Fantastic Four 128
“Death in a Dark and Lonely Place!”
Published Aug. 1972
Writer: Roy Thomas
Pencils: John Buscema
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Editor: Thomas
Cover: Buscema and Sinnott

Synopsis

After Mr. Fantastic realizes the monster attacking the team is actually the Thing, whose appearance was temporarily transformed, the team regroups to confront the Mole Man, only to be captured and apparently defeated. But the Mole Man is betrayed by his erstwhile lover, Kala, and the team is able to escape his underground kingdom.

What’s going on here?

This is solid follow-up and conclusion to the story Thomas launched in the previous issue, and augers well for the rest of his run on the comic. The story has a fun and surprising twists, it’s well paced and there’s some nice characterization. No big developments, but that’s OK.

What distinguishes FF 128 isn’t the story but an insert—four pages of pinups on glossy paper (the same as used for the cover) drawn and by John Buscema (the inker is uncredited but it looks like Sinnott to me). They’re not included the online version of the comic, so I’ve photographed them:

As a kid reading the FF in 1972, I would have been pretty jazzed to see these in the middle of an otherwise ordinary comic. As a reader in 2024, they’re an interesting snapshot into who and what Marvel thought was important to depict. Leaving aside the decision not to include the FF, there’s no Agatha Harkness or Franklin, or Black Panther or Wyatt Wingfoot. The Mole Man and Frightful Four get prominent billing, but that could be because they’re appearing in this issue (Moley) or nest issue (the Frightful Four).

On the letter page, an editor’s note explains the pinups are to make up for raising the price of the comic to 20 cents, although the price hike took place a year earlier. There’s a convoluted explanation involving Nixon, but read for yourself:

What I liked

Roy does a nice job with interactions between our lead characters, including this revealing exchange between Ben and Sue:

Or this, between Sue and Reed, which continues their debate about Sue’s role on the team that started last issue:

I also liked the plot twist toward the end. It wasn’t too surprising that the beautiful and evil Kala would turn against the Mole Man in favor of handsome Tyrannus (a long-lived Roman Emperor trapped underground and who appeared as the Mole Man’s slave briefly last issue). It was surprising, however, when Tyrannus in turn double crossed Kala, and giving the Mole Man reason to free the FF.

That twist, of course, leave the Mole Man jilted at the altar, setting up this satisfying and sympathetic ending sequence.

In the current run of the Fantastic Four, writer Ryan North has Reed deploying his stretching powers in novel (and occasionally grotesque) ways. But as we learn in FF 128, creative used of Reed’s powers are not new. (Also interesting is Reed’s dialogue throughout the comics – Roy has definitely loosened him up).

What I didn’t like

If Roy has a weakness, it’s a tendency to lapse into purple prose, as he does here in this otherwise cool looking flashback splash page. Pro tip: Avoid writing in the second person if at all possible.

Anything else?

Some more intriguing ads. The fake beard-and-mustache kit—from the Masculiner Co., no less!—is particularly fascinating. Apparently you could mail in a sample of your own hair and they would match the color. Did anyone ever do that?

Overall

An excellent comic.