In Review: Marvel All-On-One (2025) #1 – THE THING VS. THE MARVEL UNIVERSE

Synopsis: THE THING VS. THE MARVEL UNIVERSE – A 50-Page epic told entirely in splash pages! Ben Grimm, A.K.A. The Thing: He’s the ever-lovin’ idol of millions and powerhouse of the Fantastic Four. He’s strong, he’s kind, and he never gives up. And he’s also tired, and he’s sore, and he’s grumpy. There’s always a new threat facing the world or the galaxy or the universe – and somehow, he and the rest of the Fantastic Four are always the only ones who can stop it. Ben Grimm is sick and tired of it. He just wants a break! But when he returns to Earth after a solo mission in space to discover the Fantastic Four have turned against him – along with the rest of New York City, and, apparently, the entire world – he’s got a mystery to solve…and a whole wide world to clobber.

The Story

Marvel All-On-One (2025) #1 – THE THING VS. THE MARVEL UNIVERSE opens with Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, returning home from a solo space mission. As he flies toward New York, his ship is suddenly hit by a missile, forcing him to bail out and parachute toward Earth. When his parachute fails, he finds himself under attack by the other members of the Fantastic Four, who claim they’ve been ordered to kill him—showing little hesitation despite their emotional history with Ben. It’s soon revealed that these attackers are actually robots, leaving Ben to wonder: who is behind this, and why?

Artwork

Ed McGuinness makes the most of this opportunity, delivering some absolutely stunning splash pages that pit Ben Grimm against nearly every member of the Marvel Universe. The battles begin with Ben facing off against his Fantastic Four teammates and escalate all the way to Phoenix performing her own version of the Moonshot. Suffice it to say, this issue is a fantastic showcase for the artist—but when it comes to story, it’s admittedly pretty thin.

Overall

Overall, this book is a fantastic showcase for artwork and a fun celebration of the Marvel Universe, giving readers the chance to see Ben Grimm battle Iron Man, the Hulk, and numerous others. The storyline, however, is fairly thin and not particularly challenging. Still, it’s an enjoyable addition for comic book collectors looking for a visually striking, action-packed issue.