Issue - 142

Title - No Friend Beside Him

Writer - Gerry Conway

Art - Rich Buckler

 

Summary:

Following an adventure in the Negative Zone where Reed used an anti-matter gun which reduced Franklin to a vegetable state, Ben decides to leave the team. Finding a letter from Alicia, Ben travels to the Balkans where a doctor claims he can restore her sight. While there, Ben learns of the local legend of Darkoth, the Death-Demon. After dropping Alicia off at the hospital, Darkoth appears and attacks Ben. The two battle in the streets until Darkoth disappears in an explosion. The following day, Ben accompanies Alicia to her surgery. Ben awaits outside the surgical room. When hours go by without any word from the doctor, Ben storms in. To his surprise, Alicia is gone and Darkoth awaits within. Darkoth lures Ben into a underground trap where he is overpowered. Back state side, Reed receives an invitation to a college reunion. Medusa convinces him to attend. When he arrives, Reed meets a fellow classmate, Sam Thorne. The two become surprised that they are the only two in attendance. When they are taken to the dining room they are greeted by another old classmate, Doctor Doom!

 
 

Notes:

  • Collected in Essential Fantastic Four Volume 7

     

 

Issue - 143

Title - The Terrible Triumph of Doctor Doom

Writer - Gerry Conway

Art - Rich Buckler

 

Summary:

Utilizing a number of technological traps, Doom manages to capture both Reed and Medusa. Sam Thorne tries to pitch in and fight Doom, but he is quickly stunned by a blast from Doom's armor. Doom reveals to Reed his latest plan. Using a Vibration Bomb, he destroy emotions of pride and loyalty in people all across the world and install in them only loyalty to him. Doom demonstrates his device on two traitorous guards by having them kill one another. Later, Darkoth runs rampant in Doom's lab until Doom commands him to stand down. He then reveals to Darkoth the truth of his origin. After Doom departs to capture the Human Torch, Darkoth frees Reed, Ben, and Medusa so that they might aid him in getting revenge upon Doom. Darkoth reveals to them that he isn't a demon but a former aide of Doom's who was transformed.  

 

Notes:

  • Doom somehow managed to have the city block where the alumni townhouse building stands built to his specifications years ago. The original intent was to provide him with a refuge from the Fantastic Four.

  • Doom tells Darkoth that he is one of his "aides, converted through chemistry and the work of the vibration device." A fuller origin for Dakorth, including his true identity as Ben Grimm's old friend Desmond Pitt, is revealed in Fantastic Four #193.

  • Collected in Essential Fantastic Four Volume 7

 

 

Issue - 144

Title - Attack!

Writer - Gerry Conway

Art - Rich Buckler

 

Summary:

Reed, Ben, Medusa, and Darkoth make their escape via underground tunnels until they are discovered by the Seeker, one of Doom's androids. The machine is easily defeated by the Thing. Reed gathers the android's body to take it with them back to the Baxter Building. No sooner do they arrive back at their HQ do they witness Doom's rocket carrying the Vibration Bomb launch skyward. An hour passes, the initial wave of Doom's Vibration Bomb is hitting the Earth. The Seeker returns to Doom's base and enters without hindrance. After freeing the Human Torch from his cell, the Seeker reveals himself to be Darkoth in disguise. Soon the Thing arrives and joins the battle. Together they gather Wyatt, the Thornes, and Alicia and escape from Doom's base just before he launches the building into the air. Doom plans to meet with his Vibration Bomb and control it manually in space. His plan is foiled when Dakorth emerges from hiding and attacks. The building is then sent off course. Instead of docking with the Vibro-Bomb Satellite, it crashes and explodes.   

 

 
 

Notes:

  • Collected in Essential Fantastic Four Volume 7

 
 

Comments:

Despite some good ideas, this three-part story falls apart halfway through. Its also features a uncharacteristically (for Gerry Conway that is) cruel Doctor Doom. The scene where Doom has his two minions shoot each other is pretty cruel. But I suppose you can rationalize that they were traitors selling Latverian secrets to Doom's "enemies." Doom creating a cyborg to appear like a monster from an old legend is a neat idea. Although I think it would be interesting if one day Doom would summon the real Darkoth. I like the idea of him having a demon as his servant. The idea of a Vibration-Bomb to wipe out everyone's loyalty is another good idea, one that is revisited just a couple of years later in Super-Villain Team-Up #14.

 

One of the problems I have with this story is that its wrapped up far too quickly and leaves some dangling plot threads. First, the presence of Reed and Doom's classmate Sam Thorne isn't really explained. Doom's appearance at the end of #142 speaks of old friendships and old betrayals. We know Doom's beef with Reed, but why of all the students to attend State University did he also invite Sam Thorne? Another is the Vibration-Bomb. The bomb actually goes off. A panel shows that the world is now ready to receive Doom's commands, and yet after the destruction of the satellite we're suppose to assume everyone just goes back to normal? The bomb was meant to wipe everyone of their loyalties. I suppose we're meant to interpret that this didn't actually happen yet, but its not clear when you read the issue.

 

Bottom Line: * * out of 5

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