Fantasic Four #4 - Sub-Mariner Introduction

Title:
The Fantastic Four Published:
May 1962 Issue: 4 Reading Order#: 5

INTRODUCTION

Oh no!  In the last issue, we witnessed a lame pouty-fest from the Human Torch.  He even threw his temper tantrum in front of Miracle Man.  I find that unacceptable.  I would also be suprized if he dosn't realize that the Fantasic Four have just shown their major weakness and use the Tourch against them next time they face off.After that, the Torch ran away from home to to cry about how no one loves him or other such nonsense.  In this issue we will see how the Fantastic Four deal with this crisis and cope with the introduction of a new character:  the Sub-Mariner!

SUMMARY

I hate to start off with a nitpick but last issue they introduced a nuclear powered tank.  I mean, that's a lot of power for a tank to just roll around slowly and blow stuff up but whatever.  Sure, its possible.  This issue they flash back to it and now they call it an Atomic Cannon.  While I am unclear what an atomic cannon would even do, it seems like one of these names was wrong.

This guy can sure take a beating!

That said, not too far into this issue I ran into what could have easily passed for Wolverine's doppleganger. He was smoking a cigar giving a random old man some trouble, and then picks a fight with Sub-Mariner for just about no reason... sounds about like something he'd do.Well, to be fair, Sub-Mariner had amnesia at the time. He had no idea who he was and had taken to a love of the drink in his time away from the ocean.  I can only guess that he spent many a long lonely night nestled up with only a bartender and a bottle of Jack to keep him company.  That is, until Wolverine's look alike shows up to tango.  Just so happens, Torch peeped the whole event.  Of course Torch's first reaction is hey, he doesn't remember who he is, lets shave his face with my welding-torch finger. That should clear this whole thing right up. As the beard is removed, the whole room instantly recognizes him as Sub-Mariner.  A beard has that kind of effect on people, I guess.  You gain a few levels of coolness factor or something.  Who knows.  Now that he beard is gone, the crowd is all like,"Dang that lame old man has gotta be Sub-Mariner.  Look at how uncool he is!  Only Sub-Mariner can reach that level of awkwardness!  I liked him more when he had a beard like Wolverine over there."Torch then flies Sub-Mariner to the ocean where he will (of course!) regain his memory.  The Sub-Mariner returns to his underwater homeland to find it destroyed from underwater nuclear testing and he announces his plans for revenge on all mankind for their heinous crimes!  He then goes into the sea and awakens a gargantuan sea beast and entices it to destroy New York City.The heroes quickly dispatch it by throwing a nuclear bomb down its throat.  (They sure have alot of these just hanging around, don't they?)  With the monster beaten, the fight comes down to just the Fantastic Four and the Sub-Mariner.  The aquatic villian makes a mistake by informing the heroes that his magical horn is the source of his ability to summon more monsters and the battle turns to a fight over wresting control of the horn from Sub-Mariner.  Torch saves the day by creating a huge whirlwind (from flying in circles) and tosses Sub-Mariner into the sea.  His horn also falls into the sea nearby but it is presumed "lost forever". The end.

Weakness Update:

• THE HUMAN TORCH
• Fire. (Fantastic Four #2)
• Chemical foam will put out his flame. (Fantastic Four #3)
• Water will put out his flame in large doses. (Fantastic Four #4)
• MISTER FANTASTIC
• Brick to the head. Blunt force trauma to the head will cause him to spontaneously shrink back to normal size. (Fantastic Four #3)
• INVISIBLE GIRL
• Scent gives away her location.  (Fantastic Four #3)

CONCLUSION
What can I say?  Sub-Mariner is the king of the sea.  I would have to assume anything lost in the sea could be eventually found by him.  We can assume that he will be back and next time it will be with a huge army of sea creatures!

NEXT ISSUE IN READING ORDER: Incredible Hulk #2 - Introduction of the Toad Men!

Fantasic Four #3 - Miracle Man Introduction

Title:
The Fantastic Four Published:
March 1962 Issue: 3 Reading Order#: 3

INTRODUCTION
In the first two issues for The Fantastic Four, I have periodically poked fun at the ridiculousness contained within them.  Overall, I have accepted that quirkiness and chalk it up as a strange mixture of influence from previous monster comics, the time period itself, and the oddity of Stan Lee in general.  Well, I was okay with it until this issue.  The ending of this comic might be one of the worst things I have ever read. 

I am starting to have a real problem with how the Torch is being portrayed.   There are real inconsistencies with how hot he really is.  It wouldn't be so bad but his power ranges from completely unbeatable to laughable depending on the situation.  I understand the need for dramatic flair but at least establish a base rule set with which to govern this fictional world.  Especially in your main characters.

SUMMARY
In this issue we are introduced to a man who calls himself the Miracle Man.  He embarrasses the Fantastic Four during a magic show and then begins this deep internal monologue about how awesome he is and how he cannot be defeated.  The Miracle Man then devises a plot where he will animate this wooden/papier-mâché monster in an attempt to conquer the world.  Never mind the fact the his plan is *ahem* paper-thin, it still manages to confound the super heroes for a bit until Torch comes to save the say by burning it to the ground.  In this initial battle we have discovered new weaknesses for the team.

 

Weakness Update:

• THE HUMAN TORCH
• Fire. (Fantastic Four #2)
• Chemical foam will put out his flame.
• MISTER FANTASTIC
• Brick to the head. Blunt force trauma to the head will cause him to spontaneously shrink back to normal size. 
• INVISIBLE GIRL
• Scent gives away her location.  

Who was completely useless in the fight again?  Mister Fantastic.  He should just stay home.  Thing is just always at the wrong place at the wrong time.  I would like to see Thing beat some bad guys soon, by the way.  He deserves some spotlight.

So after the Torch burns down the monster, the Miracle Man douses him in chemical foam to dispose of his only real true threat in the group and he takes off in a new, super cutting edge, nuclear tank.  The Invisible Girl decides to stow away in the tank as her drives off to spy on her enemy.  She plans on alerting the group when she arrives at his junk yard base of operations when she is foiled by a dog.  The dog alerts Miracle Man to her location where he charms her with the snap of his fingers.

Now this is where is gets really bad.  Miracle Man gets her to shoot off her flare gun to signal the team who rushes to save her.  Finding themselves inside Miracle Man's trap a fight ensues. As Miracle Man realizes that the fight is a draw he tries to flee and guess who shows up? Torch, of course. He arrives and turns up the heat so hot that it temporarily blinds Miracle Man. (But no one else.)  He is so devastated by this inconvenience that he immediately gives up and reveals the true source of his power.  Hypnotism.  Apparently he can hypnotize everyone in the Tri-State area with a single snap of his fingers.  It was explained that everything was just an illusion of the mind.  It must have been a shared illusion by the entire city because everyone was in panic.  If he was so powerful and the entire group was under his spell, why couldn't he have just made them realize their were powerless or made them think they were cows and set them off to pasture with the Skrulls? There are so many possibilities for his victory but instead he just mails it in.  The fire was just too bright for him to handle and his will to go on was sapped dry.  The end.

CONCLUSION
Why was the ending so bad?  On a positive note, they wore their iconic blue costumes for the first time in this issue.  Interestingly enough this is also the issue where the Thing destroys his first suit by ripping out of it.  I might have to make a counter for that if it becomes a habit.  In this issue they also detail the Fantastic Four's base of operations with a weird little diagram and introduce the cheeze-tastic Fantasticar.  Their hovercar breaks into four individual hover platforms that they can tool around town in.  Its great for getting separated and picked off one by one by enemy foes.

NEXT ISSUE IN READING ORDER: Incredible Hulk #1 - Introduction of the Hulk