I love that this next story generates a vibe very much in keeping with it's guest star: Doctor Strange. That's right, prepare yourself for a delightful halloween-style tale.
The Thing decides to take a fishing vacation away from New York City. Here he is nearing the inn where he'll be staying.
The inn looks spooky but notice the heavy inking? That too adds to the mood of the tale.
A young lady encounters some car trouble and the Thing decides to help out in a wonderfully illustrated panel.
I've had the misfortune of having a flat tire myself. Ah, to have that kind of strength. If you think the girl's car was exceptionally illustrated check out Doctor Strange's ride.
The inn is as spooky inside as it is outside.
The Thing is here on vacation, but Dr. Strange's primary role is to protect the Earth from mystic attacks. The Doctor "is on call". He senses a disturbance.
It all starts that night when the girl screams and the Thing launches to her side.
It seems the girl is being attacked by a shadow creature - and she was - but all that is ever found is some wood debris. You'll also notice that Ben destroyed yet another piece of property. He is informed that he will be billed for it; we all know that means that Reed Richards will be billed for it.
The art continues to sustain the mood. Look at these blue panels here, evoking a night illuminated only by moonlight.
Doctor Strange reveals an old sea tale of a wizard and his unwilling zombie creation.
The unwilling zombie is Kemo, an islander, chosen because he was the strongest in the crew. This brings into mind the classic Moby Dick. In that book the most daring, if not the strongest, of the crew, the harpooners, are all islanders.
Before long, the zombie Kemo makes his (it's?) move.
Anytime you're being attacked by a zombie it's always handy to have the Thing around.
I'm not used to a mere zombie being able to fight the Thing to a standstill - Ben should be able to mop the floor with a whole mob of these things - but Kemo is supernaturally powered. Ben is unable to gain the advantage.
While Ben fights in the physical world, Doctor Strange confronts the necromancer Ennis Tremellyn in the Astral Plane.
Back at the zombie fight, the Thing notices the zombie's mystical necklace, and, with an impressive show of strength, he destroys the gem.
This one desperate move traps Tremellyn in the Astral Plane and frees the hapless Kemo.
Oh, look at this. Ben ends up with the girl. A rare sight indeed.
