Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman have taken a break from the Fantastic Four to focus on raising their son. The Thing has recruited his super-powered girlfriend Ms Marvel as well as Crystal of the Inhumans to keep the team going (during ALL IN THE FAMILY), but a recent dose of Cosmic Rays mutated the Thing even further and transformed Ms Marvel into a She-Thing. While she struggles with her new form, the Human Torch struggles with his emotions as he's torn between his past feelings for Crystal and his love for his new wife Alicia Masters.
The Thing's mission to turn Ms Marvel back to human form is about to take them on an unexpected journey that will bring them into conflict with a whole host of otherworldly foes, the team's primary nemesis, Doctor Doom and the biggest threat the universe has ever faced!
- SECRET WARS - The Beyonder gathers the heroes & villains of Earth on Battleworld
- SECRET WARS II - The Beyonder comes to Earth, Dr Doom returns
Minor Crossover: The events of the main story in Fantastic Four and the Fantastic Four Annual can be read without the other tie-in issues.
- Fantastic Four #313
- Strange Tales #13[2/3] (tie-in)
- Fantastic Four #314
- Strange Tales #14[2/2] (tie-in)
- Fantastic Four #315-317
- Fantastic Four Annual #21[1/3] (also see THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR)
- Fantastic Four Annual #21[2/3] (also see WEST COAST AVENGERS DISASSEMBLE!)
- Fantastic Four #318-319
The Fantastic Four head into Subterranea in search of the Mole Man in the hope of finding a way to turn Ms Marvel (Sharon Ventura) back from She-Thing to human form. They discover the Mole Man has abandoned his Moloids following the Thing's recent betrayal. After clearing Mole Man's main chamber of Tyrranoids, they find him skulking in the hottest tunnels but fail to rescue him from Lava Men. Crystal almost dies trying to save him from a lava pool, making the Human Torch realise his feelings for her are still strong despite his marriage to Alicia Masters...
Strange Tales #13[2/3] (tie-in)
Doctor Strange has sacrificed his talismans and tomes, friendships, love and even an eye to protect Earth from Urthona and turn to dark magic to prepare for to combat rising force of immense darkness. Kaluu and Strange transport themselves to the source of the evil, but Kaluu isn't strong enough to go further. Strange defeats the evil's agent Arioch, absorbing his power which also alters his appearance. then Arioch's master emerges, revealing itself to be Shuma-Gorath...
Fantastic Four #314
Despite having failed to change Ms Marvel back or rescue the Mole Man, the FF continue to search the tunnels of Subertannea and discover that the Mole Man fast-travels across the Earth using portals. While the Thing and Ms Marvel begin to express their love for each other despite their mutated forms, the team realise Crystal is missing. They realise one of the portal's has taken them to Limbo when find Crystal in the clutches of Belasco. They rescue Crystal and escape through another portal, emerging in the Land Within where the Thing quickly discovers the Cat-People aren't as friendly as he remembered last time he was here. Belasco emerges, claiming to be their master. Their confrontation is interrupted by the flames of Doctor Strange's clash with Shuma-Gorath, giving the FF the chance to escape through a portal to the planet Arcturus IV where Master Pandemonium is also stranded...
Doctor Strange finds himself engaged in magickal conflict with Shuma-Gorath on his own turf, though Strange quickly proves he's able to hurt the demon. Shuma-Gorath sends mystic flame over the Earth, a world Strange struggles to recognise as his own persona begins to fade away. Strange is injured and his pain is felt my mystics across the planet. He them defeats Shuma-Gorath the only way he knows how, absorbing the entity into himself then committing suicide by piercing himself with a shard of the creature.
Fantastic Four #315
Fantastic Four #316
Master Pandemonium flies away as Alicia Masters arrives in Antarctica by helicopter, greeted by her husband the Human Torch. The group all gather where the tropical Savage Land once thrived. They've also been joined by Ka-Zar and Shanna the She-Devil (announcing the recent birth of their child) and troops from a US Army outpost. They come under attack from ice warriors created by AIM scientists who are defeated but refuse to explain their presence. The Thing explains that the Fortesquians and Nuwali were both created by an ancient alien race who could travel using portals from Arcturus and were charged with protecting the Savage Land which they did by creating an underground heating system. In the hope of learning who the ancient masters were, the FF dig into the ice to find the remains of the ancient heaters which were recently destroyed by Terminus (during THE WAR TO END ALL SKRULLS). To his horror, the thing finds the word "Beyonder" etched into the colossal heater...
Alicia Masters reminds the Thing that they encountered alien beings called Beyonders before, so it's more likely to be them behind this and not the god-like Beyonder. Max and Comet Man transport the FF and the AIM agent through space via the teleport mechanism and aboard their ship. On the journey, the Thing and Ms Marvel finally kiss. The Human Torch explains to Crystal that he can never be with her because of Alicia. The group finally meet the alien Nuwali who confirm they worked for the alien Beyonders, communicating via a Radical Cube which is a doorway to the Negative Zone. The AIM agent pays the Nuwali to turn against the FF and bring them down, only for Crystal and Comet Man to beat them all back. Crystal warns the AIM agent that the Fantastic Four will be going into the Negative Zone to find the Beyonders and AIM won't be able to stop them...
Fantastic Four Annual #21[1/3]
The FF finally return to Four Freedoms Plaza in New York. The Inhumans teleport down from the Moon, demanding Crystal return with them to her repentant husband, the now-powerless Quicksilver, who blames mind control for his recent behaviour. While the Inhuman Royal Family are on Earth, the High Evolutionary leads a band of Eliminators to the Moon to steal the Terrigen Mists and use them to advance humanity's evolution (continuing THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR). Hearing of the invasion, the FF accompany the Inhumans to the Moon where Quicksilver has been bravely defending Attilan, observed by Uatu the Watcher. The heroes successfully see off the Evolutionary's forces, meet another Watcher and bid farewell to Crystal when she decides to stay behind for her family.
Fantastic Four Annual #21[2/3]
When the FF depart, Quicksilver explains to Crystal that the Inhuman Maximus turned him against her and the Avengers. The Inhuman Royal Family seem to trust Quicksilver more than Crystal due to her recent affair with a human. Quicksilver tests his abilities and found he's free of the mental blocks Maria Trovaya Pym put in place and can use his super-speed again. He convinces Crystal not to accompany the Fantastic Four on their mission to find the Beyonders, then heads off to the Inhumans' comms system and alerts the real Doctor Doom of the FF's plans. Quicksilver may have his wife and daughter back, but he still wants to see Kristoff Vernard suffer.
Doctor Doom assaults the Molecule Man, blasting him into submission and leaving him for dead. He then approaches the Fantastic Four, asking to assist them on their mission to locate the Beyonders in the Negative Zone. The Thing laughs at his request, so Doom uses Mister Fantastic's doorway to the Negative Zone himself. The FF (now a team of three) fly a ship through the portal to give chase, only for Doom to come to their rescue when Blastaar attacks. Doom demands they join forces and take the defeated Blastaar's ship, using it to make their way to the Beyonders. Meanwhile, Volcana keeps watch over her beloved Molecule Man who recovers in hospital having survived Doom's attack...
Fantastic Four #319
Doom and the FF travel through the Negative Zone to the Crossroads of Infinity, arriving at the new universe created when the Beyonder died (during SECRET WARS II) and find it looks like their own planet Earth with the Beyonder as the Sun. He takes humanoid form again, blasting the FF for hounding him. Doctor Doom approaches the Beyonder and asks him to restore the memories he took from him to avoid a time-paradox. This should help him regain his throne in Latveria that he recently love to Kristoff (during ALL IN THE FAMILY). Kubik (AIM's evolved Cosmic Cube) and the Shaper of Worlds (an evolved Skrull Cosmic Cube) arrive, assaulting the Beyonder in the hopes of preventing Doom from trying to obtain his power, not realising he doesn't want it. The Molecule Man and Volcana emerge from a portal and sides against Kubik who still gains the upper-hand against the Beyonder. When the conflict pauses, the Shaper of Worlds and Kubik explain that the unseen Beyonders are beings who live in a lightless universe who want all beings to grow and become like them, naturally. The pure force that comes through rifts in space every 32 years to create Cosmic Cubes comes from the Beyonders. Years ago, one instance of that pure power ended up granting to the Molecule Man his abilities while the rest eventually took the form of the Beyonder. The Molecule Man bids farewell to Volcana and merges with the Beyonder to become a complete Cosmic Cube, ending the threat of the 'incomplete' Beyonder. Before anyone can react, Doom touches the Cube and uses it to restore his lost memories. The Shaper teleports Doom, Volcana and the FF back to Earth before he gets a chance to use its power further. Volcana leaves in tears having lost the love of her life. Doom heads off to Latveria. And the Thing and Ms Marvel are happy to just be together.
MCG Note: The primary fallout from 'Secret Wars III' is all featured in blue & black. Secondary fallout from this story is featured in grey.
Strange Tales #15-16 (1988)
Doctor Strange reappears to Kaluu, having murdered his 'evil' persona in order to defeat Shuma-Gorath; Kaluu, Rintrah and Enitharmon the Weaver restore Strange's true personality.
Uncanny X-Men Annual #12 (1988)
Ka-Zar and Shanna's son, Matthew Plunder (though appearing as Adam Kyle Plunder), makes his first full appearance during THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Silver Surfer #16 (1988)
The Silver Surfer, Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic see the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom from their point of view while on their mission to save Galactus' life during I DIE LIKE THE STARS.
Incredible Hulk #349 (1988)
Doctor Doom starts his campaign to reclaim Latveria from Kristoff Vernard during PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE FALL.
The High Evolutionary's attempt to speed up human evolution is thwarted by a band of reserve Avengers during THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR / FUTURES IMPERFECT / PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE FALL.
Fantastic Four #321 (1988)
A mystery figure starts observing the Fantastic Four (who's later revealed to be Aron the Rogue Watcher, the second Watcher accompanying Uatu as they observed Attilan's war with the High Evolutionary).
Marvel Comics Presents #50-53 (1990)
Comet Man returns to Earth, learns his enemy Superior is actually his brother Jonathan Gallagher (aka 'Agent Smith'); Comet Man's son Benny Beckley reveals his own powers, forcing Jon Gallagher to turn his gun on himself and shoot himself in the head.
Fantastic Four #326-333 (1989)
The Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic rejoin the Fantastic Four; exposure to one of Mister Fantastic's cosmic ray machines transforms the Thing back to human form; Aron the Rogue Watcher emerges, revealing he's been fascinated with the FF since watching them battle the High Evolutionary; Aron captures the Fantastic Four and replaces them with clones; the clones decide to capture the Mole Man, unaware that he's a prisoner of the Lava Men; believing he's been betrayed by the real Fantastic Four, the Mole Man swears revenge on them; the real Fantastic Four escape Aron and defeat the clones.
Avengers West Coast #51-52 (1989)
Master Pandemonium obtains the final two pieces of his soul which were transformed into the twin sons of the Scarlet Witch; he absorbs the fragments, costing the Witch her children; it's revealed that the fragments were actually missing parts of Mephisto's shattered essence which Master Pandemonium was unwittingly gathering on his behalf.
Avengers West Coast #56-57 (1990)
Quicksilver starts to redeem himself again, allying with the Avengers against Magneto.
Fantastic Four Annual #23 (1990)
Volcana adjusts to life without the Molecule Man; Doom surmises that the Molecule Man left Volcana with a fraction of his power; the Cosmic Cube made up of the combined Beyonder and Molecule Man evolves to become the female Kosmos.
Volcana adjusts to life without the Molecule Man; Doom surmises that the Molecule Man left Volcana with a fraction of his power; the Cosmic Cube made up of the combined Beyonder and Molecule Man evolves to become the female Kosmos.
Fantastic Four #350, 352-354 (1991)
Doctor Doom reclaims Latveria from Kristoff Vernard; the Thing is returned to his more familiar rocky appearance; Ms Marvel finally relents and accepts Doom's offer to cure her rocky form, betraying the Fantastic Four, leaving the team and ending her relationship with the Thing.
Fantastic Four Annual #24 (1991)
The Molecule Man is expelled from the Cosmic Cube that became Kosmos and returned to Earth where he's reunited with Volcana; Klaw tries to kidnap the Molecule Man, but is defeated by him instead when the Molecule Man's bloodthirsty persona returns; the change in the Molecule Man upsets Volcana and they go their separate ways.
Doctor Doom reclaims Latveria from Kristoff Vernard; the Thing is returned to his more familiar rocky appearance; Ms Marvel finally relents and accepts Doom's offer to cure her rocky form, betraying the Fantastic Four, leaving the team and ending her relationship with the Thing.
Fantastic Four Annual #24 (1991)
The Molecule Man is expelled from the Cosmic Cube that became Kosmos and returned to Earth where he's reunited with Volcana; Klaw tries to kidnap the Molecule Man, but is defeated by him instead when the Molecule Man's bloodthirsty persona returns; the change in the Molecule Man upsets Volcana and they go their separate ways.
Avengers #337 (1991)
Crystal joins the Avengers as a probationary member.
X-Factor #71-73 (1991)
Quicksilver leaves Attilan and allies with X-Factor, becoming an unofficial member of the team and implying issues with his marriage during MUTANT GENESIS.
Avengers Annual #20 (1991)
Full-scale war breaks out between the various subterranean races during SUBTERRANEAN WARS.
Avengers #343 (1992)
Crystal leaves Attilan again, moving into Avengers Mansion with her daughter Luna and becoming a full member of the Avengers. alongside the Black Knight who she eventually becomes drawn to, causing further problems in her marriage.
Fantastic Four #358 (1991)
Fantastic Four #358 (1991)
'Alicia Masters-Storm' is revealed to be a Skrull; the real Alicia Masters returns, with no knowledge of a relationship between her and the Human Torch.
Fantastic Four Annual #27 (1994)
The Molecule Man seeks revenge on the Beyonder for the loss of his relationship with Volcana; he pulls the Beyonder out of Kosmos and the two of them fight; their battle begins to threaten all of space and time, so he returns the Beyonder to his Kosmos form; as promised, Shuma-Gorath returns.
The Molecule Man seeks revenge on the Beyonder for the loss of his relationship with Volcana; he pulls the Beyonder out of Kosmos and the two of them fight; their battle begins to threaten all of space and time, so he returns the Beyonder to his Kosmos form; as promised, Shuma-Gorath returns.
Son of M #1-6 (2006)
Having fallen foul of his ambitions and lost his powers once again, Quicksilver returns to the Inhumans on the Moon and steals the Terrigen Crystals himself in an attempt to restore the powers lost by the mutants on M-Day during DECIMATION.
New Avengers: Illuminati #3 (2007)
In a previously untold tale set during the second 'Secret War', the Illuminati approach the Beyonder, mistakenly believing him to be a mutant member of the Inhumans; it's more likely that the Beyonder led them to believe this while experimenting with his own identity or just to mess with them.
In a previously untold tale set during the second 'Secret War', the Illuminati approach the Beyonder, mistakenly believing him to be a mutant member of the Inhumans; it's more likely that the Beyonder led them to believe this while experimenting with his own identity or just to mess with them.
Secret Invasion: War of Kings #1 (2009)
A a symbol of the alliance between the Inhumans and the Kree, Crystal agrees to marry Ronan the Accuser (though this doesn't last) during SECRET INVASION / WAR OF KINGS.
Mighty Avengers #27-32 (2010)
Quicksilver lies again and tells the Inhumans that it was a Skrull impersonator who stole the Terrigen Crystals from them; he also redeems himself by defeating the Inhuman Unspoken alongside the Mighty Avengers.
Fall of the Hulks: Alpha #1 (2010)
It's revealed that the actions of the Intelligencia (a band of the smartest villains in the world) attracted the attention of the Beyonder, resulting in the first 'Secret Wars' during FALL OF THE HULKS.
New Avengers #24-33 (2015)
Doctor Doom allies with the Molecule Man in an attempt to save Earth-616 from the Incursions that are destroying universes, only to discover they had in fact caused the Incursions in the first place; the alien Beyonders are revealed to have been behind the Molecule Man gaining his powers, intending for him to become a bomb that destroys his home reality when he dies; Doom begins killing the various versions of the Molecule Man throughout the multiverse; the Beyonder is revealed to be a Beyonders' 'child unit' (or infant) during TIME RUNS OUT.
Secret Wars #1-9 (2015-2016)
Doctor Doom uses the Molecule's Man's power to save the remnants of destroyed universes, creating his own Battleworld with himself as God Emperor Doom; Molecule Man eventually gives his power to Mister Fantastic, allowing him to restore Earth-616 and rebuild the multiverse during SECRET WARS.
Fall of the Hulks: Alpha #1 (2010)
It's revealed that the actions of the Intelligencia (a band of the smartest villains in the world) attracted the attention of the Beyonder, resulting in the first 'Secret Wars' during FALL OF THE HULKS.
New Avengers #24-33 (2015)
Doctor Doom allies with the Molecule Man in an attempt to save Earth-616 from the Incursions that are destroying universes, only to discover they had in fact caused the Incursions in the first place; the alien Beyonders are revealed to have been behind the Molecule Man gaining his powers, intending for him to become a bomb that destroys his home reality when he dies; Doom begins killing the various versions of the Molecule Man throughout the multiverse; the Beyonder is revealed to be a Beyonders' 'child unit' (or infant) during TIME RUNS OUT.
Secret Wars #1-9 (2015-2016)
Doctor Doom uses the Molecule's Man's power to save the remnants of destroyed universes, creating his own Battleworld with himself as God Emperor Doom; Molecule Man eventually gives his power to Mister Fantastic, allowing him to restore Earth-616 and rebuild the multiverse during SECRET WARS.
Fantastic Four #1-5 (2018-2019)
The Thing and Alicia Masters reignite their relationship and get married during FRESH START.
See how this story fits into the wider Marvel Universe continuity with these reading orders:
Fantastic Four Epic Collection vol.18: The More Things Change...
Includes...
Includes...
Fantastic Four #313-319
Fantastic Four Annual #21
Secret Wars II Omnibus
Includes...
Fantastic Four #316-319
Evolutionary War Omnibus
Includes...
Fantastic Four Annual #21
Doctor Strange: Strange Tales
Includes...
Strange Tales #13-14
Strange Tales #13-14
No comments:
Post a Comment
See a mistake or have a question or suggestion?
Feel free to leave a comment!