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: July 1975
Cover Price: 25¢
Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: Bob Brown

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.

Black Widow – Natasha Romanoff is a Russian spy that defected to the United States. She has no super-powers, but is well-trained and often armed with high-tech weaponry, including her “Widow’s Bite” wristlets.

WHAT happens?

On a high-speed car chase through a New York City park, the Black Widow crashes into the Thing. When she gets out to check on him, she’s subdued by her pursuers, the Sword of Judgement – revolutionaries intent on avenging the exploited peoples of the world. The two heroes are captured by the terrorist group and brought to their base of operations in the Atlantic Ocean. They meet with the terrorist leader, Agamemnon, who reveals their plan (dubbed Operation: Poseidon) to drop the world’s most powerful thermo-nuclear device into the depths of the ocean. When it is triggered, it will unleash a radioactive 1000′ tsunami upon the United States of America.

After he leaves the prisoners alone, the Black Widow reveals that Agamemnon was a past lover of hers named Andrei Rostov. She unzips her costume to reveal organic weaponry that was hidden beneath her back body mold and the gadgets assist them in breaking free! In their battle against the Sword of Judgement, the cable securing the bomb snaps, dropping it into the ocean. But, the Thing manages to grab hold of it before it plunges too far. He is now tasked with bringing the bomb back to the surface while the Widow has to buy him time to do so, by taking on the Sword. As the hours pass, the Black Widow manages to defeat their army of one hundred members – leaving only Agamemnon. Their battle is quite evenly matched – until the Thing (who has, by now, secured the bomb) intervenes and defeats the terrorist.

WHERE does the story take place?

The bulk of the action takes place in the base of operations for the Sword of Judgement. It’s located over 2,000 kilometers off the coast of New York – in the Northern part of the Atlantic Ocean.

WHEN do the villains next appear?

The Sword of Judgement doesn’t make an appearance for another 35 years! The next time they’re seen is in Darkstar and the Winter Guard #2, where they attack St. Petersburg.

WHY is Black Widow the guest-lead?

A few months earlier, Chris Claremont (the writer of this issue) had scripted a Gerber-plotted issue of Daredevil (#117 – January 1975). At that time, the Black Widow was a prominent guest-star in the series so, it’s possible that Claremont’s brief encounter with the character gave him a taste that left him wanting more.

HOW was it?

It was a fun team-up with incredibly high stakes – but the coincidental way the Thing is brought into the story irks me a bit. This is much more of a Black Widow story, so fans of her hers should really enjoy it. Not only does it reveal one of her past lovers but it also shows off her weaponry and incredible fighting abilities (she takes down 100 men by herself!). Lest you think she gets all the spotlight, we are treated to some heart-warming introspection by the Thing, a Mazel Tov cheer (he is Jewish, after all) and an appearance by his girlfriend, Alicia Masters. Which is nice, because she wasn’t in many of the earlier issues – strange, considering she’s so closely linked to the title’s main character.

Note: This issue’s letters column features commentary on Marvel Two-In-One #8 (one of the letters is from writer, Robert Rodi).

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