Two-Fisted Feet!

The Thing returns to Mercy General Hospital to visit Alicia Masters. They share a tender moment, and the Thing reflects upon his own identity and how it places those he loves into perpetual danger.

Leaving the hospital, he learns that the nearby bank has been robbed by an over-sized Swede named Goody Two-Shoes. Apparently, Goody immigrated to the United States in order to patent his new atomic boots, but his investment contacts tried to have him deported so they could keep the invention. Now, Goody has turned to a life of crime.

The Thing tries to stop him, and Goody kicks him through several buildings. Ben gets up and tears after him, but Goody begins scaling the Empire State Building. Ben follows him and the two nearly get to the top, when Goody suddenly turns and leaps down upon the climbing Ben. Ben presses his fingers into the side of the building to slow his descent and the two plummet all the way to the ground. At that point, Ben’s embarrassment over the entire affair gets a hold of him and he plows into Goody Two-Shoes. He eventually beats him and tears the atomic boots off of Goody’s feet.

Recurring Characters

Thing, Alicia Masters

Continuity Notes

• Alicia Masters is in the hospital because she was tortured by Annihilus in Fantastic Four #251-256.

What Th'?!

The Thing reads this issue of his own comic book and is very upset. He stomps down to the Marvel Comics offices and raises hell with writer John Byrne, artist Ron Wilson, and editor Ann Nocenti. He tells them that they grossly exaggerated the threat value of Goody Two-Shoes and that the Thing took him down with one flick of his finger. He then takes to trashing their office.

Recurring Characters

Thing, John Byrne, Ann Nocenti, Roger Stern

Continuity Notes

• The Fantastic Four have been licensing out their adventures to Marvel Comics to adapt into comic books since Fantastic Four #10.

• Unlike most real life people, Marvel Comics staff are not considered topical references or impacted by the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616 that usually govern the interpretation of such characters. Marvel staff are always depicted as existing in the Modern Age while in their general prime.

• Roger Stern is thinking about the pages he scripted for Marvel Fanfare #12