Thirty years ago this month, I started my first day as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I was on the faculty for 4 years before moving to the University of Michigan. These two pages from the issue of FF that came out, that month, are my favorite pair of pages from the entire Byrne run on the FF. The classic depiction of each member using their powers in victory over their own Doom-bot… worth the price of admission.

“Fantastic Four 246, page 22” (September 1982)
by John Byrne (1950-)
11 x 17 in., ink on paper
Coppola Collection

“Fantastic Four 246, page 23” (September 1982)
by John Byrne (1950-)
11 x 17 in., ink on paper
Coppola Collection

What happened up to this point: At that moment, the Fantastic Four have arrived at the Latverian embassy in New York with the inert body of Doctor Doom in order to turn it over to the ambassador. Inside this other Doom prepares to spring his trap. When the ambassador suggests that the plan might fail, this Doom angrily snaps his neck. When the Fantastic Four enter the embassy they are suddenly caught in a trap that dumps them into separate rooms. Johnny’s flames are doused in fire retardant foam, Sue is bombarded with a vertigo ray, Reed is horribly stretched beyond his limits, and Ben is electrified before being dumped in the room. All four members are confronted by who they believe to be Doctor Doom. Each member tries to fight back, but their version of Doctor Doom appears to be equipped to deal with their unique powers.

It soon becomes obvious to each member of the FF that they are not fighting the real Doctor Doom, but a robot duplicate of their long time foe. No longer having to hold back, each member of the FF unleashes their full strength to destroy the Doom bots they face.