ESSENTIAL DEFENDERS: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL GHOST RIDER: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL GODZILLA: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL IRON FIST: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL KILLRAVEN: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL MAN-THING: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL MARVEL HORROR: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL MOON KNIGHT: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL NOVA: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL SAVAGE SHE-HULK: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL SUPER VILLAIN TEAM-UP: VOL. 1
• ESSENTIAL TALES OF THE ZOMBIE: VOL. 1
It’s really funny I was like oh I bet the Yancy Street Gang is in this one. I picked up a ton of back issues fro ma quarter box a few months ago.
“The Thing isn’t really that interesting of a character…”
I disagree. The Thing is one of the great comic book characters of all time.
Oh, he’s certainly iconic. I just don’t find him all that interesting.