Fantastic Four #86
The Victims
Having been brainwashed into thinking their powers no longer work, the Fantastic Four are prisoners in the nation of Latveria, ruled by their long time nemesis Doctor Doom. As they try to figure out a way out of their current bind, they are warned by the villagers that Doctor Doom plans on attacking the village. Although they are without their powers, Mister Fantastic pledges to the people of Doomstadt that the Fantastic Four will fight by their side. That’s when a monitor screen emerges from the ground allowing Doctor Doom to address his people. When he apologizes for the potential loss of life that may occur while destroying his foes, Mister Fantastic points out that Doom is committing wholesale murder. This angers Doom who then unleashes his latest creations, his so-called Invincible Robots.
When the robots attack the village, the Thing leaps into the battle and is surprised when his blows shatter these robots. Although his powers are back, the Thing is caught off guard when the shattered components of the robots begin attack him. Seeing his teammate in danger, Johnny rushes to Ben’s side and uses his returning flame powers to fend off the attacking robots. Meanwhile, Mister Fantastic is rallying the locals into a resistance army to fight back against their oppressor. In the thick of battle, Johnny notices that Crystal isn’t around and demands to know where she is. Reed tells the Torch to focus, telling him that he sent Crystal to protect the women of the village with her elemental powers.
Watching form his castle, Doctor Doom is impressed that his enemies are fighting with valour, but is confident that they are doomed to defeat. His assistant Gustav Hauptmann warns Doom not to get overconfident as underestimating the Fantastic Four in the past has always ended in failure. Back in the village below, Mister Fantastic locates a control device that relays Doom’s messages to his robots and uses it to immobilize one of their attackers. As Reed rallies his troops for the counter attack, Doctor Doom reveals to Hauptmann that he has planted explosives around the village and is willing to sacrifice his own people if it means destroying his foes.
With the resistance gathered in one place the army of Invincible Robots descends upon them. However, this is as Mister Fantastic planned and uses the control device to shut them all down. Furious that his latest creations have failed, Doctor Doom sets off the explosives and is furious when the something shields the village. Down below, the Fantastic Four are surprised to discover that they were saved in the nick of time by the Invisible Girl who has arrived to lend them a helping hand. With the team fully reunited, the Fantastic Four prepare to take the battle to Doctor Doom.
Recurring Characters
Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Human Torch, Thing, Crystal, Invisible Girl), Doctor Doom, Gustav Hauptmann
Continuity Notes
The Thing makes a quip about Mister Fantastic not being Spiro Agnew. This joke should be considered a topical reference.
This issue marks the return of the Invisible Girl to active duty within the Fantastic Four. She was sidelined on the team after she discovered she was pregnant in Fantastic Four Annual #5 and went on maternity leave in the following year’s annual.
