Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1983-03-01 00:02:15 |
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Thing #1
Issue(s): Thing #1
Cover Date: Jul 83
Title: "Lifelines"
Credits:
John Byrne - Writer
Ron Wilson - Penciler
Joe Sinnott - Inker
Al Milgrom - Editor
Review/plot:
As if to confirm the fact that the revamped Marvel Two-In-One book will now focus a lot more on character issues, this first issue is entirely a down-time story wherein the Thing confronts the troubled youths of Yancy Street...
...and recounts his own time as a troubled gang member.
The result is... ok. Not Byrne's best scripting effort, but certainly a lot better than the average issue of Two-In-One.
Quality Rating: B
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place before Fantastic Four #251.
References:
- During the flashback, we see scenes previously shown in Fantastic Four #1 and the Reed/Ben/Doom college days first depicted in Fantastic Four annual #2.
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
| Previous: Defenders #118 | Up: Main | Next: Marvel Team-Up #129-130 |
Comments
This story doesn't really fit with Ben Grimm's WW2 experiences; the street gang outfits on display look more 1960s-ish.
That's because of the sliding timeline- Ben's and Reed's WW2 experiences never happened and Doom's appearance in Invaders was the result of time travel.
A Thing graphic novel by DeFalco/Romita Jr./Romita Sr. was announced earlier in 1983, but nothing came of it.
I just read this for the first time. How underwhelming!
The Thing's origin story, as depicted in this issue, isn't really much of a story. With a character like Spider-Man, you have someone gaining power, misusing it (by not stopping the burglar who would kill Uncle Ben), and then coming to a greater understanding of how to use it. The Spider-Man origin not only conveys Spider-Man's super powers and how he got them, but it also gives him something of a mission. Spidey's origin indicates where his book is going to go. The Thing's origin lacks all of this. Ben got out of Yancy Street more as a result of the actions of others than as a result of anything he did. His change in attitude was the result of living with his uncle. His super powers came later and seemed to have no impact on how he behaved. I can't see how it this story would get any Yancy thug to aspire to be a better person.
Also, it's perfectly reasonable to convey the lead character's origin in a #1 issue. But I expect this to be in addition to the start of some exciting story, not in place of it.
If I had been a fan of the Thing in 1983, I would have found this issue disappointing. No real super hero fight. No super villain. No teaser for what's to come. Just some uninspired details about Ben's childhood and a repeat of information I already knew. If I hadn't been a fan of the Thing in 1983, this issue would not have made me buy #2.
The Thing was one of my favorite characters at this time, and was really disappointed unfixable series. I think I dropped it while he was on Battleworld but I do remember reading some of the wrestling stuff. Hated it.
