Thing (Vol. 2) #6
...There Goes the Neighborhood!
Ben's attempt to build a recreation center on Yancy Street is in jeopardy when the Maggia sent the Trapster and Sandman to destroy the construction site. With bombs set to go, the Thing finds himself glued to the ground and is being pounded by the Sandman. Needing help, Ben fires the Fantasti-Flare into the sky to call the other members of the Fantastic Four for help. However, Sue is busy helping Namor, Reed is battling Blastaar in the Negative Zone, and Johnny is saving a pop-star from Dragon Man. However, the signal flare is spotted by Spider-Man who decides to see what he can do to help.
With the help of his new high-tech costume, Spider-Man is able to keep the Trapster and Sandman on the defensive. Breaking free, Ben tries to talk sense into the Sandman who he once convinced to reform in the past. However, unknown to Ben, the Sandman's personality was returned to his criminal nature by the Wizard, and so his appeals fall on deaf ears.
Eventually, Spider-Man manages to pin the Trapster with his webbing and then uses his paste guns to incapacitate the Sandman. With the bombs about to explode, the Trapster gives them the passcodes to save their lives. Spider-Man and the Thing manage to disarm two of the bombs. With one about to explode, the Thing uses his body to shield the blast.
With the battle over, Spider-Man departs and the Damage Control is called in to help clean up the mess. Soon the construction begins and Arlo North takes a moment to tell Ben that he and Alicia are dating. Eventually, the community center is completed and a large party is being thrown. Ben's attempts to look into Arlo discovers that he is squakey clean. Outside members of the Yancy Street Gang is about to vandalize the community center until they notice that Ben has dedicated it to his brother Daniel. The gang then declares the building off limits. After unveiling a statue of his brother, both Hiram Sheckleberg and Alicia congratulate him.
Ben soon learns, to his dismay, that Hiram still expects Ben to work off his debt. After a day of work, Ben is unable to find a ride home so he is forced to take the bus again. Falling asleep on the bench, Ben becomes a victim of the Yancy Street Gang who sprays paint insults on his rocky hide.
Recurring Characters
Thing, Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch), Spider-Man, Hiram Sheckerberg, Damage Control (Kathleen O’Mara, Hercules), Arlo North, Alicia Masters, Trapster, Sandman, Blastaar, Dragon Man, Sub-Mariner, SHIELD, She-Hulk, Valeria Richards, Mary Jane Watson, Wonder Man, Yancy Street Gang, Lockjaw
Continuity Notes
The pop-star that Johnny is trying to save is identified as Beyoncé; however, per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616 this should be considered a topical reference.
This story takes place shortly after Spider-Man obtained his new Iron Spider armor in Amazing Spider-Man #529.
Spider-Man recalls how he was a member of the short-lived "New" Fantastic Four who was active in Fantastic Four #347-349.
The Thing helped the Sandman reform in Marvel Two-In-One #86; however, the Sandman was reverted back to his criminal ways by the Wizard in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #12.
Ben knows Spider-Man's double identity because Peter recently revealed his identity to the Fantastic Four in Spider-Man Human Torch #5.
