The Ultimate Reed vs. Namor Battle!

The matchup of Mr. Fantastic vs. the Sub-Mariner has always been one of the more unusual recurring clashes that Marvel has presented over the years; it's also, frankly, one that's difficult to look forward to with any feeling of anticipation, since it's almost always the result of tension between the two characters over their feelings for Sue Storm (Richards) rather than genuine enmity between two classic Marvel characters who each feel the other is a threat. Otherwise, their conflict is the result of Namor moving against the human race, with the rest of the Fantastic Four taking a hand in fighting him.

But as far as Reed and Namor being the headliners in a battle issue--chances are a reader is picking up the issue not because of the potential for a surefire, cover-to-cover blockbuster, but because they're wondering if the writer and artist are going to succeed this time in pitting a stretching man against the power of the Sub-Mariner, in a story that would hopefully go down as a classic. By 1996, you would have thought there had certainly been enough time for Marvel to figure out what worked and what didn't as far as pulling off a no-holds-barred Reed vs. Namor clash--and so, just a few issues before the events of Onslaught would effectively end the first run of Fantastic Four, the title took another crack at it, and we were presented with what was billed as "The Ultimate Reed vs. Namor Battle!"

(Though after so many misfires, such a claim may have been pushing their readers' status as "true believers" to the limit!)



Perhaps it's due to the Fantastic Four title winding down that this particular conflict is being dusted off and given prominent exposure once more, as writer Tom DeFalco continues to recycle memorable periods in FF history that would hopefully again appeal to FF readers (e.g., Reed vs. Doom, the coming of Galactus, even the Thing's return to his old helmet). And just to build anticipation, a little positive reinforcement on the splash page is the first thing a new or prospective buyer sees, another marketing technique that has its roots all the way back to Marvel's Silver Age--while the issue's title, dripping with alliteration, replaces the cover's "For The Love Of A Woman" with something presumably more fun, if perfunctory.

(And good grief--the Human Torch completely edged out of the cover, with only his flame trail left to mark his presence? Maybe he's visible on a pricier special issue with a fold-out cover on the racks that we shmucks with pull stacks missed?)

There is still a continuing story to be dealt with before we get to the main event, however. Reed has returned from the exile in time he endured at the hands of Hyperstorm, only to find his wife Sue having become more assertive in her role of team leader, while Namor has temporarily aligned himself with the FF and assisted them on several missions. On their latest mission--finding and restraining the delusional Black Bolt after he'd suffered a severe head injury--Sue overtaxed her force field powers, and now lies in the FF's medical bay.

While Black Bolt and Sue recuperate, Reed spreads the word to everyone assembled that Sue's prognosis looks good--yet Namor pays little heed to Reed's "do not disturb" instructions, and, following a stern warning to Reed not to interfere, he makes tracks for the medical bay. Unfortunately, he hasn't come just to deliver a get-well card.

And while there was a time when one of the FF would race to prevent falling glass shards or rubble from injuring those on the street below, it seems those concerns are as out the window as Reed soon is, consumed with jealousy and rage from memories of an old rivalry that has finally reached its breaking point.

And so the question now is: Will Reed's power--to say nothing of tactics born and proven in countless life-or-death battles--finally prove to be at least a match for this foe, who's been in true page-turners with the likes of both Iron Man and the Hulk? (Thor is another story.) Well, let's put it this way: If this is "a fighting-mad Mr. Fantastic" we're seeing, it's no wonder Namor appears to be enjoying mocking him as much as he is.

While we've learned in an earlier scene that it's Reed that Sue loves unquestioningly, it's clear that Reed has been giving a great deal of thought to her higher profile on the team in his absence, with Namor's cutting words only underscoring his fear that, in Sue's eyes, he may be only a shadow of the man he once was. By rights, that frame of mind should have given Reed a much more aggressive posture against the Sub-Mariner than what we're seeing here; instead, he's been more contemplative, "phoning in" this fight while doing little of substance to put Namor on the defensive. (Or maybe he's just unable to do so, which those of us who were skeptical of Reed finally being given his due against Namor were likely afraid of.)

Meanwhile, Sue and the FF's guest, the Skrull known as Lyja, arrive to return Reed to the Baxter Building so that he can attend to Black Bolt, whose condition is worsening. The timing is perfect, given that even at a site he hand-picked so that he can finally "cut loose," Reed apparently feels that throwing stretched punches is his only recourse against Namor; yet that's exactly what sends Namor to the mat, when Reed at last confronts his failings with Sue, and with himself.

With that, Reed's "rage" against Namor evaporates, even as he apologizes to both Namor's prone form and to Sue for his actions--while Sue departs with him to rush to Black Bolt's side. As for Namor, we discover that his own behavior has been recycled from an earlier time when he again took the fall for the Richards marriage--only this time with perhaps an ulterior motive.

Parting words that prove that Reed isn't the only one who could use a refresher course in tactics.

Fantastic Four #412 Script: Tom DeFalco Pencils: Paul Ryan Inks: John Lowe and Bob Wiacek Letterer: Jim Novak