Fantastic Four #1 continues...

Title: “The Fantastic Four Meet the Mole Man!”

Reed says that he called them all there to show them some pictures. Thing asks if they are pin-ups. Reed shows them a picture of what used to be an atomic plant that was behind the Iron Curtain. The picture shows an enourmous hole in the ground beneath it. Sue asks what happened to to it. Reed says that it is the same thing that happened to the other atomic plants in the other photos. Sue holds one from Australia and Torch holds one from South America. Reed says that it is happening to atomic plants all over the world, but that no one knows how or why. Reed discovers on his radar machine that another atomic plant cave in is about to take place.

Halfway around the world in French Africa, a guard Pierre says that he knows it sounds insane, but that the sand beneath his feet is throbbing. Suddenly there is an enourmous hole in the ground. Pierre almost falls in, but one of the other guards helps him up. Another tremble occurs and the entire plant caves in. Thirty seconds later, two gigantic clawed green hands come out of the ground. They begin to shoot at the hands, but it doesn’t stop the incredibly large monster from surfacing. The guards bring in the artillery, but the monster just scoops them up and crushes them. Suddenly there is a voice saying, “Enough! Return to Earth’s core!Our mission here is finished! Go!” The monster stops and obeys its master… the Moleman.

Reed points out the spot on his radar where the cave in happened. Susan asks how it happened, but Reed says that is what they are going to find out. He says that by studying the cave ins carefully that he has pinpointed an island located exactly between them. Reed says that they will find their answer on Monster Isle. Thing says that there is no such place as Monster Isle. He says that it is just a fairy tale, but Sue says that there is only one way to find out.

Hours later, the Fantastic Four land their private jet on Monster Isle. They start to climb the mountain. Thing says that if this is just a wild goose chase that he will make him regret it. Johnny tells Thing to save his breath for the climb. Reed says that he hears something. Sue says that it is coming from below. The look down and see three sets of monstrous eyes looking back at them. Suddenly a three headed dragon flies out over the edge of Monster Isle. Sue starts to run, but the monster chases her. Reed tells her to turn invisible. The monster becomes confused when its prey disappears. Mister Fantastic makes a lasso out of his own arm and ropes the middle of the three heads. Mister Fantastic steers the monster into the water. For some reason Reed seems to think that will be enough to stop the monster. We never get to find out however as Reed and Johnny fall through the ground.

They fall down a deep chasm. Reed makes himself into a parachute to let Johhny drift to the ground. When they finally reach the bottom they feel around in the dark until Johnny feels a trap door in the wall. Suddenly there is an intense light and Johnny and Reed black out. Some time later, Reed and Johnny wake up inside special suits that protect them from the blinding glow. Reed says that the light actually caused them to lose consciousness. He asks how they got into the suits. A voice says, “So, you have recovered, have you! It is about time!” Reed asks who is talking and says that he can’t see him. The voice says that the reason he cannot see is because he is blinded from the glare from the Valley of Diamonds. The place is full of immense diamonds. Moleman introduces himself.

Title: “The Moleman’s Secret!”

Susan looks down the pit where Reed and Johnny fell. She says that she has to find them, but then hears something behind her. Thing takes off his hat, gloves, and coat. He shouts for Sue to duck and let him handle it. Thing charges into the monster. Thing lifts the monster into the air and throws him out to sea. Sue says that he did it. Thing asks her what she expected. Thing says that they should go find her “skinny, loud-mouthed boyfriend”. Sue says that if only Thing would stop hating Reed for what happened to him.

Below Monster Isle, Moleman sits as Reed and Johnny stand before him. He says that they may never have heard of him, but that soon the world will hear of him because he will have the entire world in his power. They ask him how he got there and what this place is. Moleman says that it all started when the people of the surface world mocked him. Women spurned him, men mocked him, and people refused to even give him work that he was qualified for. After he could stand it no longer, he set out to find the legendary land at the center of the Earth. He felt that even lonliness was better than the cruelty of his fellow man. He says that he had just about given up when he landed on Monster Isle and noticed a strange cavern. He followed the cavern to find the land of his dreams. When Moleman cried out that he had finally found Earth’s centerhe created a violent avalanche. When it was over, Moleman had survived, but he had lost most of his eyesight. Moleman says that was the last of his bad luck. He says that he mastered the monsters down there and made them do his bidding. Moleman says that he carved out an underground empire. He says that he conquered everything and even learned to sense things. Mole Man gives one of them a stick and tells him to try and hit him. Moleman blocks the stick with his own staff. He says that he has other senses like a bat. He leaps over a swinging stick and says that he has a natural radar sense that acts as a warning systen that enables him to evade any danger. Moleman dodges another swing and then dumps his attacker on his butt by tripping him. Moleman says that now before he kills them he will show him his master plan. Moleman shows them a map of his underground tunnels. He says that each tunnel leads to a major city. He says that as soon as he has wrecked every source of earthly power that he and his “mighty mole creatures” will attack and destroy everything that lives above the surface. Moleman says that at his signal those creatures will dispose of them as well. Thing says that they will see about that.

Thing ditches his hat and coat yet again. Moleman says, “Too late, fool! The die is cast! There is no turning back!” Moleman pulls a rope that rings a bell. Suddenly the giant clawed green monster climbs out of a pit into the room. Torch flames on. Torch flies around the monster’s head while it tries to swat him. Sue says that the Moleman is escaping. Reed says that not if he can help it he isn’t. Reed stretches and grabs Moleman, but as they run towards the surface Reed loses him. Moleman grabs the signal wire again and suddenly the entire monster army is coming at the Fantastic Four. Torch heats up the ground which causes a rockslide that seals them off from the monsters. The Fantastic Four reach the surface and Torch says that the entrance to the Moleman’s empire is sealed forever.

The take off in their jet. Someone asks where the Moleman is. Reed says that he left him behind and that he will never trouble anyone again. Seconds later, Monster Isle blows up. Reed says that Moleman destroyed the entire Isle. He says that he has sealed himself off forever. Reed says that it is better this way. Reed says that there was no place for him in their world and that he hopes Moleman will find peace down there. Susan says that she just hopes that they have seen the last of him.

First Family rating: 10 out of 10

You have to give a perfect score to the book that started the Marvel Universe. Even if it is a little goofy. I love that they had to launch into space to beat the commies up there! They had no time to check about cosmic rays or even to get official clearance as if the commies were mere hours away from sending up their own rocket. I really do love the friction between Thing and Reed. What can you say about Jack Kirby? The man earns every second of his legendary status.

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