The Hunt for Madam Medusa!

Even before its main story gears up, Fantastic Four #44 from late 1965 has a few bullet points to draw the comic enthusiast's notice. For one thing, it's the first FF story which takes place following the marriage of Reed Richards and Sue Storm in that year's Fantastic Four Annual, so this would be the first we'd see of them in action as a married couple. (Uh, well, you know what I mean.) In addition, the issue not only paves the way for a new race of super-beings in the form of the Inhumans, but it also marks the point where Madam Medusa is suddenly shifted from her role as a villainess to being a member of that race, a shift which effectively sweeps her past as one of the Frightful Four under the rug. There are also two noteworthy returns to the book: Dragon Man, brought to life by the villain Diablo but presumed lost--and, in the real world, the return of inker Joe Sinnott, whose work on the FF at this point consisted of only a single issue from mid-1962 but who brings his talented brush-hand back aboard for an extended stay that would deservedly bring accolades to the Kirby/Sinnott art team well past their collaboration.

But judging by the issue's cover and subsequent splash page, there's one more character meant to grab our attention here--one of the first Inhumans we lay eyes on (aside from Medusa), and who, disturbingly, appears to be fixing his eyes on us.

But it's Medusa who has to watch out for this bruiser.

We'll quickly discover that the events of this story's plot play out chaotically almost from the start--though it at least takes a moment to catch up with the Richardses, who appear to have postponed their honeymoon and routed their domestic bliss directly to the Baxter Building. A little too much domestic bliss for Johnny Storm's taste, a young man who quickly makes his exit for more enjoyable diversions--though he'll find his dull day will liven up considerably, just after leaving the building.

Gosh, Medusa certainly appears to still be immersed in her life as a villain--but it's clear that she has bigger worries than being a fugitive. While page one has spilled the beans as far as Gorgon's name, it still comes as an intriguing surprise to find that Medusa has some connection to him--perhaps even more of a surprise that she fears him. Up until now we've only seen her in the company of her ruthless teammates in the Frightful Four, where she'd flourished in exercising her assertiveness as well as her aggressiveness; but now, alone and on the run, she substitutes pragmatism in dealing with the reality of her situation, realizing that her priority now is (a) survival and (b) looking out for number one. If we follow the chronology of her situation, we're finding her after she's secured her freedom from the Wizard's control--but she appears to have no qualms about drawing on the skills of her criminal past to escape the pursuit of Gorgon.

Unfortunately for the rest of the FF, the source of her troubles is taking the scenic route toward a means of catching up to his quarry.

As for the Torch and his abductress, they end up in a secluded area near State University, where Ben Grimm and Reed spent their college days. It's also the location where the FF encountered the strange creature which will end up playing a part in the drama involving Medusa and Gorgon--thanks to an altercation which will serve to bring it once more to life.

Nor is the Torch the only one undertaking a desperate search, as his three partners pull themselves together from Gorgon's thunderous incursion and begin to investigate. But while what they'll find will only deepen the mystery, we'll see that all the pieces of this puzzle finally coalesce into one strange and powerful confrontation.

Unfortunately for Reed, Gorgon's attention is refocused back to his mission when it appears Medusa isn't going to be cooperative--and with the Torch's arrival, the situation only escalates as Gorgon finds himself in the beginning of a full-fledged battle.

Rather than strike a conciliatory note, Gorgon doubles down on his threat potential by issuing an ultimatum, while providing a vivid demonstration of his undeniable power. As a result, even the FF have to pause to consider their next move, though there are two factors they can't anticipate--Medusa herself, and Dragon Man, all but forgotten about in this melee but who re-enters the scene with a roar and will end up throwing this situation into complete turmoil.

That is, for all except Gorgon, who takes advantage of the confusion to finally achieve his goal.

As for the FF--should any of them still be in fighting shape after what's happened here--you can segue to the following issue to discover not only what happens with Dragon Man (who obviously doesn't care that Sue is now married) but also how the FF will figure into Medusa's return to the mysterious race she belongs to. And there's another mystery brewing, with the appearance of the man known only as the Seeker. There seems to be a lot of seeking taking place all of a sudden, eh?

Fantastic Four #44 Script: Stan Lee Pencils: Jack Kirby Inks: Joe Sinnott Letterer: Sam Rosen