This is Past Was Close Behind, a feature that spotlights moments, exchanges, etc. from older comics that take on a brand new light when read in concert with later comic books or events. Basically, stuff that looks hilarious in hindsight.

Today, we look at a time that the Thing and the Human Torch battled over something unbelievably shocking - Johnny Storm making a move on Alicia Masters!!

1963's Strange Tales #116 had one of the earliest Doctor Strange stories, but it also included a lead feature by Dick Ayers, Stan Lee and George Roussos where the Thing and the Human Torch brawl over Alicia Masters! Check out the stunning Jack Kirby cover!

The set-up is simple enough. The Puppet Master takes control of Human Torch and makes him go make a move on Alicia (dude, that's your step-daughter! You're such a creep!)...

The Thing takes umbrage to this turn of events...

They then start brawling (and not so luckily, Reed and Sue decide to ignore Alicia's phone call)...

A funny thing happens, though - while they definitely go at each other hard, they also are clearly holding back. Their bond of friendship is THAT strong!

Alicia eventually figures out that it must be her mind-controlling step-father behind all of this and so she heads off to save the day...

Once she helps the Torch take out the Puppet Master, everything is forgiven and Thing even notes that of COURSE Johnny would never cheat with Alicia...

Well.....a few decades later, in Fantastic Four #275 (by John Byrne and Al Gordon), that's precisely what happens...

The Thing returns to Earth (after being away for a while on Battleworld, where he, of course, pursued other ladies while Alicia was left behind on Earth with Johnny) and goes to make up with Alicia and finds a shirtless Johnny instead...

Things don't go well...

Alicia clears things up...

Johnny and Alicia would later get married, but then it turned out that "Alicia" was really a Skrull. The real Alicia and Ben eventually married recently.

If anyone else has a suggestion for some hilarious in hindsight stuff, let me know by dropping me a line at brianc@cbr.com!