Fantastic Four - Harbinger II - Ray Wonsowski

Going deep into my WABAC machine...for Part I, go here...

Panel 1- JOHNNY STORM, walking through the flaming antechamber in Atillan, emerges from the blaze. However, a Cosmic Control Rod is at his throat, and his jaw has been reshaped, giving him the appearance of Annihilus. In fact, Johnny is possessed by him, his head lolled over to the side, shambling like he is still learning how to work the body. He is dragging the unconscious body of GORGON of the Inhumans.

JOHN-NIHILUS: s-s-simple thisss waszz...we should have thought of thisss s-s-sooner...

Panel 2- from above. The THING, foreground, launches himself up and away in a bound before, background, SUSAN STORM can throw up her force field, which now encircles herself and REED RICHARDS, who is holding his wife in the stretch coils of his arms. The shield is keeping tongues of flame away.

THING: I've had enough of this crumbum...

SUSAN: NO!

REED: Ben, stop!!

Panel 3- BEN lands hard in front of JOHN-NIHILUS, raising his fists. JOHN-NIHILUS just stands absently before him, as if the Thing was a curiosity under a microscope.

THING: John. Buddy. This ain't you.

JOHN-NIHILUS: ...s-s-stupid creature...hideousss thing...

Panel 4- zoom in, one of BEN's hands around JOHN-NIHILUS's throat, the other tearing away the Cosmic Control Rod from it.

THING: Shut your cake hole, gimme that!

REED (off-panel): BEN! STOP!!

(In the space between panels, sound fx: FASH!

Panel 5- Foreground, the unconscious form of JOHNNY STORM, no longer the thrall of Annihilus. However, background, silhouetted in the flames, the giant rocky form of BEN GRIMM rages, Cosmic Control Rod glowing brightly in his hand, translucent leathery wings having sprouted violently from his back.

BEN-NIHILUS: ...RRRRRR....

...to be continued...

Johnny Storm - Slow Burn - Niel Jacoby

Panel 1: the Fantasticar is crashed in the arctic. THING, MR. FANTASTIC, and SUE STORM are unconscious. JOHNNY is worried. They are not nearly dressed for this weather.

Johnny: YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH, JOHNNY. JUST STAY CALM.

Johnny: YOU JUST NEED TO GET THEM TO SHELTER.

Panel 2:  Johnny has set up a circle, with Thing, Mr. Fantastic, and Sue circled around him at a safe distance while he burns in the middle to warm them. We can see the faint forms of wolves on the horizon.

Johnny: JUST... JUST START CONCENTRATING, JOHNNY.
(link)
WE CAN ALL SURVIVE.

Human Torch – Troll Bait – MK Stangeland Jr.

(8 Panels)

Panel 1: A mechanic’s garage inside the BAXTER BUILDING, where JOHNNY STORM, the HUMAN TORCH, is working on a car. A door can be seen in the background, where THING and ICEMAN are walking by.

THING: …just saying Johnny’s got some insecurity issues….

Panel 2: HUMAN TORCH’s head pokes up and he looks towards the door.

Panel 3: HUMAN TORCH leans out the doorway to look where THING and ICEMAN are going. THING and ICEMAN have knowing looks on their faces.

HUMAN TORCH: What do you mean I’ve got insecurity issues?

THING: Oh, uh, you heard that?

Panel 4: HUMAN TORCH stands in front of THING and ICEMAN with his arms crossed.

HUMAN TORCH: Ben…?

THING (1): Well, I suppose as your friend, I could tell ya…

THING (2): It’s just that, you’re already the most popular team member, but you still add all this other stuff, like your acting and cars.

THING (3): Which you use to pick up chicks?

ICEMAN: Sounds like insecurity to me.

Panel 5: HUMAN TORCH looks at THING and ICEMAN with a ‘oh yeah?’ looks.

HUMAN TORCH: You guys are nuts! That’s not a sign of insecurity.

Panel 6: And cut to an exterior scene over NEW YORK, where HUMAN TORCH is flying across the sky near where SPIDER-MAN is swinging.

HUMAN TORCH: Hey, Webhead, you don’t think I’m insecure, do you?

Panel 7: Split panel, with THING’s head in one half and SPIDER-MAN’s head in the other. THING is talking with SPIDER-MAN over the phone.

THING: (Stylistic picture of a Troll’s head next to a picture of the HUMAN TORCH’s head.)

SPIDER-MAN: (A X^D or :^b style emoticon face.)

Panel 8: (SPIDER-MAN does a ‘maybe’ type hand gesture with his free hand.)

SPIDER-MAN (1): Eh…

SPIDER-MAN (2): Well, I didn’t want to say anything, but…

(END PAGE)

The Thing - Poker Face - Matt Duarte

The Thing in "Poker Face" by Matt Duarte

This page is set up in a five panel layout with the first four being in a two by two grid, all in the same size, and the last one a wide panel across the page.

Panel 1

Description: She-Hulk is holding a set of cards, close to her face, we can only see hers hands and a bit of her face. She looks focused and concentrated on her cards.

THING (CAPTION): Jennifer's pretty easy to read. She plays fast and loose, like she doesn't care if she wins or loses. Just for the fun of it, I guess.

THING (CAPTION): Still a lawyer though, and she can spot a bad bluff from a mile away. Looks like she’s puttin’ more effort into it for this occasion.

Panel 2

Description: Spider-Man is hanging upside down, he's also holding a hand of cards. We can only see his hands and his face, with the mask only halfway down (so we can see his mouth, but not his eyes). He has a smile on his face.

THING (CAPTION): Spidey is a different story. He plays it close to the chest, and that damned mask makes it impossible to see his eyes.

THING (CAPTION): Poor Pete's always broke, so if I raise the stakes enough, he'll fold faster than you can say "J. Jonah Jameson". Of course, that don't matter today.

Panel 3

Description: Wolverine is holding a set of cards as well, he looks calm and not giving any tells. We can only see his hands and his mask-less face. He is peeking at the side, at one of his table mates.

THING (CAPTION): Logan's the toughest cookie of the bunch. The man has more years of playing poker than I've been alive.

THING (CAPTION): And on top of that, the hairy bastard can smell your lies. Good thing Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew doesn't have to worry 'bout that right now, there's more interesting places for him to stick that damn nose.

Panel 4

Description: The Thing is holding a hand of cards. We can only see his big hands and part of his face, including his blue eyes.

THING (CAPTION): I never would've organized this tournament if I was planning to lose. I know I'm gonna win for two reasons...

THING (CAPTION): First, ever since the revoltin' development with Reed's crazy plan to get us to the Moon, those cosmic rays have given me the world's best poker face...

Panel 5

Description: She-Hulk, Wolverine and Spider-Man are all sitting around a small round table. She-Hulk is just wearing her bra and panties, Spider-Man only has his mask, boots, and underwear on him, and Wolverine just has his jeans and a wife-beater shirt (looking at She-Hulk). The Thing is also sitting there, and he is just wearing his regular Fantastic Four uniform pants. On the center of the table, we can see She-Hulk's skirt and blouse, Spider-Man's pants and shirt, Wolverine's boots and leather jacket.

THING (CAPTION): And two: no one...

THING (CAPTION): And I mean, NO ONE...

THING (CAPTION): Wants to see me lose at strip poker.

The End.

The Thing - Man of the People - Sime McDonald

1. Establishing shot of the Baxter Building, outside of which stand protestors, fists pummelling the air, brandishing hastily concocted signs. There are camera crews about, capturing the scene. A female news reporter stands amidst the crowd, speaking into the camera, epitomising composure.

REPORTER

--with the country gearing up for midterm elections next week,

science is on the firing line—

2. Cut to inside the Baxter building, where the Fantastic Four – notably absent of Ben Grimm, The Thing – are watching the reporter on a monitor. Johnny Storm is staring absent-mindedly at the reporter, barely interested; as opposed to Reed and Sue, watching the coverage with stony-faces.

REPORTER

(on screen)

--hundreds of New Yorkers standing outside the Baxter Building

protesting against what they consider wasteful government expenditure

on scientific research, at a time when the citizens of this country

are being pummelled by the effects of the worst economic

slump since the 1930’s.

3. Cut back outside, and we’re looking at the reporter again. Her eyes flare in recognition as she identifies someone off-panel.

REPORTER

These people want to know where this money is going, and - -

Hey, isn’t that - -

4. The Reporter is making a dash for The Thing, in his overcoat and hat. Thing looks deflated when he realises he has been spotted.

REPORTER

Sir! Mr. Grimm!

Are you here to make a statement?

THING

(whisper)

Aw cripes...

5. The Reporter get’s right in Thing’s face. He looks bemused by the whole thing.

REPORTER

What do you make of these people’s accusations?

Is too much money being spent funding science when everyday

folk like these continue to suffer?

THING

No, it ain’t right—

6. On Thing, speaking into the camera.

THING (1)

Science made me what I am, and science has

given me what I have, but science ain’t gonna fix

what’s wrong with these folks.

THING (2)

 I don’t have the answers, but

all’s I know is I’m gonna do what I got to in order to

help as many of these people as I can, and I can’t

do that sittin’ up there.

7. Back in the Baxter Building, where the three other members of the Fantastic Four are watching this on their monitor. Reed looks exasperated, Johnny is now entranced and Sue has her head in her hands.

THING
(on screen)

And I would encourage my team mates to do what

they can, too.

NEXT: THE THING GOES TO WASHINGTON!



The Thing – It Never Ends, Ever – Ryan K Lindsay

1. Ben Grim sits at the end of a murky bar, usual fedora and trenchcoat in play; he is the background of this wide panel. In the foreground we have two twins, male/female, facing us with their backs to grim. These two are young, but eager.

Caption: Many years later…
Jeena: That’s him.
Sonny: Really? You think? Maybe it’s just some other dude made out of rock.
Jeena: Don’t be a prick.
Sonny: That’d be like telling you to not be a slut.
Jeena: Whatever.

2. Jeena strips off her clothes and we see she is a walking weapon, biological and artificial at the same time. There are razors and wires and all sorts of weird stuff.

Jeena: You ready to make history? Let’s be the sexy freaks who took out the last F^#%ing Four member alive.

3. Jeena jumps at Grimm and she’s ready to strike and kill. Feel free to give her any martial art kick you like as she gets her Dragonball Z on in mid-air.

Jeena: Death from above!

4. Grimm swats Jeena away with one arm, the other holding his gimlet up to his lips.

Grimm: Shoo fly.

5. Sonny runs at Grimm now, his body is similar to Jeena’s, but it should look a different colour completely. Maybe blue would be striking…

Sonny: Resistance is futile, rock lobster!

6. Grimm has Sonny around the chest with his two hands, he’s squeezing hard.

Grimm: Kiddo, you think I don’t do this on the hour every hour?
Grimm: And you don’t think it annoys me like an itch right in the middle of my back?

7. Grimm is crushing Sonny to death (his thorax is completely imploding), Jeena has jumped onto his head, knocking his hat off, but Grimm doesn’t notice.

Grimm: I’m just so lonely and y’know, I’d let you kill me…
SFX: Krack!

8. Grimm has dropped Sonny and shrugged Jeena off as he walks away slowly, putting his hat back on.

Grimm: Were that I could die.
Grimm: Do your research, stupid kids; rock don’t age, it don’t die.
Grimm: And it don’t care.

The Thing - A Tribute To Phatu - Max Barnard

The Thing - A Tribute To Phatu - Max Barnard

The Premise: You know when the Thing was at his best? That's right, when he was a wrestler! Let's revisit those glory days, shall we?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 1 - 7 Panels

1-- We're in a wrestling ring, where the Thing is irish whipping a miscellanious luchadore into a corner post. Seeing as this is superhuman wrestling the luchadore should probably have something obviously super about him, whether it's green skin, glowing red eyes or a giant mouthful of vicious fangs shooting off in any old direction.

SPEECH BUBBLE/COMMENTATOR - OH! And Ben 'Clobberin'' Grimm has got ahold of El Misceláneo! What will our returning legend DO to the reigning champion of the SUPERHUMAN WRESTLING FEDERATION?!


2-- El Misceláneo collides with the corner post back-first as The Thing starts walking away to the opposite corner.

SPEECH BUBBLE/COMMENTATOR - AND EL MISCELÁNEO IS IN THE CORNER! WHAT IS GRIMM SETTING UP FOR?! AND DOESN'T HE KNOW NOBODY PUTS MISCÁLANEO IN THE CORNER?!


3-- Close-up on The Thing's arse as he pats it hard with both his palms.

SFX/ARSESMACK - SMAK-SMAK

SPEECH BUBBLE/COMMENTATOR - ... oh.... oh, no.


4-- The Thing is running towards his opponent, who is still slumped in the corner.

SPEECH BUBBLE/THE THING - IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!

SPEECH BUBBLE/COMMENTATOR - OH GOD NO NOT THE STINKFACE!!


5-- The Thing has turned around and is about to thrust his arse into the face of El Misceláneo. And I'm sorry.

SPEECH BUBBLE/EL MISCELÁNEO - ¡no! el demonio redondo stinky....


6-- The Thing has thrusted his behind into El Misceláneo's face, exploding his head in a fairly disgusting manner.

SFX/HEAD EXPLOSION - FU-SPLOOOOOORCH


7-- The Thing is standing up, trying to wipe the blood and fragments of head, with a disgusted look on his face. The ring is now something like 70% covered in blood.

SPEECH BUBBLE/COMMENTATOR - I... I... Grimm.. Wins? I guess?

SPEECH BUBBLE/THE THING - Ugh, whadda revoltin' development!

CAPTION - Fin.

The Thing - To Be A Hero - Ben Rosenthal

The Puppet Master has gone completely insane.


1. Wide panel. Ben Grimm aka The Thing dangles, as if suspended by strings. His head is at an angle up contrary to the way the rest of his body rests, implying that perhaps he has control over it, and it alone.

2. Close up of Thing’s face. He has never looked sadder. A single tear rolls down his rocky cheek.

3. The Puppet Master is performing with one of his puppets, with the puppet of The Thing hanging from a stand, situated on a table. To the observant person, we can see that this is a puppet which the Puppet Master is making dance in front of the puppet Thing is of his daughter, Alicia Masters. The puppet’s head hangs at a disturbingly limp angle. The Puppet Master is laughing manically.

4. The dead body of Alicia Masters dances before Thing. It is a horrifically disturbing panel.

5. Another close up of Thing’s face. The original tear has neared the end of its journey on Thing’s cheek, with a new tears pooling at the edge of both eyes. The sadness that previously resided on Thing’s face is now replaced with pure, unhinged rage.

THING (in a much smaller font, so it’s almost a whisper)

Its. Clobbering. Time.

The Thing - See What Happens - Rol Hirst

Panel One.

Main panel. An icy planet like Hoth or the North Pole. An ice storm is raging. Ben Grimm sits alone next to a burning Fantastic Four space ship. He’s wearing a fur-lined jacket, but he can still feel the cold. He’s sitting as close to the fire as he can.

CAP (Ben): Wotta revoltin’ development. Doc Doom, Galactus, the Beyonder… but in the end, all it takes is some icky alien brain parasite and the Fantastic Four buy the farm.

CAP (Ben): ‘Course it took Reed first. I’ve seen him stretch a million different ways to Sunday, but nothing like this. I swear his brain wuz coming out his ears – and that was one big brain to start with.

CAP (Ben): Suzy wuz next. Being married to a guy who made Bruce Banner look like his dumb green alter ego, people often forgot what a smart cookie she was too.

CAP (Ben): Smart enough to spare me and Johnny the sight of whatever that thing did to her… though even invisible, we could still hear her scream.

Panel Two.

Close on Ben. His breath is frozen. Suddenly he hears a noise and looks to one side.

CAP (Ben): There was some debate about who'd go next, being as me and the matchstick ain’t got two brain cells to rub together between—

SFX: Crackle…

Ben: Eh?

Panel Three.

Johnny Storm staggers out of the storm and towards Ben. He’s on his last legs, trying desperately to keep his flame alight, but it’s flickering and fading.

SFX (Johnny’s flame): Fizzle…

Johnny: Ben…

Ben: Where you been, kid?

Johnny: I thought I saw Sue… thought… I went out after her, got lost in the storm.

Panel Four.

Close on Johnny’s face. Half Human Torch, half Johnny Storm.

Johnny: Been struggling to keep myself flamed on… but it won’t last.

Ben (off-panel): Neither will we.

Johnny: How will we make it, Ben?

Panel Five.

Ben starts to reply, but Johnny can’t keep his flame burning any longer. He collapses in a heap before his old friend.

Ben: Maybe we shouldn’t. Even if we could get back to earth, what if we took this thing with us? Without Reed to come up with a cure—

Johnny: Ohhh!

Ben: Johnny!

Panel Six.

Ben has removed his coat and wrapped it round Johnny. He’s shivering as he uses his body to shield Johnny from the ice storm.

Johnny: Ben… Ben… what’ll we do, Ben…?

Ben: Shh. Shh. It’s OK, kid. It’s OK. Why don’t we just wait here a little while…

Ben: See what happens…

Why The Thing?

When asked who his favourite Marvel character is, executive editor Tom Brevoort always answers Ben Grimm, the Thing. I have no problem understanding why. Like Peter Parker, Ben Grimm is an everyman, someone we can all relate to. But if Peter is the conscience of the Marvel Universe, Ben Grimm is the heart. He's also a tragic figure - while the rest of his family were given amazing super-powers and got to keep their devastating looks in the bargain, Ben ended up transformed into a rock encrusted monster. Is it any wonder he's prone to bouts of depression, anger and resentment?

In the end though, Ben always comes through. Because he's got a heart as big as all outdoors, he'll help anybody out in a pinch. Be honest, if you were facing down an army of rampaging Doombots - who better to have on your team than Aunt Petunia's favourite nephew?

It's clobbering time!