Fantastic Four #543 — Nick Peron

Mar 5

Mar 5 Fantastic Four #543

C'mon Suzie, Don't Leave Us Hangin'

In the aftermath of the super-hero Civil War, the Thing and the Human Torch are spending the evening looking after Valeria and Franklin. They have all sat down to watch a documentary made about the Fantastic Four that celebrates the anniversary of the space flight that gave them their powers. The Thing agrees to allow Valeria stay up another half hour before bed.

The documentary starts with an interview with the security guard, James Krieg, who was on shift the night that the Fantastic Four took their unauthorized flight into space. He recounts how because he didn't see them break onto the site he lost his job and is now a department store greeter. The next interview is with Herbert Eagle, former dean of men at State University. He talks about how much of a genius Reed Richards was and can't understand what might have gone wrong. In an interview, Henry Pym points out that the entire incident was a freak accident. After commentary from videographer Marcia Hardesty, they show footage of the Fantastic Four giving their first press conference.

While Franklin remarks about how thin his father looks, Ben points out that they were all thinner back then. Johnny then asks if Reed and Sue will be coming back, Ben assures them they will because the promised, but Johnny isn't so sure. Elsewhere, Reed and Sue are having a private moment aboard the Fantasti-Car over the troubles the civil war has caused their marriage. They talk about how Reed kept his equation a secret and that she wouldn't have known about it had she not been spying him and the Mad Thinker. When he explains that he was just trying to protect her, she recalls how he did the same thing during the riots near the end of the war. Reed expresses how he doesn't want to lose her and the pair talk about how they first met back when he used to rent a room from her aunt. They talk about how they fell in love with each other when they first met. They realize that they still love each other, but Sue points out that things can never be the same again.

Back at the Baxter Building, the other half of the Fantastic Four continue to watch the documentary of their lives. The next segment is an interview with the Black Panther about the rivalry between the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom. T'Challa explains that the Fantastic Four always won, not because they were just a team, but a family. Further commentary is provided by the Sub-Mariner. Next, there is an interview with Doctor Doom, who comments on how Reed Richards is setting himself up for a fall and that when that day comes, the world will seek out Doctor Doom for salvation. With that comment, the Thing throws the popcorn at the TV. Soon Ben and Johnny get into a squabble and start play fighting. As they watch them fight each other, Valeria and Franklin place bets on who is going to work.

The documentary rolls on, with the Fantastic Four's long time mailman discussing the first time the Fantastic Four battled the Silver Surfer and Galactus. The theme about family continues when the documentary filmmakers interview Wyatt Wingfoot, Spider-Man. They then interview former members, Luke Cage, the She-Thing, and She-Hulk. This is followed by interviews with the Fantastic Four. Ben tells a late-night talk show host that they all stick around for Reed Richards because he is constantly seeking out adventure and discovering the unknown. This is followed by an interview with Johnny where he talks about how he sticks by Reed for his sister. Lastly an interview with Sue where she modestly cannot accept her role on the team. This cuts to an interview with Wolverine who talks about how Reed Richards screwed things up big time. With that, Ben decides that it's the children to go to bed, but he and Johnny still watch. The next interview is of Tony Stark, who defends Reed's decision to support the Super Human Registration Act. The mention of Captain America, they are surprised that Cap fought against the act. They also talk about how the team also got the key to the city again, and still maintained the PR.

As the documentary winds up with the question about where the Fantastic Four will go in light of their recent problems. Ben and Johnny wait for Reed and Sue to return home. When they do, Ben and Johnny figure that the group is getting back together. However, they are shocked when Reed and Sue announce that they are leaving the team until they sort out the problems with their marriage. In their place will be the Black Panther and Storm.

Recurring Characters

Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing), Franklin Richards, Valeria Richards, (documentary footage) “Henry Pym”, Marcia Hardesty, Sub-Mariner, Doctor Doom, Silver Surfer, Galactus, Willie Lumpkin, Wyatt Wingfoot, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Dani Cage, She-Thing, She-Hulk, Wolverine, Tony Stark

Continuity Notes

The Fantastic Four's maiden flight happened back in Fantastic Four #1.

The person posing as Henry Pym is actually a Skrull spy, as revealed in Secret Invasion #1.

Reed saved Sue's life during the final battle in Civil War #7.

This story states that Sue was thirteen years old when she first met Reed. This was also stated in Fantastic Four #291. This is contradicted by Fantastic Four Vol 4 #4 states that Sue was in her late teens. Issue #291 was from the perspective of Sue while the Volume 4 issue is from the perspective of Reed. One could assume that Sue had a girlhood crush since a teen while Reed never noticed her (let alone romantically) until she was in her 20s.

The clip of the Baxter Building being shot into space is from Fantastic Four #6.

The clip of the Atlanteans invasion of New York City is from Fantastic Four Annual #1.

The Fantastic Four's first battle against Galactus and Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four #48-50.

Wyatt mentions how he used to hang out with Johnny in college. This was from Fantastic Four #50-61.

Spider-Man mentions how he once tried to join the Fantastic Four in the early days of his career, this was in Amazing Spider-Man #1.

Interviews are made with former members of the team:
- Luke Cage was briefly a member from Fantastic Four #168-170.
- The She-Thing was a member from Fantastic Four #307-350.
- She-Hulk was a member of the Fantastic Four from Fantastic Four #265-301.

The man interviewing the Thing is depicted as Conan O'Brien and the woman interviewing Sue is Oprah. This should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.

The Thing mentions all the places that Reed took the Fantastic Four: They first visited the Skrull homeworld in Fantastic Four #37, the Negative Zone which Reed discovered in Fantastic Four #51 and when they met pirates in Fantastic Four #5.

A Day At the Races

Some time ago...

The Human Torch is putting the finishing touches on a race car along with his friend Wyatt Wingfoot. When Wyatt remarks on how Johnny could use his flame powers for fame, he points out that he is a ham, not like Spider-Man. This upsets Johnny, who then gets a text message from the Thing telling him to turn on the TV for a report about his "favorite super-hero".

Meanwhile, at the Daily Bugle, publisher J. Jonah Jameson is upset that Peter Parker has brought him yet more photos of Spider-Man. He tells Parker that they can't keep running stories about the wall-crawler and tells him to get some photos of the Human Torch.

Peter decides to crash the Torch's race and capitalize on the photos. After setting up his automatic camera, Peter changes into Spider-Man and allows himself to be seen by the Human Torch. This angers the Torch enough that he flames on, blowing up his car. The duo then begins fighting until they are stopped by Johnny's girlfriend Crystal who tells the two that they are acting childish.

The two are convinced to make a truce, but Johnny is only playing and flies away. Later when the story appears in the Daily Bugle, the Thing mocks Johnny who tells him to shut up.