Title - Battle Royal

Issue - 155

Writer - Len Wein

Art - Rich Buckler & Joe Sinnott

Summary:

While walking through a park, the Silver Surfer viciously attacks the FF. When pressed for the reason for the attack, the Surfer reveals that he is compelled to do so by Doctor Doom. After attempting to escape his Earth bound exile, the Surfer crash landed in Latveria where he discovered that his former love, Shalla Bal, was the married queen of Doctor Doom. Finding that she had been stripped of her memory, Surfer accepted Doom's offer to restore her memory and release her from her marital vows if he would destroy the FF. The Silver Surfer then seemingly resumes his attack.

Notes:

• This is the first time Latveria has been depicted with a queen. Its also the first time that Doom has been depicted as married. Other potential queen/brides have been Scarlet Witch and Invisible Woman, though the latter in fact married Reed who was wearing Doom's armor at the time. Also, if we are to believe that the events of New Mutants Annual #5 happened, then apparently Boom Boom was another candidate.

• Collected in Essential Fantastic Four Volume 7

Title - Middle Game

Issue - 156

Writer - Len Wein & Roy Thomas

Art - Rich Buckler & Joe Sinnott

Summary:

Unable to go through with the final kill, the Surfer instead takes the FF to Doom. Doom holds the team and the Surfer captive. As he relishes the emotional torture he inflicts upon the Surfer, the FF escape. However everything is going according to Doom's plan. Luring the Surfer to seat himself in a particular chair, Doom begins to sap away the Surfer's power cosmic to infuse into another.

Notes:

• Doom smokes.

• Collected in Essential Fantastic Four Volume 7

Title - And Now the Endgame Cometh!

Issue - 157

Writer - Roy Thomas

Art - Rich Buckler & Joe Sinnott

Summary:

With the Surfer in his trap, Doom feeds an android of his own design, which he names Doomsman II, the power cosmic. The android is unleashed upon the FF and a battle ensues. In his cell, the Surfer discovers that Helena, the woman he believed to be Shalla Bal, is in fact a look alike forced by Doom to play the part. The Surfer then quickly joins the battle and aids the FF in defeating the Doomsman II. Although his android is defeated, Doom stands ready to battle them all, however Helena pleads with them not fight. Any battle between such evenly matched foes would surely bring the castle down and destroy all the precious artifacts of Latverian history. Doom and the FF agree to cease battle, and each go their separate ways. Doom ultimately feels used himself by an unseen force. Doom is correct as we see in the depths of hell, all was orchestrated by Mephisto to torture the Silver Surfer. He further reveals that Helena is indeed Shalla Bal but that he had clouded her mind to think otherwise.

• The destruction of the castle in Astonishing Tales is referenced here. Its stated that all of Latveria's prized treasures were moved into the rebuilt castle. This is the second time that the castle's prized collection has saved it from destruction. The first was in Fantastic Four #87. The castle was eventually destroyed (presumably taking with it its collection) by the mutant Stryfe in X-Man #46.

• Collected in Essential Fantastic Four Volume 7