ISSUES #209-#293

John Byrne by John Byrne

Marv Wolfman/John Byrne, Issues 209-215

Issue #209 August, 1979, "Trapped in the Sargasso of Space"

The first appearance of H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot (from the TV show).


Bill Mantlo/John Byrne, Issues 216-218

Moench, Sienkiewicz, Issue 219

John Byrne, Issues 220-221

Moench, Sienkiewicz, Issues 222-231

Issue #230 May, 1981, "Firefrost and the Ebon Seeker"

Issue #231 June, 1981, "In All The Gathered Gloom"


Byrne/Byrne,Issues 232-292

Issue #232 July, 1981, "Back to the Basics"

Diablo is back, and he is creating his elementals to face off against the Fantastic Four. He has four elementals (fire, earth, air and water) paired up with each of the FF. The water elemental goes after Ben, the air elemental fights against Johnny, the fire elemental is sent to destroy Reed, and the earth elemental pairs up with Sue. Diablo's plan is to attack each of the FF individually with an elemental that best counters their powers. The plan backfires when the FF are able to escape and regroup, at which point each member chases after the elemental that is easiest for them to defeat (i.e. Ben vs. Earth, Johnny vs. Fire, Reed vs. Water, and Sue vs. Wind). This issue is also notable in that we see Sue getting her hair cut short, and she starts using her force field as a method of transportation.


Issue #233 August, 1981, "Mission For a Dead Man"

A man is executed for a crime that he didn't commit, but before he dies, he has a letter sent off to Johnny. Turns out he was an old classmate of Johnny's, and Johnny is determined to find out who framed him, so Johnny sets off on a mission against the "Maggia".


Issue #234 September, 1981, "The Man With The Power"

"Skip" Collins is just an average man, except that he has the power to make anything he wishes come true (although he doesn't seem to know it). He goes to New York, and when destruction caused by gravitational interaction with the living planet Ego destroys New York and other cities, he just wishes it all away.


Issue #235 October, 1981, "Four Against Ego"

The FF battle Ego, the living planet (from the Thor book). Galactus installed thrusters on Ego, which were originally intended to keep Ego relegated to the far reaches of the galaxy, but which he eventually gained control of. The FF remove one of the power packs, which they intend to use as an explosive device. They set off to the center of Ego (his "brain") to set off the device. Soon, though, the pressure and heat prove to be too much, as first Reed, then Sue, and finally Johnny have to go back. Turns out that Ben is the only one that is capable of withstanding the great pressure and heat within Ego. The FF defeat Ego, but not by blowing up his brain. Actually, Ben misses. When Ego tries to move again, he finds that he only has control of one of his thrusters, and flies into the sun.


Issue #236 November, 1981, "Terror in a Tiny Town"

The FF with no powers... Ben and Alicia married... Ben is best friends with Phillip Masters... Reed a college professor barely cutting it, the FF in Liddleville? Well, it turns out that this is all a nasty plan devised by The Puppet Master and Doctor Doom. The FF have been placed in stasis and their minds placed inside tiny robots. The Puppet Master wanted Alicia to have a normal life... Doom wants the FF out of comission. Can the FF find their way out of this one? This is a great issue, by the way.


Issue #237 December, 1981, "The Eyes Have It"

A filler story concerning a band of petty theives who happen upon Spinnerette, a nine foot tall alien lady who has the power to cause vertigo. They commit several robberies until the FF intervene, and succeed in returning Spinnerette to her spaceship. Important in this issue is the revelation that something is not quite kosher with Frankie Raye (see next issue).


Issue #238 January, 1982, "The Lady is For Burning"

Johnny's girlfriend, Frankie Raye, turns out to be a Human Torch as well. Reed once again thinks that he has a cure for the Thing, but this cure only results in Ben being turned into his less developed state - permanently. This is the first 60 cent issue.


Issue #239 February, 1982, "Wendy's Friends"

We find out that Ben actually _has_ an "Aunt Petunia", and also that she is probably younger that he is. Ben and the rest of the FF have to travel to Petunia's (or Penny's, if you prefer) hometown of Benson, Arizona, whose residents are in danger of being "scared" to death. When the FF arrive in Benson, they meet Ben's Uncle Jake, a country doctor. They also meet Wedny, a small Native American girl who is physically abused by her father. Turns out that the "demons" that have been scaring the town to death are, in actuality, "Wedny's friends".


Issue #240 March, 1982, "Exodus"

Yay! An Inhumans story! Quicksilver, wife of Crystal has run all the way from Tibet to the Baxter Building. After a little scuffle with the FF, he lets them know why he is there. Turns out that the Inhumans (and his wife) have been getting a little sick lately, because of Earth's pollution. Reed suggests the the Inhumans move Attilan (yes, the entire city) to the Blue Area of the Moon, where the Watcher lives. Black Bolt agrees, and they begin to move the city. The move is succesful, and Crystal's daughter is born. She turns out to be completely normal, as Crystal's Inhuman genes and Quicksilver's mutant genes cancelled each other out.


Issue #244 July, 1982, "Beginnings and Endings"

Galactus has come to earth, and is dying. Reed decides to save him, because he understands that Galactus is neither good nor evil, but a force of nature. Frankie Raye, the female Human Torch, decides to become Galactus' new herald, Nova. Johnny is heartbroken.



Issue #247 October, 1982, "This Land Is Mine!"

After being dethroned way.... back in issue #200, Doom returns to Latveria, wishing to reclaim his kingdom. Apparently, his people are very happy to see him, and Reed has to question whether or not it was wise to assist in his dethroning way back when.


Issue #251 February, 1983, "Into The Negative Zone"

Reed is readying new-fangled-doohicky #1453A for the FF's exploration trip into the negative zone. Meanwhile, Johnny meets (as do we) Julie Angel's new roomate, Sharon Selleck. Reed and Sue have asked Alicia to watch Franklin while they are in the zone. Unfortunately, after the FF enter the zone, Annihilus comes into the Baxter Building and kidnaps Alicia.


Issue #252 March, 1983, "Cityscape"

Wow! An entirely sideways issue and free Lakeside Tatoos! After doing some exploring, the FF come upon a society that worships (and provides human sacrafices to) a living city; a god to them. The FF destroy the city, but everything turns out OK.


Issue #254 May, 1983, "The Minds of Mantracora"

The FF are exploring in the Negative Zone, when they come upon another planet. While visiting, Reed and Sue conceive the Richard's second child. One of the world's leaders invites the FF to dine with him, at which point he knock them out with barbituates. He steals Reed's mind to power his starship (it turns out that this guy was an alien.) Meanwhile, back on earth, Annihilus is using the Baxter building to try to destroy both our universe, and the Negative Zone. Ouch.


Issue #256 July, 1983, "The Annihilation Gambit"

The FF are preparing to return from the Negative Zone, while back at home, all hell is breaking loose. Their return is succesful, although difficult, and when they return, they find that their uniforms are now blue and white, the negative colors of their old black and blue uniforms (which made their 254th and last appearance in this issue). Upon returning to the Baxter Building, Ben and Sue, find that both Alicia and Franklin are quite injured after their confrontations with Annihilus.


Issue #257 August, 1983, "Fragments"

We learn that Sue is pregnant again. We get to see Frankie Raye as Nova, as she leads the ailing (once again) Galactus to feast on the Skrull Throne world. Since Galactus is so hungry, he eats the planet without employing his world eating devices.


Issue #265 April, 1984, "Home are the Heroes"

In this adventure which occurs at the conclusion of Secret Wars I (which has yet to be released), we find out that the Thing has no intention of returning, and is replaced by the She-Hulk. This is also where Alicia is supposedly replaced by Lyja (see Issue #357). The Thing returns in Issue #277, and for good in Issue #296.


Issue #266 May, 1984, "Call Her Karisma"

A fill in story from the past. Ben and Sue fight Karisma, a semi-lame villian who has the power to control men when she shows them her "special" makeup.


Issue #267 June, 1984, "A Small Loss"

Sue is having problems with her pregnancy. Reed goes out to find the leading authority on radiation... namely : Otto Octavius a.k.a. Doctor Octopus. Reed finds him and gets him out of the looney bin only to find out that he is too late to save the baby. This issue is supposed to be a real tearjerker, and it actually is really sad. I loved it.


Issue #268 July, 1984, "The Masque of Doom"

Issue #271 October, 1984 "Happy Birthday, Darling"

Issue #272 November, 1984, "Cowboys and Idioms"

Issue #273 December, 1984, "Fathers and Others"

We meet Nathaniel Richards (Reed's dad) who has been using technology obtained from our reality to arm an alternative reality that consists of futuristic cowboys.


Issue #274 January, 1985, "Monster Mash"

More of Reed and Sue living in Connecticut (as the Benjamins) and the first appearance (in the FF) of the Thing since he left. It is the second part of a story from the Thing series.


Issue #275 February, 1985, "The Naked Truth"

This issue is pretty darn funny. It seems that the She Hulk likes to sunbathe topless on top of the Baxter Building. The local sleaze mag (which makes "Hustler look like the Congressional Report") decides to get some pics. When Shulkie goes down to the publisher to sort things out, he says no. With yet another surprise ending!


Issue #276 March, 1985, "Suffer a Witch To Live"

Uh oh! It looks like Reed and Sue's cover is blown. The local exorcist (Elspeth Cromwell) thinks that Reed and Sue are... witches? She tries to get rid of them, and Reed breaks his arm (is this possible?). At the end they end up battling Mephisto.


Issue #277 April, 1985, "Back From Beyond"

Ben returns to find that Johnny and Alicia are in love. He decides not to stay. Meanwhile, Sue, Reed and Franklin, are now battling Mephisto. Franklin saves the day when he uses his mutant powers to dissipate the evil that is Mephisto. Guest starring Doctor Strange. This is the first 65 cent issue.


Issue #278-#279 May, 1985, "True Lies", "Crack of Doom!"

The Baxter Building is destroyed by Kristoff Vernhard, heir to Doctor Doom. The Fantastic Four take up residence in the Avengers Mansion until their new building, Four Freedoms Plaza is complete.


Issue #284 November 1985, "Revolution"

Sue decides that she would rather be called "The Invisible Woman" than "The Invisible Girl."


Issue #285 December 1985, "Hero"

Secret Wars II Crossover. A touching story of a boy who is the Human Torch's biggest fan. So big, in fact, that he decides to light himself on fire just to be like Mr. Johnny Storm. Of course this results in the boy's death, but he lives long enough to tell Johnny, "I only did it to be like you." This, of course, makes Johnny feel incredibly guilty, but the Beyonder sets him straight. You just don't see many comic book stories like this.


Issue #286 January, 1986, "Like a Phoenix"

She died in the X-Men, why did she come back in this book? Well, this was just another attempt by Marvel to raise the sales of one of their "not doing quite so well" books. So now, if you want to buy it in back issue, it lists for $4.50. Oh, and Phoenix returns. This is also the first 75 cent issue.


Issue #292 July, 1986, "The Man Who Dreamed the World"

Nick Fury is going to KILL Adolf Hitler! And we've got to STOP him... OR DO WE? This issue is just strange. Really cool, but strange. Nick Fury tries to kill Hitler, but Sue has to reason with him, that it will not change history. With a surprise ending, to top it all off!


Issue #293 August, 1986, "Central City Does Not Answer!"

This is the last John Byrne FF. The FF, along with the West Coast Avengers, investigate a large black dome covering the city that Reed is originally from. Turns out that inside the dome, time is sped up, a lot. The FF go in to investigate.



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