I think Pfarrer really likes The Thing, the movie I mean. It wasn’t as clear the first issue, but this one, it really feels like Pfarrer is trying to make a sequel to something he likes. Maybe because he brings back the Keith David character, Childs.

Sadly, Pfarrer doesn’t seem to get how to write a movie adaptation. He writes these lines you can’t imagine the actors saying and, when it’s a sequel to a movie—with the characters who are only in that movie—there’s an expectation. When Childs’s dialogue is full of “dudes,” you know, because he’s black, it’s ludicrous.

Sadly, while the writing is a smidgen better, the art is worse. Higgins has a lot of action and talking heads to do; he doesn’t manage either. Painted art is just wrong here.

Just when it’s getting interesting, Pfarrer runs out of pages.

And the abbreviated finish’s weak.

CREDITS

Writer, Chuck Pfarrer; artist, John Higgins; letterer, Richard Starkings; editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.

Do how does Dark Horse handle a sequel to a film unable to have a sequel?

Lamely.

Chuck Pfarrer’s writing is weak all around. Some of it isn’t his fault. Making Kurt Russell’s character talk to himself more than Peter Parker is a necessity. What if a reader hasn’t seen the movie? Too bad it’s poorly written dialogue.

The plot is also problematic. Macready gets away and heads immediately back to the site of the film to destroy it. I thought the movie ended with it being destroyed but apparently not. Men with guns–they have some lame backstory (Pfarrer’s not good, really not good)–appear and predictable complications ensue.

I suppose the pacing’s all right (I kept expecting to the issue to end, but Pfaffer kept having more).

John Higgins’s painted art is wrong for the title and his action inserts are sometimes painful.

Still, there’s worse licensed material.

CREDITS

Writer, Chuck Pfarrer; artist, John Higgins; letterer, Richard Starkings; editor, Randy Stradley; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.