Marvel Two-In-One launched in 1974, teaming the Thing with a different hero each month. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: March 1974
Cover Price: 20¢
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Gil Kane

WHO stars in this issue?

the Thing – Benjamin J. Grimm was bombarded by cosmic rays in a space exploration flight, alongside three friends. The cosmic rays gave each of them different powers, and they formed the Fantastic Four. Ben underwent the most physical change of the foursome: his skin mutated into orange rock and, as a result, he gained super-strength.

Sub-Mariner – Namor is the hybrid offspring of a human and an Atlantean. This ruler of Atlantis has super-strength (as long as his skin is wet) and can fly (thanks to those dainty ankle wings!). He’s also got an enormous chip on his shoulder.

Wundarr – The planet Dakkam’s greatest astronomer, Hektu, believed that their sun would go nova, destroying their world. So, he put his newborn son, Wundarr, in a rocketship that landed on Earth. The child grew within the ship, never knowing of the outside world until the ship was opened by the Man-Thing. Wundarr emerged fully matured in body but not in mind. He possesses super-strength, some flight ability (or is it leaping?), and an “entropy field” that nullifies energy.

WHAT happens?

Wundarr crashlands near Hydrobase where he strikes a friendship with the curious Namorita. But, when Namor comes to investigate the newcomer, Wundarr is scared off. He next crashlands right in the middle of New York City Traffic! (Sheesh! This guy needs to learn how to leap better, eh?)

The Thing, who just happens to be nearby, notices this and launches into an attack to prevent any other New Yorkers from harm. Meanwhile, Namor and Namorita have journeyed to New York City to find Wundarr. When they discover their friend in battle with the Thing, they rush to his aid. And, to complicate matters even further, the enemies of Hektu send the Mortoid (a robotic assassin) to destroy Wundarr. This newfound threat unites the Thing, Namor, Namorita and Wundarr – the Mortoid and the Dakkamites are defeated.

After the threat has been neutralized, Namor and Namorita explain to the Thing that Wundarr needs a “father figure” to teach him about the world, just before they depart to return to Hydrobase.

WHERE does the story take place?

The initial events take place just off the shore of Hydrobase, which is located off the North American coast in international waters. But, the scene quickly shifts to New York City (42nd Street, to be exact), once Wundarr makes his way to the mainland.

WHEN does Wundarr next appear?

Wundarr will be around in the very next issue! Steve Gerber, the writer of this series, created Wundarr in the pages of Fear, so it’s safe to assume that he had some plans for the character’s growth. It’s not often easy to put a new character in the spotlight, so this seems like an appropriate place to add him as a supporting character.

WHY is Sub-Mariner the guest-lead?

In 1968, the Sub-Mariner had split from his double-feature title, Tales to Astonish (which he shared with the Hulk), into his own solo title. By 1973, sales of that title had begun to falter, and then-writer Steve Gerber was given enough slack to send the series in a “new direction” starting in issue #67 (cover date: November 1973). It could easily be argued that this issue was an attempt by Gerber to get Namor the Sub-Mariner (and his new costume), some much-needed exposure. Sadly, the plan didn’t work and Sub-Mariner was canceled with issue #72 (cover date: September 1974).

HOW was it?

The re-introduction of Wundarr is an interesting treat. Essentially, he has the same origin story as Superman but, he’s got a unique slant: full-grown body run by an infantile mind. I’m curious to see how the character develops now that he’s been left in Bashful Benjy’s hands.

Speaking of that, it seems a little odd that Namorita (who’s really the only character in this story that shows any true care for the Dakkamite) would leave Wundarr with the Thing. To be honest, the way the story had progressed, I assumed that she would be taking him back to Hydrobase.

Note: This issue’s letters column features commentary on Marvel Feature #12. Additionally, this comic includes Marvel Value Stamp #63 (the Sub-Mariner).

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Marvel Two-In-One launched in 1974, teaming the Thing with a different hero each month. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: January 1974
Cover Price: 20¢
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Gil Kane

WHO stars in this issue?

the Thing – Benjamin J. Grimm was bombarded by cosmic rays in a space exploration flight, alongside three friends. The cosmic rays gave each of them different powers, and they formed the Fantastic Four. Ben underwent the most physical change of the foursome: his skin mutated into orange rock and, as a result, he gained super-strength.

Man-Thing – Ted Sallis was attempting to rediscover the Super-Soldier Serum when he injected himself with the experimental formula. Soon after, his car crashed into a chemical-tainted swamp – the mixture of formula, swamp water and chemicals turned him into the Man-Thing. Now, he is a mindless muck monster, unable to process thoughts but highly empathic. The swamp beast is drawn towards strong emotions and has an unusual reaction to one in specific: for, whatever knows fear, burns at the touch of the Man-Thing.

WHAT happens?

The Molecule Man (II) teleports to Earth in an effort to take revenge on his father’s enemies, the Fantastic Four. He homes in on the Thing’s energy first, which deposits him in the Florida Everglades, where the rocky FF member is tracking down the Man-Thing. He engages the Thing and their scuffle quickly draws the attention of the Man-Thing.

Using his advanced abilities, the Molecule Man (II) can also manipulate organic molecules, as well as inorganic (a feat his father could never accomplish). And, it’s with those abilities that he transforms both the Thing and the Man-Thing into their human forms, Ben Grimm & Ted Sallis, respectively. With the strongest threats to his mission now neutralized, the Molecule Man (II) departs to take out the other three members of the Fantastic Four.

Grimm & Sallis soon catch up with him and he foolishly changes them back into their monstrous forms. During the fight, the Thing separates the villain from his wand, the power source that keeps his body from disintegrating. Unfortunately for him, he’s kept away long enough that his body is turned into dust … and the wand, which now appears powerless, is left in the hands of a small child.

WHERE does the story take place?

After the events of Marvel Feature #11-12, the hot-headed Thing travels from New Mexico to the Florida Everglades to take on this “new guy on the block” who stole his name. Little does he know, at first, that the swamp creature can’t even think or speak – let alone tell others to call him the Man-Thing.

WHEN does the Molecule Man next appear?

This Molecule Man doesn’t appear again but, his father (the original Molecule Man) returns in Iron Man Annual #3, where it is revealed that his essence was inside the wand.

WHY is Man-Thing the guest-lead?

After debuting in Savage Tales #1 (May 1971), the Man-Thing went on to take the lead feature in Adventure Into Fear, starting with #10 (October 1972) and continuing to #19 (December 1973). Steve Gerber’s tales of the swamp beast had proved popular enough to be given its own title, and Man-Thing #1 debuted with a cover date of January 1974 – conveniently enough, that’s the cover date of this issue, as well. So, it seems this comic was meant to serve as a promo for his series debut.

HOW was it?

Gerber introduced a neat concept by changing the two monsters back into their human forms. I wouldn’t have minded a lot more of the book devoted to the interesting character moments that companionship could have provided. Think about it – two disgusting monsters have been granted a rare opportunity to be back in their own skin AND they have someone with them that has gone through the same experience! That’s great stuff, there. Especially since that’s not too common a trait to share with somebody else.

Now, I realize that Ben Grimm is a heroic character so he’s pretty much duty-bound to take on the villain who’s out to get him and his friends but, I feel like Ted Sallis would have logicly just fled the scene instead of putting himself in a position to be transformed back into the mindless Man-Thing. At least the Thing retains his own mind when he’s in his rocky form – the Man-Thing can’t even process thought! But, I think the biggest blunder of the story is when the Thing just hands the Molecule Man’s wand over to a little boy. C’mon! Everybody knows you can’t just go leaving stuff like that around.

Note: This issue’s letters column features commentary on Marvel Feature #11 (the debut of the Two-In-One concept).

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