Fantastic Four: First Family #1-6

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Fantastic Four: First Family #1-6

Post by Chris McCarver »

Fantastic Four: First Family #1

Feature Appearances:
Fantastic Four: Human Torch II, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Thing II
General Walter Montgomery (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, first appearance)
Prof. Franz Stahl (insane scientist, first appearance)
Raymond Perry (irradiated lab assistant, first appearance)
Linda McGill (Ben's scientist girlfriend, during M/FAN 46/2)
Prof. Sanford (base scientist)
Prof. Rutland (base scientist)

Page 1: At the Richards spacecraft crash site, military helicopters descend on Reed and his crew. This takes place during the FB in TG 10 where a similar event occurs. Best placement in my opinion bisects the FB into 12:2-12:7 and 13-16, potentially even marrying it with 13:1 since both panels show the crew looking up at a descending chopper.

Pages 2-23: Gen. Montgomery is woken up and notified of Reed's unauthorized launch. At an Air Force base where the crew is being detained, Montgomery is shown each member in their isolation rooms and how the cosmic radiation has mutated them. Reed in particular appears catatonic, due to his mind being hijacked by an unknown individual who is telepathically espousing his warped views on human evolution, but everyone else thinks he's either unable or unwilling to move or speak. While invisible, Sue checks in on the other soon-to-be-F4 members. Linda McGill arrives at the base to visit Ben, but is horrified by his appearance and tearfully leaves (retconning in that this was the first time Linda saw Ben as the Thing rather than in M/FAN 46/2). That night, Raymond Perry, a lab assistant irradiated by a meteor sample and held elsewhere in the base, escapes and rampages through the base, eventually causing a power blackout that allows Stahl, held in yet another holding cell, to escape.

FLASHBACK (16:3): Reed and the crew are bombarded by cosmic radiation in their ship's cockpit. This shows Ben commenting that he's becoming too heavy to move, echoing (but not verbatim) his dialogue in FF 1 (10:6)-FB. My estimation is to place this between pages 10 and 11 of FF 1.

Fantastic Four: First Family #2

Feature Appearances:
Fantastic Four: Human Torch II, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Thing II
General Walter Montgomery
Prof. Franz Stahl
Raymond Perry (dies)
Mole Man (bts)
Helen Stahl (Stahl's wife, only appearance, apparently dies, death confirmed by Stahl's dialogue in FF:FF 6)
Vincent and Michael Stahl (Stahl's sons, only appearances, both die)
Admiral White (Joint Chief)
General Martin (Joint Chief)

Pages 1-11: Despite a few stumbles, Reed and his crew use their abilities to subdue Perry, but base soldiers end the fight by fatally shooting Perry. (Item of note: Sue uses her force field powers here and in a few other spots in this series despite previous establishment that she didn't figure out how to use this power until FF 22; it could be presumed that these were unconscious activations of the power before she learned how to fully control it since the fields seem to manifest out of stress, or that the destruction of the meteorite in FF:FF 6 that temporarily robbed Johnny and Ben of their powers knocked Sue's force field power out of commission for a lengthier period, to the point that she "re-established" it in FF 22.) Stahl's escape is also detected. Reed makes arrangements with Montgomery for him and the crew to set up shop as a group of superhuman troubleshooters.

Pages 12-13: As Montgomery tries to sell the Joint Chiefs on the idea, news reports emerge of the Mole Man's attacks on atomic energy bases. Hearing one of the reports, Reed fires his newly-designed FF signal flare (a retcon that the signal actually spelled out the words "Fantastic Four" as seen in FF 1.

Page 14: Following the team's encounter with the Mole Man, also seen in FF 1, the team flies away from Monster Isle as it explodes.

Pages 15-22: Montgomery lets Reed know about the public, less-than-favorable attention FF drew for acting publicly without concern for concealing their abilities. At their apartment, Reed explains to Sue how their spacesuits appear to have become molecularly unstable due to the radiation, even as Sue tries in vain to redirect him back towards plans for their eventual marriage. Reed again has his mind hijacked by Stahl, who taunts him into trying to find him, but Reed loses any memory of the event once it ends. Elsewhere, Stahl's family welcomes him home with a home-cooked meal, but Stahl responds by callously killing his wife and sons with his new abilities.

FLASHBACK (11:2): Shortly after the crash, the FF agree to use their abilities to benefit mankind. The dialogue closely (but not completely) matches dialogue spoken by Ben and Reed in FF 1...

FF:FF 2 (11:2):
Ben: "Save the speech, big shot. We get it. We gotta use this power to help mankind, right...?
Reed: "That's right, Ben."

FF 1 (13:6):
Ben: "You don't have to make a speech, big shot! We understand! We've gotta use that power to help mankind, right?
Reed: "Right, Ben, right!"

...so I'm calling this one an RFB.

FLASHBACK (16:1): Bystanders and cops look at a hole in the street that Ben burst upwards from. No feature appearances.

FLASHBACK (16:3): Bystanders see Johnny flying across the sky. Likely a RFB of FF 1 (6:5), which shows the same thing.

Fantastic Four: First Family #3

Feature Appearances:
Fantastic Four: Human Torch II, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Thing II
Fatal Finnegan (on TV)
Mr. Nelson (Johnny's boss, first appearance)
Jimmy (Johnny's co-worker, first appearance, named in FF:FF 4)
Stu (Johnny's co-worker, named in FF:FF 5)
Prof. Franz Stahl
Gen. Walter Montgomery

Ben goes to a neighborhood bar he used to frequent. As patrons watch a TV wrestling show, the bartender talks up Ben and his brother, but Ben doesn't identify himself. The patrons become unruly towards Ben and he leaves, tearing the door off the hinges on the way out. At Johnny's job at Swenson's Garage, Johnny comes clean about his powers to his coworkers, who assure him he's still welcome there. As Reed and Sue set up shop at a harbor warehouse (an early Pier Four, maybe?), they're alerted that something is digging its way to New York from Monster Island. Reed summons the rest of the FF and discover the monster that attacked the atomic bases is attacking. Despite a few missteps and yet another telepathic visit by Dr. Stahl, the FF subdue the monster by Reed catapulting Ben fastball special-style towards the monster, knocking it into the Hudson. Reed gives a candid on-site interview to approaching TV reporters thereafter, assuring the city is safe. Back at the warehouse, Gen. Montgomery tells Reed that the Baxter Building may be a viable HQ for the team. Reed assures Montgomery that the rest of the team is on board with their new purpose and that "nothing is more important." Unfortunately, Reed is unaware that an invisible Sue heard that particular comment.

Fantastic Four: First Family #4

Feature Appearances:
Fantastic Four: Human Torch II, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Thing II
Mr. Nelson
Peggy Nelson (Mr. Nelson's daughter, last name presumed)
Jimmy
Prof. Franz Stahl
Gen. Walter Montgomery (dies)

Renovation begins on the upper floors of the Baxter Building. New Yorkers react to the news of the FF moving into the city. As Ben grouses on a bench chatting to a blind man, Sue and Johnny argue over his reluctance to move into the Building full-time. Reed talks Montgomery through the renovations. Johnny flies to Swenson's only to be met by a crowd of amorous female fans of his, including Nelson's daughter Peggy. Ben arrives at the Baxter Building and is shown by Reed living quarters customized just for him and his plans to help him regain human form. Ben angrily rejects Reed's gestures and destroys the equipment, asserting that their mutations is the price they must pay launching into space carelessly. Sue later attempts to confront Reed about his inability to juggle their relationship and the preparations for the FF. When Reed fails to convince Sue that his feelings for her haven't become a secondary concern, she leaves. Reed trashes his lab in frustration and is telepathically contacted by Stahl again. When Reed asserts his intent to stop Stahl, Stahl leaves him unconscious in his lab. At the base where the FF were being held, Stahl has rendered the entire base's staff unconscious and "at death's door," but otherwise still alive. He taunts Montgomery before killing him and proceeding on to his true quarry, the mysterious meteor that mutated Raymond Perry.

Fantastic Four: First Family #5

Feature Appearances:
Fantastic Four: Human Torch II, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Thing II
Mr. Nelson
Jimmy
Stu
Prof. Franz Stahl
Gen. Walter Montgomery (corpse)

Sue trashes the apartment she shares with Reed. Ben arrives to blow off more steam, but finds himself comforting Sue, who is still upset about her last conversation with Reed. Johnny arrives at Swenson's to find the place under siege by armed thugs intent on stealing the garage's gas truck. One of the thugs strikes Johnny from behind, allowing them to escape with the truck. Enraged that Stu was shot by the thugs, Johnny flies after them and wrecks both the thugs' getaway vehicle and the truck, but he inadvertently ignites the trailer, detonating it and severely burning the thieves who were driving it. Reed watches Montgomery's video message and reaches for the signal flare gun, but reconsiders and leaves for the base alone. Ben continues to try and cheer Sue up when Johnny arrives, shaken from his accidentally maiming of the thieves. Johnny mentions that he went to the Baxter Building first, but Reed wasn't there. Reed arrives at the base to find the soldiers and scientists barely alive. The rest of the FF see Montgomery's message and prepare to leave in the Fantasti-Car, which Sue unveils to them for the first time. Reed finds Montgomery's corpse then goes into the room containing the meteor. Stahl is inside and goads Reed into entering it with him. Stahl tells him he plans to unleash the cosmic radiation contained within on the human population and jumpstart his warped idea of evolution. Sensing the arrival of the other FF members, Stahl sends out waves of radiation that mutates the soldiers and sics them on the FF.

FLASHBACK (1:6): Reed promises an adoring Sue the wonders of the universe while the pair are outside stargazing. This probably immediately precedes Reed and Sue's encounter with Gormuu in FF 271-FB.

FLASHBACK (8:1-8:3): Prior to his appearance in the previous issue, Montgomery records a message for Reed telling him that the base has gone dark and that he needs the FF's help.

Fantastic Four: First Family #6

Fantastic Four: Human Torch II, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Thing II
Prof. Franz Stahl
Miracle Man (bts)

Pages 1-21 (panel 1): The FF fight their way through the mutated soldiers, but Reed figures out that they aren't actually within the meteorite but in an elaborate telepathic construct of Stahl's. After a protracted battle, the FF stop him and destroy the meteorite, robbing Johnny and Ben of their powers. After figuring out that they and Stahl weren't actually in the meteorite but a telepathic virtual reality, Reed finds the real Stahl, unconscious (possibly dead, the story is unclear), crammed in an electrical junction box. Johnny and Ben's powers return, much to Johnny's delight and Ben's sorrow.

Page 21 (panels 2-6): Back at the Baxter Building, Reed presents Sue with an engagement ring made from a dormant fragment of the meteorite.

Pages 22-23: "Twenty-seven hours" after Reed gives Sue the ring and during the events of FF 3, the FF arrive to deal with the Miracle Man's rampaging statue monster.

Here's the overall chronology I've figured out for this series, weaving this through the FF's combined chronologies (thanks for help with this to Sean Kleefeld's work on the dearly departed FFPlaza.com):

[…]
**FF:FF 5 (1:6)-FB
FF 271-FB
[…]
*FF 1 (9:5 - 10)-FB [split segment]
**FF:FF 1-FB
*FF 1 (11 - 13:8)-FB [split segment]
ST 101-FB-OP
M/:LG 12
*TG 10-FB (12:2 - 12:7) [adding page notation]
**FF:FF 1 (1)
*TG 10-FB (13 - 16) [adding page notation]
M/FAN 46/2 (3:4 - 8)
**FF:FF 1 (2 - 23)
**FF:FF 2 (1 - 11)
FF3 50-FB
**FF:FF 2 (12 - 13)
FF 1 (1 - 25:2)
MARVELS:EYE 1 (7:4)-OP
FF 1 (25:3 - 25:7)
**FF:FF 2 (14)
MARVELS:EYE 1 (8 - 9)
**FF:FF 2 (15 - 22)
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 4 (Montgomery records his video message during this issue)
**FF:FF 5
**FF:FF 6 (1 - 21:1)
TM/U 1-FB
FF 2
FOUR 22-FB
HT3 1 (8 - 15)
FF 543 (6:3)-FB
M/M:FFF (1 - 3)
**FF:FF 6 (21:2 - 21:6)
*FF 3 (1 - 8) [split segment]
**FF:FF 6 (22 - 23)
*FF 3 (9 - 10) [split segment]
[…]

Chronology amendments:

HUMAN TORCH II/JOHNNY STORM
[…]
*FF 1 (9:5 - 10)-FB
**FF:FF 1-FB
*FF 1 (11 - 13:8)-FB
ST 101-FB-OP
*TG 10-FB (12:2 - 12:7) [adding page notation]
**FF:FF 1 (1)
*TG 10-FB (13 - 16) [adding page notation]
**FF:FF 1 (2 - 23)
**FF:FF 2 (1 - 11)
FF3 50-FB
**FF:FF 2 (12 - 13)
FF 1 (1 - 25:2)
MARVELS:EYE 1 (7:4)-OP
FF 1 (25:3 - 25:7)
**FF:FF 2 (14)
MARVELS:EYE 1 (8 - 9)
**FF:FF 2 (15 - 22)
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 4
**FF:FF 5
**FF:FF 6 (1 - 21:1)
FF 2
[…]
M/M:FFF (1 - 3)
*FF 3 (1 - 8) [split segment]
**FF:FF 6 (22 - 23)
*FF 3 (9 - 10) [split segment]
TM:ID (1 - 4)
[…]

INVISIBLE GIRL/SUE STORM RICHARDS
[…]
FFWS
**FF:FF 5 (1:6)-FB
FF 271-FB
{FF 1 (9:1 - 9:4)-FB}
FFWS (1 - 3)-FB
FFWS
*FF 1 (9:5 - 10)-FB [split segment]
**FF:FF 1-FB
*FF 1 (11 - 13:8)-FB [split segment]
ST 101-FB-OP
M/:LG 12
*TG 10-FB (12:2 - 12:7) [adding page notation]
**FF:FF 1 (1)
*TG 10-FB (13 - 16) [adding page notation]
FF3 50-FB
**FF:FF 2 (12 - 13)
FF 1
**FF:FF 2 (14)
MARVELS:EYE 1 (8 - 9)
**FF:FF 2 (15 - 22)
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 4
**FF:FF 5
**FF:FF 6 (1 - 21:1)
TM/U 1-FB
FF 2
FF 543 (6:3)-FB
M/M:FFF (1 - 3)
**FF:FF 6 (21:2 - 21:6)
*FF 3 (1 - 8) [split segment]
**FF:FF 6 (22 - 23)
*FF 3 (9 - 10) [split segment]
TM:ID
[…]

**JIMMY
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 4
**FF:FF 5

**MCGILL, DR. LINDA
**M/FAN 46/2 (1 - 3:3)
**FF:FF 1
**M/FAN 46/2 (3:4 - 8)

**MONTGOMERY, GEN. WALTER
**FF:FF 1
**FF:FF 2
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 5 (8:1 - 8:3)-FB
**FF:FF 4
**FF:FF 5

MR. FANTASTIC/REED RICHARDS
[…]
NW 4-FB
**FF:FF 5 (1:6)-FB
FF 271-FB
{FF 1 (9:1 - 9:4)-FB}
FFWS (1 - 3)-FB
FFWS
*FF 1 (9:5 - 10)-FB [split segment]
**FF:FF 1-FB
*FF 1 (11 - 13:8)-FB [split segment]
ST 101-FB
*TG 10-FB (12:2 - 12:7) [adding page notation]
**FF:FF 1 (1)
*TG 10-FB (13 - 16) [adding page notation]
**FF:FF 1 (2 - 23)
**FF:FF 2 (1 - 13)
FF 1
**FF:FF 2 (14)
MARVELS:EYE 1
**FF:FF 2 (15 - 22)
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 4
**FF:FF 5
**FF:FF 6 (1 - 21:1)
FF 2
FOUR 22-FB
FF 543 (6:3)-FB
M/M:FFF (1 - 3)
**FF:FF 6 (21:2 - 21:6)
*FF 3 (1 - 8) [split segment]
**FF:FF 6 (22 - 23)
*FF 3 (9 - 10) [split segment]
TM:ID
[…]

**NELSON, MR.
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 4
**FF:FF 5

**PERRY, RAYMOND
**FF:FF 1
**FF:FF 2

**STAHL, PROF. FRANZ
**FF:FF 1
**FF:FF 2
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 4
**FF:FF 5
**FF:FF 6

**STU
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 5

THING II/BENJAMIN J. GRIMM
[…]
*FF 1 (9:5 - 10)-FB [split segment]
**FF:FF 1-FB
*FF 1 (11 - 13:8)-FB [split segment]
FF 1 (9:5 - 13:8)-FB
ST 101-FB-OP
*TG 10-FB (12:2 - 12:7) [adding page notation]
**FF:FF 1 (1)
*TG 10-FB (13 - 16) [adding page notation]
M/FAN 46/2 (3:4 - 8)
**FF:FF 1 (2 - 23)
**FF:FF 2 (1 - 11)
FF3 50-FB
**FF:FF 2 (12 - 13)
FF 1
**FF:FF 2 (14)
MARVELS:EYE 1 (8 - 9)
**FF:FF 2 (15 - 22)
**FF:FF 3
**FF:FF 4
**FF:FF 5
**FF:FF 6 (1 - 21:1)
FF 2
FOUR 22-FB
FF 543 (6:3)-FB
M/M:FFF (1 - 3)
*FF 3 (1 - 8) [split segment]
**FF:FF 6 (22 - 23)
*FF 3 (9 - 10) [split segment]
[…]

EDIT: Forgot Miracle Man...

MIRACLE MAN/JOSHUA AYERS
*FF 3 (1 - 8) [adding page notation]
**FF:FF 6-BTS
*FF 3 (9 - 23) [adding page notation]
Last edited by Chris McCarver on Mon Jun 30, 2014 4:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Fantastic Four: First Family #1-6

Post by Michael »

Hold on a second- Reed gave Sue an engagement ring? Reed didn't propose to Sue until FF 35.
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Re: Fantastic Four: First Family #1-6

Post by Chris McCarver »

Michael wrote:Hold on a second- Reed gave Sue an engagement ring? Reed didn't propose to Sue until FF 35.
One of the many inconsistencies this mini had with established canon, unfortunately. In addition to that, we have Sue using her force field powers way earlier that it was established she could in FF 21, Linda McGill learning about Ben's transformation under different circumstances that depicted in M/FAN 46/2. In all fairness, he just gave her the ring and told Sue there was no rush on setting their wedding date.

As seen in FF 35, the State U tradition was about couples marrying within a year if they held hands and kissed in front of the tree, after all, so it could be seen that Reed simply agreed to actually set a date, with the wedding plans on the back burner until that point. Reed does tell Sue in FF:FF 6, "...if you're willing, I guess all that's left now is to set a date. No rush, of course."
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Re: Fantastic Four: First Family #1-6

Post by Col_Fury »

Thanks, Chris!

The inconsistencies were discussed back in archive 74:
SKleefeld wrote:Chris Claremont established during his tenure on FF3 that Sue did have the ability to create force fields from right after the Pocket Rocket crash, just that she didn't really learn to control them until later.
SKleefeld wrote:Reed presents Sue with an engagement ring (in FF:FF 6). They're living in the Baxter Building at this point, and the construction seems to be finished, suggesting that this occurs after FF 2. It's been noted that Sue has already noted her engagement to Reed in FF 1, but since it wasn't officially announced until FF 36, I don't see this sequence causes any problems with continuity. Reed doesn't actually propose in this sequence, he merely gives Sue a ring and says, "If you're willing, I guess all that's left now is to set a date. No rush, of course." Evidently, that date isn't set until sometime shortly before FF 36, when they publically announce their engagement.
Paul Bourcier wrote:The two scenes are wholly unrelated, other than the presence of Thing and McGill. In FF:FF 1, Gen. Montgomery brings Linda in to see Ben for the first time after his transformation. The scene occurs in the USAF base, where Ben and the FF are still being detained, and Linda only sees Ben for a second or two. The surrounding chronological clues clearly place this very shortly after the original Pocket Rocket crash.

In M/FAN, Linda visits Ben in his NYC apartment. She gets a better look at him, but is still shocked to see what he looks like. Like the FF:FF 1 scene, it's written as if Linda is seeing Ben for the first time; however, it never states that expressly. Indeed, it's easily plausible that Linda sees Ben in FF:FF 1 and recoils in shock/horror, then gets up the nerve to see him again in M/FAN 46/2 but still finds his appearance too shocking. That's when Ben takes it upon himself to find Linda and scares her away for her own good.

For clarification, I see Ben's chronology running like this...
Fantastic Four, vol 1 #1, Flashback, pp. 9-13 (The original origin sequence)
Fantastic Four, vol 1 #11, 2nd Story, Flashback, p. 9
Fantastic Four: First Family #1, p. 1
Thing #10, Flashback, pp. 13-16
Fantastic Four: First Family #1, pp. 2-23
Fantastic Four: First Family #2, pp. 1-11
Fantastic Four, vol 3 #50, Flashback, pp. 12-13
Marvel Fanfare #46, 2nd Story, pp. 3-8
Fantastic Four, vol 1 #1 (The Mole Man story)
Fantastic Four: First Family #2, pp. 14-22
Fantastic Four: First Family #3

Note that everything between FF:FF 1 p. 2 and FF:FF 2 p. 11 occurs on that USAF base while the team is under observation; therefore, all other flashback appearances to that general time period have to occur on either side of that sequence.
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Re: Fantastic Four: First Family #1-6

Post by Chris McCarver »

Col_Fury wrote:Thanks, Chris!

The inconsistencies were discussed back in archive 74:
SKleefeld wrote:Chris Claremont established during his tenure on FF3 that Sue did have the ability to create force fields from right after the Pocket Rocket crash, just that she didn't really learn to control them until later.
SKleefeld wrote:Reed presents Sue with an engagement ring (in FF:FF 6). They're living in the Baxter Building at this point, and the construction seems to be finished, suggesting that this occurs after FF 2. It's been noted that Sue has already noted her engagement to Reed in FF 1, but since it wasn't officially announced until FF 36, I don't see this sequence causes any problems with continuity. Reed doesn't actually propose in this sequence, he merely gives Sue a ring and says, "If you're willing, I guess all that's left now is to set a date. No rush, of course." Evidently, that date isn't set until sometime shortly before FF 36, when they publically announce their engagement.
Paul Bourcier wrote:The two scenes are wholly unrelated, other than the presence of Thing and McGill. In FF:FF 1, Gen. Montgomery brings Linda in to see Ben for the first time after his transformation. The scene occurs in the USAF base, where Ben and the FF are still being detained, and Linda only sees Ben for a second or two. The surrounding chronological clues clearly place this very shortly after the original Pocket Rocket crash.

In M/FAN, Linda visits Ben in his NYC apartment. She gets a better look at him, but is still shocked to see what he looks like. Like the FF:FF 1 scene, it's written as if Linda is seeing Ben for the first time; however, it never states that expressly. Indeed, it's easily plausible that Linda sees Ben in FF:FF 1 and recoils in shock/horror, then gets up the nerve to see him again in M/FAN 46/2 but still finds his appearance too shocking. That's when Ben takes it upon himself to find Linda and scares her away for her own good.

For clarification, I see Ben's chronology running like this...
Fantastic Four, vol 1 #1, Flashback, pp. 9-13 (The original origin sequence)
Fantastic Four, vol 1 #11, 2nd Story, Flashback, p. 9
Fantastic Four: First Family #1, p. 1
Thing #10, Flashback, pp. 13-16
Fantastic Four: First Family #1, pp. 2-23
Fantastic Four: First Family #2, pp. 1-11
Fantastic Four, vol 3 #50, Flashback, pp. 12-13
Marvel Fanfare #46, 2nd Story, pp. 3-8
Fantastic Four, vol 1 #1 (The Mole Man story)
Fantastic Four: First Family #2, pp. 14-22
Fantastic Four: First Family #3

Note that everything between FF:FF 1 p. 2 and FF:FF 2 p. 11 occurs on that USAF base while the team is under observation; therefore, all other flashback appearances to that general time period have to occur on either side of that sequence.
Awesome, Daron, thanks for posting those. Looks like we were on the same page for the most part in explaining those.
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Re: Fantastic Four: First Family #1-6

Post by Russ Chappell »

Well, hold on.
SKleefeld wrote:Reed presents Sue with an engagement ring (in FF:FF 6). They're living in the Baxter Building at this point, and the construction seems to be finished, suggesting that this occurs after FF 2. It's been noted that Sue has already noted her engagement to Reed in FF 1, but since it wasn't officially announced until FF 36, I don't see this sequence causes any problems with continuity. Reed doesn't actually propose in this sequence, he merely gives Sue a ring and says, "If you're willing, I guess all that's left now is to set a date. No rush, of course." Evidently, that date isn't set until sometime shortly before FF 36, when they publically announce their engagement.
Did something happen shortly after, to skewer this engagement? Because in FF #27, Reed buys Sue an engagement ring, but doesn't present it to her, because he's unsure of her feelings toward him, vs. Namor. So the status as of the end of FF 27 is that Sue did NOT have an engagement ring. Perhaps that was a promise ring that he presented in FF:FF 6?
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Re: Fantastic Four: First Family #1-6

Post by Col_Fury »

Maybe Namor was the something that happened?

Anyway, I gave my wife a promise ring before I gave her an engagement ring, so that works for me.
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