Lost in the library: Marvel Two-In-One - Cry Monster

It's easy to think of 1970s Marvel comics as simple things from a simpler time, compared to the complexities of the following decade, but these comics are dense, man

Largely crafted by the first generation of nerds who had evolved into pros, who knew their arcane shit and were only too keen to tell you all about it, they can seem an insurmountable slog to 21st century eyes.

The early Marvel Two In-One comics collected in this book aren't as incomprehensible as the Thor comics that went full Nibelungen, but there is still a lot going on, even if they're mainly Ben Grimm teaming up with some other hero to beat the crap out of the bad guy. You can't just skim read these suckers, or you'll be quickly lost

Story-wise, they've got the serial goopiness of the best Steve Gerber, and the solidity of bill Mantlo, and some absolutely standard Marvel art of the period from the likes of Sal Buscema and Ron Wilson. They are generally harmless done-in-one stories, with only a few that last longer than an issue.

But they're not the sort of comics you'd give to anyone to introduce - wordy and ponderous, with massively detailed use of Marvel continuity. There are always some thrills in Ben Grimm unleashing on some fool, but he's never going to beat the verbose out of these comics.