3 non-standard titles in a row! And look at this! Should be a weird one. Still i what could charitably be called “one of the less popular runs of FF,” I guess this is one way to try to juice sales. Ho’in’ up Sue’s outfit didn’t seem to do it. Having an OG like Paul Ryan drawing probably isn’t helping, either. Not really a commentary on him, just on what sells in 1992 (Meaning art, the Image kind). This issue is part of a multi-issue story that doesn’t feature Spider-Man in every part, but seemed worth looking at. Spidey catches us up right on page 1.
So, yeah, DeFalco, Ryan, Danny Bulanadi and Gina Going. Johnny Storm on the run. And Spider-Man going to Dr. Strange for help.
Spidey suggests he should team-up with “The New Fantastic Four” again for this caper, and Strange sends his astral form all over the US to find them and recruit them. In addition to his own title, Strange is currently the lynchpin of a book called “Secret Defenders,” where he brings together random heroes for missions, which is a cool idea, but never seemed to take off. So this kind of messenger service is kind of his thing now. Meanwhile, at Four Freedoms Plaza, Red, Ben and Sharon Ventura (Still hanging out but not a Thing, in this period) have come home form a mission, and Sue is mad at them for not being here to help with Johnny. Also, Sharon’s apparently heard Ben tell the recently returned Alicia Masters he still loves her, and obviously has an issue with that (The Alicia Johnny married was revealed to be a Skrull to solve how Johnny marrying her was a terrible idea in the first place, as I think we heard about in FF 362, just last 1992 block). A lot of strife in the house.
Agatha Harkness, probably not recognizable to Wandavision fans, settles Franklin down with her magic. Then we cut to Latveria for some crazy Dr. Doom stuff. Man, a lot of business in this title right now. Then we cut back to the FF-minus-Johnny as they set out to look for him. We see Johnny’s hiding out in one of New York’s endless supply of abandoned buildings, afraid to face his family after what he’s done.
Not sure why Hulk is so aggro. Other than just general 90s miasma, presumably. Quick look in on the Skrulls who started this, including Lyja, the one Johnny accidentally married who, get this, isn’t as mad at him as she thought she was (I know!), then back to the New FF finding Johnny. Johnny feels threatened since Hulk is openly threatening him and shoots up a “4” signal to get some backup.
Time for the beloved variation Eight Heroes Fight Over A Misunderstanding. Kinda harkens back to FF 73. Just much lamer. Sue and Reed stat having a marital dispute while she’s making sure Wolverine can’t stab Reed and Ghost Rider can’t chain whip her with her force field. As unfun as it is to watch Peter & MJ fight, they got nothing on this. Johnny tries to fight Ghost Rider, but he’s rather ambivalent about, you know, fire. Sharon comes for Spider-Man, but he outmaneuvers and webs her. Back in their fight, Ben says Hulk of all people should know what Johnny’s going through, and he says he does, “in spades!”
PHRASING, Reed! Improbably, we cut from that to the moon, where The Inhumans watch Dr. Doom zoom up to harass The Watcher, like there wasn’t enough going on with the big super fight, then right back to said fight. And then something famously stupid happens:
This is the very moment when The Thing gets rocks cut off his face to reveal the weird lumpy skin underneath, and starts wearing a helmet because he looks ugly now. One of the most ridiculed moments of the 90s, and I accidentally got it. History in the making, but not the good kind, like you want. While everyone’s focused on Ben’s new face, Ghost Rider hasn’t forgotten he’s Ghost Rider, and snares Johnny in his chains. He’s about to be subjected to the Penance Stare, which, I dunno, seems fair, it’s not like he killed anybody (Did he?), but then Lyja shows up to claim the right to fight him.
And thus, abruptly, “The New FF” are out of the story. Presumably, our heroes were zapped to the moon to fight Dr. Doom. I think it’s not long after this that Reed and Doom “die” in combat, Ant-Man takes Reed’s place on the team, Sue goes bad… The 90s, man. Woof. Next post, it’s back to ASM for a 2-parter to finish out this block.