Issue(s): Marvel Two-In-One #73
Cover Date: Mar 81
Title: "Pipeline through infinity"
Credits:
Ralph Macchio - Writer
Ron Wilson - Penciler
Chic Stone - Inker
Bob Budiansky - Assistant Editor
Jim Salicrup - Editor

Review/plot:
The Thing and Quasar are following up on the mysterious attack on Project Pegasus from a while back, and the trail leads them to an underground complex where they are zapped and sent to an alternate dimension. The premise here is similar to the tv show Terra Nova. Roxxon - as part of the "Nth Command" project - has set up oils wells on a world of dinosaurs and is shipping them back to our world. And yes, they were the perpetrators behind the attack on Project Pegasus; they didn't want the Project's research into alternative energy sources to interfere with the anticipated oil profits from this venture.

It's a really crazy and cool idea, but the Thing and Quasar have to shut it down, in part because the Roxxon manager on site says he'll kill the Thing if the Thing won't join them, and in part because Roxxon are exploiting the local cavemen (hey, it's an alternate reality, so cavemen and dinosaurs can live together if they want to).

The Roxxon guys manage to escape with the device that would transport them home...

...but Quasar and the Thing figure out that Roxxon must have another device connected to the oil pumps in order to transport the oil back to their dimension, so that's how they get home.

The Thing even manages to grab the head guy, but even if they get him to confess, you have to imagine that it would be hard to charge Roxxon with anything. Aside from threatening the Thing, i imagine public opinion would be very heavily on the side of Roxxon on this one. It will be said in Amazing Spider-Man #235 that the Thing and Quasar netted no solid evidence against Roxxon here.

Alternate dimension dinosaurs! What more can you ask for?

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: See the note in Marvel Two-In-One #68's entry. I've placed this between FF #218-219.

References:

• The Thing and Quasar are investigating the attack on Project Pegasus from Marvel Two-In-One #53-58.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

" It is said in issue #235 that the Thing and Quasar netted no solid evidence against Roxxon here."

Issue 235 of what?

Fixed it. Thanks.

This is similar to a 1936-37 MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN story, "Mandrake in the Lost World". (Spoiler warning.) Mandrake heads to Antarctica to rescue a missing aviatrix. He finds a prehistoric country surrounded by steam walls. The villains are ruthless oilmen whose drilling is releasing steam and causing the warm area to shrink. If they continue the lost world will cease to exist. On Mandrake's instructions Lothar turns off their electric fence, and a rush of dinosaurs destroys the oilfield.

This site is awesome BTW.