The THING COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY - PART THREE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

As I gad about the streets of Glasgow, friendly passers-by often say to me, "Hi Kid, how's things?"  Overlooking their bad grammar, I hilariously reply "Not what they used to be!", which is, after all, just the sort of response you'd expect from a professional nostalgist.  And 'Marvel' at how cleverly I steered the topic round to 'Things' in an effortless link that would be the envy of many a TV presenter.  (Two word puns for the price of one there, as it's MARVEL's THING I'm talking about.  No need to applaud - it's a gift.)

As it's Friday the 13th today, I thought it appropriate that we start with #13 of the Thing's own magazine (which is a complete lie, of course - it a total coincidence).  To be honest, I don't recall being too keen on the ROCKY GRIMM - SPACE RANGER theme that ran over several issues, but I plan on re-reading them soon and perhaps I may revise my opinion.

Anyway, enjoy this pulsating plethora of covers and splash pages from a titanic time when The FANTASTIC FOUR's most popular member had his very own monthly comic mag.  It may only have lasted 36 issues, but that's better than The INCREDIBLE HULK managed on his first outing.