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: 1976
Cover Price: 50ยข
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
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. At this point in Marvel Continuity, Ben Grimm was reverted back to human form but he operated an exo-skeleton armor created by Reed Richards that was made to look exactly like the Thing.
Fantastic Four – Four adventurers who were mutated by cosmic rays. Mr. Fantastic: his elastic body allows him to stretch it any way he wants. The Invisible Woman can create invisible force fields and turn herself invisible. The Human Torch can fly and generate flames. The fourth member is the Thing: super-strength.
Invaders – a super-team that fought for the Allies in World War II. Members include Captain America and Bucky, Namor the Sub-Mariner, the original Human Torch and his sidekick, Toro.
WHAT happens?
The Fantastic Four have some money problems and the Thing wants to use their time machine to travel back to California, two weeks before the Gold Rush of 1849, to cash in. But, in the room where the device is kept, he finds a squad of Nazi soldiers! They’re quickly subdued by the Fantastic Four and Reed Richards checks his time machine to discover that they Nazis came from London in the year … 1946?! We all know that the Nazis were defeated in 1945 – so what gives?
Reed Richards surmises that a hunk of vibranium (that has since gone missing) may have fallen onto the time machine during Luke Cage’s attack (in Fantastic Four #169). Later, the time machine may have been accidentally activated, sending the vibranium back in time where the Nazis got hold of it. They must have used the vibranium to develop better weapons early, giving them a distinct advantage that allowed them to win World War II. Now, the Fantastic Four must travel back in time to when the vibranium was sent and retrieve it before it can fall into the wrong hands.
The Fantastic Four materialize in early 1942 inside the Invaders‘ bunker. The “golden-age” super-team springs into action, thinking the Fantastic Four are Nazi invaders. After a brief heroes vs heroes battle, both teams figure out they’re on the same side. The nine heroes hop into the Sub-Mariner’s aircraft and fly to Castle Cherbelle – the base of Nazi leader, Baron Zemo – in the hopes of recovering the vibranium.
The heroes split into teams of three. Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman and Namor the Sub-Mariner fight through squads of Nazis. Captain America, Bucky and the Human Torch (Johnny Storm) take on Baron Zemo, himself (although he beats a hasty retreat). The original Human Torch, Toro and the Thing encounter the Nazi Colonel who has a handful of vibranium-enhanced rockets primed for an attack on England. The Torch and Toro manage to destroy all but one rocket before they can be launched. Using some quick reflexes, the Thing grabs hold of the missile as it takes off. He manages to reroute the guidance system and send the missile back to Castle Cherbelle!
When the Thing wakes up from the blast, he’s greeted by the Fantastic Four and they explain that they’re back in the year 1976. The remainder of the vibranium was taken back with them (Reed assumes the other half was used in those rockets from earlier) and the Nazi Castle was destroyed (but not before the Invaders managed to escape to safety). As the team leaves to unwind for the night, the Thing stays behind in the time machine’s room. Suddenly, the Watcher appears – his presence suggests that there’s something that remains to be fixed with the timeline and the Thing decides to finish the job, even if he has to go back to 1942 by himself.
WHERE does the story take place?
The story starts in the Fantastic Four’s headquarters, the Baxter Building, in Manhattan, New York. But, the big battle against the Nazis takes place in Castle Cherbelle – located in Nazi-occupied France.
WHEN does the villain next appear?
The Baron Zemo of this alternate time-line hasn’t been seen since – but, then again, neither has this timeline.
WHY are the Invaders the guest-lead?
At this time, Roy Thomas was writing the Fantastic Four and his book, the Invaders, had launched the year before. It seemed like a neat idea to have a crossover between Marvel’s First Family and their 1940s WWII heroes. It was also a great way to introduce regular Fantastic Four readers to the Invaders and a fun way to celebrate America’s Bicentennial by looking back to the era that spawned its “greatest generation”.
HOW was it?
This was truly a fun, time-traveling story complete with the creation of an alternate timeline. I know it’s cliched to have the heroes fight each other but, I would have liked to see that battle go on for longer than it did. I found it strange that, at the end, the Thing seems to think he’ll have to fix everything on his own – it’s not like the rest of the Fantastic Four were out of the state or country (or even, planet!) – they were just going back to their rooms to shower off and relax after the big battle they just had. I’m sure they’d quickly jump back into action, if need be. We’ll see how this story plays out since it’s continued in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #1.
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