Miscellaneous Comments:    30 September 1999

    I love this. Time-travel paradox, with a good story behind it.

    Vance Astro (an astronaut who suffered a lot when he went into space) decides to take advantage of a trip into the past and meet up with his younger self and dispatch some advice.

    And, pretty soon, every big-name Marvel Superhero is out to stop him.

    The Thing is the one that does locate him.

    But Ben decides to help him out.

    Type of Series: Action-Adventure; Super-Hero;

    Similar Comics: Marvel Team-Up; Fantastic Four;

    Typical Issue: Typically, the Thing meets - and teams up with - another hero.

    Strengths: Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio, the writers. The sheer loveability of The Thing is another strength.

    Weaknesses:

    Plotting: This particular issue has a lovely plot. The whole time travel thing and the reason behind it are a perfect example of why I have such great fondness for this run of issues.

    Logic: Time-travel stories usually depend heavily on creating a sense of logic that we - the audience - can accept. This is no exception. And the dilemma and resolution are presented well enough to give me no problems at all taking it all on board.

    Originality: There have been a few stories like this, yeah.

    Ending: Nice. Vance, having succeeded, reflects on the fact that - while he himself may not have been affected another version of him will lead a better life. Nice.

    Re-Readability: I liked it. So, yes, I find it very re-readable. Over the years I've often re-read favourite issues of Marvel Two-In-One.

    Impressive Characters: Vance and Ben are both well served by this story.

    Impressive Writers: Gruenwald/Macchio.

    Impressive Artists:

    Impressive Dialogue: The last line of the story: "I'm happy because in one time-line at least, Vance Astro will not grow up to be a guardian."

    Impressive Scenes: I loved the bit in the middle (page 11) where we saw various other Marvel characters coping with the dense fog that was descending on New York.

    Less-Than-Impressive Characters:

    Less-Than-Impressive Writers:

    Less-Than-Impressive Artists:

    Less-Than-Impressive Dialogue:

    Less-Than-Impressive Scenes:

    Continuity: Subtle, but ever-present. Marvel Two-In-One was a series that kept lots of plots and characters on the back burner. This issue - for instance - features a one-panel appearance from The Aquarian. It's cool, really, that something you'd perceive as an anthology - in fact - turns out to have elements carrying over from story to story.

    Guide:

    Reviews:

    Other Info:

GRADE: A

Review by Michael Leddy

Comments are welcome: rikerdonegal@hotmail.com

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