THE THING #2: What’s So Funny?

The Thing #2: “Marty Flynn, Ben’s childhood bully, has come to the Thing for help. Marty’s niece is missing somewhere in New York City. Despite Ben’s lingering resentment for Marty, he reluctantly agrees to help.
But their trail led to a confrontation with a seemingly super-powered Gladiator. And their search is catching the attention of the head of the criminal underworld, the Kingpin!”- Marvel Comics

Creative Team:

Tony Fleecs: WRITER

Justin Mason: ARTIST

Alex Sinclair: COLORS

VC’s Joe Caramagna: LETTERS

Nick Bradshaw and Rachel Rosenberg: COVER

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Story:

Tony brings a lot to the table in this issue and doesn’t hold back when it comes to the history between Ben and Marty. One element I really liked was as we open the issue with Ben being bullied, Ben clearly still harbors resentment and asks why Marty still talks about it to this day. The response being that who else can say they beat up the Thing shows a bit of sadness and almost forgiveness between the two. It’s an exchange that highlights the issue with what Marty did but, also Ben’s nature in he subtly seems to move on and forgive him in that moment.

The story introduces another surprise character at the end in which I won’t spoil, but fans may be excited for, as I know I was. The showdown between Bullseye and Ben is a funny exchange and a battle between the two. Tony showcases how Ben cannot be hurt, but when it comes to hurting a child, he portrays how even Bullseye is not that cruel, and that is another beat that stood out to me, funny but also humanely, because it is Bullseye, and even he has a line! Joe’s letters enhance this story and the shift in tones such as when Ben laughs off Marty during their exchange and then with Bullseye and how Ben is getting irritated and telling him he cannot be hurt.

The Art:

Justin and Alex add those subtle emotional exchanges to life, and you can see a sadness on Marty’s face when he explains how nobody else can say they beat up the Thing of all people, and Ben’s face is one of forgiveness, and how he feels bad for Marty. The duo makes great use of space as Bullseye is leaping all around while locked into battle with Ben, making it swift and smooth. There are great ratio and color aspects when you see Ben compared to other characters, showcasing just how large he is.

Final Thoughts:

The Thing #2 brings the detective work to a head for Ben as he battles not only his past but also Kingpin and what he truly is up to. There is a lot of heart in this run, and fans should give it a chance, as I think they will be pleasantly surprised.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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