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 1977
Cover Price: 30¢
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Ron Wilson

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.

Iron Fist– As a young boy, Daniel Rand discovered the mystical city of K’un-L’un. There, he trained in the martial arts and acquired the power of the Iron Fist, which allows him to focus his chi and enhance his strength and speed.

WHAT happens?

The Thing is knocked out with an anesthesia ray at Shea Stadium and yanked into the sky by Queen Sen’s men. They bring him aboard their blimp and place him with their other captive, Iron Fist. The two heroes are dropped from the aircraft into a jungle – the men let them know that they’ve been brought there to train an army so they may defeat General Chonga (who has captured Queen Sen). The men figure that if their army can defeat the martial arts master and the monster, then they are ready to challenge General Chonga’s army.

An initial grouping of men attack Iron Fist and the Thing but they’re quickly defeated. They reveal the location of their base and the two heroes make their way to the Temple at the Ridge of Four Hells after a long trek. Within the temple, they’re attacked by S’kari the blind swordsman and Mongo the Merciless. But, the battle is quickly stopped by Prince Dragon who reveals that his Queen Sen was to marry the emperor of a nearby nation to arrange peace between the two lands. But, General Chonga defected, took his army with him and kidnapped the Queen before the marriage could take place.

Now that Iron Fist and the Thing know the story behind why they were kidnapped, they decide to join Prince Dragon in liberating the Queen so that peace can be forged through marriage.

WHERE does the story take place?

The majority of this story takes place on Kaiwann, an island off the coast of Manchuria.

WHEN does the villain next appear?

This is the first and only appearance of General Chonga.

WHY is Iron Fist the guest-lead?

When this issue was published, Iron Fist’s series wasn’t selling very well. His appearance here was probably intended to draw some attention to his own series but, it didn’t work out. That series was cancelled six months later.

HOW was it?

This was the first issue of Marv Wolfman’s run but it wasn’t all that gripping. It started off well with some nice character bits between the Thing and Alicia. But, it quickly got silly when the thing was blasted with an “anesthesia ray” and hoisted into the air by two metal hooks stuck in his jacket. Are we really to believe that his jacket wouldn’t tear from his 500lb. weight? Aside from that, pitting the Thing against some regular guys with martial arts backgrounds is a completely unfair battle. And, because of that, the fight scenes don’t last very long. On the plus side, there are some twists and turns to this story (all of which have not been revealed here) that tug at some emotions. And the interaction between the Thing and Iron Fist is fun for Thing fans (let’s just say he doesn’t treat IF with the greatest respect). So, all in all it wasn’t terrible but I wouldn’t recommend it strongly.

Note: This issue’s letters column features commentary on Marvel Two-In-One #22.

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