A 303 and A@ 18/2 are listed as taking place at a different point in the chronologies of each member of the Fantastic Four. In the Thing's chronology, they take place between FF 326 and FF 327. In the Human Torch's chronology, they take place between pages of FF 326. And in Reed's chronology, they take place before FF 326.
The reason for the confusion is that in FF 323, Johnny gets zapped with a spell that prevents him from flaming off. In FF 326, Reed creates a gizmo to remove the spell from Johnny, the Frightful Four attack as Reed is curing Johnny, and in the ensuing melee, Ben falls into the device that's curing Johnny and turns back to Ben Grimm. In Avengers 303 and A@ 18/2, Ben is still the Thing but Johnny has no problem flaming off.Now, FF 323 takes place during Inferno and Avengers 303 and A@ 18/2 take place after Inferno, so Avengers 303 and A@ 18/2 have to take place after FF 323.
Some comments:
A 303 and A@ 18/2 CANNOT take place between FF 326 and 327- the battle with the Frightful Four in FF 326 continues into FF 327.
There's no space between pages in FF 326 where Johnny is cured but Ben is still the Thing.
Personally, I'm inclined to say that A 303 and A@ 18/2 take place between FF 325 and FF 326. Maybe the spell wore off for some reason and then reasserted itself, maybe Johnny went to someone like Daimon Hellstorm or Hank Pym and they came up with a temporary cure. I know that "he was cured and had a relapse" should be used as a last resort but I can't think of any other option.
FF in A 303 and A@ 18/2
Moderators: Col_Fury, michel, Arthur, Somebody, StrayLamb
Re: FF in A 303 and A@ 18/2
Could Ben have been using his Thing exoskeleton rather than actually being the Thing?
Re: FF in A 303 and A@ 18/2
Well Ben is in his "pinecone" stage in A 303- usually the exoskeleton resembled his normal Thing form. OTOH, we placed Ben's appearance in N@ 1/3 during the period when Ben was human and wearing the exoskeleton, and he looked like the "pinecone" Thing in that story. Although it should be noted that Super-Nova describes Ben as "mutated" in A 303.
The other issue is that there's no space for a gap in FF 326-327 after Ben has returned to human form until after Reed has resumed leadership of the FF. In A 301-303, Reed and Sue are Avengers, and they seem to be showing no desire to return to the FF. In fact, in A 303, Reed says that he hasn't been back to his lab in Four Freedoms Plaza in months.
The other issue is that there's no space for a gap in FF 326-327 after Ben has returned to human form until after Reed has resumed leadership of the FF. In A 301-303, Reed and Sue are Avengers, and they seem to be showing no desire to return to the FF. In fact, in A 303, Reed says that he hasn't been back to his lab in Four Freedoms Plaza in months.