Fantastic Four 214

Fantastic Four 214

Jan 1980

…and then there was -- One!

by Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, John Costanza, Carl Gafford 

The Human Torch looks for a cure to save his teammates. He turns first to Tony Stark and then to Princess Adora (of Xandar). Both are too busy to provide any assistance. Johnny returns to the Baxter Building feeling pretty hopeless.

The Human Torch is drowning in self-pity when Skrull X attacks. During the fight Skrull X attempts to shoot Johnny with the same sort of ray gun that debilitated his teammates. The Human Torch overwhelms Skrull X, destroying him and in the process revealing that he wasn't a Skrull but an android created to look like a Skrull.

Fantastic Four 213

Fantastic Four 213

Dec 1979

In Final Battle!

by Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, John Costanza, Ben Sean

Terrax attacks the Thing, Mr. Fantastic, and the Human Torch. The Thing is knocked out of the fight. HERBIE takes him back to the Baxter building and puts him in cryogenic sleep next to the Invisible Woman. The Human Torch brings an end to the fight when he coats Terrax in liquid oxygen.

Galactus and the Sphinx continue their fight in the desert of  Egypt. Galactus ultimately prevails and reduces the Sphinx back to the level of a mortal. 

Fantastic Four 212

Fantastic Four 212

Nov 1979

Battle of the Titans!

by Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, John Costanza, Carl Gafford 

The Fantastic Four, HERBIE, Galactus, and Terrax arrive on Earth. Galactus’ new herald immediately starts to terrorize the population of New York City. Reed and Ben fight with Terrax until Galactus tells his new assistant to back off.

Sue feels the effects of the rapid aging to a greater degree than Reed or Ben and collapses. Reed does what he can for his wife and then starts to prepare to deal with Galactus. He knows that once Galactus has dealt with the Sphinx he will turn from Earth’s defender into its greatest menace. 

The Skrull who was last seen Fantastic Four 204 returns. He is a construct. He explains how he repaired himself and makes preparations to help the Skrull Empire conquer Earth. 

The Sphinx tells his origin story which goes back to biblical times. Terrax tries to take down the Sphinx on his own but when that fails he heads to the Baxter Building. The issue ends with Terrax threatening to destroy the Fantastic Four. 

Fantastic Four 211

Fantastic Four 211

Oct 1979

If this Be Terrax

by Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, Joe Rosen, Ben Sean

Galactus transports the Fantastic Four, plus HERBIE, down to the planet Terran. Reed, Sue, and Ben look noticeably older than they did in the previous issue. They try to help some people fight off some robotic knights but they are captured. 

The Fantastic Four are taken to Tyros the Terrible, the local bigwig. He toys with them a bit and then decides to execute them, himself. They break free and humble him, as Galactus told them to do. The big planet eater transports all six of them back to his ship.

Galactus transforms Tyros the Terrible into Terrax the Tamer, changing his appearance and imbuing him with cosmic powers in the process. Terrax tries to turn his new powers on Galactus but his new boss shows Terrax that he is not to be taken lightly. Galactus’ new herald sings a different tune after the Big G takes him down a notch. 

Galactus and the Fantastic Four depart for Earth in his spheroid space ship. 

The issue ends with the Watcher observing Earth from the Moon, aware that Galactus is coming and that a battle with the Sphinx will soon occur.

Fantastic Four 210

Fantastic Four 210

Sep 1979

In Search of Galactus

by Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, Tom Orzechowski, Ben Sean

The Fantastic Four move on from the Sargasso of Space and find Galactus, who ignores them at first. It isn’t until they break open the cages in the zoo he has amassed and free all the critters that he pays them any attention. 

Reed explains the situation but Galactus remains uninterested in helping them deal with the Sphinx. Galactus changes his mind after Reed offers to rescind the deal they made after Galactus first attempted to consume the Earth. Galactus agrees but only on condition that they fetch him Terrax, whom Galactus intends to be his next herald. 

Fantastic Four 209

Fantastic Four 209

Aug 1979

Trapped in the Sargasso of Space!

by Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Joe Sinnott, Tom Orzechowski, Glynis Wein

Mister Fantastic builds himself a robot to help them out, HERBIE. It helps them to plot their trip to find Galactus. Queen Adora gives them Xandar's fastest spaceship. The Fantastic Four leave Xandar in search of Galactus. 

The Skrull Empress murders her husband and takes over the Skrull Empire. 

The next stop on the Fantastic Four's voyage is the Sargasso of Space where they find lots of abandoned spaceships. They investigate and find bug-like aliens. The aliens attempt to take their spaceship but the Fantastic Four prevent that from happening and then continue on their way. 

Fantastic Four 208

Fantastic Four 208

Jul 1979

The Power of the Sphinx!

by Marv Wolfman, Sal Buscema, D. Hands, Joe Rosen, Glynis Wein

The Skrull spaceship that Reed, Sue, and Ben escaped in is destroyed by Nova who then quickly realizes his mistakes. Nova rescues the trio and brings them back to his spaceship. The Thing almost gets into a fight with the Sphinx but the Sphinx has no interest in fighting once he detects the presence of the Living Computer of Xandar.

The Sphinx and Dr. Sun disappear as the Sphinx uses his abilities to transporter them to Xandar. The Sphinx only intended to transport himself but Dr. Sun jumped in time to tag along.

Fantastic Four 207

Fantastic Four 207

Jun 1979

Might of the Monocle!

by Marv Wolfman, Sal Buscema, Joe Sinnott, John Costanza, Barry Grossman

Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, while hypnotized, flies to the Baxter Building. He breaks into the vault and steals top secret plans for the manufacture of weapons. He takes the plans back and hands them over to the guards and then goes back to bed. 

Peter Parker gets his first assignment from Barney Bushkin, his new boss, the editor of the Daily Globe. Peter goes to Security University where he runs into Johnny Storm. 

The Monocle takes note of Peter Parker and has special arrangements made for him to prevent him from interfering with his plans. Peter finds out later that night that he’s been locked in his room in the dorm. He breaks out through the window and follows hypnotized students as they are bussed to an Army base. 

Fantastic Four 206

Fantastic Four 206

May 1979

The Death of… the Fantastic Four!

by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard, Joe Sinnott, John Costanza, Barry Grossman

Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, and the Thing (all captured by the Skrulls in the previous issue) are sentenced to death. The Skrulls use a ray beam that will cause them to age rapidly over the course of the next three days. The trio breaks out of the prison where the Skrulls have them locked up, steal a spaceship, and try to make it back to Xandar.

Queen Adora mourns over the failing health of Tanak, her lover. Miraculously he recovers from his ailments thanks to the work of Master Xar. Adora is moved to tears of joy at Tanak’s return to health.

Fantastic Four 205

Fantastic Four 205

Apr 1979

When Worlds Die!

by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard, Joe Sinnott, Jim Novak, Glynis Wein

Johnny Storm stays on Earth at Security University. He is unaware that he in being observed by the Monocle. Johnny is hypnotized, as are the other students at the school.

Tanak, Queen Adora’s love and the leader of the centurions of Xandar, is in critical health after getting shot by a Skrull, as described in the previous issue. Reed, Ben, and Sue help the centurions of Xandar to fight the Skrull invasion fleet. The issue ends with the Skrulls capturing Reed, Sue, and Ben. The situation looks more or less hopeless.

Fantastic Four 204

Fantastic Four 204

Mar 1979

The Andromeda Attack!

by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard, Joe Sinnott, Jim Novak, Françoise Mouly

Queen Adora from the Andromeda Galaxy materializes in the Baxter Building while Reed is performing an experiment. She is followed by a Skrull. Mister Fantastic and the Thing deal with the Skrull. Queen Adora tells Reed, Ben, and Sue about her world and how it has been attacked by the Skrulls. The three members of the team present decide that they must help her but first they need to summon the fourth member of the team, the Human Torch. 

Johnny Storm is off visiting the campus of Empire State University while his teammates are battling a Skrull and deciding to help Queen Adora. Johnny meets a potential new girlfriend, Lanie, and an old flame of his, Frankie Raye. Johnny returns to the Baxter Building where he learns about what his teammates have been up to.

Johnny decides to stay on Earth and mull over his personal problems, rather that help his teammates. He winds up at Security University where Dean Joseph Wayne offers him a full scholarship. Johnny accepts, unaware that he is being observed by the Monocle.