Now that he has the ability to change at will back-and-forth from rocky to fleshy, Thing needs a solo adventure. So he quits the team.
Pacheco plays with the “Thing quits” storyline with a self-conscious satire (that actually ends up being absolutely right, by the way–Thing is back by the end of the issue). Then, he takes on the Alicia gambit thusly:
Thereby establishing that there will be no Alicia conflicts during his run. And to do it when Thing is capable of turning into Ben Grimm at will is just brilliant.
Meanwhile, Human Torch now finds himself cursed the way Thing used to be–he cannot turn off his flame!