Issue - 196

Title - Who in the World is The Invincible Man?

Writer - Marv Wolfman

Art - Keith Pollard

 

Summary:

An unseen figure directs the scientist Hauptmann to break Reed Richard's will using the Hypno-Persuader. He also instructs the scientist to begin Operation: Coronation. In LA, Johnny and Ben visit Sue about reforming the team. The three are later attacked by the Invincible Man while having lunch at a restaurant. The Invincible Man captures and delivers them to his master. There the man pulls off the Invincible Man's mask to reveal that it was Reed who defeated them while under his mental control. He releases Reed and forces him to assist in the construction of some device. The unnamed man leaves the four to consider their situation. Later, Reed apparently agrees. When he asks the man, who looks very familiar, for his name, he refuses to give it. Reed is shown the solar-powered station he is building which will be able to generate near unlimited power. Meanwhile, the rest of the team escape their cell only to be gassed by none other than Doctor Doom. 

 

 

Notes:

  • Last page appearance only

  • Although unnamed here, this is the first appearance of Victor von Doom II

  • This issue sees the return of the Hypno-Persuader. This device was first used by Doom in Fantastic Four #85

  • First appearance of Gustav Hauptmann's brother, Gert Hauptmann. Though neither is ever named. The resemblance in appearance and name makes it very confusing. Fortunately though it made clear that this is the brother of the man Doom killed back in Fantastic Four #87.

  • Collected in Fantastic Four: The Overthrow of Doom

 

 

Issue - 197

Title - The Riotous Return of the Red Ghost

Writer - Marv Wolfson

Art - Keith Pollard

 

Summary:

The team's mysterious captor sends Reed on a rocket ship into space so that he can recreate the accident which gave him his powers. Unfortunately for him, this also happens to reconstitute the Red Ghost. In Latveria, the rest of the team is held captive by Doom. Each of the team is imprisoned in specially crafted device to nullify their powers. Alicia Master's is also held captive as Doom is forcing her to create a sculpture showing his face before his accident. Doom reveals the statue is to be gift to the UN before he abdicates the throne over to his son. Back aboard the shuttle, the Red Ghost disables the onboard controls sending the ship crashing downwards. The Red Ghost escapes believing Reed to be trapped. Fortunately however Reed uses an escape pod and is picked up by Nick Fury and SHIELD. Reed reveals to Fury that's he finally realized that Doom is the one who is holding his friends captive.

 

Notes:

  • Collected in Fantastic Four: The Overthrow of Doom

 

 

 

198

Issue - 198

Title - Invasion!

Writer - Marv Wolfman

Art - Keith Pollard

 

Summary:

Flying in the FF Pogo-Plane, Reed manages to enter Latveria. However his is wounded by Doom's robot guards and taken in by the Latverian freedom fighters. The group is led by Zorba, the rightful heir to the late King Rudolfo. Back in the castle, Doom prepares to transfer the powers of the others to his son. Reed leads Zorba and his freedom fighters on a attack on the castle. Inside, Reed assumes the guise of Hauptmann to get close to Doom, but Doom sees through his ruse and gases him. With all four of the Fantastic Four in his grasp, he moves ahead with his plan to give their powers to his son, Victor von Doom II.

 

Notes:

  • Collected in Fantastic Four: The Overthrow of Doom

  • First appearance of Zorba.

  • Mention is made of the 'late King Rudolfo' who was last seen badly wounded in Super-Villain Team-Up #12. He apparently died sometime after that.

  • While charging into the castle, Zorba says that Latveria will "become a democracy once again." Exactly when Latveria was a democracy isn't clear. The impression has always been that Latveria was a monarchy.

  • Rudolfo recognizes Hauptmann and reveals that it was his brother, Gustav, who experimented on and blinded his one eye.

  • Hauptmann hates Doom for what he has done to "my brother and our people!" This implies that Hauptmann and his family are from Latveria originally (unless Doom has done something to Germans that we don't know about).

 

 

 

199

Issue - 199

Title - The Son of Doctor Doom!

Writer - Marv Wolfman

Art - Keith Pollard

 

Summary:

With the four in his grasp, their powers are transferred to Victor von Doom II. Doom however is called away to address his people. A crowd gathers outside the castle led by Zorba who demands he leave the country. Doom delays open revolt by reminding them that he will step down and give the throne to his son. Meanwhile, Reed escapes his cell and frees the others. Together the fight their way through the castle halls and reach Doom. However he holds Alicia hostage and forces them to surrender. Later, the coronation ceremony begins. Zorba sneaks out and free the Fantastic Four. Together they return to the ceremony and Zorba reveals to everyone that Victor von Doom II is nothing more than a clone of Doom himself. Doom unleashes his Omni-Bots upon the four. In the ensuing fight, von Doom II power manifest and he transforms physically to resemble the Thing. Instead of blaming Reed for interfering with the transference process he attacks Doom whom he now realizes is insane. Von Doom II tries to make Doom realize the hate he has for himself, but he only succeeds in angering him until Doom kills him.

 

 

Notes:

  • Doom has a diary.

  • Zorba's read Doom's diary....is there no privacy?!

  • Zorba is Rudolfo's brother.

  • Doom reveals he "destroyed" Rudolfo, possibly indicating that his wounds as seen in Super-Villain Team-Up #12 were fatal.

  • Omni-Bots are in attendance at the coronation ceremony

  • Death of Victor von Doom II

  • Collected in Fantastic Four: The Overthrow of Doom

 

 

200

Issue - 200

Title - When Titans Clash!

Writer - Marv Wolfman

Art - Keith Pollard

 

Summary:

With his son/clone dead, Doom locks the Fantastic Four in a chamber while he attends to the body. However his work is disturbed by the open revolt led by Zorba. Doom disperses the crowd with his vortex machine, a device which creates a cyclone. Doom then leaves Latveria to head for the UN council meeting that will decide if Latveria is to remain a member. Meanwhile, the FF break free of their holding chamber and put an end to the cyclone ripping through the city. The FF then race to stop Doom from using a mind control device hidden within his statue to take over the world. While Ben, Sue, and Johnny fight Doombots at the UN building, Reed  runs through a gauntlet of traps and devices before reaching Doom in his crystal chamber. Reed and Doom engage in a furious battle which culminates with Reed removing Doom's mask while inside the crystal chamber. The crystals reflect Doom's horrid face thousands upon thousands of times driving Doom insane. With Doom reduced to a vegetable state, Zorba takes his place as ruler of Latveria until a new leader can be democratically elected.

 

Notes:

  • Doom reveals that he raised his clone in secret over the years.

  • Doom openly blames Reed for the scars on his face. He believes that Reed tampered with the machine that scarred him.

  • Collected in Fantastic Four: The Overthrow of Doom

 

Comments:

It is quite an epic tale. To modern readers it might seem like some parts of it are cheesy but I think it works. This issue being in the seventies means that Doom is characterized as insane. He has his own version of the events that led to his face being scarred and believes that it was all Richards' fault. The idea of cloning is ahead of its time I think. Reed makes use of a skill that you rarely see these days, he changes his appearance into that of the scientist Hauptman via his elastic skin. The arc is highlighted by the climatic battle between Reed and Doom, classic stuff. My only gripe is that Doom is ruthless. He kills his own clone and he treats his people like crap. A bit of continuity that never seems to get straightened out is whether or not Doom is a benevolent ruler. In the FF Annual #2 in which Doom's origin is revealed, it is firmly established that his people are grateful to him for keeping the peace in Latveria. But even Stan Lee would contradict himself later on in issues 84-87 where Doom can clearly be seen ordering his own robot creations to attack Latverian cities. This is clearly not someone that would be loved by his people. Nevertheless, considering the pivotal climax, Bottom Line: * * * * out of 5
   

 


 

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