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“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 187

31 Sunday Aug 2025

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Fantastic Four 187
“Trouble Times Two!”
Published July 1977
Writer: Len Wein
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Joe Rosen
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Cover: Perez and Dave Cockrum

Synopsis

Returning to the Baxter Building from their adventure in New Salem with Agatha Harkness, the Fantastic Four discover the Impossible Man unconscious. They quickly run afoul of Klaw and the Molecule Man, who have teamed up and plan to use Reed Richards’s psi-amplifier to give the Molecule Man a permanent body. The villains defeat the FF but a revived Impossible Man attacks them, thwarting their plans until a misstep by Reed allows the Molecule Man to take over his body.



What’s going on here?

This is generally a satisfying issue. Len Wein has a good handle on plotting and pacing and his issues thus far have a nice mix of character development, plot and action. I have some quibbles, which I’ll get to, but nothing that gets in the way of this being a fun read.

The most interesting aspect of the story is Reed’s apparent depression over losing his powers, which has been a subplot for some time now (and recall his robotic arms were destroyed last issue). It’s a bit puzzling, since most of Reed’s value to the team has little to do with his stretching ability, but for whatever reason it’s got him in the dumps. Wein develops a lot of space to this psychological development. Here:

and here:

and here:


Reed finally snaps out of his funk long enough to literally pull the plug on the Molecule Man, only to make an uncharacteristically dumb mistake:

It’s as if losing his stretching power has also dulled his intellect. Or maybe he subconsciously is drawn to the wand’s power, as a way to regaining his own lost potency. The result is this surprising cliffhanger:


Also of note: the (excellent) George Perez cover is inked by Dave Cockrum, one of his very few contributions to the Fantastic Four.

What I liked

This is a pretty cool sequence, as a diminished Reed still has some fight left in him:

Perez again only appears to be providing layouts and breakdowns, leaving the finishes to Joe Sinnott. That said, he still delivers some great panels, like the entrance of Klaw, complete with Kirby Krackle:

(Only in comics do characters call themselves murderous).

And this panel which reveals the secret villain on the cover is Molecule Man:

I liked this sequence too:


What I didn’t like

Longtime readers of this blog know how annoying I find the Impossible Man. For the last few issues he’s been harmlessly in the background but here he takes center stage, ultimately saving the day. He is essentially a gag character, a parody of Mr. Mxyzptlk, who has been upgraded into a character of consequence — and enormous power —while retaining his essential silliness. It’s not an effective combination. He’ll hang around the Fantastic Four another few issues before he thankfully disappearing for several decades.


Klaw’s explanation of how he survived his near-death (which happened in a Ka-Zar comic) and his teaming up with the Molecule Man felt unnecessarily elaborate and detailed. I recognize it’s this sort of continuity accounting that fans loved about this era of Marvel but now it only gets in the way of storytelling.


Wein invests Johnny with a level of emotional insight here that seems pretty out of character. I would say he’s growing up, but it sure doesn’t last.


Anything else?

Another letter from Kurt Busiek, his second in two months.



Overall

A fine comic book

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 186

24 Sunday Aug 2025

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Fantastic Four 186
“Enter: Salem’s Seven!”
Published June 1977
Writer: Len Wein
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: John Costanza
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Cover: Perez and Sinnott

Synopsis

Captured last issue by Nicholas Scratch in New Salem, his town of witches, the Fantastic Four watch as Scratch prepares to execute Agatha Harkness for the crime of revealing the town to the outside world. Although Scratch takes Franklin hostage to ensure the FF’s docility, they escape their cell only to confront Salem’s Seven, a group of super-powered minions. The Seven are defeated when they encounter Reed’s artificial arms (no, it doesn’t make much sense) and the FF manages to turn New Salem against Scratch by revealing it was he, not Harkness, that revealed their location of the outside world when he abducted Franklin. The town’s witches banishes Scratch and as the FF depart, Harkness reveals she is Scratch’s mother.


What’s going on here?

This is a pretty satisfying comic, despite a few questionable plot holes. It neatly wraps up the New Salem arc that has been percolating for a few issues, introduces some fun new villains, fills in some of Agatha Harkness’s backstory and adds some desperately needed dimension to Sue and her power set. All of these developments are proof of Len Wein’s confidence as writer and his willingness to both plumb the FF’s history for ideas while forging ahead with new ones.

The most obvious development in the comic is the introduction of Salem’s Seven, who are later revealed to be the children of Scratch (and grandchildren of Harkness). There’s a fun, goofy quality to these villains, who don’t really seem supernatural at all but rather like generic characters created by rolling dice in a role playing game. They’re generic enough that they could sub in for other Marvel villains-of-the-month, like the Wrecking Crew or Seprent Squadron, and it’s a bit surprising that they are not more frequently used. Nor did they ever become first tier FF villains.

(It’s also a bit odd their debut doesn’t at get a full splash page).

Also interesting is the glimpses into Harkness’s history. Her mysteriousness was a defining part of her persona, and while peeling back the curtain on characters with a murky past is not always a good thing (see: Puck, Han Solo), what we learned in this issue adds depth and a bit of tragedy to Harkness. Dropping the line about Scratch being her son in the final panel was definitely a dramatic twist I didn’t see coming.

The art in this issue is much like last issue’s, with Perez contributing layouts and breakdowns and Sinnott finishing it up. It works but lacks the richness of detail Perez is capable of when he fully applies himself.

What I liked

Wein seems determined to expand Sue’s use of her powers and with them, her role on the team. While there’s still a bit of her being treated like a hysterical mother when Franklin is abducted, she rises to the occasion by breaking the FF out of their jail cell (the key was it has to be done stealthily as not to raise the alarm and endanger Franklin).

Later, she uses her invisibility in a way we’ve seen many times but it still comes at a pivotal point in the story.


Perhaps not coincidentally, this expanded role for Sue comes in an issue when there are three letters to the editor making the case for just that. Notably one of the letters is from Kurt Busiek, who went on to become a longtime writer for Marvel and DC (but sadly, never of the Fantastic Four). Did Wein, who was also the comic’s editor, choose these letters to advance the case about Sue he was making in the story? It certainly seems possible.

Also: Star-Lord!

What I didn’t like

The resolution of the story, where Reed and Johnny convince the town of New Salem that Scratch is the bad guy, seems a bit too pat. Why would the town believe these outsiders over their leader (It’s possible he had them ensorcelled, and when he loses his staff he loses his power over them, but that is never explained).


There is something very silly about how Salem’s Seven introduces themselves by announcing their names in the third person. To be clear, all seven of them do this.


And the FF’s defeat of Salem’s Seven makes no sense. Somehow encountering Reed’s artificial arms negates their powers?


Anything else?

I remember this ad for the Orca movie when I was a kid and thinking it was very exciting. In retrospect it looks a lot like a Jaws rip-off, even if has a decent cast (fwiw, it gets an 11% rating from Rotten Tomatoes). Also, I’m pretty sure I had no idea who Johnny Unitas was when I first saw the ad for Daisy BB guns. Still not sure why he was a pitch-man for these things.


Overall

A fun if flawed comic

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 185

17 Sunday Aug 2025

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Fantastic Four 185
“Here There Be Witches!”
Published May 1977
Writer: Len Wein
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Gaspar Saladino
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Cover: Perez and Sinnott

Synopsis

In search of missing Franklin and Agatha Harkness, the Fantastic Four track their whereabouts to a small town in the Rocky Mountains. Despite several indications that something is amiss, the town seems normal until Harkness alerts the FF to its supernatural nature. The town is then revealed to be a haven for witches and the FF battle stone gargoyles before succumbing to the power of the coven’s leader, Nicholas Trask.


What’s going on here?

This is a solid comic that introduces Nicholas Trask and sets the table for the debut of the Salem Seven, who will appear next issue and in a subsequent annual. Having the FF battle supernatural foes is an interesting idea, since they are very much a science-based team. Over the years Reed, in particular, struggles with sorcery and it creates an intriguing challenge.

The notable aspect of this comic is the looseness of George Perez’s pencils, and it appears he really only did breakdowns, because Joe Sinnott’s inks really dominate the panels. Here’s an example:


Compared to last issue, which was Perez as the peak of his powers, the difference is jarring. There’s much less detail, the panel designs are less intricate and it’s all a bit bland. My guess is that Perez was still getting used to the demands of a monthly comic, and fell behind, so Sinnott picked up the load for him.

What I liked

Sue gets a nice action sequence, and it seems like Len Wein sees more potential for her powers than previous writers.


Wein also gives Johnny a speech that, while out of character for the Torch, reads like Wein’s declaration of principles for the FF. (It also feels like it could have been in the new Fantastic Four movie).


I liked this sequence, although it should have been bigger in the comic:


What I didn’t like

Reed seems to think the location where metal is mined is also where it is manufactured. Pretty sure that’s almost never the case.


Johnny can apparently assemble a sports car from its parts in a matter of minutes:


And there seems no getting rid of the Impossible Man:


Overall

A perfectly fine comic, although a let down after last issue

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 184

10 Sunday Aug 2025

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Fantastic Four 184
“Aftermath: The Eliminator!”
Published April 1977
Writer: Len Wein
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Joe Rosen
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Len Wein
Cover: Perez and Sinnott

Synopsis

The Fantastic Four regroup in the Baxter Building after last issue’s battle, and Sue explains to Reed that Agatha Harkness abducted their son, and then both of them disappeared from her home of Whisper Hill. The Fantastic Four go to investigate, when they are attacked by an armored creature called the Eliminator, which calls itself an enemy of Harkness. The FF trick it into destroying itself, but they are no closer to finding Franklin.


What’s going on here?

For the last handful of issues, we’ve been promised Len Wein would take over as writer. And now that he finally has … it was worth the wait. I don’t know what his future issues promise, but this one, at least, is one of the best written and enjoyable Fantastic Four comics in quite a while. There’s no real magic to it, and Wein sticks to the tried-and-true Lee / Kirby formula: some Baxter Building hijinx, some interpersonal dynamics among the team and their loved one, followed by a slow build-up toward an action-packed finish. But while it’s a familiar structure, Wein breathes new life into it, scripting a fun love-triangle between Ben, Tigra and Thundra; introducing new introspection to a now-powerless Reed; and crafting a genuinely suspenseful plot that culminates in a fun fight.

Of course, none of it would be half as interesting without the pencils of George Perez, who returns from a five-issue absence and delivers his best work on the Fantastic Four to date. The steadying presence of Joe Sinnott’s inks are still evident, but this issue feels like the first where we can really see Perez’s mature style and his signature combination of exquisite detail and powerful panel designs. It’s a treat to read.

Most notable in this issue is this incredible, 12-panel design spread over two pages, something rare at the time:

Also worth mentioning are the colors turned in Glynis Wein, then married to Len. The Whisper Hill sequences are particularly eerie because of her colors, and I wonder if sharing a home with the writer helped her better understand the story and what Len hoped to convey.

What I liked

There’s just a ton of great Perez art, like on these pages:


And this is an amazing panel (The Eliminator is a great looking villain, and his speech bubbles are a fun effect):


I liked this by-play between Ben, Tigra and Thundra:


And this scene with Reed and Sue:


What I didn’t like:

The big reveal of how the team fooled the Eliminator wasn’t all that revealing, and didn’t add much to the story.

Also, vacuum vent boots are very convenient way to defeat the Human Torch:


Overall

One of the best since the Kirby / Lee era.

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 183

03 Sunday Aug 2025

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Fantastic Four 183
“Battle Ground: The Baxter Building!”
Published March 1977
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Pencils: Sal Buscema
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Gaspar Saladino
Colors: Phil Rachelson
Editor: Archie Goodwin
Cover: George Perez and Sinnott

Synopsis

Tigra, Thundra and the Impossible Man save the Invisible Girl — defenestrated by the Brute (who is an evil Reed Richards from Counter Earth) at the end of last issue — then they all band together to overcome the Baxter Building’s defenses and attack the Brute. Meanwhile, The Thing, the Human Torch and a powerless Mr. Fantastic strike a deal with Annihilus to recover his cosmic control rod from the Mad Thinker’s Android in exchange for the use of his ship to escape the Negative Zone. The story concludes in the Baxter Building, where the Android attacks the Brute, and restores him to human form. The FF arrives, and the Thing snatches the cosmic control rod, rendering the Android inert. The Mad Thinker escapes and the Counter Earth Reed, no longer evil, enters the negative Zone to fulfill the other Reed’s pledge to return the control rod to Annihilus.


What’s going on here?

This issue marks yet another where a complicated, multi-part storyline ends with a whimper, not a bang. It’s hard to blame writer Bill Mantlo, who was handed this mess by a departing Roy Thomas, and who had to tie it up in a way that made some sense. But all the various plot threads introduced over the last four issues turned out to be easily, and in some cases lamely, resolved. Annihilus? Becomes an ally, then disappears from the story. The Android? Quickly defeated by Ben. The Mad Thinker? Skulks off without ever confronting the FF. Evil Reed? Miraculously cured of his evilness and, much like the nameless villain in issue 51, makes amends by plunging into the Negative Zone. The only loose end seems to be the Impossible Man, who wanders off mid comic.

For Mantlo, being given a thankless assignment was nothing new. He earned a reputation as an emergency fill-in guy, who could quickly churn out a story after the regular writer dropped the ball. It kept Mantlo busy and employed, but as I explored in my 2017 article about Mantlo’s tragic life, it meant he was often overlooked for more interesting work. He eventually quit comics to become a lawyer, only to suffer a massive head injury in a roller blading accident, never to fully recover.

Again filling on pencils this issue was Sal Buscema, adding to the ad-hoc feel of the comic. The “regular” creative team — although they have yet to produce an issue together — of Len Wein and George Perez takes over next issue with a clean slate, thanks to Mantlo and Buscema. (Perez did return for this issue’s cover, but it’s almost unrecognizable as his).

What I liked

The highlight of the comic was the team-up of Sue, Thundra and Tigra. As written by Mantlo, they have three distinct personalities, making for fun interactions. And led by Sue, they also rose to the occasion by fighting their way in the Baxter Building.


I am on the record as being unenthusiastic about Sal Buscema’s art, which is workmanlike without ever being very exciting. But I have to admit, the man can draw a punch.



What I didn’t like

As previously stated, much of this issue suffers from anti-climax or deus ex machina resolutions. The sudden reversion of the Brute to evil Reed by the Andoid’s cosmic rays is one example.


Another is his “cure” from being a bad guy:


Also aggravating, and taking up far too much of this comic to bother reproducing, is the convoluted explanation of the Android’s origins. While it clears up some of the confusion from last issue, it also feels like a cobbled-together explanation to tie the Mad Thinker to Annhilus and tie up the loose ends Thomas began.

Lastly, I am very weary of titles that involve some combination of “Battle” and Baxter Building.”

Overall

An unfortunate pratfall.