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Fantastic Four #16: The Micro-World of Doctor Doom! (1961)
Overview:
Fantastic Four #16, published in July 1963, is a comic book issue written by Stan Lee, with artwork by Jack Kirby. This issue features the Fantastic Four shrinking down to face off against the villainous Doctor Doom in the microscopic world of the Sub-Atomica.
Plot Summary:
The issue opens with the Fantastic Four continuing to enjoy their newfound celebrity status when they are suddenly struck by strange phenomena. Each member of the team begins to experience bouts of shrinking and growing uncontrollably. Reed Richards immediately suspects that these strange events may be connected to one of their old enemies—Doctor Doom. His theory is confirmed when Doom sends a message revealing that he has returned and is behind their shrinking problems, manipulating their size from a microscopic world.
Reed, determined to stop Doom's new plot, uses a shrinking device to transport the entire team to the Sub-Atomica, a hidden realm existing on a microscopic scale. Upon arrival, they are greeted by a vast and alien landscape unlike anything they’ve seen before. Here, they discover that Doctor Doom has taken control of the inhabitants of this world, using them as his personal army to seek revenge on the Fantastic Four.
In the miniature world, the Fantastic Four find their powers working differently, as the laws of physics operate in new and strange ways. As they explore, they are soon attacked by Doom’s forces, leading to a series of thrilling battles. The Thing squares off against a powerful, gigantic alien, while Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, finds himself in an intense aerial battle against a flying creature under Doom’s control. Sue uses her invisibility to sneak past enemies, and Reed stretches his body to navigate the alien terrain.
As the team makes their way through the Sub-Atomica, they finally come face-to-face with Doctor Doom, who reveals his plan to trap the Fantastic Four in the microscopic world permanently. Doom, with the advanced technology of the Sub-Atomica inhabitants, has developed new weapons that threaten to make him invincible, even on Earth. The team realizes they must stop Doom before he can use this technology to shrink the entire planet.
Reed devises a clever strategy to outwit Doom. Instead of directly engaging in battle, he tricks Doom into using his shrinking ray on himself, causing Doom to shrink even further, disappearing into a subatomic realm where he can no longer harm anyone. With Doom defeated, the Fantastic Four restore their size and return to the normal world.
The issue concludes with the team triumphant but wary of Doctor Doom’s potential return. They know that even though he’s been shrunk down to an even smaller level of existence, Doom's brilliance and persistence will likely bring him back to challenge them again in the future. For now, however, they can celebrate their victory and continue their adventures as Earth’s greatest heroes.
Fantastic Four #17: Defeated by Doctor Doom! (1961)
Overview:
Fantastic Four #17, published in August 1963, is a comic book issue written by Stan Lee, with artwork by Jack Kirby. In this issue, the Fantastic Four once again battle their arch-nemesis, Doctor Doom, who returns with a diabolical new plan to destroy the team and take over the world.
Plot Summary:
The story opens with the Fantastic Four still reeling from their previous encounter with Doctor Doom. Unbeknownst to them, Doom has returned and is plotting his revenge. This time, he plans to use his technological genius to create a series of deadly traps designed to eliminate the Fantastic Four once and for all. From his secret base, Doom monitors the team, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The Fantastic Four, unaware of Doom’s latest scheme, go about their daily activities when strange events start happening around them. Reed Richards’ scientific experiments begin malfunctioning, Johnny’s flame powers become uncontrollable, Ben finds his strength fluctuating, and Sue experiences odd distortions with her invisibility. These incidents are all the result of Doom's unseen manipulation, testing the team’s ability to function while he prepares his main attack.
As the situation worsens, the Fantastic Four realize that Doctor Doom must be behind the chaos. Reed devises a plan to track Doom’s signal, leading the team on a high-stakes mission to confront him before his traps can fully take hold. They travel across the city, narrowly escaping various ambushes Doom has set for them, showcasing each team member’s unique abilities as they overcome the obstacles.
The team finally locates Doom’s hidden lair and bursts in to confront him. However, Doom has anticipated their arrival and has set a final trap that threatens to destroy not just the Fantastic Four, but the entire city. Using his advanced technology, Doom begins drawing energy from the team’s powers to fuel a massive weapon capable of leveling New York.
In the climactic battle, the Fantastic Four must work together to stop Doom while their powers are being drained. Reed, as usual, is the mastermind behind their strategy, while Johnny and Ben physically battle Doom’s defenses. Sue uses her invisibility and force fields to protect the team, giving Reed the chance to disable Doom’s power-draining machine.
As Reed breaks Doom’s control over their powers, the team turns the tables on their foe. In a final showdown, Ben smashes through Doom’s last line of defense, forcing Doom to flee in disgrace. The villain narrowly escapes, vowing to return and defeat the Fantastic Four another day.
The issue ends with the Fantastic Four reflecting on their narrow escape from Doom’s clutches. They know that Doom will return, but for now, they celebrate their victory and continue their mission to protect the world from threats both near and far.
Fantastic Four #18: A Skrull Walks Among Us! (1963)
Overview:
Fantastic Four #18, published in September 1963, is a comic book issue written by Stan Lee, with artwork by Jack Kirby. This issue introduces the villainous Super-Skrull, a powerful warrior from the alien Skrull race, who battles the Fantastic Four with the combined abilities of the entire team.
Plot Summary:
The issue begins with the Skrull Emperor seething over the Fantastic Four’s earlier defeat of the Skrull invasion (in Fantastic Four #2). Seeking revenge, he commissions the creation of a new super-weapon—a Skrull warrior enhanced with the powers of the Fantastic Four, known as the Super-Skrull. Armed with Reed’s elasticity, Johnny’s flames, Sue’s invisibility, and Ben’s strength, the Super-Skrull is sent to Earth to destroy the Fantastic Four once and for all.
Upon arrival, the Super-Skrull challenges the Fantastic Four in a public display of his powers, leaving the city in awe and fear of this new threat. Reed Richards, always the strategist, quickly realizes that this Skrull has replicated their abilities and knows that it will take more than brute strength to defeat him.
The battle between the Fantastic Four and the Super-Skrull begins, with each team member facing off against their own powers. The Thing charges at the Super-Skrull but is evenly matched in strength, while Johnny tries to overpower him with fire, only to be met by equally intense flames. Sue turns invisible to outmaneuver him, but the Super-Skrull counters with his own invisibility, making her strategy ineffective. Reed’s attempts to contain the Super-Skrull with his stretching abilities are thwarted as the Skrull easily mirrors his moves.
As the fight rages on, Reed deduces that the Super-Skrull’s powers are being transmitted from a Skrull ship orbiting Earth. The Fantastic Four need to sever that connection if they hope to defeat him. Working together, they come up with a plan to lure the Super-Skrull to a remote location, where they can minimize the damage to civilians while executing their strategy.
In a final confrontation on a deserted island, the Fantastic Four manages to distract the Super-Skrull long enough for Reed to create a jamming device that cuts off the energy beam from the Skrull ship. Deprived of his enhanced powers, the Super-Skrull is quickly subdued by the team and captured. The Skrull Emperor, watching from space, is furious at the failure of his champion but vows to return with an even greater threat.
The issue ends with the Fantastic Four victorious but aware that the Skrulls remain a formidable enemy. They return to New York, knowing that they will likely face more intergalactic threats in the future, but confident in their ability to overcome any challenges through their teamwork and ingenuity.
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