Fantastic Four #116 (Marvel/1971)

Fantastic Four #116 (Marvel)

Archie Goodwin (w) John Buscema (a)

From the bronze age of Marvel hails this post Kirby & Lee adventure of Reed, Sue Johnny & Ben otherwise known as the Fantastic Four.  A story with cosmic overtones and consequences. The story opens after Reed Richards has been possessed and kidnapped by the Overmind, a relic from the beginning of the Universe.

The Overmind is the collective remains of the Eternals, a race who ruled over galaxies util they faltered at one, a world larger than a galaxy itself. The Watcher has done what he can but as usual remains lurking in the background not quite interfering.

 

This issue of Fantastic Four is double sized so there's plenty of action to keep the reader gripped. in Alien, Ally and Armageddon.  Undeterred The Thing and the Torch are off to find reed and fight on whilst Sue ends up reaching out to Doctor Doom for help after the initial attempts to free Reed fail.

Doom of course can't help but gloat but despite his demeanour realises that it's his world at stake to and leads a further attack against the Overmind. Using a device plagiarised from Reeds research Doom does manage to turn the Overmind's power against it's user. The team enjoin the fight but ultimately are beaten.

When all seems lost The Stranger appears much to the surprise of the Overmind and in seconds the villain is banished to a dead universe in a mote of dust. It seems that The Stranger is the collective remains of Gigantus the world the Eternals could not defeat and caused their downfall. Duty done The Stranger departs.

The team feel used but The Watcher appears and tells them that it was only their courageous fight that had alerted The Stranger to the danger. Had they not resisted the Overmind may have become too powerful when finally detected for even The Stranger to defeat.

Classic adventure just the way we liked it back in our schooldays. Well mine anyway though I never had this comic!