Culture
#17: Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #6 "Captives of the Deadly Duo!"
In episode 17 of Baxter Building Radio, hosts Nate Charles and Shane Murray dive into Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #6, 'Captives of the Deadly Duo!' They discuss the creative team behind the comic,...
#17: Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #6 "Captives of the Deadly Duo!"
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Interactive Transcript
Speaker A
Foreign. Hey there, true believers. You're tuned into Baxter Building Radio via the Negative Zone feed. And welcome to episode 17 of the Fantastic Four Fan Cast. I'm your host, Nate Charles, and as always, I'm joined by my co host. His name is Shane Murray. How you doing tonight, pal?
Speaker B
I'm doing all right. How you doing, buddy?
Speaker A
Doing pretty well. Had a pretty fun and productive weekend, honestly.
Speaker B
What'd you do over the weekend?
Speaker A
I managed to get out to the LCS on Saturday and pick up a couple books, including Marvel all in One. Do you happen to get a chance to check that out yet?
Speaker B
No, because I won't get to this shop till next month sometimes.
Speaker A
Well, when you do check out Marvel all in One, it's believe it's set between the current volume of Fantastic4 issue 2 and 3, and it'll be right up your alley. It is a whole issue of Ben Grimm versus the Marvel Universe.
Speaker B
That's hilarious.
Speaker A
Oh, it. It was a very, very fun tale. Not going to spoil it for you since you weren't able to check it out. We should talk about it once you do get a chance to do.
Speaker B
The unfortunate part of, you know, being so far away from the LCS is I only get there once a month at best.
Speaker A
I feel like you make it there a little more often than that.
Speaker B
No, it's literally once a month.
Speaker A
And that's why you end up having, you know, three inch stacks of books in binders and areas of your house.
Speaker B
Yeah, so many books. I haven't even got to read through this whole weekend. So like, it's just, it's there. It's just big piles everywhere.
Speaker A
Eventually, someday, someday you'll be caught up.
Speaker B
One of the weeks of October, I took off like a whole week just because the kids are at school and Aaron's at school. And I want. I was like, I can have a whole week where I can do whatever I want during the day while they're all gone.
Speaker A
Nice. Maybe I should take off a day and we can record a bunch of episodes.
Speaker B
So I'm hoping to use that time to catch up on like the backlog of video games that needs finish and the backlog of comic books that need finished.
Speaker A
Oh, what games are in that queue?
Speaker B
Ah, dude, so many. Donkey Kong Final Fantasy 10, which is just a replay through. But I like have. I'm so close to finishing that. Bing Chaos. My God. Monster Hunter stories. Maybe finish boulders k3 finally.
Speaker A
I would like to play that at some point. I still haven't.
Speaker B
I have legitimately an ungodly Amount of games that are like seven eights done.
Speaker A
Nice. You just don't want the experience to end.
Speaker B
No, it's just I don't. I don't get back to them because I start playing something else because I'm like, well, I don't have the time to finish this because like, especially with RPGs, usually it's like, all right, you need to sit down and you have to have two solid hours till that whole like story and videos and all the other stuff is done. I just don't have that time to dedicate in the day. This is the time. This and D and D is the only time I have like slotted to dedicate to anything that's like not just being dad.
Speaker A
Yeah. And you got to put up with me in both of those activities. So props to you.
Speaker B
Just saying like trough out here.
Speaker A
Right. Then Sunday I went over to Harrisburg Comic Con. That was a pretty good time as well. They had Tom Nauk there who did the COVID art for X Men 97, among other things.
Speaker B
I totally forgot that was going on this weekend.
Speaker A
Yeah, it wasn't a bad show. I. I managed to pick up some stuff to fill in my Captain America Volume 1 collection. And something that I'm really excited about was I told you about the 616 day enamel pins. Right. That I. Yep. Started getting out in California. I finally found my last one, the I finally got the thing pin. So now I can go deck out my vest that I like to wear with my enamel pins on it and have the entirety of the Fantastic Four Galactus on there. So that was a reward. Yeah. And also now I'm just working on getting some shows ready for next year to help put on some conventions and work on the cosplay competitions and whatnot. So I'll end up having more information on those once we get a little bit closer. Hype up any listeners we may have in the area to visit those events. What about you? What did you get into this weekend?
Speaker B
I spent nine hours Saturday cleaning, like just cleaning random stuff around the outside of the house, emptying out the yard cart, cleaning off the yard cart, digging out the fire pit, clean the whole shed. You can now walk around my one shed, which is really nice. Finally got to be able to put the one ladder away that usually just hangs out outside all year. I was like, oh look, I finally can put the ladder away. Then spent more time just cleaning up stuff in the garage. Yeah. So basically just cleaned all weekend.
Speaker A
That sounds awesome.
Speaker B
That's my plan.
Speaker A
Something I should have done this Weekend.
Speaker B
Quite frankly, that's my plan for Saturday morning before we next week, before we have the little LARP event, is maybe pressure wash the house. See the pressure wash the house or start cleaning out the other shed. I get bored, so I have nothing better to do. Then once all that's done for outside, I can start moving in here and deciding what I'm boxing up so I can maybe eventually start building shelves next year.
Speaker A
Well, let me know. I'll come over and help you do that.
Speaker B
I have so many ideas and not enough time.
Speaker A
Well, speaking of things that required tons of cleanup in their aftermath, how do you feel about talking about this week's issue?
Speaker B
Sure.
Speaker A
All right. Well, this week, Shane, we are going to be deep diving into Fantastic Four, Volume 1, Number 6 cover, dated for September of 1962, but released on June 12th of 1962 with a cover price of $0.12. You ready to. You ready to play the prices? Right?
Speaker B
Are we playing the graded copy or the ungraded copy first?
Speaker A
We'll be playing the graded copy first. So if you're ready, you can go ahead and come on down.
Speaker B
Graded copy. I'm going to go with $1,200.
Speaker A
This is the graded at 9.8 via price charting. $46,121.74.
Speaker B
Absolutely diabolical.
Speaker A
Would you care to make a guess at the ungraded value?
Speaker B
$945.
Speaker A
Ooh, you went over, pal. $379.24. Still worth a pretty penny.
Speaker B
Yeah. Suppose people's car payment.
Speaker A
So the creative team on this book, we had Stan Lee as writer, editor, and, of course, editor in chief of Marvel comics at the time. Pencils by Jack Kirby with inks by both Dick Ayers and Joe Sinnett. The colorist was Stan Goldberg. The letterer was Terry Xenix. Would you like to hear a synopsis for today's book, Shane?
Speaker B
Oh, sure.
Speaker A
That's too bad, because today we're going to require a shopsis.
Speaker B
We're going to require a shopsis.
Speaker A
We sure are, pal. It's your time to shine.
Speaker B
Oh, boy. I think there's a synopsis right there on the COVID though. Realistically.
Speaker A
You'Re not wrong.
Speaker B
I. I mean, we're going to use that as the shopsis. Maybe instead of you reading this box, I'll read this box, and you can read the rest of it when we get there, and then we'll start talking about it.
Speaker A
And.
Speaker B
Shane Opsis is going to be that the diabolical duo of Doom and Namor have joined forces against the Fantastic Four. What shall happen? Who shall win? The world may never know. Or you can finish this issue.
Speaker A
So despite the fact that you told me you were going to read that box, I guess I'll go ahead and read it. Thank you for the chain Opsis that I asked for, which I thought was very good.
Speaker B
I got there and I was like, that's not it. That's too. That's.
Speaker A
That doesn't sound like it's too concise. It's too concise. Like.
Speaker B
That'S what I'm here for.
Speaker A
So I'll. I'll read that in a moment. You want to go ahead and take us through the COVID Shane?
Speaker B
Yeah. So we have this nice red top of the border there with the Fantastic Four and yellow going back to like the original, the earlier books in the series where there was the red and yellow all the time. Doom and Namor on one side, the Fantastic Four on the left side. And they are Dooms yelling at Reed and Reeds yelling at Doom. And Namor is doing weird Namor stuff with a weird punch arm motion he's got going on.
Speaker A
He really looks like he's floating in mid. It looks like he's floating in midair and getting ready to engage in a fistfight with Reed.
Speaker B
And it also looks kind of like he's holding on to Doom's cape at the same time with his right hand. I'm really confused at that motion that's going on there.
Speaker A
Nah, he's just got his hand drawn back. He's in the foreground from Doom, so he's not actually grabbing Doom.
Speaker B
But yeah, you got. You have the Fantastic Four using all of their powers. You got Reed stretching. You got two half invisible. And you got Johnny going to attack Doom and getting absolutely blasted in the face. Cool cover. It looks like it's over top of the city. So it's a really nice, like, view down from the skyline.
Speaker A
And Doom is. Looks like he's blasting the ground, which is actually a rooftop. I'm assuming it's the rooftop of the pastor building out from under Ben's feet. Ben has remarkable balance considering he's literally standing on debris that is in the air.
Speaker B
He's nimble, don't you know?
Speaker A
And we have the caption directly under the Fantastic Four logo that you were originally going to read and then decided not to have. The Fantastic Four at last met their match when the mighty submariner and evil Dr. Doom team up. Don't miss the diabolical duo join forces. And Doom yells, the time has come. Submariner Destroy the Fantastic Four. And Reid retorts, with, no matter what powers you both have, we shall defeat you. The Fantastic Four. Swear it. Very dramatic.
Speaker B
Oh, super dramatic.
Speaker A
So we open up this book and we are greeted with our title, the Fantastic Four in Captives of the Deadly Duo. Now, this is actually really interesting because when we. We look up there next to this title we have by Stan Lee and Jay Kirby. And when we were going through our credits earlier, I had said about Joe Sennett being one of the anchors on this book, but you don't actually see him get credited. You know who does make sure that he gets credited? Dickeyers. Because if you look in the lower right hand corner of this panel, right underneath the big circle that says part one, you can see Mr. Ayers had the wherewithal to put his name within the windows of a Manhattan skyscraper.
Speaker B
Well, he was thinking outside the box.
Speaker A
By putting his name in the box.
Speaker B
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A
So what do we see in our opening panel here, Shane?
Speaker B
We see Johnny flying around the rooftops, just cruising the city. Looks like not really attack anything, just flaming on for the purpose of flaming on and showing off, being a real hot head, if you would.
Speaker A
He actually buzzes by a trio of construction workers, one of which says, it's the Human Torch, headed for the Fantastic Four skyscraper headquarters. And below on the street, a crowd is also watching. And many of them are exclaiming things such as the Torch, a living legend. And I thought I'd never see him with my own eyes. We can't be certain, not from this distance. It may just be some natural phenomenon. I've seen that natural phenomenon in action before. And his three partners, too. It's kind of hard to make up your mind. You see these strange things, hear all those incredible stories. It's mass hysteria, Pete. I could no more believe in the Fantastic Four than I could in flying saucers. The Human torch, the thing, Mr. Fantastic, the invisible Girl, they're all creatures of the imagine. Hey, what. But what suddenly happened, Shane?
Speaker B
Oh, they all get kind of. They all lose their footing and start tumbling over into the ground because, you know, one of the menaces to society decides to walk through invisibly.
Speaker A
Harry. Something pushed us off. Something that brushed by us, something we can't see. And sue in her invisible form, says, pardon me, gentlemen. I must get by. A voice out of the thin air, a girl's voice, look, materializing before our very eyes. The Invisible Girl. She's one of the Fantastic Four. Imagine her being among us all this time without our knowing it. It's Enough to give one the shivers. Firstly and Torch, and now her. Something's for sure. And sue is running away from the crap. Frankly, I can't blame her because she was honestly very rude.
Speaker B
She was very rude. And they are. They do have. I mean, you would be probably afraid if there was an invisible person that could just pop up in your life at any moment in time. I understand the scared. The scaredness of it. And plus, generally when they show up, someone comes with them. Like Doom or Mole man or some. Usually when they appear, nothing good's coming with them.
Speaker A
Disturbed by the uncertain mood of the crowd, the distaffed member of the Fantastic Four hastens to the great skyscraper which houses their headquarters. The Torch has been scouting for signs of Doctor Doom. Wonder if he's brought back any news. And when did the Fantastic Four last encounter Doctor Doom.
Speaker B
Number five? It was last issue.
Speaker A
And if you're interested in checking out our deep dive into Fantastic 4 Volume 1, number 5, Prisoners of Dr. Doom, that was back in episode 13. So, sue enters the Baxter Building and she encounters a male courier who is fumbling with the elevator. This express elevator seems to be working, but not for me. I'll never get to deliver my telegram. Are you delivering any messages to the Fantastic Four, son? Er, no, ma'. Am. Then I wouldn't advise waiting for this elevator. Unless your belt has a hidden buckle like mine which throws an invisible beam on the electric eye on that door. The elevator door. It opened as if by magic. It's really very simple. She. She's one of the Fantastic4. Hey, miss. Wait. I have your autograph. The elevator door closes. Oh, too late. Meanwhile, the passengers in the elevators that ply the shafts of the skyscraper little realize that a thin wall divides them from the car that rises swiftly towards the mystery which lies above the 33rd FL. For it is on the 34th story that the world of the ordinary vanishes. And the well organized domain of the Fantastic Four begins. Here is the complete base of operations from which the war against the forces that would destroy man's freedom is waged with never ending vigilance. And we once again get a diagram of the Baxter Building. This one a little more substantial than the last time we saw it in issue three.
Speaker B
Yeah, it is. It definitely has a lot more going on.
Speaker A
So if anybody is interested in hearing what was listed in issue three that we covered back in episode number four, which was the Menace of the Miracle Man. But Shane, you want to take us through some of the stuff which was added on to this diagram, particularly those bottom Two floors.
Speaker B
So we have the living quarter, recreation room. We have the gymnasium on same. Yeah, okay. Trophy room and weapon collection, ammo room, because you got to have them separate. The chemical laboratory, electronics laboratory, computers. Why wouldn't they just be the same? And of course, I really like that we now have the rocket pipes to take the heat out the back of the building.
Speaker A
Yeah, that is a nice thing. That might have been a little bit of an oversight on the previous diagram. Also, I think it may change later on. I can't wait to see if I'm correct in this assumption. But I think the laboratories actually end up moving up two floors, which to me makes a lot more sense considering the dangerous stuff that seems to be happening within those laboratories at any given time.
Speaker B
Oh, that's why it's important for that to be above the. The living quarters to be above them so that absolute chaos can occur only in Reed Richard's fashion.
Speaker A
Yeah, I'm wondering when we next do this, they'll have the door to the Negative Zone. That might be in the parking garage. We gotta have it.
Speaker B
Yeah, in a place for anyone. The place anyone cannot access it at any time whatsoever.
Speaker A
Return the page. The invisible girl finally emerges in the recreation room. Torch. I was in the crowd that was watching your return. Have you nothing to report on Dr. Doom? He sure knows how to cover his tracks. Ben, sitting on the couch, says sure, who couldn't hide from a hot headed teenager? I bet I could find him. Johnny and Reed are answering fan mail. And sue says until we know what Dr. Doom is up to, none of us can feel safe. Don't worry, sis, whatever he does, we'll be ready for him. In the meantime, we have a lot of mail to catch up with. Here's another letter from that little boy who's hospitalized. In fact, he's at Harmon General Hospital right across the street. This letter gives his floor and the location of his room. Say, won't he be tickled if I just drop in for a visit unexpectedly? It'll sure give him something to talk about with his fellow shut ins. And Reid stretches his way from the recreation room window across the street to Harmon General Hospital and into the window of this sick boy. What? I. I must be seeing things. But no, it. It's Mr. Fantastic in person. I thought you might like a chat, Tommy. Happily, the youngster bubbles over, throwing many questions at his famous guest. Well, the reason my costume stretches to any length that I do is that it's woven from chemical fibers containing unstable molecules that shift in structure when I affect the change. But the general public is made up of critics as well as friends, and there are challenges as well as questions. And Johnny, reading a letter, says, and if the Thing will meet us on the corner of Ashby and Main street, we'll knock that chip off his shoulder and make him like it. Signed, the Yancey Street Gang. I've heard from those mealymass braggarts before. They get their kicks out of trying to rile me. Well, are you going to answer them, Thing? You bet I will. The Thing picks up a hunk of metal. This block is titanium steel, 6 inches thick, and the strongest metal known to man. I'll just roll it by hand into a form acceptable for mailing. I wouldn't want the Yancy Gang to think I wasn't here. Send this to them and on the day they manage to unroll it, I'll personally congratulate them. Phew. If I could only face an enemy worthy of my strength. A foe like Dr. Doom or Submariner. And when was the last time that the Fantastic Four encountered the submariner?
Speaker B
In Fantastic Four Number Four.
Speaker A
And if you are interested in listening to that episode, you can check that out in episode eight, the Coming of the Submariner. I'll pick Doctor Doom for outright villainy. Submariner is hostile because he's hurt and bitter. What's the difference if there's an ill wind blowing anywhere, One of those two has probably started it. Yes, an ill wind is blowing. It is not yet a cyclone, nor even a harsh gust as yet. It is a general zephyr touching the placid waters of the ocean, from which playful porpoise leap at the blue sky. And our scene shifts to where Shane.
Speaker B
To the ocean, where we get to see a ship looking at the porpoises. And Namor playing with the. The porpoises in the ocean.
Speaker A
And a passerby on the cruise liner says, look, there's a whole school of porpoise keeping pace with the ship. And his companion says, what a lovely sight. They're like children at play. Children. The sunlight wasn't known to play tricks with one's vision. I'd swear that there was a man among those porpoises. And as the submariner dives up out of the water with these dolphins, he says, now, my subjects, the next maneuver. Alas, it is one of those times when vision is accurate. But who could believe the most amazing of sights? Prince Namor. And underneath the water. I'm. I'm not familiar with swimming terms. They're doing one of those. Those rings made of the porpoises in the submariner.
Speaker B
Yeah, they got some nice synchronized swimming going on there.
Speaker A
There you go. Excellent. Well done. Meanwhile, high above the scene of innocent frolic, an evil presence hovers, searching the broad expanse of water with a baleful electronic eye. And who do we see at the controls of an airship, Shane?
Speaker B
Ah, we see none other than the back of Dr. Doom's head.
Speaker A
Ah, I finally found him. I knew my television scanner would pick him up at low level. Focus now, submariner. We have work to do. I'll buzz him at wave height. That'll attract his attention. And Dr. Doom's plane begins to dive towards Namor as he surfaces above the waves. Well, well. So a surface mortal dares invade the privacy of Prince Namor. And Namor dives back underwater and attempts to flank the airplane. Submariners vanish beneath the sea. But this arrow sub can trail him there, too. I'll just surprise that curiosity seeker and give him more than he bargained for. And Namor comes bursting out from the waves into the sky. What? This ought to set him back on his heels. Hmm. His craft is of strange design. I wonder who he is. And Namor lands on the hull of the arrow sub. And Doom says, I come in peace, submariner. Our meeting has been inevitable and long delayed. Is that so? Come out where I can get a good look at you and Doom. As implied, he steps out onto the hull of the aeroplane and he shakes the submariner's hand. So you shall behold the face of your new ally. The one who shares your ambition. The punishment and total defeat of the Fantastic Four. And then of all mankind. That is strong talk, whoever you are. Never fear. I am strong. Strong enough to join the powers of science. To those of darkness. Show me the puny mortal who does not tremble at the name of Dr. Doom. We turn the page to find part two, the Fantastic Four, in When Super Menaces Unite. And what are we seeing here, Shane?
Speaker B
We're seeing that arrow sub following Neymar through the ocean back to what is somewhat known as Atlantis.
Speaker A
I do enjoy seeing Jack Kirby draw aquatic life. He's got whales. He's got various fish. He's got a squid.
Speaker B
Yeah, he likes to drop in there.
Speaker A
Eager for parlay, Dr. Doom folds back the wings of his arrow sub and noses it into the depths of the sea as Submariner darts through the cold green shadows of his domain. They move across submerged canyons and valleys, over the ruins of a once proud city where a vanished race once lived in harmony. Ghost voice that once hailed Sub Mariner as Prince Namor submariner finally leads Dr. Doom to his new quarters, a large dome villa in a field of swaying undersea vegetation. The airlock opens to admit them. Relaxing amid the comfort of submariner's new home, Dr. Doom reveals his thoughts. And you want to go ahead and describe this pad that Namor's got going on?
Speaker B
Yeah, he has, like, a weird chair and some netting. I'm assuming he just took from the sea out of spite a star table which is wild. And a jellyfish in a globe. And of course, he has to have a picture of sue, because. What? Pat wouldn't be acceptable without a picture of Sue.
Speaker A
It's a little creepy, if you ask me.
Speaker B
Overall, very colorful. It's very colorful and very befitting of Namor.
Speaker A
And he has apparently also provided Doom with a beverage of sorts. It would appear that you've taken a holiday from your campaign against the surface world. Men no longer speak your name in be then they are fools. My wrath can easily reawaken their fears. And Doom observes the picture of Sue Storm. Ah, the Invisible Girl. So she's the reason for your changed attitude. Of course. If you wage war against the Fantastic Four, you must be her enemy, too. Take care of that female is no concern of yours. I am making it my concern, Submariner. It must be evident by this time that to defeat the Fantastic Four, it may take a diabolical duo. You and I striking out for power and revenge. What has happened to your thirst for revenge? Have you forgotten the glistening towers of your once great civilization? The culture and comfort enjoyed by your happy subjects? Where are your people and their proud works? Imagine how they had to flee for their lives before the barbarians from the surface could conduct their underwater H bomb test in this particular area. Fortunately, you were absent during the destruction. But the ruins testify to what must have happened. And your vanished subjects? Will you ever again find them as you search the endless depths? And as Doom recounts all this, Namor has put his head in his hands solemnly. Imagine your great and proud people struggling for thousands of years, defeating all the terrors of the deep, to build a civilization superb and beautiful. Yes, beautiful and glowing with life. Until that last terrifying moment when that monster of a bomb lodged in the midst of that beauty, gone. All that glorious history, gone in one brief instant, replaced by an ugly crater in the ocean floor, littered with fused masonry and bitter memories that cry out revenge. Revenge. Revenge upon the surface world that did this in its ignorance. Revenge upon humanity's defenders. Death to the fantastic. And Namor lifts his hands from his head with angry Resolve. I. I cannot harm the girl, but I will aid you in defeating the others. And Doom holds out a small device to Namor. And what does it look like here?
Speaker B
It ironically looks like a red lightsaber to me.
Speaker A
Okay. For those of our fans, and there's probably very few of them that don't know what a lightsaber looks like. Go ahead and take us through that.
Speaker B
It's a red cylinder with like a little button at the top. And then there's a device controlling it also that ends Dooms hands, that has like a. A little switch. And it looks like like a meter on the bottom probably to tell it what it can do. I'm not 100 positive what it's like main goal is it might be an ample.
Speaker A
It might be an amperage meter that you know, shows how much power it's putting out.
Speaker B
No, I meant like the whole goal of it. It's like he calls it like a grabber or something like that. But it's really weird. It weird design that I would only. You'd only see from dude or Jack Kirby.
Speaker A
Yeah, very well then I agree. But before I tell you of my plan, let me demonstrate the power of my magnetic brain children. I call this cylinder a grabber. At a touch of this control knob, I can launch it in any direction. Observe. And the cylinder piece of the grabber goes flying from Namor's underwater villa and across the ocean. Traveling on its magnetic beam, the grabber swiftly, tirelessly covers vast distances of the undersea kingdom. As if it had a will of its own, the grabber zeroes in on the head of a huge pagan idol. Mired for centuries in the ooze of the sea bottom, the huge mass begins to stir, trembling in the pull of titanic unseen force. Slowly it is lifted from the strong grip of its age old prison. Then, with one sudden frightful yank, the mammoth idol's head breaks free and drifts like a feather on the magnetic current traveled by the grabber. And the head is pulled into view of the villa wherein Doom says there. When I release this knob, my grabber brings back its catch. No matter how heavy or how large some catch, that idol's head must weigh countless tons. You mean that little cylinder was able to lift all that? Magnetic force is unlimited. When amplified, it has the strength of giants. All that power is locked in this small cylinder. Now I shall dismantle the grabber. You will be able to hide its tiny parts in the hollows of your belt buckle. Shane, what can you hide in the hollows of Your belt buckle?
Speaker B
Nothing. Because my belt buckle doesn't have any hollows. I don't have a utility belt. Do you have a utility belt?
Speaker A
I do have a utility belt because I'm a class player. But none of the belts I have have buckles that have hollows in them.
Speaker B
I have one belt. Do you actually own a belt buckle?
Speaker A
No, I don't.
Speaker B
So I have absolutely have one belt buckle. And it is a giant. It is basically a Pauldron. It's a Boba Fett Pauldron. That's the belt buckle.
Speaker A
Interesting.
Speaker B
I'm sure that really surprises you.
Speaker A
Not really. So Namor puts the pieces in the hollows of his belt buckle. Done. I take it that I am to reassemble the grabber at some point in your plan. When you're ready to release its incredible power. Yes. When you come face to face with our enemies. The Fantastic Four. Now listen closely. Soon after, above the ocean's surface, a passenger jet is coming by. As Namor bursts from the waves. Look below us. Something's been shot out of the water. Holy Hannah. Check our course. We may have drifted into an area where our subs are testing Polaris missiles. That's a terrible flight plan.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker A
Namor actually starts heading directly for the cockpit of this plane. Yeah. That missile's coming right for us. No time to dodge. It's gonna hit head on. Wait, that's not a missile. It's. It's. Namor quickly zooms upward to avoid collision. Bah. That's enough horseplay. I mustn't forget my mission. The pilots are exasperated. Tell me what we saw wasn't true. That couldn't have been real. I'm sure not gonna write it in our logbook. Nobody would believe us. Submariner wastes little time. He becomes a meteor, a lightning bolt, a streak across the midday sky, speeding towards the coastline of America. And on what I would assume is the ferry to Ellis island or Liberty Island. We have a photographer say a ferry boat will make a great snapshot. Matilda. Just the kind of memento to remind us of our visit to the big city. But his companion has seen Namor and tries to get his attention with a Hiram a moment later, in the city itself. Once again, the crowd on the street has been taking notice of unusual activities. This time with Namor walking amongst their persons. What's all that commotion? Wow, look who's coming up the street. Oh, my. Fearless calm, fully aware of his great powers, Submariner confidently makes his way through the uneasy staring crowds. No fooling. It's Submariner. No Fooling. It's Submariner, I tell you. He looks just like he does in the stories I've read. Why is he here? What's he up to? He don't look so tough to me. Stand aside. I frown upon any interference from mere mortals. Yeah, him. He acts like he owns the town. The Fantastic Four will take him down a peg. Just wait till they find out he's here. Say, do you think he's come for a showdown? Submariner ignores the varied emotions he stirs among the populace. Even the appearance of the police disturbs him little as he continues on his way. And the officers converse among themselves. It's Submariner. We can turn him in for creating a disturbance. Easy. Don't borrow trouble before it starts. We'll alert the entire force in case we have to take him. But the tension, ever present during the rare appearances of the Sea Lords, seem to blanket the city. It seeps into corners and crevices, reaching everywhere, even into the headquarters of the Fantastic Four. And what do we see in this final panel, Shane?
Speaker B
We just see some blue eyes staring into a black hole. Because you can see that. It's like reflect. You can see the light on the outside of the room. And I'm just staring at the the shot.
Speaker A
And a hand is reaching into that slot. Hey, what's glistening behind this shelf of books? And when we turn the page, we see that Johnny Storm is at the bookshelf as his sister Susan enters the room. Torch, what are you doing? Why are you poking among those books? I saw something hidden behind them. A glossy photograph. And he holds out a picture of Namor. So we've got a little mutual creepy admiration society going on here.
Speaker B
This is that adulterous lust that Doom speaks of.
Speaker A
Sure is. She's not married at this point, though. It's just a crush. I suppose you know the identity of the face in this photo? I do. Now give me that portrait. It belongs to me. So you've gone soft on Submariner, our archenemy. Well, I'll tear this into a thousand pieces before. Hey, sue, where are you? Turning invisible won't get you this photo. And sue attempts to grab the photo from behind. Johnny, give me that photo, you insolent brat. No, you don't. I figured you'd try to sneak up behind me. And the commotion draws the attention of both Reed and Ben into the room. What's going on here, you two? Nothing much. I'm burning a picture. A photo of Submariner. You've got no right to do that. It was my property. Do you hear? Bah. I knew it. All a gal wants is a good looking guy. Doesn't matter if he's the most dangerous creep on Earth. I think you owe us an explanation, Sue. How can I explain something that I don't understand myself? I know Sub Mariner is hostile to us, but. And in that same instant. But there is still something about him. Something genuine. Oh, who burst into the room, Shane?
Speaker B
None other, but Namor himself.
Speaker A
Submariner? How? How'd you get here? Flying through a window is no problem to Prince Namor. We turn the page and we start part three, Fantastic Four in When Friends Fall Out. And what are we seeing in this opening half page? Splash.
Speaker B
We have Reed wrapped around Ben so he doesn't do anything, you know, absolutely silly. And Johnny kind of hiding behind the two of them. And then sue trying to make Namor and them understand by gently caressing his shoulder.
Speaker A
And Reid says, wait, we've got to keep our tempers. Let him speak his piece. I won't give him the chance. I'll. I'll pulverize that human fish into dry dust. Let me add him. No. If Samaritan or Meta's harm, he wouldn't have walked in among us this way. The girl is right. My mission is one of peace. Well, I don't believe him. Stand away from him, Sue. I'll see that he doesn't escape us again. And Johnny flames on and begins encircling Namor. A circle of flame. No, no, you can't do this. You must hear him out. Why, he's not even trying to defend himself. He is too angry to listen to reason. You'd best stay out of the way. I do not fear the torch. And Namor shoves Sue aside. Wait. Prince Namor fears nothing on this planet. Let him do his worst. And Johnny begins to aim his flame at the floor beneath Namor's feet. We'll see how brave you are, Mr. Big Talk. I think I'll soften up your steel nerves before I really go to work on you. The Human Torch burns a circle of fire into the floor around Submariner when it's completed. Just the kind of childish prank I'd expect from you. You won't think so in one second. Suddenly, the floor gives way beneath Submariner's feet as the flaming circle falls into the room below. But Namor doesn't fall with it, as the wings on his ankles prevent him from doing so. Well, you can see I did not fall through. You forgot I have the power to defy gravity. But unlike you, my power does not fade even as your flame begins to fade now. And indeed, before the Human Torch can act, his white hot flame loses its consistency and begins to cool. Until my flame has run its time limit, I'm changing back to human form. I've failed. Failed. And Reid says, fate has given you a reprieve, Submariner. Now speak or give battle. I've come to seek your trust. You see, mine is a lonely kingdom. And a lasting friendship may prove more value than any fleeting taste of revenge. Very impressive, Submariner. Only I'm not inclined to shake your hand too readily. How do we know it's not a plot? How do we know you haven't set a trap? Yeah, you better do some fast checking, pal. I'll keep an eye on him. Oh please, listen to him. Can't you see he's sincere? And Reid and Johnny begin rushing down the halls starting to look for traps. I'm still for checking. Come on, Torch. We can look in on every room by closed circuit television. We can find out soon enough if he set any traps in here. And we get TV screams at the lobby, the Michelange area, the conference room, the chemistry lab, the electronics lab, the map study, the observatory. I mean, it really just goes to double down on that whole diagram we saw earlier, Shane.
Speaker B
It also goes to show that he was the first person to be real cautious about his security.
Speaker A
It's very thorough. Projection room all clear. Roof landing strip, right corner all clear. I don't get it. We've scanned every corner of our base of operations without finding one booby trap. Nothing seems amiss. Yet. I can't get rid of the feeling that Submariner's been up to no good. Luckily the working day is over. The rest of the building is empty. We can check that out too. And Reid pops up on a monitor in the recreation area where Namor is being guarded by Ben. Well, my suspicious friend, does my presence here pass your rigid inspection? I'm not satisfied yet, Submariner. Stay where you are. I'm coming back to ask a few more questions. Well, you'll just have to wait for the time being. I'm on a holiday and I've decided to take this charming young lady on a tour of the city. And he gestures towards Sue. Submariner's flippant mood suddenly vanishes as a loud tremor shakes the entire building. It makes a sound. Shane.
Speaker B
Rag.
Speaker A
Slowly, smoothly, the great skyscraper begins to rise free of its foundation, begins to rise above the now deserted streets. The building, it's rising into the air. We're going higher, faster. This is your doing, Submariner. You can stop this. I can't, you fools. I planted the trap. But it's been triggered by Dr. Doom. And it is a surreal sight watching the Baxter Building slowly rise into the sky.
Speaker B
Yeah, it's a pretty cool site.
Speaker A
Our next page we come to part four, the Fantastic Four in Trapped and Man. What are we looking at here, Shane?
Speaker B
We are looking at the Baxter Building that is well above this this city and above the planes flying underneath it.
Speaker A
And we see Johnny Reed and Ben looking downward at how high they are from the city while the Submariner is looking upward at Dr. Doom's aircraft to which the Baxter Building has been magnetically attached. It's a wonderful perspective shot, quite frankly.
Speaker B
It is definitely a wonderful shot.
Speaker A
We're now thousands of feet above the city and going higher. At this rate, we've only got minutes left before we reach the upper atmosphere. What is Dr. Doom to do with this? Submariner? The double crossing dog is in a rocket plane above pulling the ship into space. But how? How is he doing it? There is a control panel in his plane attracting a magnetic grabber which I planted in a dark corner of the basement. And our only hope of ever getting down is to seize control of that plane. The air is getting mighty thin. We'll perish from lack of oxygen before we can take any action. Meanwhile, Dr. Doom draws his victims into the ionosphere and closer to the twilight edge of space. The windows in our portion of the building are strong enough to hold in the air remaining to us for a short while. Reed says from the Baxter Building while Doom in his rocket plane. Who can doubt the genius of Dr. Doom? Now my plan is working without a hitch. I've managed to snare the only beings capable of blocking my ambition to rule the entire world. Submariner never guessed he was included in that group. Now he's as helpless as the rest of them. But in the building, caught by magnetic currents. Our orbit plane it was toppled and damaged when the building shifted. Our one sure hope of overtaking Dr. Doom gone. We've still got our powers to rely on. But first let's break out our stock of space helmets and oxygen tanks. Hurry. And sue has gone limp at Reed's arms as Neymar affixes one of the space helmets to her. Poor girl. She almost passed out from lack of air. This will bring her around. Johnny, now wearing a helmet and an oxygen tank, goes towards the window and begins to flame on. Our costumes are made to withstand the extreme conditions of space. The bodies of the thing and Submariner can also resist those conditions. So I think it's safe to open this window and make an attempt to reach Dr. Doom. Flame on. But what happens when Johnny exits the building? Shane?
Speaker B
Oh, his flame instantly flames off. He wasn't thinking about the lack of oxygen in space.
Speaker A
My flame, it burned up for a moment and then suddenly snuffed out. I forgot there's no oxygen in space to feed it. And as Johnny careens back towards the Earth, which would be quite a fall, Reid actually manages to reach out and with his elasticity, grab Johnny. Without his flame, the torch can't fly. Luckily, my power can work in space. I cut him before he could fall back to Earth. And he pulls Johnny back through the window. Hey, what's wrong now? We've lost our footing. That ain't all we lost. There's no more gravity. We're weightless. And all the team is now floating about the recreation area. And Reed goes for the window as well. I'm going to make my try for Dr. Doom. You'll have to serve as an anchor thing. And Ben grabs Reid's legs. Okay, okay, Stop flapping your lips and move. And Reid begins to scale the building using his elasticity. So far, so good. When I reach the roof, I'll make my leap. Marshaling the full strength of his ability to stretch the pliable structure of his body, Mr. Fantastic leaps across the wide gap of space toward the rocket ship. This isn't as easy as I thought it would be, but I've got to make it somehow. Conditions in space tend to weaken my powers. Taxing myself to the limit almost. I'm almost within reach of Doom's ship. If I can just exert a little more effort. One of the ship's rockets suddenly sprouts a short, ineffectual burst of flame. But it's enough to make Mr. Fantastic recoil in pain. Ow. And Reed immediately snaps back to form and is assisted back inside by both Johnny and Ben. Reed, your hands. What happened up there? Doom must attract him by radar. And fired a rocket burst. His burns ain't too bad, but he'll be out of action for a while. Just our luck. And they devise a cot out of parachute netting for Reid. And sue bandages. His hands. There. You'll be alright. Now. This parachute webbing will keep you from getting knocked about in the near zero gravity. Well. That leaves the problem of rescue up to me. And my strength is useless in this situation except for one thing. Submariner to finish you off for getting us into this fix. And Ben takes a swing At Namor. Stay clear of me, you big ugly lump. Not until I've settled with you for good. That'll be the day. The battle of Titans is cut short by the voice of Dr. Doom. Greetings, my crusading friends. To those of you who are still alive to hear these words, I can tell you that we are near the close of this little journey. But before I part with your delightful company, I shall set your building on a collision course with the sun, which I am certain will receive you warmly, if you'll forgive my little jest. And the ship is dragging the Baxter Building towards the sun. I guess that's it. We're done for. No, we're not. That Jackal Dr. Doom still has Prince Namor to reckon with. Is there a water storage tank in the building? Yes, it's on this floor, Sub Mariner. But I don't see what good that'll do. And Namor climbs a ladder and throws himself into the water storage tank. The words of resignation fall on deaf ears. Led to the compact water tank. Submariner plunges into its depths. Ah, this is more like home. I can feel myself growing stronger, stronger. Doubling my power for the leap into space. I've taken tremendous leaps out of the ocean, further than any porpoise. Why should I not be able to do it now, when I dare not fail? And when he is ready. Don't do it, Submariner. I've tracked a meteor swarm heading this way. It means certain death. That meteor swarm is what I'm counting on to help me reach Dr. Doom. And now the word is. And the Submariner leaps out into space. Go. Go, go. On the next page, we hit part five. The Fantastic Four. The end or the beginning. What are we looking at here?
Speaker B
We're looking at Namor launching off of like an asteroid or a little rock chunk that's floating around Earth. To get that little extra momentum to catch up to Doom.
Speaker A
As he is landing on the plane's hull, Namor says, it worked. I was able to leap from one passing meteor to the other. Until now. Now for the reckoning. But suddenly, at the flip of a control lever from inside the amazing ship, an all powerful band of magnetism pins Prince Namor to the steel hull of the cabin. Ugh. Can't move. Unable to rise, Sub Mariner's powerful fists exert tremendous pressure on the fuselage beneath him. This magnetic force may keep me from getting up, but it can't stop me from going down. The thick metal buckles and groans until Submariner's arms crash through into the Ship's interior. When the air rushes out, the hull beneath Submariner collapses and carries him down with it. So I have questions here, Shane. Yes, because normally when you do something like this, where the hull of something like a plane or a ship or whatnot is penetrated, there is massive decompression where everything rushes outward. And therefore I would think Namor would be blowing into space right now. I'm sure Stan was thinking this whole magnetism thing was going to suck him in, but if that's the case, he should be stuck to the floor, right?
Speaker B
He should be stuck to the floor, but he is technically stuck to the floor, the roof. So I'm assuming they thought that when it would open, he would just suck automatically to the next level, according to Stan. I'm just saying, like we're speculating here, Lee. Stan is. He's one of a kind.
Speaker A
And Namor begins to wrench on the vault door to the cockpit. Now, if I can only break into the pilot's cabin before Dr. Doom makes his next move, I'm sure he knows I'm in the ship. Suddenly, a thousand great hammer blows of electricity smash into the sea Monarch, hurling him back into the darkness. It makes a sound, Shane.
Speaker B
You get a nice crack as the lightning strikes in.
Speaker A
Meanwhile, on the other side of the steel wall, Dr. Doom listens for sounds of movement. I don't hear a thing. That's the end of Submariner. His attempt to stop me was the last. Now all I have to do is push down this lever and break contact with the building. Slowly but surely, it will spiral into the sun, taking with it the rest of my enemies. But what happens, Shane?
Speaker B
He gets like, he gets shocked. While he's trying to do his good to set his lever.
Speaker A
Ah, I. I can't touch anything. The whole cabin is charged with electricity. And here's the rest of it, full blast. You didn't kill me with that electric charge. Like an electric eel, I absorbed it, stored it, and now I'm returning it. And Namor is funneling electricity through the cabin door into the cockpit.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker A
Got to get out of here before I. Dr. Doom flings open a floor escape hatch. The outrushing air literally explodes him away from the ship and into the vast cold reaches of space. His high rate of speed carries him into the course taken by the meteor swarm. Instinctively, he reaches out for support and frantically clutches a speeding meteor. The rocky space wanderer streaks onward, unmindful of its human rider. Unmindful of the loneliness of its never ending journey. For eternity is a long, long time. And Dr. Doom, who has coveted all of the Earth, now has all of eternity to scheme in a much larger domain, the universe itself. While back on Earth, the hour is late, the dark streets deserted on skyscraper row, and the stray individuals who later witnessed the silent return of the Baxter Building from the skies write it off as a bad dream, an hallucination resulting from the anxieties that plague our nuclear society. But to the Fantastic Four, the sight of the city is a miracle greater than their incredible experience. We're. We're home. Home. A submariner in Dr. Doom's spaceship has guided the building back to the Foundation. Thanks to him, we're alive. How do you think. An enemy submariner somewhere above us in that confounded ship. And if I could reach him, I still don't know if I'd shake his hand or try to smash him. Oh, he isn't our enemy. I just know it. He's so full of pain and bitterness that it blinds his better instincts. Saverner needs time. Time to heal. At that moment, Johnny comes flying into the room. I found it. I found that Grabber gadget just where Submariner said he planted it. We'd better remove it. It's dangerous as long as it remains active. Yeah, it's like living with a live bomb. And soon after, in the building basement. There it is, conceived by Dr. Doom and delivered by a misguided Prince Namor. And the cylinder is attached to the ceiling. You mean that thing? That thing lifted the entire building. It's no bigger than a tin can. And Ben tries to pry it off, but still finds himself instead doing what looks to be like chin ups. And when Johnny tries to help him, he too is carried into the air. Ugh, talk about power. We can't budge this thing. You forget that it harnesses the strength of a titanic natural force. Dr. Doom was an evil genius, but a genius nevertheless. What a tragedy. His great mental abilities produce such miracles for sinister purposes. As for Submariner, who knows what his future holds for him? And what happens? Shane?
Speaker B
Namor calls the cylinder back to where it once came.
Speaker A
Look out. It's too late to stop it. The gadget detached itself. It's flying away as if possessed by a will of its own. The Grabber shrieks across the city with the speed of light until it's lost to the sight over the ocean. Sometime later, in a remote latitude, the cylinder homes in on the spaceship piloted by Submariner. When it is inside the ship, Prince Namor sends the vehicle into a spin and hurtles from it. The sea will make A fit resting place for the works of Dr. Doom. They will lie where they can no longer do further harm. So shall I return to the sea. Perhaps someday, when I am no longer haunted by the bitter memories of my lost people, I may return. But until then, this is where I belong. In the sea, which is my home. Next issue. Don't miss the most startling Fantastic Four adventure of all. Watch for it. The end. All right, Shane. Well, what did you think of this adventure?
Speaker B
I. I did have a lot of fun with this one. I. I like when you got a little. A little anytime someone tries to one up Doom. What about yourself?
Speaker A
I mean, this is a classic super villain team up. And I mean, I think it's the first supervillain team up of the Marvel universe, quite frankly. I know we haven't hit the point where Submariner has teamed up with the Hulk in the Avengers yet, even though the Hulk I know is more of an anti hero. So, I mean, I think Luthor had teamed up with maybe like Toyman and Prankster or with the Joker before this over in DC Comics, but first of its kind for Marvel really has some historical significance. And yeah, like you said, it's a. It's a fun time. You get the. You start getting the trope of just terrible things happening to the Baxter Building, so.
Speaker B
All right, you ready to start our four things there, buddy?
Speaker A
Absolutely. I think you go first this time. So go ahead, Shane, what was your favorite panel?
Speaker B
My favorite panel was page three, panel five.
Speaker A
Oh, so you're going with the diagram again?
Speaker B
Of course. Anytime there's a diagram, the answer is diagram. It was really. It was hard, though. It was between the diagram and the. The amazing amount of elevators this one building holds. Just a sheer number of elevators is amazing for one building.
Speaker A
I mean, I can understand that there are, you know, there's at least an Express elevator and four regular elevators. @ the very least, it is a New York skyscraper. Though I would think you would have like, two on one side and maybe two on the other side instead of all of them being perpendicular. In fact, you know what? Maybe there's nine elevators, because maybe there's four on one side, four on the other, and the express elevator to the Fantastic Four headquarters.
Speaker B
What's your panel, buddy?
Speaker A
So my favorite panel is actually page 16, panel 1. That half page splash, that was my runner up. Yeah, that is just an incredible perspective shot of the Baxter Building being lifted high above Manhattan. And it does its job so well that it makes me queasy. I have this weird thing with heights. Like, I Can ride roller coasters and do things like that. But if you put me in, like, even, like, with a harness, like, if you put me on, like, a lift at work and I'm, like, slowly swaying back and forth, that bothers me. So this. This engenders those same feelings and, yeah, it's just incredibly well drawn. I do like the planes for perspective. I kind of wonder why they're all flying in that formation. Like, to me, that's like an army training exercise or an Air force training exercise. But why would they be doing that directly over Manhattan? I don't know. Doesn't take much away from it, though. Still incredibly done.
Speaker B
Yeah, I. I also. I just thought the perspective was awesome. And they did a great job of showing, like, just how small Manhattan looked while this was terribly high in the sky.
Speaker A
Absolutely. So well done, Jack Kirby. So we're going to move along to this age poorly. And my choice for what aged most poorly in this issue was page 14, panel 8, where when Reed and Ben are suspicious of Neymar's intentions and thinking that he may have set traps around the building, sue says, oh, please, listen to him. Can't you see he's sincere? She is way too naive here. It's unrealistic. And the writing just kind of reeks of male chauvinism with the whole having her play the dumb female role in this story. Blinded by attraction. I mean, and I hate it.
Speaker B
I mean, it does go both ways, though.
Speaker A
How so?
Speaker B
Because he's also. Doesn't want to harm her, so he's also blinded by attraction.
Speaker A
Right. I understand that much. But I mean, as sue develops, she is a. Presented as a much more intelligent person than this. Like, she wants to give Neymar the benefit of the doubt, but given on their prior interactions with Neymar, you know, she should at least have thoughts that maybe he should be. I. I'll say verified, because, I mean, obviously she's already been checking him out. But.
Speaker B
I mean, he. He. He's there. He doesn't. It's. It's all there. He wears his skivvies skin tight, buddy.
Speaker A
Yeah. Anyway, what. What was your choice for the sage Poorly this week?
Speaker B
I had 12. 2 and 8. 2.
Speaker A
Oh, if you're gonna pick one.
Speaker B
It. It's. It's a mutual thing of their admiration for each other.
Speaker A
I mean, Neymar still holds that to this day.
Speaker B
Yeah, there's. There's that. Which I still don't like because I would hope that he would get over it by now. And then her just having this 8 by 10 glossy photo picture. Sorry, that's a reference to a song that you might not know, but.
Speaker A
Oh, what songs and by whom?
Speaker B
Alice's Restaurant by Harlow Guthrie.
Speaker A
Okay.
Speaker B
It is an interesting. It's just an interesting thing. And then the whole thing that stems from it down to Johnny just lighting it on fire because that whole thing just aged poorly for me because they're like, well, sue, you have some explaining to do. Not Johnny. Of explaining to do. Just for lighting her personal property on fire.
Speaker A
Okay. I just some quick research and this issue actually predates Alice's restaurant.
Speaker B
Oh, I'm sure it predates Alice's restaurant. I'm just talking about this. The glossy photo picture things referenced in the song.
Speaker A
Okay.
Speaker B
Has nothing to do with the Fantastic Four. It has everything to do with Thanksgiving.
Speaker A
So what was your Paige Turner moment for this issue?
Speaker B
I went with the page of 11 5.
Speaker A
So Johnny reaching for the book, or Johnny Johnny through the books for the photograph.
Speaker B
Rather Johnny reaching through the books for the photograph.
Speaker A
Why did this have you on the edge of your seat?
Speaker B
Because one, I wasn't. It didn't give you a really good idea of who it was at first in that little scene. And then two, you never know what's going to be there behind there. Because that could have been. That could have been a spot where they put the device initially. That could have been a listening device from Doom. It could have been listening device from Namor. You never know. All kinds of things that could have been placed behind those books and until.
Speaker A
You found an 8 by 10 glossy photo.
Speaker B
Yeah. Needless to say, I was disappointed. It was the page turner moment for me. Just because it was like when you're first reading it, you don't know what's going there. And then you get that. But what was yours, bud?
Speaker A
So this is interesting. Normally I keep it to a panel. This one I didn't, though. It's actually four panels. So mine is page 20, panels four through seven. Neymar's space leap. So when he does this, you know, it's the whole action of the story has just been ramped up. You know, they're heading towards the sun. There's the distance between themselves and Doom. There's a media. There's a meteor shower that Neymar needs to work his way through. You know, and when you initially think of it, you're thinking, oh, well, he's going to get hit by space rocks and thrown off into space. But the fact that, you know, it ends up not being that, you know, how's he going to get into the spacecraft, but he ends up hopscotching across these meteors and powering his way in. And it's just. It does not disappoint. Unlike your last choice. But no, this is just, you know, everything just before the climactic actions of this story and. Yeah. Really had me on the edge of my seat the first time I read this.
Speaker B
Yeah, no, it does. It does do exactly what you said. I was trying to find an actual page this time because I'm very known for doing, like, two panels into a page turner. So I was trying to find, like, just the one thing. And that. That's why I went with my panel I had. This was my runner up, but the. Just the go wasn't enough of a page turner. You kind of need that little build up into that.
Speaker A
Yeah. And that's why I went with panels four through seven.
Speaker B
Yeah. But, yeah, great. Great choice. So you got mvp, buddy.
Speaker A
Yeah. So mvp. I was really reluctant with this this week, I'm not gonna lie. But I have to give it to Prince Namor. The reason that I was reluctant for it is because him being such a rube for Doom's scheme is what allows this entire thing to happen. But he does, you know, exhibit quick thinking when the rest of the Fantastic Force powers fail to diffuse the situation. And he ultimately does save the day and return our fabulous force him to safety. And then on top of that, he. He kind of takes a look at himself and kind of decides he's going to take some time to seek some solitary atonement for what he's done.
Speaker B
Yeah. I also had Namor for my MVP because it just seemed like it's the only one you can choose, because, one, he was the one that stopped the plane. Then two, when he got back to Earth, he brought the Baxter Building back to Earth. He literally was the helper of this whole situation.
Speaker A
All right, so unanimous decision for mvp, Prince Namor.
Speaker B
Though it did start from his silly agreeing to do something with dude.
Speaker A
But very true, as we have known.
Speaker B
Or at least we're reading out of order anyway. But we just read a miniseries where he did the same thing and then realized that he was dumb. Do you think he'd stop falling for.
Speaker A
These poor, naive Prince Namor? All right, well, this story has been reprinted a number of times. The list is vast. I had to narrow it down to pick a selection or else we'd probably be here for another hour talking about it. But aside from hunting around in the back issue bins for this exact issue, you could try to hunt around for Fantastic four annual number three from volume one, which was published in October 1965. Lancer Books did a collector's album of the Fantastic Four. The volume one of those was published in 1966. Marvel Treasury Edition volume one, number two from December 1974 also features this story. The Pocketbook Series volume one of Fantastic Four, published in 1977, includes this story. And then we get to some of the usual suspects like The Marvel Masterworks Volume 1, Fantastic Four from November of 1987. Essential Fantastic Four Volume 1 from November of 1998. Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 1 from January of 2005. The Reprint Series from 2005, the December issue was Fantastic Four Adventures Volume 1, Number 6. There's the Fantastic Four Epic Collection Volume 1, World's Greatest Comic Magazine published in April 2021. Then there is also the Namor the submariner Epic Collection Volume 1, Enter the Submariner from September of 2014. The mighty Marvel Masterworks Fantastic Four Volume 1, World's Greatest Heroes from July of 2021. Now here's an omnibus that you don't really get to talk about more than once, which is Marvel June 1962 Omnibus Volume 1, which was published in June of 2022. It is also in the Dr. Doom the Book of Doom Omnibus Volume 1 from August of 2022. We just had a facsimile edition released of Fantastic Four Volume 1 Number 6 on June 11th of 2025. And we also just had the Namor the Submariner Omnibus Volume 1 that was released on August 12th, so a little over a week ago, almost two weeks ago as of this recording. So August 12th of 2025 was when that omnibus dropped and upcoming. It'll also be in the Doctor Doom epic collection, volume one from November of 2025.
Speaker B
The and it'll be in the Reprint omnibus also.
Speaker A
And of course you can also find it on Marvel Unlimited. The story has one adaptation. Shane.
Speaker B
94 Fantastic Four show no, no, not at all.
Speaker A
It actually has an adaptation in the Neymar the Submariner segment of the Marvel Superheroes cartoon from 1966, episode 12, over three different segments titled Dr. Doomsday, the Doomed Allegiance and Tug of Death, which adapt a combination of this issue as well as Fantastic Four Annual number three. The Fantastic Four, however, do not appear in it. They are instead substituted with the X Men, who aren't even called the X Men. They're referred to as the Allies for Peace. It's weird, but it all came down to the fact that the company that was producing the Marvel superheroes cartoon at the time which was grander. Lawrence didn't have the rights to the Fantastic Four. Those were held by Hanna Barbera for animation. Said they had to substitute in the X Men. Sir, are you interested in hearing what we are covering next week?
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker A
You should be very excited because next week is the final issue of the Grant Morrison and Jay lee Fantastic Four 1234 miniseries. We're going to wrap it up appropriately with issue number four. I'm really interested to hear what you think of this as a whole. Once we're done with it, when this.
Speaker B
Fever dream ends, I'll be so excited.
Speaker A
I doubt that. You never sound excited, Shane. Never ever.
Speaker B
I never sound excited. This is my excited voice. What are you talking about? I think people do think that I don't have excitement. This is about as exciting as I get right here.
Speaker A
It's like Eeyore. As always, just like, like to remind our listeners that your feedback is very important to us. We would highly appreciate it if you left us a five star review on Apple or a comment or review on Spotify. You can subscribe to us on your preferred listening platform. So we show up in your feed each and every week. We are on Facebook at the Fantastic Four fancast where we encourage you to engage in FF related discussions and share Fantastic Four content. There are group rules. We want you to follow those. But most important one for us is that you are respectful of your fellow group members. Shane. We're currently sitting at 129 members in that group. Right now would have been more but I had to clean out some spam accounts. People who want to pretend to be Joseph Quinn or Pedro Pascal or weirdly enough we had a David Korn set in there and they put up a post about Superman content and I ended up just removing all of that as well because that's, that's not what the group's for.
Speaker B
So yeah, I, I had to hit a Pedro thing. I was like a, it was like one of the nights where I was up at 1:30 in the morning and they, they. It was like will you approve these? And it was like nine posts in a row at like 1:30 in the morning. I'm like, yeah, no, no one's posting that fast besides the bottom. Exactly.
Speaker A
But since we have 129 members, you know, you and I definitely need to get some engagement polls going and discuss some episodes. We can do with some audience input here in short order. And those will probably be more towards the end of the year when we start doing those. But we need to at least get the ideas going and you know, watch that space. You can, you can have a say in what we cover here. You can also follow us on Instagram @Fan4Fancast. That is Fan the number 4F A N C A S T. And finally, you can contact us by email@fan4fancastmail.com Again, that is F A N the number4fancastmail.com and yeah, you know, feel free to reach out to us with feedback. Any questions, those we will most likely read on the air. Unless of course, you don't want us to. If that is the case, please specify. You know, even if you have ideas for, for episodes or content that you would like to see, we would love to hear it. Do you have any final thoughts on this week's issue? Shane, before we go ahead and wrap.
Speaker B
Up, I think we, we covered it all. We both enjoyed it. It's a fun little one. I recommend going to read it.
Speaker A
Yeah. Because as much as we like to do the audio dramatization on here, we don't do justice to the book itself. So please seek it out and read it for yourselves. Hopefully what we do here makes you want to seek out these issues and read them.
Speaker B
At least check out the art because like a lot of the art in most of these books are beautiful and the Kirby art is always beautiful.
Speaker A
Sure is. He wasn't the king for nothing. Well, until next week, I've been Nate Charles and he is Shane Murray. And we hope we will see you once again. Until that time comes, stay fantastic.