Marvel Two-in-One #19: Claws of the Cougar!


Plot: Tony Isabella
Script: Bill Mantlo
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Don Heck
Letterer: Karen Mantlo
Colorist: Petra Goldberg
Editor: Archie Goodwin

The Guest Star:
      Tigra

The Villain:
      the Cougar

Guest Shots:
      None.

The Set Up:
      Ben's snoozing away in the Baxter Building. Unfortunately, during the course of his daily exercises he managed to short-circuit the building's alarm system. Or, perhaps, fortunately, for our guest star, Tigra, who has snuck into Ben's bedroom and forcibly awakened the sleeping Thing. She introduces herself to Ben, and gives him (and us) the short version of her origin. She tells him she needs his help against someone called the Cougar, who has acquired the Null Bands which once powered Tomazooma, an old Fantastic Four menace.
     About this time, a bunch of not-too-bright gunmen break into the Baxter Building gunning for Tigra. Ben makes short work of the thugs, and he and Tigra get a device from the FF's armory that'll let them track the Null Bands. Its no real effort then to find the Cougar, but he's prepared, and the two are gassed into unconsciousness. They awaken heavily trussed, prisoners of the Cougar, who intends to use the Null Bands to drain Ben's powers...

Clobberin' Time?:
      Pg 14, panel 1. Tigra has just taken care of a thug, werewoman style. Ben, taking out two with one swing: "This is more my way o' doin' things! A little method I worked up, patented-- an' called Clobberin' Time!"

Petunia's Patch:
      Pg 3, panel 3. Ben is woken from his sleep by Tigra. "Shades o' my Aunt Petunia, lady--- ain't ya got no shame bustin' in on a gentleman's bedroom in the middle o' the night? With not much on in the way o' clothes, neither!"

Things of Interest:
      Pg 17, panel 5: The Cougar gloats "I knew from the beginning that my theft of the nega-bands would..." Hmmm. The Cougar seems to have confused himself with Captain Marvel...