The Tomb of Diablo!

The ambitious alchemist known as Diablo, introduced in late 1964, went on to have a successful run in Marvel's line of comics well into the next few decades--not bad for a villain whose primary ability was to whip up a potion that would alter the composition of any substance. If memory serves, my initial exposure to the character was in an issue of Marvel Collectors' Item Classics, a reprint mag that was recycling Fantastic Four tales. Luckily, it happened to be the issue that featured Diablo's first appearance, with a suitably striking introductory cover that appeared in both titles.

The MCIC cover has a little more to sell than its counterpart (not the least of which appears to be its massive logo), so Diablo's bold caption is reduced to half its size, while artist Jack Kirby's architectural touches are either adjusted in scope or omitted entirely (necessitating a slight change in the Torch's flight path). News of the Thing's transformation is also relocated in a less visible location in the bottom right corner, no longer sharing the fanfare that Diablo receives.

It's arguably the Thing's strange new circumstances which served as the issue's draw for FF readers; yet they were also treated to an equally compelling story involving a brand new villain who, as it turns out, was "stirring up" trouble for centuries before setting his sights on the Fantastic Four. Of course, that meant removing the FF from the big city and relocating them to a most unusual choice for a vacation spot.

Somehow I can't imagine these four people pooling their thoughts on where to head for vacation and settling on Transylvania. It's always possible that they relied on Ben's haphazard method of selecting a spot--though here, as then, they again make the simply odd decision of vacationing in their uniforms. But the story's unusual beginning nevertheless paves the way for their discovery of the castle of the one and only Diablo.

As skittish as the Thing is when it comes to ghost stories, how ironic that in this early FF tale he becomes part of one in a sense, when late at night he's compelled to follow the summons of a mysterious voice that draws him to a crypt where waits one who seeks release from his imprisonment.

We have to assume that Diablo was imprisoned when his personal cache of pellets that carried his potions in distilled form was depleted (or confiscated)--otherwise, it's difficult to believe that the blockage that the Thing removed would impede his escape.

As for the Thing, he doesn't remain under Diablo's control in the literal sense--but considering what Diablo is able to do for him, and the rift that forms between himself and the rest of the FF, the difference is negligible.

As we've learned, Ben's benefactor has given his aid conditionally, promising to cure Ben completely only if Ben agrees to be in his service for an entire year. We can only presume that Ben's euphoria is influencing his judgment, since under normal circumstances he'd tend to doubt the motives of someone who would insist on such terms. He also seems to have chosen to disregard the Baron's information on Diablo, or perhaps pushed it out of his thoughts completely.

Now free to act in the 20th century, Diablo proceeds to spread his influence among the wealthy and powerful--the surest way to conquest not only for those who seek it in comics, but as many who live in the real world have discovered, as well. (We even saw Victor von Doom begin making such inroads as a young man, though as an adult he obviously preferred to take a more direct hand.) But the Fantastic Four haven't given up on their friend--and when Reed tests one of Diablo's potions he palmed while in the villain's castle, the danger that Diablo poses to mankind becomes clear.

It was also inevitable that, as closely as he was shadowing Diablo, Ben would at some point overhear details he wasn't meant to--in this case, Diablo's meeting with a few generals while consolidating his power base. Diablo reacts to the intrusion with outrage, but quickly salvages the situation--only to find that he's too long neglected to keep his powerful ally's condition in check.

With Diablo now a very rich man, and having secured with that wealth the loyalties of the military generals he solicited, he's no doubt prepared when, all around the world, his potions and treatments begin to fail one by one. But while the U.N. deliberates, the FF move to take him down and rescue the Thing. Penetrating his military defenses, they finally breach the castle itself, where they find their comrade already dealt with--while Diablo himself proves capable of handling their capture, as well.

However, Diablo has again failed to keep tabs on the clock, as the Thing regains consciousness. Diablo has every right at this point to feel supremely confident in the steps he's taken--but his arrogance has caused him to underestimate his powerful captive, who has one heck of a debt to repay. And unlike the Thing's previous service to him, Diablo finds that repayment made with interest.

Tsk--Reed and his directions. He has quite a habit of pointing out the obvious. "As soon as we're past you, drop everything and follow us!" Brilliant as always, Reed--otherwise your partner would still be there trying to hold up the entire castle.

We know that the FF's self-assurances that Diablo was now permanently entombed were premature, since he would show up just five issues later to animate Dragon Man for the first time. From there, he began a career of villainy that served notice to the FF, Doom, and others that ambition mixed with alchemy is a deadly combination.

Fantastic Four #30 Script: Stan Lee Pencils: Jack Kirby Inks: Chic Stone Letterer: Art Simek