Fantastic Four Annual #14
Cat's-Paw!
The action opens immediately with the Fantastic Four taking down the Sandman, who appears to be robbing a bank in New York. Afterward, they return to the Baxter Building where they run into their old family friend Agatha Harkness. Harkness asks them if they would like to accompany her back to New Salem for a festival. The team decides to do so, take young Franklin and make this into a vacation. This brings them into a major conflict with Salem's Seven who are trying to return Nicholas Scratch to the earthly realm. Salem's Seven defeat the Fantastic Four and leave Agatha Harkness and all the residents of New Salem in a coma-like trance. They spare Franklin Richards as he is just an apparently harmless child. They transport the unconscious Fantastic Four back to New York City.
Franklin's mutant powers bring Agatha and the town out of their trance. Agatha and Franklin journey back to the Baxter Building where Salem's Seven have arranged the inert bodies of the Fantastic Four as a nexus to return Nicholas Scratch to the realm. The Avengers and other heroes of New York note this huge surge of pulsating energy. When they come to investigate, they are rebuffed by an invisible mystic barrier. Agatha, with her magical powers, and Franklin are able to go through the mystic barrier. They encounter a mind-controlled Fantastic Four who have been ordered by Salem's Seven to kill the two intruders. However, the team is released from the mind-control and they return to confront Salem's Seven. Agatha is able to take away Salem's Seven's power and keep her son, Nicholas Scratch, imprisoned in this dark realm.
Recurring Characters
Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch, Thing), Agatha Harkness, Franklin Ricards, Sandman, Nicholas Scratch, Salem’s Seven (Vertigo, Brutacus, Vakume, Gazelle, Thornn, Reptillia, Hydron), Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Wonder Man, Vision, Falcon, Ms. Marvel), Captain Marvel, Quasar, Peter Parker, Nighthawk
Continuity Notes
Franklin's powers make an appearance here again after they resurfaced in Fantastic Four #217. Prior to that, they had been dormant since Fantastic Four #150.
