The Thing #18

Ron Wilson and Joe Sinnott deliver a surprisingly tender cover for this December 1984 installment of Ben Grimm's solo series — the ever-rocky Thing cradling a baby in his massive stone arms while a red-haired woman looks on with concern, all as winged green dragons and dark-robed riders close in around them. Ben's cover-line reassurance — "Don't worry, Junior… no one would even TRY ta hurt you with ME around!" — says everything you need to know about the tone of "Rocky Grimm Space Ranger Part VIII: Family Man." It's a genuinely charming image, pairing the Thing's hulking protectiveness with real warmth, and writer Bob Harras leans right into it with a story title that promises something a little different from your standard cosmic adventure.