Thing #5

Marvel Comics
Script: Dan Slott
Art: Andrea DiVito

I really like this series, but the sales number have been less than impressive (it debuted at about 30K but issues 3 & 4 came it at 21K apiece) making me doubtful it will last past 10 issues. Slott’s humor is well used and I like how he’s turned this into a throwback title of sorts – lot’s of old style Marvel mayhem and some fun villains we haven’t seen in a while. Plenty of opportunities for clobberin’ time. It seems like there would be a place for this at the Marvel table and the fact that it’s an ongoing monthly gives me some hope. But since both Marvel and DC have given short shrift to titles that can’t consistently tread above the 25K mark, I’m not holding my breath. 

This issue probably didn’t help matters in either direction; anyone jumping on board with this issue because of the good things they might have heard could be disappointed. The focus is on Yancy Street -- long Ben’s anchor as well as a source of slapstick humor -- but the vibe was bit melancholy and at times preachy, and the humor just a forced. Despite the tone, Slott continues to show a nice feel for the Ben Grimm character (far better than what I’ve seen from JMS so far in the FF proper) and I think he’s nailed Ben’s reaction to sudden riches just right. Things pick up towards the end of the book and issue six looks to be back to the same sort of romp the first four were.

Andrea DeVito’s art is wonderful. This is the best Thing being drawn at Marvel, bar none. DeVito doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to depicting Benjy’s various moods and that’s no easy task. Lot’s a of little touches as well -- I loved the “4” on the bottom of Ben’s boots -- making for a really fun package that reminded me a lot of the early MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE and George Perez FANTASTIC FOUR days.

Here’s hoping Marvel sees fit to let THING build an audience. With all the new titles out there I suspect this one has been overlooked and that’s a shame. It’s not ground-breaking or earth-shattering, but it is fun and only mildly tangled with current Marvel continuity; and comics can certainly use a few of these titles.

Comments

[CalvinPitt]

Hmm, I keep telling myself that if there's an extra copy when I get to the store, I'd at least look through it, but there never is. Sounds like I better get it on my pull list fast, before it's gone (probably to make room for another Spidey book).