Family Matters: The Fantastic Four's Triumphs and Tribulations, part 3

Part Three – Bringing Up Boys (part 1 of 2)

Fantastic Four #’s 140-41

November-December 1973

“Annihilus Revealed!”

“The End of the Fantastic Four!”

Gerry Conway, John Buscema, and Joe Sinnott

Doug: Now that we’ve visited the FF in two of the high points of not only the magazine, but in the lives of the characters within, it’s time to see how they handle adversity; adversity beyond even the maddest plot of Dr. Doom or the greatest threat posed by Galactus. How will they handle an immediate life-or-death situation directly involving one of their own, with no time for weighing options, no time for anything save definitive action?

Karen: This period of the FF’s history had a very strong effect on me. I was around nine years old when these issues came out and I recall being very disturbed by what seemed to be the disintegration of Marvel’s first family. Sue had already left Reed (back in issue #130) because she felt he was both neglecting his duties as a husband and father, AND treating her like an inferior. The team limped along without her, as Medusa came to fill-in for a time. It just felt really wrong. I had been reading the FF reprints in Marvel’s Greatest Comics at the same time and the contrast between the happy, stable family from the past and the fractured, miserable family here was shocking. As a child, it made me feel very insecure. So when Reed actually used his anti-matter gun to shut down Franklin’s mind, I remember being just stunned. This truly was one of those comics moments that had an impact on me.

Karen: I have to say that when I look at these issues now, it makes a lot of sense that Sue would leave Reed. Just as women in general in the 1970s were beginning to feel empowered, so was the FF’s female member. Sue’s desire to be seen as a full member of the team – not as “the wife” or “the sister” or “the mother” – was a sentiment felt by many women of the time. By incorporating this into the Fantastic Four, Marvel was again showing that they were a company that changed with the times.

Sharon: Marvel was playing catch up here. In the Silver Age, DC had a number of strong, fairly independent women, whether they were heroines (Batgirl, Saturn Girl, Crimson in the Secret Six) or supporting characters (Jean Loring, a lawyer). By contrast in the Silver Age Marvel had Sue or Jean Grey—who often had to be told how to use their powers--or secretaries like lovestruck Karen Page or Pepper Potts. Even warrior Sif was portrayed as more prone to being a hostage than Balder. Now, perhaps the Marvel depiction was more realistic for the ‘60s, but wow, Stan (and Roy) sure seemed to have a narrow view of women. This would change when other, younger (male) writers came aboard at Marvel, such as Conway and Steve Englehart; with more writers, we would get more than one or two points of view at Marvel. (And to Stan’s credit, he did produce female-centric superhero books in 1972 --The Cat, Shanna, and Night Nurse).

Karen: You’re right, the next wave of Marvel writers in the 70s did have a somewhat more enlightened view point. After all, that was the decade that gave us Chris Claremont, who seemed to actually favor female characters over male ones!

Doug: I think that Sue’s leaving was even a possibility at this point was reflective of the times – American television was dealing with the issue of divorce even in series as benign as The Brady Bunch! And ladies, you raise a great point about Sue’s (and others’) new independence – a far cry from the “Reed, what does it all mean?” days of FF Annual #3!

Karen: It’s amazing to go back to those early 60’s books and see just how much the women were little more than accessories to the men. Heck, on Avengers #1, everyone on the team got their name listed above the title –except the Wasp! And I recall some statement made in a later issue, basically comparing her to Rick Jones!

Doug: So to begin, issue #140 was a whole lot of Bronze Age entertainment!! Gerry Conway ably picked up where Roy Thomas had left off – the story is somewhat wordy (particularly by today’s standards), but every page is fraught with suspense and action. The characterization is very edgy, yet a realistic extension of everyone’s personalities. And the art team of John Buscema and Joe Sinnott – simply “Wow”. Buscema is a revered storyteller, but perhaps not often better than in this run and paired with Sinnott. We’ve remarked here as well as on the Avengers Assemble message boards that Sinnott could overpower a penciller – but it’s that consistency that Joe provided the FF through the years that makes it seem like one long narrative.

Sharon: I’m not a big fan of the Buscema and Sinnott team; to me, it’s like pairing Michelangelo with Norman Rockwell. Especially since here, on the FF, we get more Sinnott—who was now doing both finishes and inks—and less Buscema, who was just doing breakdowns for the FF—a far cry from Big John’s earlier, superlative work on, say, the Avengers or Sub-Mariner a few years earlier! But as you noted, Doug, Sinnott remained a constant on the FF and for many years he provided a cohesive look for the book.

Karen: These issues definitely had more of the Sinnott feel to me than Buscema, although it’s obviously John B’s work underneath it all.

Karen: One of the things I noticed right away is this was the time period with the “new look” Torch. Not only was he wearing his red costume, but he was now being drawn differently when aflame than Kirby had originally depicted him – we now saw more of Johnny’s features, including his hair, and he had a much more dynamic look, in my opinion.

Sharon: I get why the costume was changed (as an homage to the original Human Torch), but it looked too much like long johns! I was not fond of Medusa’s costume during this time, either; she looked clunky and chunky instead of sleek and sinuous and the costume didn’t help—I mean, buccaneer boots? Actually, now that I think of it, her costume is kind of similar to that of the 1940s character the Black Cat, what with the bare arms and legs, and yes—those boots!

Karen: Medusa’s costume certainly lacked imagination. I’d much prefer the green outfit she wore in Amazing Spider-Man 62 –as we discussed in a previous post.

Doug: Point taken about the Buscema/Sinnott pairing – but you can’t argue the dynamism of the page (any page). Can you imagine the Don Heck of 1973, or even George Tuska (who was much more dynamic/fluid than Heck) laying out these pages? As Sinnott added his outward touch to Kirby’s vibrant/violent/bombastic pencils, so he did for Buscema in this run.

Sharon: Buscema’s tableaux are always impressive—especially the scenes set in the Negative Zone.

Doug: Agatha Harkness just creeps me out – no matter where or when she shows up. How about that scene in the Avengers (ish #127, maybe?) where she’s training Wanda and makes an armchair spring to life? Weird…

Sharon: The issue you’re referring to is Avengers #133, which contains the scene in which Wanda makes a “chair walk like a man” under Agatha’s tutelage. Wanda began her studies with Agatha in Avengers #128 (published about a year after FF #140) but I never liked the concept of adding sorcery or mysticism to Wanda’s powers. As I’ve mentioned previously, I always preferred Wanda’s powers to be more scientifically based; if you look at her earlier appearances, her power could be said to induce changes in molecular structures or to cause chemical reactions (this theory was put forth by a fan in an Avengers letter column). But when Wanda started practicing witchcraft or magic, she became less like Chemical King and more like Zatanna. Marvel already had the Enchantress and Dr. Strange as Zatanna-analogues! As a result of this development, I felt Wanda’s powers were become less unique as they became more typically “witchlike.”

Karen: Kind of interesting that Ms. Harkness was involved with two Marvel women who were both trying to redefine themselves as individuals.

Doug: The origin of Annihilus was well conceived – not all that original if one considers such tales as Planet of the Apes, but executed positively nonetheless. Given that this is only his third appearance, he seems to carry the weight of a potential heavy hitter villain who might have a recurring role in FF bad guy-dom. Very interesting character – eye-catching as well.

Karen: It was a nice origin story, which to me had almost a “Twilight Zone” feel to it. The idea that Annihilus started as basically a sentient grasshopper is amusing. I like the way he was depicted here too, as frail and spindly.

Sharon: I felt sorry for the poor creature! Effective piece of characterization by Conway.

Doug: Conway consistently delivers foreshadowing and page-ending cliffhangers to keep the reader hooked. This method of storytelling was perfected by John Byrne, who ended up making it one of his faults if you want my opinion. But here Conway gives us just enough to make both of these issues page-turners.

Doug: Looking at these stories as self-contained, it’s interesting to see the dynamic on the team with Medusa. Conway does a nice job of separating her personality from the way Stan had handled Crystal years earlier. Although sisters, Stan, Roy, and now Gerry Conway have worked together over time to make them completely different people. The absence of any love interest between Medusa and her teammates also creates a dynamic new to the team, and that is NO dynamic. Medusa’s just kind of there – she’s an agitant, a nay-sayer, sort of a square peg in a round hole. Yet it works – her presence on the team only heightens the angst felt by all at Sue’s absence.

Karen: Was it just me, or in the later issues, did it seem like perhaps Medusa was developing an interest in Reed? Do you think that Gerry and Roy were considering having the two of them become a couple? Perhaps they were just seeing what the fan reaction was before really moving in that direction. How would that have altered the dynamics of the book – Reed off with Medusa, and Sue with Namor?

Sharon: Yes, during this time, Medusa was frequently drawn as hanging onto, or hovering over, Reed. Too bad nothing developed—I think it would have been interesting to see her with Reed, or even Ben or Johnny--but I guess a major part of her character is her unyielding, inviolate devotion to Black Bolt. Back when she was a member of the Frightful Four (and it’s been retconned that she was amnesiac during that time), she did express a fondness for the “handsome” Reed as she caressed his face with her hair! And Johnny seemed interested in her back in the Frightful Four days; both he and Reed acknowledged that she was an “extremely attractive female.”

Sharon: My reading of Medusa is that she represses her sexuality (reserves it for Black Bolt) but when she’s not in control – as when she’s been mind-controlled (by Maximus) or amnesiac – the defenses come down and she’s hot to trot. I see Medusa and Crystal as the two archetypes of female sexuality: virgin and whore (I don’t mean literally). But one is chaste, while the other is open to her sexual/romantic impulses. Also, talk about ironic imagery: Medusa, the reserved one, has all that resplendent hair (an the exaggerated female characteristic); while Crystal, the wild child, is normally shown with fettered hair--the famous headband, or the snoods she wears on occasion.

Karen: I never really knew what to make of Medusa’s relationship with Black Bolt. In fact, I think it was several years before I even knew they were a couple! At least now it’s much more obvious.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Family Matters: The Fantastic Four's Triumphs and Tribulations, Part 2

Part Two – The Birth of Franklin Richards

Fantastic Four Annual #6, 1968

“Let There Be… Life!”

by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Joe Sinnott

Doug: By 1968 the team of Lee/Kirby/Sinnott had reached its zenith, moving from one epic to another in the regular monthly Fantastic Four book – it was certainly deserving of its hype as The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine. And then along came the Annual for that year. I’ve read this story 3-4 times; the first time was only 5 years ago or so. But each time I re-read it, the scope of it, the grandeur, the characterization – this was truly a piece of literature that stretched the bounds of comic book fare of its day. The creators really outdid themselves with this issue – in my mind, it’s a story like “Let There Be… Life!” that really separated The House of Ideas from the Distinguished Competition.

Doug: The opening scene is just classic Lee/Kirby angst. I am amazed, particularly in reading the FF, how well Stan and Jack worked together. To think that around this time they were not on the best of terms, separated by many miles, and could turn out a scene like the opening 2 ½ pages. Blows my mind how well the pictures and words mesh.

Sharon: The art was astonishing and was perfectly complemented by the writing. To me, this was Kirby-Sinnott at their peak--you can start to see some coarsening of the art with the next issue (#81), or actually since #78 or so. Part of it may be due to Sinnott not making the characters so pretty (as he had tried to do previously)…though more than likely, Jack was not being as careful as usual, since it's been well documented he had been dissatisfied with Marvel for quite some time. There were a lot of things leading to Jack’s dissatisfaction (which we’ve discussed previously), but the straw seemed to break the camel's back was the recently completed Silver Surfer arc (#74-77), a few months earlier than this issue and Stan’s handing over of the new Surfer book to John Buscema. But the art here--just gorgeous and majestic.

Karen: I agree with you both, the art is spectacular. The cover is a beauty. Although I would say I detect more of Sinnott in this work than some of the older FF issues. Still, the book looks great - Annihilus’ ship, the Kirby crackle as they enter the Negative Zone, the edge of the Negative Zone, with its field of rocks –all of this leaves a strong impression. We even get yet another Kirby collage!

Doug: Although Reed had been to the Negative Zone in an earlier adventure, this issue marks the first appearance of the warlord/ruler Annihilus. Appearing first on the cover in a headshot, his actual first appearance in the interior of the book is startling, powerful, and terrifying (not only to the reader, but to the denizens of the Neg. Zone!).

Doug: I thought the scene where the vampire-gliding guy (for lack of a better description!) grabbed Reed and pulled him toward the asteroid was good – however, when Reed became magnetized, I was left wondering why a fellow so smart wouldn’t have just taken off his harness!

Doug: It was a little funny, given today’s patient confidentiality rules, that Crystal could just walk right into the hospital laboratory and get answers to her questions about Sue’s condition out of the doctor!

Sharon: In a couple of previous issues, Crystal had conferred with the doctors about Sue, so I guess they felt she could be trusted with seemingly confidential information like this!

Sharon: Speaking of Crystal, it bothered me as a kid in 1968 (when I first read this issue) that Crystal kept referring to Sue in Annual #6 as "Sue Storm.” Crystal had only known Sue as “Sue Richards”…and yep, this still bothers me today! Anyway, you can tell Kirby loved drawing Crystal; once she'd reunited with Johnny starting in #62, Kirby put her in as many panels as he could (except for #73, in which she did not appear at all). In fact, with the exception of #73, if you look at the span of issues from #72 through #85, she garnered more panel time than Sue did! And of course Crystal would join the FF in the next regular issue (#81) after this Annual.

Doug: The full reveal of Annihilus shows one of Kirby’s more inspired creations. This is one powerful, menacing, and UGLY dude! While it’s difficult to get a scale of his size initially, there is no doubt that he is going to provide one tough obstacle to whatever the FF needs later. Stan’s foreshadowing that it is the cosmic control rod, which rests on Annihilus’ chest, that will be that prize left me with a “can’t wait” feeling for the rest of the story.

Karen: An inspired design by Kirby. Even if he was beginning to tire of Marvel, you’d never know it based on the art in this annual. Annihilus just looks creepy – like the ultimate manifestation of all our fears of insects and bugs.

Sharon: He certainly scared me! One of the last great characters Kirby introduced in the FF-- well, along with (arguably) Franklin and a bit later, Torgo and Agatha Harkness.

Doug: In the prison scene, Annihilus displays his true brutality, not only in dropping Reed to the floor so easily – but the destruction of the remaining prisoners should not go unmentioned. Although it was certainly strongly implied a few years earlier that Galactus had decimated the life forms on innumerable planets, this in-your-face mass murder was somewhat bold for the Comics Code of the day!

Doug: When Reed was tossed into the large room where Ben and Johnny were being held, and then seeing Annihilus behind the glass enclosure with all of the control panels, I immediately thought of the X-Men’s Danger Room and Arcade’s Murder World. This is just a great scene, and largely because of Stan’s dialogue for Ben. I really love this period in the team’s history, and the characterization (although duplicated) has never been surpassed.

Sharon: Yes, the dialogue and characterizations were superb (and matched the flawless art, as mentioned). This was pure, unadulterated Ben, Reed and Johnny.

Karen: If anyone told me I’d feel a sense of menace from a giant sponge, or a giant boot, I’d laugh. But somehow, in this story, it works. Seeing Ben struggling with the crushing boot was a delight. More than any other Marvel hero, to me Ben has always exemplified the ideal of the hero who never gives up, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Doug: Is there anyone more confident than Reed Richards? “The circuitry will have to be decoded… but I can do that later!” Yeah, right! I had a hard time getting through Algebra II/Trig, and he’s just going to decode some script from another universe about a device he’s only known of for an hour or so??

Karen: I always wondered who was smarter: Reed or the Professor from Gilligan’s Island. I mean, that dude made a radio out of coconuts! (I also thought it fitting that Alex Ross used the Professor (actor Russell Johnson) as the model for Reed in Marvels.)

Doug: The pages that follow contain a few minor twists and turns, but the suspense does manage to build without any real cliffhangers from page to page. The solution to the Negative Zone escape was reasonable and a nice set-up for future encounters with Annihilus.

Karen: For some reason, I really liked the press conference scene at the hospital. Back in the day, we were always reminded that the FF were treated like celebrities – people were interested in them and their lives just as if they were movie stars. I’ve always considered that a great take on the superhero genre.

Doug: The hospital scenes are so well-done. No action, but again – just great characterization and some funny lines here and there. The last panel of the story is a fitting end, and even though the dialogue is a little over the top, for the time it was written with all of the uncertainty in our nation it seems fitting.

Karen: One thing I noticed about this ish was practically every sentence ended in an exclamation point! I guess that was typical of the time, but it did seem a bit strained.

Sharon: Yes, exclamation points were de rigueur for the time for DC and Marvel. I remember when DC and Marvel started using periods a couple of years later- - well, that seemed strange to me! (And let’s not mention the strange, mercifully brief experiment –early ‘70s--when Marvel did not use any terminal punctuation at all for the dialogue, unless it was a question—then a question mark was used.)

Karen: But regardless, the final scenes in the hospital are moving. This issue really makes it clear that unlike other teams, the FF are a family. They are motivated out of love for each other, particularly in this situation.

Sharon: Sue looked like a serene, beatific Madonna…exquisite work by Kirby/Sinnott. But I felt Alicia's absence was a big hole; she'd always been shown to be close to Sue throughout the preceding years. As I have mentioned elsewhere, the addition of Crystal effectively reduced Alicia's role, which is a shame because it would have made dramatic sense to include Alicia here. A very beautiful, touching last panel, though.

Karen: That’s a great point, Sharon. Where the heck was Alicia? With all her history with the FF, it seems very strange indeed that she was not there.

Sharon: Franklin’s birth represents the first time (to my knowledge, anyway) that a mainstream comic book couple went through a pregnancy and had a child in anything even remotely resembled “real time.” Oh, sure, there was Aquaman and Mera, but Aquababy was conceived and born in the space of a single issue! Another example of Marvel’s realistic handling of its characters, which was ground-breaking in the ‘60s.