Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. Here’s vol. 4 issue #13, where the experimental dual run of Fantastic Four and FF starts tying everything together… in its own way.

Hit the brakes! The issue’s letters page announces that writer Matt Fraction is abruptly and unexpectedly leaving both this series and FF to work on the Inhumanity crossover. Writers Karl Kessel and Lee Allred are taking over the two series to conclude this storyline based on Fraction’s outlines.

Recap: Reed has taken the family on a year-long expedition through time and space, which was a front for him seeking a cure for a molecular disease of some sort that’s slowly killing him and his teammates. He’s recently come clean about his plan, just as his family’s powers start going haywire. Also, a version of Johnny from the future, who we’re calling Old John Storm, has joined them. This is of note because that same character has shown up in the concurrent FF series, where our heroes have disappeared without a trace.

Speaking of that disappearance, that’s where this issue begins, back at the start of this storyline, with the Fantastic Four taking off on their yearlong trip that’s only a few minutes on Earth time, with the replacement Fantastic Four – Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk, and newcomer Darla Deering – taking their place. Only the Fantastic Four don’t return on time. Then there’s a twist, a portal opens, and Dr. Doom, Kang the Conqueror, and Annihilus appear, along with an army of aliens and high-tech soldiers.

Cut to the present, where we’re in a new timeline. New York has been all but destroyed in battle. Bentley-23 is on the run from Annihilus’ insect soldiers, but he’s rescued in a huge fight by the Fantastic Four – except this isn’t the FF we know, but an alternate version of them. The heroes regroup at an abandoned S.H.I.E.L.D. base, along with members of the Future Foundation, Namor, and Jean Grey. Alt-Reed, whose name in this world is Stevenson, says Doom has put a temporal shield around the Earth, hiding it from the rest of space. He says they can call for help only after the shield is down. And that means a frontal assault on Doom’s headquarters.

Stevenson gives a big speech about how there are certain constants throughout space and time, events that must happen, and this is one of them. Then we cut to Doom’s HQ, which is… the Baxter Building! Doom, Kang, and Annihilus debate on how to find the Fantastic Four, who have kept themselves hidden. Annihilus wants them to forget the FF and continue with their plan to conquer not just Earth, but the whole multiverse. Doombots arrive, thinking they’ve captured Stevenson, but it’s really Ant-Man. He grows to giant size, breaking a hole in the wall that allows the other heroes to fly in.

While everyone fights the villains’ soldiers, the alt-Fantastic Four make their way to the building’s power core. The power core has multiple defenses, including a bomb. Reed says they’ll only a second to shut down the planet’s shield and send out a cosmic distress signal. They set off the device, sending the signal. But the bomb goes off. Rather than destroying them, it removes their powers. Doom shows up saying he saw through their plan and was ready for them.  

Doom says he knew the heroes’ plan because he put a traitor in their midst. Stevenson argues that Kang and Annihilus will not so easily bow down to Doom. Johnny makes a joke, comparing Doom to the pig from Animal Farm, and Doom zaps him in the face. Cut back to “our” timeline, where Old John Storm wakes from a nightmare, and we see now that his scarred face originated from Doom’s attack.

He’s aboard the FF’s time ship, and he hears commotion from outside. Ben’s rocky exterior appears to be melting (!). When Reed tries to help him, his stretchy arm just flops to the floor. Johnny and Sue try to help, but their powers also go haywire. Old John then says his memory is returning. He knows what’s wrong and how to fix it. He says, “If you don’t die, you’re all doomed!”

To be continued!

Unstable molecule/fade out/clobberin’ time/flame on: Apart from their physical appearances and the name Stevenson, we don’t get any information as to how this Fantastic Four differs from the one we know. The Marvel wiki says to assume their powers and histories are similar.

Four and a half/our gal Val: Franklin and Valeria freak out when everyone’s powers go nuts, thinking they’re all about to die.

Fantastic fifth wheel: Namor is fighting alongside the FF in the new timeline, referencing how he fought similar battles in the ocean. Johnny pokes fun at his feelings for Sue.

The alternate Ant-Man has similar height and build as Stevenson, to better fool the Doombots.

Foundational: In the other timeline, Bentley-23 is a full-fledged member of the team, flying around on hover discs and using a laser gun to fight the henchmen. Dragon Man is also here, doing science stuff in the lab and adding muscle during the fight.  

Trivia time: This version of Jean Grey is the time-displaced teenage one from All-New X-Men. The idea was that the Beast brought the original five X-Men into the present in hopes they could straighten out the rest of the mutants. It didn’t go as planned. This Jean has some time tech with her, which is what keeps Stevenson and the rest hidden from Dr. Doom.

Fantastic or frightful? This is not a comic for first-timers, but in the overall context it works as finally giving us an origin for Old John Storm, and sets up the “Conquering Doom” thing that was set up so many issues back. It’s a great way to kick off the final act!

Next: Into the purple.

* * * *

Want more? My ongoing series THE SUBTERKNIGHTS is back on the Kindle store! A man searches for his missing sister in a futuristic city filled with far-out tech, strange creatures, and secret magic. Only $0.99 or free with KU!