- "Oh, cute. That's just what I need. A buncha pint-sized comedians. Why don't ya go play in heavy traffic or somethin'?"
- ―The Thing
| "Marking Time" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The Thing | |
| Title: | "Marking Time" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 10 |
| Cover price: | .60 |
| Cover date: | April, 1984 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Jim Shooter |
| Writers: | John Byrne |
| Pencilers: | Ron Wilson |
| Inkers: | Hilary Barta |
| Cover artists: | Ron Wilson |
| Cover inker: | Josef Rubinstein |
| Colorists: | Julianna Ferriter |
| Letterers: | Jim Novak |
| Editors: | Bob Budiansky |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | The Thing #9 |
| Next: | The Thing #11 |
"Marking Time" is the first issue of the first The Thing ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It was written by John Byrne with artwork by Ron Wilson and inks by Hilary Barta. It was colored by Julianna Ferriter and lettered by Jim Novak. The story was edited by Bob Budiansky. This issue shipped with an April, 1984 cover date and carries a cover price of .10 cents per copy.
"Marking Time"[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Alicia Masters
- Human Torch, Johnny Storm
- Invisible Girl, Susan Richards
- Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards
Villains
Minor characters
- Sergius O'Hoolihan
- Valeria Richards (Behind the scenes only)
Organizations
- Fantastic Four
- United States Army (In flashback only)
Races & Animals
Locations
- Ithaca (In flashback only)
- New York City
- Manhattan
Items
- Baseball bat
- Belt buckle gizmo
- Handguns (In flashback only)
Vehicles
- Fantasticar
- Helicopter (In flashback only)
- Taxicab
Powers
Miscellaneous
- Children
- Flashback
- Military units (In flashback only)
- Teleportation
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Fantastic Four were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. They first appeared in Fantastic Four, Volume 1 #1 in November, 1961. By and large, the roster of the Fantastic Four has remained the same over the years, consisting of Reed Richards as Mister Fantastic, Susan Storm as the Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm as the Human Torch and Ben Grimm as the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing. Occasional transitory members of the FF have included Crystal Amaquelin, Luke Cage, Scott Lang, and T'Challa.
- The Thing 10 redirects to this page.
- This issue is cover copy 02966.
- This issue carries the approval stamp of the Comics Code Authority.
- According to Amazing Heroes #37, the direct market edition of this issue shipped to retailers on December 6th, 1983. The newsstand edition shipped on December 27th, 1983.
- The tagline to this issue is "Trapped in... the arena of no return!"
- This issue is reprinted in the Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus, Volume 2 hardcover collection, released in December, 2013.
- Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter is credited as Timekeeper in this issue.
- Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm all appeared last in Fantastic Four #264. They appear next in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1.
- Susan Richards appeared last in Fantastic Four #264.
- This issue includes an extensive flashback of the origin of the Fantastic Four. This was originally depicted in Fantastic Four #1. This issue sheds light on the team's first encounter with the United States Army immediately after developing their super-powers, which takes place after issue #1, but before issue #2.
- Sergius O'Hoolihan is the doorman at the Baxter Building.
- Reed and Susan's child was conceived during the Fantastic Four's extended jaunt in the Negative Zone. This was chronicled in Fantastic Four #251-256.
- Ben Grimm tells Alicia Masters that he has loved her since the first day he met her. This took place way back in Fantastic Four #9.