This month, we begin with Reed investigating a planet that had been possessed by the H’Mojen and let go, learning they used to be a big deal in their sector of the galaxy, and now they’re trying to rebuild a civilization they lost. And they have nothing that can help Earth, where the baddies have just put forth 3 giant bugs, security measures from their last world, to battle our heroes. Sue goes to lock down the building and make sure the kids are ok, and thus…
Ya know, I only just realized, based on an ad in this comic, that the 2nd FF movie came out around the same time as Spider-Man 3. That explains this mini’s existence. Genuinely surprised Spider-Man’s not in the black suit for this, too.
As the boys keep up the pressure on the roof, Sue sees the baddies are also fighting heavily in the mountains of Transia, where the High Evolutionary created his New Men, who we’ve seen a time or two around here (Perhaps most notably in TAC Annual 8). She thinks they might be able to help, and as the fight gets wilder outside, she scoops up the boys in the Fantasticar for a trip to Wundagore Mountain. They arrive in time to see the Knights of Wundagore in combat with the aliens’ forces.
With the enemy routed, the heroes confer with the New Men, and are shown to a device they believe the High Evolutionary created to “maintain generic integrity in a populace,” but which they don’t know how to work. And that means…
Doom immediately starts attacking them, of course, but Spider-Man webs him long enough to lie, showing him the device and saying Reed couldn’t figure it out. That’s all Doom needs to hear.
We cut away to Reed for a page, who’s now seen 6 former H’Mojen planets, none of which could repel them. But he thinks he’s learned something of value about the Imperator, and is racing home.
What just happened? How will the gang save the day? Will Dr. Doom participate? I guess we’ll see. I think Von Grawbadger is hewing too closely to Ringo’s pencils. Things are looks pretty flat. I wonder if Mike’s health was declining in his final year, also. This book hasn’t been up to his usual standard. Which, you know, says a lot since the book looks fine, but it’s a little flat.