“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 76

09 Sunday Oct 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

Tags

Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 76, jack Kirby, Psycho-Man, Silver Surfer, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 76
“Stranded in Sub-Atomica!”
Published: April 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

In the previous issue, Mr. Fantastic vows to find the Silver Surfer for Galactus, and deduced he shrunk himself into the microword, a dimension between molecules and home of the Psycho-Man. Fantastic Four 76 opens with Reed, Ben and Johnny—Sue is still sidelined because of her pregnancy—boarding the Reducta-Craft and shrinking in pursuit of the Surfer. The team quickly finds him and when they try to corral him, a battle ensues and they are badly beaten by the perturbed Surfer.

Meanwhile, as they fight, the Psycho-Man stumbles upon them—what a coincidence!—and dispatches what appears to be an indestructible android to retrieve the Surfer. But it instead encounters the FF, and battles them to a standstill. Realizing time is running out, Reed sends Ben and Johnny to capture the Surfer while he prepares to battle the android, to his death, if necessary. But just as Reed prepares to grapple with it, the machine disappears, removed by the Surfer. After overhearing the FF, the Surfer now realizes the fate of the earth is at stake, and he says he will voluntarily return to Galactus. The issue ends with the Surfer riding off and the three members of the FF determined to pursue the Pyscho-Man.

What’s going on here?

While there are some cool visuals, and great interplay between Reed, Ben and Johnny, this issue unfortunately feels like padding. The confrontation with the Surfer seems pro-forma, and the fight with the indestructible android reads a lot like other recent battles, such as with Galactus’s Punisher two issues ago, or with the Mad Thinker’s android in issue 71. All these enemies are really proxies for more potent foes, and they lack the same stakes or sense of urgency as when the FF fight the actual villain themselves. This issues ends with a fizzle, too, as the Surfer bails out the FF, and decides to resolve things with Galactus. Reed’s decision to stay in the microverse makes a lie out of the title, “Stranded in Sub-Atomica.”

Best pals

There are some nice moments between the three teammates, such as here when Reed admits his mistake and Ben is quick to forgive him.

And here, when he apologizes for implying Ben and Johnny didn’t take the mission seriously enough.

The sexist sixties

As she has for the last few issues, Crystal continues to patronize Sue by telling her everything is fine.

Doctor who?

In this issue, we learn Sue is nearing full term, despite never appearing visibly pregnant. We also learn that doctors still made house calls in 1968, and men still wore hats.