The Thing #2
Published and © by Marvel, August 1983
Title: “For Beauty Passed Away”
Synopsis: While Alicia is in the hospital recovering from a savage beat down from Annihilus, Ben Grimm’s first love comes calling.
Writer: John Byrne
Penciler: Ron Wilson
Inker: Byrne
Review: John Byrne the writer was near the top of his game during this period, and he could nail poignant, one-off stories like this one without breaking a sweat. His handling of the Thing really stands out; under Byrne’s guidance, Ben Grimm became a far richer character. Byrne was one of the undisputed superstar artists of this era, but he remains sorely underrated as a writer. He was also an excellent inker – as seen here over Ron Wilson’s pencils – though his style could be overpowering. Not a bad thing for us fans, but it couldn’t have made his pencilers too happy.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: No. 59 on “The 100 Best Single Issues Since You Were Born” list in Wizard #175, May 2006.
Cool factor: Ron Wilson’s use of the Jack Kirby extreme, facial closeup. There’s not a better book than The Thing for such a technique.
Not-so-cool factor: The Thing leaving the side of his battered, blind girlfriend to go reconnect with an old flame. That’s cold, baby.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 75¢ Canadian variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Can’t hide nuthin’ from you, can I, Babe? Ya may be blind, but ’cha see right through me.” – The Thing, who apparently never tires of pointing out his girlfriend’s disability
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Jan. 6, 2010.
