WW:Script ie Narre ns Te uC a dtl ne Brian Garvey PT Richard Starkings (Ole lL) Edits Randy Stradley (le John Higgins Efi) BY CUM Tie) fete eee a Tete eee ea RSE ea pane ees ere oe ieee og earn ieee used ee ee ieee ans ete special projects dir,: Bob Schreck controller: Brad Horn eet ea ea ead production director: Cece Cutsforth production mgr: Chris Chalenor Cee eg THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD: ieee arr rn ne eet Seer jing Corporation of America, all oinor Cierra ae ee mrt ose ent peeriesheetn ta ere eet ae ee ee ‘express pormizcion of the copyright hoider(sh. Cea THEN: The Thing — an alien organism capable of infecting, and assuming the form of, any living creature — was discovered in the frozen wreckage of on ancient spacecraft by a Norwegian Antarctic research team. Within days the Norwegians had all been infected or killed, and the prolific Thing became the problem of the 12 men of the U.S. Antarctic Research Outpost #31. Able to infect and takeover the bodies of new Victints with a touch, the Thing soon turned the Americans against one another. Finally, due to th heroic efforts af MacReady, the outpost's helico pilot, the Thing was apparent yicestioyed — alon: with the entire base. Exhausted from their ordeal and unsure as to whether one or the other of them might be infected by the Thing, the only two survivors, MacReady and is, de to wait — either for rescue, or for the sub-zero temperatures to kill them. jer, MacReady woke up aboard an ic hound whaling vessel, after being carried out onto the ice floe by Childs. Uncertain as to whether Childs might be infected, MacReady stole the ship's helicopter and returned to U.S. #31. There he encountered Commander Erskine's Navy SEAL team. Erskine accused MacReady of killing the men of U.S. #31, but before long Erskine's own men become infected by the Thing. The battle with the newborn Thing resulted in the crash of the SEAL's helicopter, lew MacReady and Erskine stranded. ‘They set out to reach an Argentine outpost many miles away, only to meet up with Childs and the Argentine: Once at the Argentine base, it was discovered that Erskine had been infected and that the Thing, in Erskine's guise, was going to rendezvous with an American submarine ot a nearby bay. MacReady and Childs reached the submarine just before it submerged, but the, by now, monstrous Thing caused the boat to ground itself on an underwater ledge. In a last-ditch eHort to destroy the Thing, MacRead: blew the sub’s hatches jooding the tons of near-freezing sea water. Apparently the only survivor, MocReady reached the surface, only to face the sub-zero temperatures of the ‘Antarctic dawn. NOW:cuIPAR: NO QuER cai riaisuc. 1G, > =’APARENTA ESTAR BOBO.ALL EIGHT, HAND= ON Your HEAD, ANG STAND uP. Lacerari ons LOOKED: SLOWLY, ME. wackEADY. MEN ARE PRETTY REYED UP By YOUR ANTICS. onc eon'T “Tey 10 Toucn GitTOuCH ME ULL ILL Mia OF CIE Terie BASE, ABOLIT FIFTEEN MILES SOLITH OF BAHIA FHENS ON THE TERRA i PENINSULA. YOU HAD SEVER FROSTBITE, WE HAD TO BEING YOU HERE, TOA MORE TEMPER- Ate AREA OF YOU THEN you ao You, were DOWN KNOW ALL AT CAMPO. ‘ABOUT Detour? That YES, WELL, YOU NEEDED AWAS INFORMED AND WERE IT ALIVE, AGOUT THE ALIEN, 4176S THs OUTPOST IS Bur LWASTOLO DEAD, MILES FROM ANT - IT WENT DOWN, WHERE. We COULD. WITHTHE BL KEEP THe INFECTION INL UNITED STATES Ke. SUBMARINE. ¢ WENVE ALL Yesteo NEGATIVE For IN FECTION. THAT, MR. macREADY. ff( aNod won't are WITH MADNESS.30, THIS INFECTION Takes FESKE5 10, Zommunicare, SRO RESULTS AN ENTIRE NeW ORGANISM. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. BACH CELL IS. A SEPARATE SGA. Smit q tink your Test FoR. INFECTION HASTOBE ANY FAULTY. vizus quar VERSATILE, Taat, “gMART” sun To ADAPT A uickty. ip vou say Hey, WHEN 0, BE. CANS TAL STANG, BUT TRemAIn UN= ZONVINCED. IT MUST PO WHAT IT CANTO SURVIVE. IN THE EASE OF THIS Tes, TLEAPS AWAY FROM THE HOT FLAME.WELL, HE IS STILL QUITE PARANOID. 1 WOULD LiKE To work as Hint ALONE FOR BLE WE'VE ALL, NOTICED HOW youn FAWN OVER YOUR PATIENT, DOCTOR. ONE WOULD Thinre You HADN'T SEEN AMAN IN MONTHS. JUST WHAT ARE You MAPLYING DESEAGO?, Livres man ‘On, PLEASE, Anyway, rouwaar ARES Wort “RELIEVE THE Beursing: Tt GUARD ON Beulsing , nate Abies Suet ROOM. iS 4WORRY, MARK. NEXT time “= 1S ANYONE, Fel] BeSive sme, Ey] sick OF MUTTON?” For HOURS, SERGEANT. HE ‘SuST KEEPS WATCHING THE SHEEP. T THINK He MAKES THEM Becau: THEY ARE SO Noe,MacREADY WIL SLEEP {\ronioiiT, AS PROMISED. THATS. ENOUGH, CORPORAL! NOW GET THE COOK, AN INFORMAL UNIT OGES AND SEE IF ANY OF THIS MEAT CAN BE SALVAGED. ¢TD SAY ATS ANHNEER- SUSSE4T HE'S OFF HIS ROCKERLwane were Pe LAA £SERGEANT, YOu Must LISTEN TO me?WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THAT THING I= WELL EN BD. Just TrieTy DAYsifREADERS — = ws No ee ‘wr <> Fe Ee Well, maybe now the Argentineans will heed 10 MacReady’s warnings, Ifyou're buying this book because you liked Dark Horse's two-issue outing with The Thing From. Another World earlier this vear, welcome back. We hope you enjoy this adventure ax much as the last. If this ts your first experience with TTEAW (other than the John Carpenter film, which Pm sure you're alt familiar with). we're glad to have you aboard. However, you should do yourself the favar of reading the previous issues by Chuck Pfarrer and John Higgins. Okay, everyone up to speed? Good. Let's get to your leters. Dear Dark Horse, ‘When I heard you were adding The Thing From Another World ta your line-up. [simply flipped! The Carpenter film is one of the best action/myatery/horror/suspense/thriller (whew!) films Thave seen in a long time, Itstill ranks right up there with today’s best films. John Higgins” work on DC's Werld Without End was excellent, soT knew TTFAW would be good. ‘Well. I was wrong. It was unbelievable! The cover to issue #2 was incredible, and the two-page spread of the submarine surfacing through the ice was awe~ inspiring! Iwas highly impressed. John now has a new fan. I would like to know what he's doing next, and if he will be doing this title again. Chuck Pfarrer’s story was indeed excellent. It was a perfect sequel to the movie in every way, except one: As [understand it, the Thing had to be alone with their victims so that it could Kill them, then build an exact duplicate body. Chuck's version is quite a bit, simpler. Leave it as it is, and you're fine. Am I wrong, or was the process simplified? Well, I commend you for this new title. Keep the good work. Looks like Thave to add another Je to my list. Thanks for listening. guys. Sean Smailes 55 Confederation Crescent Saskatoon, SK STL 4V1 Canada . What's John Higgins doing nexi? Well, Sean, in addition ta covers for “Climate of Fear" and our Terminator: End Game miniseries, John will be producing the art for a miniseries titted Mutatis from Epic Comics, You didn’t ask abaut Chuck Pfarrer, but I'll veil you anyway. His next foray inte comies will be c/o Dark Horse Comics 10956 SE Main Street Milwaukie, OR 97222 Virus, @ four-issue series pencilled by Howard Cobb and inked by Jivamy Palrsiot. Look for itin December. The ‘our comic ts the sante (as far as we caus tell) as the one used by the Thing in the Carpenter film. ideally, the Thirig wonutd like 10 be alone with its victim curing the short period of time required for it to take over the victim's body Just so other potential victims aren't alerted ta the Thing's presence by whatever changes might occur during takeover. However, in issue #1, the Thing had na chance to be alone with any of the Navy SEALs and, lo and behold, one of the commandos did norice that poor, infected Pybus’ face hha gone all creepy. Dear Sirs, T've read both issues of the Thing From Another World series. They were great, and I've decided to start collecting the title. Ihave the movie novel as well. Da you have any plans for crossovers with Aliens or Predator? How about a company crossover with DC's Star Trek The Next Generation oc wi Batman? It would make a great story. Do you plan to adapt the origi 1982 remake? Are there any plans for another movi Well, thanks for taking the time to read my ial movie? Or the letter. Raymond Mantagna 30 Adams St. #2 Somerville, MA 02145 We have no plans at this time for either intra- ‘or infer-campany crassavers with TTFAW at this time, Raymond. Nor do we plan to adapt either of the Thing films—though adaptations are probably mare likely than crossovers at this point. I can't reveal too much ‘at this time, but I suggest you keep an eye on she Dark Horse Insider and (etter cotumns in Dark Harse comics for news about film-to-comic adaptations of some other well-knawn mation pictures from Universal Dear Dark Horse, : Treceatly started purchasing comic books from. 44 new comic shop that opened here in town. I'm really into comies that are pure humer or horror, When I read the two issues of The Thing From Another World. 1 was shocked! The things that made it awesome werethe artwork, and the story itself: It almost seemed real, ‘The thing I'm really trying to say is that I liked so much that f wanted to know how many more sues you're planning to do? And is there somewhere besides the comic shop that I can buy them? Are these comies sure to he. collector's items? Also, I heard there's a movie based on this comic series. If this is true, can [rent it on video? My last question is: At the end of issue #2, MacReady was lying om that piece of ice. Did he just fall asleep, or did he die? And was the Thing destroyed? ‘Anyway, keep up the great work! Jeremy Rausch 39735 Welf Drive ‘Sandy, OR 97055 ‘As you can sec from this issue, Jeremy, both the Thing and MacReady are very much alive—though MacReady may wish he wasn't by the time this: ‘aiiventure is over. In answer you questions: We don't know haw many issues af TIFAW we'll eveniually do. “Cifmate of Fear” runs four issues, and there is another four- issue series ir the works, We'll have to wait and see whar happens after that. As for where you can (purchase Dark Horse comics? our regular comics are currently sold only through comic shops like the one you mentioned. Hawever, many of our graphic novels er collections are available at regular book stores. ‘Are the TTFAW comics “sure to be collector's items"? Only you can answer that, Jeremy. if you like them enough to collect them and keep them, then the answer is yes. If what you're asking is, “will the comics g0 up in value?” well, only time will tell. Our feeling at Dark Horse has always been that the real worth of acomic lies in how much enfoyment a reader gets from it, not how much moriey it's worth asa s0- “called “collector's item.” And there are actuatly two “Thing" movies, both of which I believe are available ‘on video. Far more information on the films, read he Dear Randy, The Thing From Another World #2 was every bbit as exciting as the first issue—and then come! ‘Chuck Pfarrer's script read like a finely-crafted suspense film, and John Higgins” art was stunning. My personal favorite sequence was on pages 20-21 [The surfacing submarine, again—R]. How long does it take John Higgins to create a book like this? His work was so gorgeous, I'm hoping, some of it can be made into posters. I can't w: how John Arcudi and Jim Somerville hand the “Climate of Fear” miniseries Before I go, I'd like to talk about the title of ‘your book. Your storyline is based on the events in the 1982 John Carpenter film, but you've named it The Thing From Another World. Fans of the original 1951 film might pick up your book and be appalled by the graphic violence, and fans of the ‘82 remake might fail to buy this comic and miss out on a fantastic story. ‘Also, I think the letter column could've been more imaginatively named. How about “ ‘Watching the Skies"? Well, I guess that's it, See you in July! Robert Knaus 320 Fisher St, Walpole. MA 02081 ‘cep Glad to hear you're enjoying the series, Robert. Write and let us know how you like “Climate of Fear.” The explanation behind the title of his come being The Thing From Another World—as opposed to simply The Thing like the film tt is based on—ls f00 long and convoluted to recite in entirety in this letter column. Suffice it ta say that tt has to do with copyright and srademark concerns aver ihe Universal {film and Marvel Comics' character The Thing, and possible confusion between the two. As for fans of ither film being confused by the comic, [think our covers speak for themselves. While the title does include the “From Another World” qualifter, fans of the original film can easily see from John Higgins’ ‘cover illustrations thar this és not anything like the James Arness Thing. avid that the level af violence has ‘been urned up considerably. Likewise, for fans of John Carpenter's The Thing, it should be ceadity “apparent that this is exactly what they're hoping it is. 7 _gtess the same could be said for any potential confusion among comics readers between the Thing in this story and Marvel's character of the same name, but let's nor split hairs, okay? Dear Sirs, ‘How about this idea: You showed a lot of the ‘Thing as a monster. How about more on the Thing the collective mind alien that sends entire towns panic and terror upon its arrival’? Panic in the strects, ‘with the Thing popping up in every nook and cranny. as itis convulsing, twisting, duplicating its GOD FORSAKEN VICTIMS TO ACHIEVE ITS FINAL GOAL! Hyper... Later, Tomislav I. Pozgaj 375 Avenida Acapuleo San Clemente, CA 92672 Uh, we'll take your suggestions under consideration, Tommy. Okay, that's alt the space I’m allowed this month (hey, we gotia have same space ta tell you about all of the other great Dark Horse titles coming your way this summer!). He here in thirty days when ‘everyone tries their damnedest to stay away all night. *Oh, yeah, the next issue also includes the surprise return of... Ak, but that would be telling, woutdn't is? Be here for the fireworks! —Randy