Issue(s): Thing #23
Published Date: May 85
Title: "Remembrances"
Credits:
Mike Carlin - Writer
Ron Wilson - Penciler
Bob Layton - Inker
Mark Gruenwald - Editor

Review/plot:
The Thing is back on Earth (no more Rocky Grimm, Space Ranger! Yay!) but he's learned that Alicia has moved on and is instead in a relationship with his friend and teammate, Johnny Storm. While the story reminds us that the Thing had intended to break-up with Alicia anyway, he's still distraught over this turn of events. This issue is really just about him packing up and leaving the FF (including a somewhat random five page flashback of Johnny playing a prank on Ben) but the situation gets a tad more tense when Mr. Fantastic shows up with some information that he thinks Ben will appreciate. Reed has known for a while that the reason Ben was unable to be cured of being the Thing was that Ben subconsciously feared that Alicia only loved Ben as the Thing, not in his human form.

But now that Alicia's dumped him, he should be able to control the transformations no problem. Great news, right buddy?

Of course what Reed didn't know is that the Thing was recently forced to kill (metaphysically) his human form back on the Battleplanet.

So now there's no human form to turn back to. If only the Thing was aware of this information sooner...

Suffice it to say that the Thing does not leave the Baxter Building on friendly terms with his former teammates.

I would have preferred to see this confrontation handled by Byrne in the FF comic, but it's done well enough here. Also, it's pretty impressive that even after the Thing's return to Earth after a year away from the team, the situation hasn't immediately reset to status quo. The Thing is still off the FF, She-Hulk is still a member, and Alicia and Johnny remain a couple.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - the Thing learns the truth about his ability to transform, and leaves the Baxter Building.

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place after Fantastic Four #277 and Marvel Fanfare #20-21.

References:

• The Thing discovered that Alicia is now in a relationship with the Human Torch in Fantastic Four #277.
  
• Mr. Fantastic learned in Fantastic Four #245 that it was the Thing's own insecurities that prevented him from turning back to Ben Grimm.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: N/A

There's some nice visual continuity here between Ron Wilson's artwork and John Byrne's over on FANTASTIC FOUR. It's nice. If Byrne wasn't able to draw both books using Wilson on THE THING was the right move. It makes the two books definitely feel like part of the same "family".