FANTASTIC FOUR #311 (1988)
by Steve Englehart & Keith Pollard
cover by Ron Frenz
When the changes made during the Englehart run are brought up, the Thing’s new look is often mentioned.
I don’t exactly like the change, but it’s not a big deal. Unfortunately it means we don’t talk enough about the abysmal way the transformation of Ms. Marvel into She-Thing is handled.
Long story short: Ms. Marvel (Sharon Ventura, not the future Captain Marvel) has recently joined the Fantastic Four, and last issue she and the Thing fell back to Earth after being bombarded by cosmic rays.
Adding the fact that Ms. Marvel has PTSD from being molested and potentially raped (it’s implied but not stated), Englehart treats the situation with the subtlety I expect from him.
Mercifully the melodrama is interrupted by a weird-looking robot who attacks the Things.
It’s one of those “the enemy gets stronger the harder you hit” situations, so even if Pineapple Thing is reportedly as strong as the Hulk it’s a surprisingly difficult fight.
Black Panther shows up to shut down the robot, because BY SHEER COINCIDENCE the Things have landed in Wakanda.
Most of this stuff has nothing to do with the main plot, but I absolutely could not miss the chance to remind you that Black Panther named his robot THROB.
Yes.
THROB.
If you’re wondering why I’m reviewing this stuff, it’s because Black Panther is currently offering asylum to Doctor Doom after he’s lost control of Latveria.
Considering their previous encounter, it’s strange to see Black Panther supporting any alliance with Doctor Doom. But then again, he’s both a superhero and a politician.
Ms. Marvel was the Thing’s romantic interest at this point, so naturally he leaves the severely traumatized rape victim alone with a smooth-talking world conqueror. WTF, Thing!?
Also, note Englehart’s love for cross-referencing the other series he writes: he was the one to write the West Coast Avengers story referenced.
One of the few saving graces of this story is Doom trying to turn She-Thing into an ally. It’s also interesting that Doom actually WILL cure her in a future Fantastic Four issue!
She won’t get any of it, though.
But we are at the end of the story, so Black Panther intervenes to put an end to the fight before it starts.
God forbid something interesting actually happens in this comic.
Doom significance: 0/10
Just skip it.
Silver Age-ness: 6/10
THROB. That is all.
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
There’s some decent stuff in the subplots… soap opera stuff relevant to the Human Torch and Crystal… but the main story is pretty atrocious. Englehart tries to make the Thing look sympathetic towards another person going through the same transformation he suffered, but the way he acts around She-Thing… yeesh.
It was a Doombot all along
All appearances up to Fantastic Four #350 might be a Doombot if we believe that story. Typically I don’t give much weight to that interpretation, but I could easily lose this one to a Doombot.
Number of superheroes who have fought Dr. Doom: 61
Adding She-Thing. Also a bit of housecleaning as apparently I forgot to include Black Panther’s first encounter with Doom in the list! Whoops.
Crazy tech
THROB has one of the worst names I’ve ever heard, but it’s pretty tough… the Thing is even stronger than usual in this form.