Issue #12 – The Incredible Hulk

Hints that the paths of both the Fantastic Four and Hulk would eventually cross had been given in previous issues.  With the Marvel Universe starting to converge in small ways, the worlds were about to collide.  Unfortunately, this initial meeting contained none of the gravity you would expect from such a collision, which honestly isn’t so much about The Four meeting the Hulk as much as it is the desire to see The Thing and The Hulk coming to blows in an epic way.

From the perspective of existing in the year 2012, most people know the Hulk’s deal – Bruce Banner saves the reckless youth Rick Jones from a Gamma Bomb test, but absorbs a huge amount of gamma radiation in the process – the effects of which transform the gangly scientist into the Jade Giant whenever the rage of anger overcomes him.   However, early on in his existence, the Hulk went through a number of changes before he fit into that description.  For example, he was actually grey (not green) in his early appearances, and sometimes the transformation was triggered by a full moon.  The nature of the Hulk’s powers were on shaky ground in this initial meeting as well.  The proto-Hulk appearing in this comic speaks in complete sentences, requires a blast of manually operated Gamma Rays to transform, and displays tactical problem solving skills.  To confuse things further, the diction between The Thing and The Hulk are basically identical.

The issue kicks off with the US Army mistaking The Thing for The Hulk.  Once the mistake is sorted out, General “Thunderbolt” Ross (The Hulk’s main nemesis) woos The Four into helping his cause.  We are introduced to a new Fantasti-Car design, and the hunt for The Hulk begins.  Using a plot device that was common in the Hulk’s own first appearance, the crimes currently blamed on The Hulk are actually the work of yet another Cold War spy working within the US military.  Rick is kidnapped and The Hulk is compelled to save his friend.  The Four and The Hulk eventually clash in two brief fight scenes, neither of which do much to establish who is mightier between the two strong men. In the end, Rick is saved, Bruce Banner’s secret persona is still a secret, the Four are honored by the military, and the Hulk looks on from the desert as they return to New York.

Although the distinction between Thing and Hulk would eventually be much clearer than the obvious surface differences, the similarities found in this issue are telling of an interesting subtext – discrimination.  Both parties are loudmouth brawlers with a chip on their shoulder, always looking for something to either “smash” or “clobber”.  The primary difference is that The Thing, Ben Grimm, belongs to a family of heroes who live in a fairly posh Manhattan high-rise headquarters, while The Hulk managed to wound General “Thunderbolt” Ross’ ego and pays the price by being forever hunted across the globe.  Strip away ben Grimm’s association with otherwise “normal” looking heroes, and chances are that he’d be living the same lonely existence that his green counterpart suffers from.  During one of his long runs as writer of The Hulk during the 90’s, Peter David provided what may be perhaps the greatest battle between The Thing and The Hulk, and it was purely verbal in nature.  In this conversation, The Hulk points out the biggest difference between the two is a matter of how they perceive their individual state of being – The Thing always resented what he’d become while The Hulk embraced his own existence.

The battle royal between the Hulk and the rest of the Marvel Universe was yet to come in the pages of The Fantastic Four, and what a battle it is…

From December 9 – 11, 2011, the greatest “Midwest fan-run sci-fi convention” known as Starbase Indy holds its sixteenth gathering of genre-soaked bliss.   Star guests representing the Trek universe include the legendary actor Tony Todd, John Billinglsley, and Deborah Downey.   Despite the threads of Star Trek woven into its DNA, this year’s event also offers a variety of guests for all levels of obsession: stars and guest-stars from shows such as Stargate SG-1, X-Files, and Chuck will be on hand to add diversity.  A masquerade, another staple of sci-fi cons, is another must-see event and the Klingon karaoke cannot be missed.  In the quest for knowledge that underlies the Trek experience, sessions on actual 21st century science will be offered, and the kids will have an opportunity to build their own Tribbles.

New this year is the first ever battle of the bands, but this year the fate of the neutral zone is at stake.  Yes, this battle of the bands will be waged between Starfleet and Klingons.  If you wear your freak status proudly and you’ve got a flag, this event will be the ideal time to let that freak flag fly.  Full disclosure – I am a self-admitted Star Trek freak on many levels (well, except for ST: Voyager…I was always a DS9 guy myself), and this event alone should be worth the price of admission.

Exploration, adventure, friendship, diversity – Star Trek has always been about many things.  One constant that represents the Federation is its desire to help and defend those in need.  To that end, Starbase Indy will be promoting and accepting donations for its chosen charities: Cat’s Haven, Jason’s Foundation, and LUNGevity.
These days when local and global events seem oh so heavy, we could all stand a little bit of futuristic optimism.  Do yourself a favor this holiday season and visit Starbase Indy, the 16th Generation.  Tell them the Emissary sent you!

Link: Starbase Indy

Issue #11 – A Visit with the Fantastic Four/The Impossible Man

Issue 11 is split into two tales.  The first, A Visit with the Fantastic Four, seeks to do nothing more than to introduce new readers to the series.  Well, that, and to introduce Willy Lumpkin –mailman to the Fantastic Four.  The story opens with a line of both kids and adults waiting to buy the latest issue of the Fantastic Four.  The real FF shows up in time to impress the kids before returning to the Baxter Building.  In no time at all, the Yancey Street Gang pulls yet another gag on Ben Grimm, Ben turns into human form again, and we get a retelling of the team’s origin.  This time, however, we get a few new details about the team’s back story:  Ben and Reed were in fact college roommates (along with Victor Von Doom, as revealed in past issues), Ben came on a football scholarship, Reed’s dad is a millionaire, Ben was a fighter pilot for the marines in World War II, and Reed served the O.S.S in the same war.  We also learn that Reed and Sue grew up together as neighbors.  Post-flashback, Sue insists she is unwilling to discuss developing her relationship with Reed while Namor still confuses her emotions.

While the team opens their fan mail, Sue becomes upset by one letter suggesting that she contributes little to the team.  Breaking the fourth wall, Reed addresses the readers directly, comparing Sue’s role to that of Abraham Lincoln’s mother and recapping her contributions to the team over the last few issues.  Consistent with some of the criticisms made in this very blog, the evidence to support Sue’s contributions up to this point are unconvincing.

Ultimately, Ben reverts back into the Thing, and the entire story ends in a surprise birthday cake for Sue (presented to her in the saucer from issue #7’s Planet X adventure, no less!)

Although the story is somewhat silly and seems awfully early in the series for an origin recap (and sadly not anywhere near the last recap issue we’ll see), the story does serve to establish a firm connection between reader feedback and Marvel Comics.  The point in which Reed addresses the reader directly seems like the perfectly ideal and surreal way to answer fan mail in a comic book.

The second story in the book introduces one of the more inconsistent and arguably annoying characters in the Fantastic Four cast.  The Impossible Man is an alien from the planet Poppop, where the native inhabitants learned to escape their natural predators through an evolutionary development that allows them to change shape at will.  If this sounds remotely familiar, that’s because the Skrulls share the exact same origin.  The Impossible Man arrives on Earth seeking playmates to end his boredom.  Once he learns that no one on Earth can overcome his innate ability to shape change into whatever defensive form works most in his favor, he runs amuck, causing general chaos wherever he goes.  Reed, clearly not a father at this point, finally realizes that they can stop this attention seeking alien by simply ignoring him.  Somehow, society learns of this tactic and successfully ignores the Impossible Man until he leaves the planet out of boredom.

For longtime readers of comic books, this issue can be a bit hard to suffer through.  On the surface, the book could be considered little more than filler, as evidenced by pulling out almost every reoccurring plot device used so far (save a fight between Ben and Johnny) and putting them into this issue.  Throw in an alien who shares a power set and origin that nearly mirrors that of the Skrulls introduced only 9 issues ago. However, when the issue was published in the late 60’s, it may very well have been a revelation.  Up to this point in time, had any comic ever bridged the gap between reader and characters in such a direct fashion?  It speaks to a degree of self-awareness and connection to the readership that made Marvel Comics the preferred comic line on college campuses during the 70s.

Issue #10 – The Return of Doctor Doom

Although not nearly as surreal and goofy as the previous issue, the tenth installment of this series runs a close second in terms of meta textual mind-bending.

Once we’ve trimmed out all of the obligatory pages dedicated to reminding the reader of the unique powers of the Fantastic Four and a refresher on the various villains they’ve encountered so far (via a cleverly disguised visit to Ben’s new girlfriend, Alicia Masters), we’re left with a familiar plot device – the mind-switch.  Although in this day and age most of us have been exposed to the mind-switch plot via movies (Freaky Friday, Vice Versa, etc.), the mind-switching between Doctor Doom and Reed Richards would  play itself out numerous times in the team’s history.

When last we saw Doctor Doom, he was adrift in space.  We learn that he was later rescued by the alien race of Ovoids – an advanced alien race capable of placing their minds into replacement bodies when physical death claims them.  Doctor Doom is returned to Earth where he immediately plots to use this technology against his sworn enemies.  How Doom accomplishes his plan to exchange bodies with Reed Richards is where it gets wild.  

As alluded to in previous issues, we are given confirmation that avatars of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby do both inhabit the Marvel Universe and meet regularly with the Fantastic Four to discuss future plot lines.  Doom is aware of this as well and uses the Marvel offices to lure Reed into the bullpen for additional plot discussions.  Reed is abducted and taken to Doom’s castle where the mind-switch is successfully implemented.  The rest of the issue plays out as expected, with Doom taking advantage of having inhabited Reed’s body and the access to Fantastic Four technology that comes with it. 

Doom’s master plan is to shrink the remaining members into virtual nothingness via the Reducing Ray he’s developed.  Without the “real” Reed’s mind around to help the others understand things like science, Doom is able to convince the other three that allowing themselves to be subjected to the Reducing Ray will serve to enhance their powers in the long run.   Meanwhile, Reed escapes his prison and heads directly to Alicia’s apartment.  “Doom Reed” is taken back to the Baxter Building where a selfless act of heroics confirms his story, and in turn reveals the real Doom’s master plan.  Minds are put back to where they belong, but not before Doctor Doom is the accidental victim of his own reducing ray, ultimately shrinking into nothing.

Beyond the revelation of the meta-existence of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby enjoy as comic book creators within the Marvel Universe who co-plot their comic books alongside the characters themselves, the biggest development in this issue is a conversation between Reed and Sue that begins to hint at the unspoken relationship between the two.  During the innocent visit to Alicia’s apartment early in the adventure, Ben shows off Alicia’s most recent sculptures of the Fantastic Four’s rogue’s gallery.  Included in this array is a statue of Namor, which Sue objects to.  Reed uses that as an opening to discuss the nature of their relationship and hints at its romantic nature, but Sue is unable to sort out her feelings and quickly stifles the conversation.  As mentioned before, this adventure also represents the first time Reed would inhabit Doctor Doom’s body, but it would not be the last.    

Issue #9 – The End of the Fantastic Four

“Bulletin! The world-famous Fantastic Four are bankrupt! They have announced plans to dissolve their partnership and sell all their possessions in order to pay their debts!”

This is the newscast that kicks off one of the craziest issues of the early issues of the Fantastic Four, if not their career.  The tale opens with Namor, in his 3^rd appearance since he appeared in issue #4, watching the broadcast from his undersea throne room.  He’s added a few touches to the place since we last saw it in issue #6, including a fishing net hung on the wall like most hip pads in the 60s and 70s.  One thing not missing from issue #6? – his framed picture of Sue Storm.  With the announced dissolution of the Fantastic Four, Namor’s latest scheme takes shape.

Meanwhile, back in NYC, we learn that Reed bungled some stock investments he made with the team’s money.  The other Four try to show their support by offering to use their powers to raise money, but Reed’s to proud to pimp out their cosmic powers for money. 

After literally battling off the debt collectors, Ben’s sense of charity is gone and he storms out of the Baxter Building, but not before giving Reed an earful for losing their money.  Ben heads over to Alicia Master’s house, where she unwittingly shames Ben into returning to his friend in his time of need.  Ben returns just in time to learn that “S.M. Studios” has offered the Four a starring role in their new movie with a million dollar paycheck in return.  With renewed hopes, the Fantastic Four humbly hitchhike (!) from NYC to Hollywood, CA.     

After a star-struck encounter with many of the stars of the day, the Four are introduced to their film’s producer – Prince Namor himself!  We learn that Atlanteans have been watching pirates bury treasure and looting sunken ships for ages and have amassed a rich fortune as a result.  Namor used some of this ancient wealth to acquire a film studio.  Sporting a cigarette (with holder), smoking jacket and ascot, Namor sets the shooting schedule for the following Monday, allowing the Four to enjoy the west coast scene.  Namor actually manages a romantic dinner with Sue, foreshadowing the seams in his underlying scheme. 

When shooting starts, the plan is clear: Namor has staged scenes around the individual members of the Fantastic Four (save Sue) that are in fact clever death traps designed to eliminate all obstacles between he and Sue.  Reed is duped into battling an actual giant Cyclops, Johnny is the captive of flame-resistant natives, and Ben is left to fight Namor in beach-side hand-to-hand combat. 

With those pesky men out of the way, Namor proposes to Sue for her hand in marriage.  A proposal she rejects once she learns of his master plan.  Before he can force the matter, the remaining members of the team save the day yet again and begin their campaign to beat the sea out of Namor.  Sue intervenes, pointing out that a deal is a deal and Namor has yet to hold up his end.  Conceding the point, Namor announces “the movie will be produced – - as promised! You will get your money!”  In a tragic ending, the rejected prince walks alone in to the sea, with Sue remarking that what he did, he did for love.

The issue ends weeks later with the Fantastic Four basking in the success of the film and for once again having the funds in which to “carry on their unique life’s work.”

The mind reels at the absurdity of this story, and much has been written about it over time.  Fred Hembeck lavishly recreated and deconstructed the tale in his book The Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus .  There’s so much here that flies in the face of the persistent continuity of the Marvel Universe, you’d almost swear you’d just read one of DC Comics infamous “imaginary stories” such as “The Amazing Story of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue”.  We find Reed, the smartest man in the Marvel Universe bungling stock market investments, the world’s greatest super team hitchhiking from coast to coast, and Namor agreeing to finish a film that actually becomes a hit.  One glaring bit of weirdness we’re treated to again are Namor’s apparent powers “of all the creatures who live beneath the sea” including the ability to absorb and release electricity (last seen in issue #6) and a built-in radar sense.  These powers only appear in these first encounters, never to be mentioned again. 

Ben and Namor are again the two most interesting characters in the book, both largely in their dealings with the opposite sex.  The entire scheme to take out ¾ of the team is designed around winning Sue’s hand in marriage, and the sometimes brutal and always loose-cannon Ben Grimm is guided back to helping his friends through the reappearance of Alicia Masters from last issue.  The brutal fist fight between Namor and Ben marks the most dramatic point in an otherwise goofy issue, and even contains yet another reversion for Ben from “Thing” form to human due to a random lightning bolt striking at the exact wrong time. 

When reading this issue, it is easy to get caught up in the goofy details that are simply nothing more than a silly issue written in 1963 by two creators making up the rules as they go along.  For example, the reader is privy to only three scenes from the movie that will go on to be a hit.  These include a fight with a Cyclops, a run in with natives, and a fight between The Thing and the producer of the film.  If Ray Dennis Steckler had been given a large-scale budget, I imagine this sort of a tale.  However, another interpretation is suggested – perhaps this story itself IS the movie as well. In a meta-contextual twist of surreal inspiration, Namor built the film around the rags-to-riches tale of a super-team down on their luck (due to the incompetency of his rival), complete with major movie stars in cameo appearances, fight-scenes galore, and the heartbreak of love lost between Sue and Namor. 

Issue #8 – Prisoners of The Puppet Master

Since #5, the title each issue of the Fantastic Four has announced their status as either the “prisoner” or “captive” of a variety of villains, and this installment does not break the bondage streak.

The story opens with a scene that will become almost as familiar as a Ben/Johnny squabble – Reed attempting to cure Ben of his rocky form.  However, this time they attempt to keep it a secret from Ben which leads to trouble:

Sue: “Please, Ben, trust me! Don’t enter Reed’s lab!”

Ben: “Bah! How come you only call me ‘Ben’ when you want something?? All the rest of the time I’m just the Thing to all of ya!”

Great observation, Ben.

Still in the dark, Ben storms out of the Baxter Building, with Sue on his trail.  Once outside, they both witness a man scaling a suspension bridge with the ultimate goal to throw himself to his death.  The Human Torch saves the day, but the reason for the man’s suicide attempt is unknown, particularly to himself.  Enter: The Puppet Master.

Using “radioactive clay” the Puppet Master controls whatever he sculpts.  After sculpting a realistic likeness of The Thing, he commands the actual Thing to join him in his apartment.  Noting his sudden zombie-like affect, Sue uses her powers of invisibility to follow him.  Her plan might have worked had it not been for the acute hearing of the Puppet Master’s blind step-daughter, Alicia Masters.  Upon detection, the Puppet Master gasses Sue, rendering her captive yet again.  Although it may be interesting to note the number of times Sue has served as the captive of the villain of the day, it says little for the liberation of women within the Marvel Universe during the 60s. 

In a strange ploy that arguably only works in comic books, the Puppet Master styles Alicia’s hair to resemble that of the Invisible Girl and sends her, in costume, alongside The Thing back to the Baxter Building.  During the preparation sequence Alicia “sees” Ben Grimm for the first time with her fingers:

Alicia: “This man- – his face feels strong and powerful! And yet, I can sense a gentleness to him – - there is something tragic – - something sensitive!!”

The Thing and Alicia (posing as Sue) enter the Baxter Building and attack Reed and Johnny.  Reed manages to douse Ben in his experimental formula (aka Reed’s big secret at the beginning of the story) which successfully reverts him back into human form and back in control of his own will.

In an interesting point of contrast, Alicia now feels Ben’s face in human form and is able to tell that it is indeed the same man she touched before and she appears relieved when he ultimately reverts to rocky form.  It is this perception that Alicia prefers Ben as The Thing over human form that will lead to many a poor choice for Ben Grimm when Reed attempts new cures in future stories.

Meanwhile, we learn of the Puppet Master’s plan – a prison break! Sue attempts to escape and barely has time to fire off the Fantastic Four Flare before the Puppet Master assumes control of her mind via a lifelike sculpture of the Invisible Girl.  Three of the Four attempt a rescue while the Puppet Master uses a giant robot to guard his escape via a flying horse puppet.  

The Four are then distracted by the big prison break while the Puppet Master reveals his plan for world domination to a frightened Alicia.  In a struggle to stop him, Alicia blindly trips the Puppet Master, sending him falling out the apartment window and seemingly to his death on the street below. 

Although the Puppet Master will become an ongoing member of the Fantastic Four’s villain roster, his impact to the lives of the Fantastic Four is nowhere near as significant as that of his estranged step-daughter, Alicia Masters.  Not only will Alicia go on to date and marry members of the team over the decades (in one form or another), she holds the key to the hearts of two of the most powerful and misunderstood figures of the Marvel Universe – The Thing and the Silver Surfer.  Watching her grow from the emotionally abused and unwitting aid of the Puppet Master to a member of the Four’s extended family will be a treat to experience over time. 

The real story of this issue is Ben’s struggles with his fears.  He’s constantly paranoid about the scorn and ridicule humanity must hold for him, to the degree that he often mistrusts his own extended super-family.  It isn’t until a blind woman is able to “see” his true nature that this persistent state of fear and anger begins to soothe.

Issue #7 – Prisoners of Kuurgo, Master of Planet X

Despite his claims that Planet X is “far older” and “wiser” than Earth, and despite their science being “a thousand more years advanced” than ours, Kuurgo is helpless as a runaway asteroid threatens to smash into his home planet.  Kuurgo finds he has no choice but to kidnap the Fantastic Four in order to secure their help.  As is often the case with villains, Kuurgo eschews the obvious option to simple ask for assistance, instead choosing an overly complicated scheme that uses coercion and misdirection.

The Four are invited to a government dinner being held in their honor.  As you’d expect, there is much hand-wringing from within the family over their attendance.  Sue frets over what to wear, Johnny is too cool to care, and Ben is concerned over his appearance.  Each concocts scenarios in which their powers backfire into disaster until Reed whips everyone into shape.  

Meanwhile, Kuurgo sends a robot to Earth where it unleashes the “Hostility Ray” on Washington DC, causing formerly doting wives to turn on their husbands, the needy to turn on their Samaritans, and the government to turn on their guests of honor – the Fantastic Four.  With the citizens of the Earth apparently ready to lynch the Four, they are offered asylum on Planet X via Kuurgo’s robot.  IN character, Ben is most outspoken about walking into a trap (“The three of you are fools!”)  More than anything, it seems clear that Reed is up for the scientific adventure.

Shortly after arriving on Planet X and meeting the unimposing Kuurgo himself, we learn the secret shame of this alien race.  Despite their mastery of interstellar travel, the creation of robots, the invention of the Hostility Ray, and an invisible beam of anti-gravity matter, the citizens of Planet X only built two star ships in their long history simply because they “never cared to visit other worlds”.  With five billion beings living on Planet X, there simply isn’t enough room to evacuate everyone on two star ships.  And that is why Kuurgo sent a robot to launch a Hostility Ray at the people of Earth in order to lure the Fantastic Four to their aid. 

Reed Richards is clearly the desired asset in this scenario, and he quickly marshals his intellect to create a “reducing gas” by which he can shrink down 5 billion inhabitants to fit into the two star ships.  Kuurgo soon reveals his true nature by holding the “enlarging gas” hostage with the intent to literally lord over the now miniature citizens of Planet X.  While raving about his plans to no one but himself, the planet crumbles at his feet, leaving Kuurgo to die on his doomed planet.  As the tiny refugees of Planet X leave orbit in search of a new home, the Four head home.  It is during the ride home that Reed confesses he’d never truly developed the “enlarging gas”, since size is only relative in this mighty universe of ours.

Much of this adventure reads like the Kirby/Lee giant-monster comics that served as appetizer to the Fantastic Four series itself.  The irony of the fictitious “enlarging gas” leading to the selfish and unnecessary death of the story’s villain also harkens back to those classic monster tales.  With Kuurgo never appearing again, this story fails to make a significant impact on the Marvel Universe or its first family in any significant way.  However, this story does establish that Reed Richards is quite possibly the smartest man on at least two planets.  He was able to solve a problem eluding the technologically advanced Planet X, save their inhabitants from certain doom, and get the family home. Assuming that the Planet X refugees don’t land on a planet inhabited by larger predators, we can assume the title of “mass murderer” doesn’t apply to the list of Reed’s accomplishments.

Issue #6 – Captives of the Deadly Duo

If issue four introduced continuity into the adventures of the Fantastic Four, the sixth issue of the Fantastic Four is where their world really started to take shape. Places are given names, powers given limits, and nothing is really what it seems. But before peeling back the layers, there’s an adventure to be had:

This issue finds the team reuniting after their efforts to locate the villainous Dr Doom who made his grand entrance in the previous issue.  Doom himself eludes capture, and finds an ally in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner from issue #4.  Doom questions Namor’s lack of follow-through on his war against the surface world and quickly determines the reason for the stay of execution – Sue Storm.  Although, Namor made the deduction easy: among the grand throne room of Prince Namor, with his giant sea-shell throne, picturesque windows, sponge foot rests, an orb containing a jelly fish, and other sea-faring adornments, he prominently features a framed picture of Sue.  Doom gets into Namor’s head by reminding him that the surface world was indirectly responsible for wiping out his kingdom via H-bomb testing. 

Back in the city, photos of potential love interests prove to not be the exclusive bane of a certain Atlantean prince.  Johnny Storm stumbles upon a photo of Namor himself – a photo that apparently belongs to Sue!  Before Sue can explain herself, Namor appears in the Four’s headquarters under the guise of being lonely and seeking a “lasting friendship”.  Of course, this is all a lie and Namor’s true reason for visiting the Fantastic Four is suddenly made clear when the entire building which houses their headquarters is lifted into the air via Doom’s invention – “The Grabber”.  Namor planted this small but magnetically powerful device somewhere in the building, allowing Doom to act out his diabolical scheme to hurl the entire building into the sun.  Also made suddenly clear is that Namor was not aware of that part of the plan.   

Now trapped in space, both Reed and Johnny attempt to save themselves and both fail heroically.  It is none other than Namor himself who literally jumps into action and saves the day.  First he jumps into a pool of water, then leaps from the space-travelling building, leapfrogs from meteor to meteor until he reaches Doom’s spaceship, punches his way into the ship, and then absorbs a heaping amount of electric shock (like an electric eel, no less) and ultimately blasts Doom with a feedback loop of electricity.  With the exception of Steve Rogers ( who still hadn’t made his return to the Marvel Universe as of yet) this sequence alone sets Namor apart from most heroes in terms of raw power and his unbridled dedication to kicking the ass of whoever has found themselves on the wrong side of his temper. 

In the end, Doom is forced to evacuate his own space ship and catches a ride on a meteor, seemingly into the void.  Namor pilots the ship back to Earth and gently places the building back onto its foundation before ditching both Doom’s spaceship and “Grabber” into the ocean.  The caption accompanying the sequence provides insight into the fears of the day: “…and the stray individuals who later witness the silent return of the Baxter Building from the skies write it off as a bad dream…an hallucination resulting from the anxieties that plague our nuclear society.”

This issue features the second cutaway view of the Baxter Building since issue #3, but this time it adds to the adventure in a unique way as it provides context to some of the locations featured in the story.  The map features the “Pogo Orbit Plane Hangar” and the “Closed Circuit TV Control” room, both of which are locations featured within the story itself: Reed and Johnny scramble to the Closed Circuit TV Control room while attempting to locate the booby trap Namor they suspect he’s planted in their HQ, and while attempting to escape the space-bound Baxter Building we visit the damaged Orbit Plane Hangar. 

The concept of adding definition to the world inhabited by the Fantastic Four expands further than just a few rooms of the Baxter Building.  A few other ideas and locations begin to take shape and define the edges of the Marvel Universe.  The Baxter Building itself gets its name in this issue, no longer referred to merely as the “Fantastic Four Headquarters”.  Johnny references a limit to his powers, a ceiling that each of the members will eventually meet and often surpass when the chips are down.  Doom and Namor meet for the first time, kicking off an interesting partnership that occasionally resurfaces to this day.  As monarchs of their respective kingdoms, their quest for power and battle of egos never ceases to bring out the best and worst of both characters.  The Yancey Street Gang also make their debut in the form of an endless string of pranks and taunts against long-time rival Ben Grimm.  Finally, Reed’s most convenient invention of all – Unstable Molecules – are referenced for the first time. These handy bits make it possible for our hero’s costumes to remain intact while stretching, bursting into flame, and turning invisible. 

This issue, along with most of the first 100 issues of the series, offers a blueprint for virtually everything that works in the Fantastic Four.  The interpersonal dynamic of the Four as a Family is on display, the conflicted emotions of Sue and Namor add a dose of humanity and vulnerability to both characters, and Namor himself grows into a complex character that is neither wholly good nor evil and displays most of the true heroics of the adventure.  The team itself is mostly ineffective against Doom’s plans throughout the story, revealing the underlying humanity that sets them apart from other super-teams.  With Doom’s plan to launch the Baxter Building into space, big ideas just start to blow the roof off of the series – a roof that will be blown into orbit itself once we meet the likes of Galactus, the Watcher, and the Inhumans.

Issue #5 – Prisoners of Doctor Doom

Issue 5 has the distinction of introducing the greatest comic book villain of all time: Doctor Doom.  Victor Von Doom and Reed Richards attended university at roughly the same time, but in stark contrast to Reed’s accomplishments as a scientist, Von Doom used science as a means to contact the Netherworld – the motives for this dangerous quest becoming clearer in later appearances.  Von Doom takes these experiments too far, destroying his dormitory and face in the process and earning expulsion from the university.  The last anyone had heard, Doom was last known to be exploring the wastelands of Tibet in search of more arcane knowledge.  When this issue opens we see Von Doom now cloaked in an iron mask and wearing his trademark green cloaks.  A book on his desk entitled “Science and Sorcery” sets the stage for the dangerous marriage of black arts and technology that distinguishes Doom from the other villains the Fantastic Four would encounter over the next 500+ issues. 

Doom clearly has resources and knowledge on par with his arch-enemy, Reed Richards.  Using a helicopter, Doom unleashes a giant electrically charged net over the entire FF headquarters and demands Sue Storm give herself up as insurance against retaliation by the remaining three.  Once Doom has the Four under his metal thumb, he reveals his plans: Mister Fantastic, The Thing, and The Human Torch are to travel back in time via Doom’s invention – the Time Platform, and steal the treasures of the notorious pirate known as Blackbeard.

The three are sent back in time, quickly find clothes to help blend in (especially Ben who is given a fake beard and customary eye-patch to help cover his orange rocky skin) and head to the nearest inn.  After drinking grog laced with a sleeping agent, the men wake up to find themselves at sea as the newest members of a pirate ship’s crew.  After a brief display of their fantastic powers, the ship is attacked by yet another pirate ship they speculate to be the ship of Blackbeard himself.  A ship-to-ship battle ensues, ending in victory for the men of the Fantastic Four.  Their pirate crew hails Ben Grimm as “Blackbeard”, leaving Reed to remark “Good lord!! I see it now! The Thing IS Blackbeard! He came back to the past to find…himself!”

Readying for return to the twentieth century, Reed empties the treasure from its chest and replaces them with heavy chains to fool Doom.  Unexpectedly, Ben announces he will not be returning to the future and instead declares his intention to live out his days as Blackbeard and not the freak he’s seen as in his own time.  He even goes so far as to subdue Reed and Johnny and set them to sea in a life raft.  However, a storm appears that destroys both ships and leaves our three heroes washed ashore.  Before long, Doom summons them back to the future to collect his reward.

Back in the present, Doom reveals his true plans, explaining that the treasure contains the lost gems of Melin himself which reportedly grant their possessor the power of invincibility.  As you’d predict, Doom is not pleased to find the treasure replaced with heavy chains and immediately imprisons the heroes.  Sue uses her powers of invisibility to free her teammates and Doom escapes via another of his inventions – the Rocket-Powered Flying Harness. 

This issue really packs it in with the introduction of Doctor Doom via ominous flashbacks, time travel, and pirates! Predictably, the issue also features yet another fight between The Thing and the Human Torch, leaving Reed to rhetorically ask the question as to why it is that when they aren’t fighting “some menace to mankind” they are constantly fighting with each other.  Amen!

Johnny is seen reading the first issue of The Incredible Hulk which also premiered that same month.  It would be another 7 issues before the Fantastic Four would cross paths with the Hulk, but we again see the meta-connection between the Marvel Comics existing in the world inhabited by the Fantastic Four and the world in which we, the readers, inhabit.

 This issue also marks the third time in five issues where Sue has been either used as a bargaining chip/hostage against the other three or at least separated from the other three for most of the issue.

Doom’s time platform makes its debut as well. This invention would be linked to Doom throughout his career, making life particularly difficult for Iron Man in a famous clash between the two characters in the days of King Arthur.  Also appearing in this issue but not yet named is a Doom-Bot. These robots are built to act and appear exactly like Doom himself and will confound heroes and readers alike for the next 50 years.  As we will see time and time again, no sooner is Doom’s reign put to an end before it is revealed that it was actually a Doom-Bot that had been captured while the villain himself is allowed the last laugh.

Unlike the Miracle Man, Doom himself would appear a staggering number of times over the next several issues including the next issue where we see the very first pairing of one of the most interesting duos of all time- Doctor Doom and the Sub-Mariner.

Issue #4 – The Coming of…Sub-Mariner

Appearing in Marvel Comics #1 (1939) the Sub-Mariner was one of Marvel’s first creations.  An anti-hero from the start, Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner first declared war on the surface world from his throne in Atlantis but later joined Allied forces in their common enemy – Adolf Hitler.  Namor would later go on to join one-time foe the original Human Torch (Jim Hammond, an android super-hero from World War II, not to be confused with Johnny Storm), Captain America and others as part of the Nazi-busting super-team The Invaders.  Last appearing in 1955, his re-introduction into the Silver Age in ’62 was a stroke of brilliance on the part of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, undoubtedly leading to ‘64’s reintroduction of ‘Captain America in into the Marvel Universe.

Issue #4 picks off where the previous story left off with Sue, Reed, and Ben arguing over how best to find the missing Johnny Storm.  Despite their best efforts to locate him, Johnny is holding court at Swanson’s Garage where he uses his powers to modify a sports car and impress his friends.  Unfortunately for Johnny, the brutally resentful Ben Grimm is the first to locate him.  After a car-tossing scuffle, Ben corners Johnny and threatens to teach him a lesson or two with his fists but suddenly finds himself transformed back into human form.  Johnny assumes full Human Torch form and heads back into hiding. 

While renting a room at the Men’s Hotel in the Bowery, Johnny presciently reads an old Sub-Mariner comic while a group of men hassle a homeless amnesiac.  In a turn of events that could only happen in the early development of the Marvel Universe, the bearded man with no memories of who he is or where he comes from is revealed to be none other than Prince Namor himself.  Assuming he’s doing a good deed, Johnny dumps the Atlantean prince into the sea where he immediately regains his memories and heads straight for home.  In a moment that would galvanize Namor’s position as an enemy of the surface world for decades to come, he discovers his underwater city to have been destroyed and irradiated by what he assumes to be mankind’s atomic tests.  Namor responds by commanding the giant monster Giganto to attack New York City where a reunited Fantastic Four stand in defense of humanity. 

In a heroic gesture of biblical proportions, The Thing volunteers to strap a nuclear bomb to his back and walk it into the open maw of the resting Giganto.  In a chilling scene, The Thing walks past the wreckage of ancient sea vessels that have accumulated in the belly of the beast, ending in a fist fight with a strange sea creature also living within while the bomb tics away.  The Thing narrowly escapes in time before the bomb kills Giganto.  

Namor soon discovers Sue Storm for the first time and suggests he might consider holding off his invasion if she’d join him as “Princess Namora – Bride of the Sub-Mariner!! Co-Ruler of the Earth!”  Sue reluctantly agrees – a decision that marshals the resolve of the men of the Fantastic Four to put a stop to Namor once and for all.  The Human Torch flies in ever expanding circles, creating a tornado effect that carried the Sub-Mariner and the carcass of Giganto back into the sea where Namor vows his revenge.

This issue introduces a concept not previously seen in the series – continuity. Issues one through three each serve as stand-alone stories whereas issue #4 picks up directly where the previous issue ended.  Although modern Marvel editorial staff claims continuity to be “the enemy”, the concept of a persistent world is what makes the Marvel Universe so amazing in that each issue of each comic adds to the overall tapestry of an ongoing story lasting 50 years. 

This issue also plants the seeds for the ongoing (mostly) one-sided love affair between Namor and Sue Storm that continues to develop to this day.  Namor himself would go on to play both super-villain and hero throughout his compelling character development, serving as X-Man, member of the Illuminati, The Defenders, and as always, the ruler of Atlantis.

At first reading Ben Grimm’s sudden and timely transition from monster into man might seem like a convenient contrived plot device to move the story along, but a different interpretation exists as well.  The Thing’s brutal violence and commitment to punish Johnny for being a “deserter” shows an ugly side of the otherwise heroic Ben Grimm.  Perhaps by regaining his humanity before physically punishing his friend, Ben Grimm’s mercy and compassion is restored as well.