Fantastic Four 122
“Galactus Unleashed!”
Published Feb. 1972
Story: Stan Lee & John Buscema
Script: Lee
Pencils: Buscema
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Buscema and John Romita Sr.

Synopsis

The Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer battle Galactus, who demands the Surfer rejoin him as his herald or he will destroy Earth. In response, Reed travels to space to capture Galactus’s ship.

What’s going on here

This is an old-school, action-packed comic, with high stakes and lots of drama. I have some quibbles (see below) but on the whole this feels like a return to form for the Fantastic Four after an uneven period following the departure of Kirby. Galactus is a great villain, and his need for the Surfer to be his herald again gives at least a plausible reason for his to return to Earth after promising to spare it.

What I liked

After some predictable fighting sequences, the comic shifts into high gear when Reed travels into space to capture Galactus’s space ship. Bucesma gets to stretch his Kirby muscles, and the sequence has a great mix of wonder and tension.

I also liked this sequence, which is both a testament to the Thing’s power and a bit ridiculous (punching a foot?)

What I didn’t like

The Air-Walker robot, the focus of the last two issues, seems to have been dropped as a plot line. It seems like an elaborate ruse of Galactus’s to draw out the Surfer, and it’s begging for additional explanation.

Also, I recognize the FF has to try to stop Galactus, but — in my view — he should be too powerful to bother having to fight back, hence deploying the Punisher android in earlier appearances. Here, he not only scraps with the Fantastic Four but Ben knocks him off his feet. It serves to diminish what should be a character above physical confrontation.

Further, Galactus should wear long pants. At least they removed the G from his chest.

Lastly, calling the Silver Surfer “whitey” just sounds weird, especially since he’s, you know, silver.

Anything else?

The month marks the debut of Luke Cage, a future member of the FF (very briefly).

Overall

Comics done right!