Startling Stories: The Thing

    (Marvel, 2003)
™ and ©2003 Marvel Entertainment Group

The Thing is something of a cross between The Hulk, a beloved school janitor, and Rodney Dangerfield. He’s big, strong, and brutish, he does all the dirty work, and he’s well liked and funny but doesn’t get any respect. Startling Stories: The Thing reinforces these traits without revealing anything new about the character, and the ending is a bit of a letdown, as the final panel will frustrate fanboys to no end.

Told within the framework of an overriding storyline that proves that The Thing is a good ol’ boy who is often asked to perform thankless tasks, the issue features three flashback sequences in which The Rocky Roughneck acts lovably gruff, then beats the stuffing out of a particularly tough bad guy (or guys). The tales are routine (if entertaining) in nature, but, as expected, there’s plenty of humor, fighting, and “aw-shucks” sentimentality. The most original aspect of the issue is a quirky take on The Inhumans.

The best thing about the issue is the art, which is breathtakingly realistic. The Thing has never looked better, and Kramer’s sense of anatomy, proportion, and detail is stunning. Someone get this guy his own monthly series.

— Brett Weiss
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#1

December, 2001
Cover Price: $3.50
3 copies available from $3.00 		Ron ZimmermanDon Kramer