Script by Gerry Conway. Art by John Buscema (breakdowns) and Joe Sinnott (finishes). Cover by John Romita
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"The End of the Fantastic Four!" Part 2 of 2:
The situation looks grim indeed as Reed, Sue, Ben, Johnny, Medusa, Franklin, Wyatt Wingfoot, and Agatha Harkness are all prisoners of Annihilus in the Negative Zone! What is the master of the Negative Zone planning for the helpless Fantastic Four? After connecting Franklin to his gene transmuter, Annihilus siphons the young boy's power to recharge his cosmic control rod! Can anyone stop the power transfer and save Franklin's life? Or will disaster strike the Fantastic Four?
Note: Annihilus appears next in Captain Marvel 35.
Continuity Notes:
Annihilus goes through a substantial chunk of Fantastic Four history:
He mentions the Fantastic Four's space flight that gave them their powers in Fantastic Four #1. In this story, he states that the Fantastic Four were trying to reach the moon. Per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616, the destination of the Fantastic Four's maiden voyage into space is considered a topical reference. The destination has since been updated with the times on many occasions. First in Fantastic Four #236, it was stated that Reed's experimental ship was intended to travel to the edge of the solar system and while it needed a rocket booster to reach escape velocity from Earth's atmosphere it relied on a Star Drive to reach its destination. This tale also goes on to expand on how the quartet was mutated. While Fantastic Four Vol 1 1 merely states that it was cosmic rays, Fantastic Four Vol 1 236 goes further to explain that these rays passed through the Van Allen Belts that is held around the Earth by its magnetic field. Fantastic Four #358 published in 1991 states that the this "Star Drive" was intended to bring them into hyperspace in order to visit other solar systems. It's also stated in this story that unusual sunspot activity from Earth's sun also played a role in boosting the strength of the cosmic rays that mutated the Fantastic Four. He also mentions the marriage of Reed Richards and Sue Storm which occurred in Fantastic Four Annual #3. Then he mentions how Sue became pregnant, this was first learned in Fantastic Four Annual #5.
He also refers to his first clash with the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four Annual #6 where the group took energy from his Cosmic Control Rod in order to save the life of Sue and baby Franklin, who would have otherwise died in childbirth. Annihilus' referring to Franklin as a "monster" is referring to his mutant powers that were first chronologically seen in Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Comics Magazine #4. There have been hints of his powers as early as Fantastic Four #107. Annihilus also refers to his previous failed attempt to invade Earth. This happened in Marvel Team-Up #2 when the Frightful Four attempted to open the portal to the Negative Zone. They were stopped by Spider-Man and the Human Torch. He also explains that he kidnapped Agatha Harkness recently. Her disappearance was first noticed in Fantastic Four #134. The footnote in this story that references that event erroneously attributes that kidnapping to Fantastic Four #135. Franklin's mind remains shut down until it's awoken again in Fantastic Four #150. Reed's actions in this issue push Sue even further away from her husband, dragging out their separation until Fantastic Four #149 when they reconcile. Although broken up here, the Fantastic Four do not stay apart for long, with Reed, Ben, Johnny and Medusa reuniting by the end of Fantastic Four #145. Annihilus' blasting of Reed Richards portends the eventual ending of Reed's cosmic ray-spawned stretching powers. This gradual loss becomes a plot point beginning in Fantastic Four #157 and continues intermittently until he loses his stretching powers in their entirety in Fantastic Four #178. Reed's powers are restored in Fantastic Four #197.
Chronology Notes:
A flashback in this story affects the chronology of the following characters:
Agatha Harkness 🢒 - Captured by Annihilus.
Ebony 🢒 - Captured by Annihilus.
1st printing.
This comic book is in new condition. Comic is complete with cover and all pages attached. This comic has some flaws that warrant a VF grade.
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