Fantastic Four 208
“The Power of the Sphinx!”
Published April 1979
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Pencils: Sal Buscema
Inks: “D. Hands”
Letters: Joe Rosen
Colors: Glynis Wein
Editor: Wolfman
Cover: Keith Pollard and Joe Sinnott


Synopsis

After destroying their spaceship in a case of mistaken identity, Nova rescues the Fantastic Four, who confront the Sphinx aboard Nova’s ship. As they approach Xandar, the Sphinx senses the power of the Xandar living computer and teleports to it. Meanwhile back on Earth, the Human Torch returns to the Baxter Building where he is also teleported to Xandar, and where he rejoins the rest of the FF. The FF and the champions of Xandar then battle the Sphinx, who has tapped the living computer and has become vastly more powerful. After swatting away their attacks, he heads to Earth vowing to destroy it. The issue ends with Reed concluding they need the help of Galactus to defeat the Sphinx.

What’s going on here?

Marv Wolfman’s confusing and tedious space epic drags on. While it’s all revealed in the final few issues of Nova (also written by Wolfman), he never explains why the Sphinx seems to have joined forces with Nova, and why all these other characters are along for the ride. Dr. Sun? Powerhouse? Diamondhead? The Comet and Crimebuster? Who are these guys? Don’t expect to get any answers here. I’m repeating myself but it’s a major failing of Wolfman’s and of Jim Shooter for allowing him to be his own editor. And it speaks to the general neglect of the FF by the powers-that-be during this era.

Here’s a bunch of them fighting the Sphinx, whoever they are.

The Sphinx is an odd Marvel character. He’s powerful and cosmic, but never got the traction of other, similar characters like Galactus or Thanos. He does reappear over the years, but in second-tier books and never in the Fantastic Four or Avengers main titles. It could be because he debuted in Nova, somewhat of a Marvel backwater, or because he was so closely associated with Marv Wolfman. It’s also possible that he was pre-empted by Apocalypse, another powerful, grey-skinned villain with origins in ancient Egypt.

Sal Buscema is again the penciler, while the inks in the comic are credited to “D. Hands,” which is Marvel code for inkers by committee (sometimes it’s M. Hands). Mike’s Amazing World of Comics credits Al Milgrom with the inks, while GCD says it’s a combination of Milgrom, Frank Giacoia, and Frank Springer.

Keith Pollard contributed the cover (with Joe Sinnott inking) and it might be the best single thing about this comic.


What I liked

When preparing these reviews, I occasionally have to strain to find something positive to say, and this is one of those issues.

We do get a cool splash page from Buscema:

And I liked Johnny’s journey from the Baxter Building to Xandar:

(Incidentally “Suzerain” seems to the wrong title for Adora, since Xandar is not a vassal of another entity, but it’s own independent state. I’m guessing the editor-less Wolfman just liked the sound of it and no one told him not to use it. In later comics she is called Queen Adora, which seems more appropriate.)


What I didn’t like

We are reminded early in this comic that the FF have been subject to a Skrull aging ray, which is beginning to take effect and weaken them. Here, Reed has trouble stretching and Ben can barely lift a chair:

But that all seems forgotten it comes time to fight the Sphinx:

Anything else?

This was a good comic for ads featuring wholesome, all-American sports heroes like Johnny Unitas and, um, Pete Rose and, well, errr, hmm … O.J. Simpson.

Overall

Can this arc end soon? Please?