War Between Worlds, Part 3

 

cover art by Rich Buckler

Roy Thomas (writer) and Rich Buckler (artist) have weaved a complicated story together over the last couple of issues. So, in Fantastic Four #162 (September 1975), they provide a handy flow chart, showing us why each of three different dimensions is convinced one of the other dimensions is attacking them.

This is understandable. Most readers of superhero comic books (and readers of SF in general) are 

The issue opens with Thing-Reed being held prisoner by Akron

Thing-Reed, along with us readers, assume that he's being held on Arkon's world, but he's actually in a secret base located in Thing-Reed's home world. Anyway, Arkon leaves Reed in adamantium chains--presumably helpless.

But a Reed Richards from any dimension is rarely helpless. He manages to make telepathic contact with our Reed, explaining Arkon's plan. This involved a representative of Arkon, posing as a businessman on each of the worlds, simply buying the technology that would be used to attack other worlds. The two Reed share mental energy, allowing Thing-Reed to break out of his prison. Then our Reed goes off to have some... stern words with Arkon's agent.

Thing-Reed rescues our Ben from prison, but are soon confronted with military troops led by that dimensions version of Thunderbolt Ross. Adding to the confusion, Johnny (that's our Johnny--the alternate Johnny was reported killed in Vietnam) comes through a dimensional portal leading an army from the 5th Dimension.

Johnny thinks both Things are fake, but the situation is explained to him. He sends the 5th Dimension troops home and puts up a firewall to keep out the military. Then our Reed sends an interdimensional message and drops some more plot exposition. There is a nexus located between the three dimensions, through which Arkon will collect the energy released when the worlds destroy one another. Reed (our Reed, that is) sends a pair of interdimensional skates through a portal. Our Thing will use this to skate through interdimensional space and destroy the Nexus. In the meantime, our Johnny and Thing-Reed head off to Arkon's world to attack the villain directly.

Our Ben, though, is given no easy task. The Nexus is guarded by an... interdimensional hockey player?  It's a villain design that has generated eyerolls and criticisms from fans. But... well, if one guy can fly through space on a surfboard, there's no reason another guy can't take on a hockey theme for his space shenanigans, is there? Perhaps Gaard is a silly villain, but I'm enjoying the overall story too much to be critical. 

This story is more fun than a barrel full of alternate dimensions. Yes, the plot is complicated and this leads to a few instances in this issue that are perhaps crammed too thick with dialogue. But the plot is explained clearly (much more clearly, I think, than I managed in my summary), there's some great action scenes and Rich Buckler's art sometimes pops off the page. This penultimate issue of the story arc does a great job of leading us into what will be a wonderful climax. We'll look at that climax next week.