Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. History comes alive (sort of) in vol. 4 issue #10, in which characters named Ben and Franklin meet… Ben Franklin!

Recap: Reed has taken the family on a year-long expedition through time and space, which is a front for him seeking a cure for a molecular disease of some sort that’s slowly killing him and his teammates. In the parallel series FF, there’s a lot of mystery as to what’s become of them, but the main series hasn’t gotten there yet.

We begin in Philadelphia, 1776. Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and John Adams are debating slavery (everyone start nervously tugging at your collars now). Then we cut to outer space, aboard the FF’s time ship, where Sue’s powers are glitching, causing her skeleton and other innards to show through her skin. Reed finally admits to the whole family that their own powers are making them sick. Johnny and the kids are upset Reed didn’t tell them sooner.  Reed goes over the events of this storyline so far, explaining that he collected molecular samples from the various worlds and timelines from previous issues, only to conclude that this disease is not natural. Someone deliberately infected them. In 1776, Ben Franklin follows a glowing green device to a hole in the ground, only to reveal he’s really a Skrull in disguise. Reed continues that the disease is not just an attack… but an invasion.

Back aboard the ship, Reed and the family brainstorm for some sort of conclusion, only for a still-angry Valeria to deduce that the Skrulls are behind the disease. This is followed by more drama from Johnny, who accuses Sue of being no worse than Reed in this secrecy. There’s a page of Jefferson and Adams still debating slavery, and then it’s back to the ship, where Reed wants to go to 1953 and meet scientist Rosalind Franklin. But then something goes wrong, and the ship gets blasted down to Earth in 1776.

Reed’s computer reveals that a Skrull is somewhere nearby, and that the “chronal-anchor” Reed planted on the Earth is gone, which could be a huge problem. The Skrull impersonating Ben Franklin joins the others, hinting that he’s up to something. On the ship, Reed figures that the Skrull has “phoned home” and other Skrulls are headed for Earth. He wants the FF to stop their rendezvous, while also helping themselves to some Skrull tech to repair their own ship.

Sue and Ben confront the Skrull ship as it lands, for a few pages of fighting. The Ben Franklin Skrull tries to leave while the others debate the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. Reed, Johnny, and the kids, all dressed in 1776-times clothes, show up to confront him, with Reed sneakily speaking some Skrull language to Franklin, and showing off some future tech, so Franklin knows he’s been caught in the act.

Later, Reed reveals the Skrulls’ plan was to be pro-slavery, in hopes of enslaving all of Earth someday. After taking the Skrulls’ molecular samples, Sue reveals to the kids that Reed turned the Ben Franklin Skrull into a cow! (Reference to way back in issue #2.) Reed says he had to do this to restore the timeline, but Valeria doesn’t like it, rushing off in another fit of anger. Reed starts talking about needing another chronal anchor, because they can’t get home without it. Meanwhile, Ben looks down and sees his rocky hands are starting to crumble.

To be continued!

Unstable molecule: The woman mentioned by Reed, Rosalind Franklin, was a real person. Her famous work, Photo 51, was crucial in establishing the double helix model structure of DNA.

Fade out: Reed gives Sue a special harness that can control her invisibility temporarily. She undoes it to frighten the Skrulls at the end of their fight.

Clobberin’ time: After the FF’s ship crash lands in a lake Ben swims it out of the water. Reed calls him “our outboard motor.”

Flame on: Johnny is now the only member of the team who has shown no symptoms of this mysterious disease, but he’s angered at Reed for not telling he’s potentially dying.

Four and a half: Franklin and Valeria are given a chance to talk to Thomas Jefferson at the end of the issue, only to be disappointed by him.

Our gal Val: When Valeria is mad at Reed, he claims she has “become a teenager.” I prefer to think this is not her actual age, but a mere aphorism by Reed.

Trivia time: As of this writing, Marvel is currently publishing the 1776 miniseries from writer J. Michael Stracynski. It’s about a bunch of Marvel heroes teleporting back to the American Revolution to stop a plot by the villainous witch Morgan Le Fay. It’s a bit more comedic and Back to the Future-ish than this serious story. I don’t see anything in the first two issues that reference this Fantastic Four storyline, but you never know.

Fantastic or frightful? I’m sure writer Matt Fraction meant well with all this slavery talk, but it comes off as more uncomfortable rather than having a grand moral center. The issue doesn’t have enough pages to have any real fun with an alien impersonating Ben Franklin. The true story is Valeria and Johnny both being ticked off at Reed, It feels genuine, and it’s something we’ll see carry forward in future issues.  

Next: Fourth wall? What’s that?

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Want more? Check out my novel MOM, I’M BULLETPROOF. It’s a comedic/romantic/dramatic superhero epic! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XPXBK14.