The Fantastic Four are commonly known as the First Family of Marvel Comics for a reason. Beyond being the company’s first superhero team, they are a true-found family who generally work well together. However, like a family, there are certain members of the group who don’t always get along or who need to be watched closely when together. This is true of Mister Fantastic and Human Torch, who show why they rarely team up in Fantastic Four #26.
Written by Ryan North, with art by Ivan Fiorelli, Fantastic Four #26 is a Halloween special. Reed Richards and Johnny Storm stay home while the rest of the team take their kids out to trick-or-treat. Unfortunately, any hope of a quiet evening is dashed when Reed’s new magic detector picks up odd readings in the basement.
In short order, the two heroes have accidentally opened what the Human Torch dubs “a Hellmouth.” The spectral energy unleashed takes out several floors of the team home. That is a minor concern, however, compared to the problems posed by the unsealed magic portal.
Human Torch and Mister Fantastic bring out the worst in each other
Naturally, the science-minded leader of the Fantastic Four is reluctant to contact a magician for help. This leads him to agree to a plan concocted by the Human Torch to steal a magic skull that acts as an eternal fountain of blood. This will satisfy the need for a source of infinite matter, which Reed calculates is needed to close the portal.
By the time the rest of the team return home, Reed and Johnny have sealed the Hellmouth. However, they have made no progress on repairing the house. The fact that their bedrooms have been destroyed is of far greater concern to the rest of the Fantastic Four family than the stability of the local space-time continuum. There is also the matter of a cursed object now being buried under their house and an angry cult fully aware of who took their unholy artifact.
Sue Storm declares that this is why she never allows her brother and husband to be unsupervised together. Reed’s need to experiment and Johnny’s impulsiveness reinforce their own worst natures. Despite Reed and Johnny seemingly having little in common, neither member of the Fantastic Four stops to consider the consequences of their actions.
Disney+ Has the Best Bundle in the Business
Sign-up today for access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+
Sign-ups support Superhero Hype
via affiliate commission
Fantastic Four #26 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
