MAJOR SPOILERS!!! But only the tip of the iceberg - far more happens than I could possible cover here ------------------------------------- 155-157: see 154 note: Note: biggest ever FF story (even bigger than 136; post 321 does not count (600 larger but decompressed) Half way point (exact depends on if by pages or number, and how we count over-sized aniversaries, annuals and giant sizes) 156 called "middle game" (no other story title admits it is not complete) Uses all the motifs and no solution BECAUSE SUE IS NOT THERE 154: first ever FF reprint, because next story is so high quality 151-153: male versus female 158-159: cnflict with Sue previous 50: Sue; next 50: Reed ------------------------------------- recurring motif: dopplegangers deeper meaning: fighting does not work because you will always find someone else with the same powers. 177-183 arc: the only way to beat is by earning respect, cooperating. 174 - whole world at threat, but will not sacrifice someone else's world/ Same again: win by earning respect, cooperating. 173 - defeatism means lose strength recurring theme: identity (e.g. 168 - to leave the FF) 167 - Sue had to practice IN SECRET -note that fitting in is her way, and it is the RIGHT way 166 - Reed first sign of hurt in right arm context: extreme stress (saved airplane) and Ben is right, it isn't the Hulk's fault 166 - Sue flying - practicing after Thunderhorn - pole with Reed as chute, and later (Gorr) forcefield chute; also note distance problem, but another boost after Skrull ray 165 - hero turned villain who was a hero and is doping what he think is the right thing. More doubts for Reed. But MAIN reason is said to be worrying about Doom. , and stiff arms (note length of sub plot: 157 to 200) 163 - another doppleganger 162 - stiff arm - working alone - Reed = genius with messiah complex real need - work together - other worlds, other people, are just like us (comics give simplified versions) another 1970s theme: big corporations - IT (prophetic!) ------------------------------------- recurring motif: A controls B person A tries to force will on person B. Sue's method is different. Doom is Reeds's evil reflection - taking control to its extreme BVen is his other side - powerful yet helpless 166: Reed tries to, Doom beats Reed, Mephisto beats Doom, Franklin beats Mephisto (note climax at A20) deeper meaning: forcing will does not work ------------------------------------- recurring motif: KJV Bible language - adapting KJV FF157 - "space of half an hour" (adapting Revelation) "a blind man shall lead them" (adapting Isaiah) Darkest period: straight quotes from lesser writers (end of Byrne's run) FF72 - only direct reference to God - teaches the message of the series Sue's approach is right. FF135-141 - Annihilus was able to get Franklin because Reed and Sue were separated, AND they routinely gave him to someone else ALSO, Reed was then informed of Franklins' powers and STILL did not get it. FF123 - Reed at his most intense - versus Galactus - gambles the whole world - defies Surfer - is shot - speaks to every person on planet - hated, then lauded as a hero - get a few seconds with his son on his way to saving the world again - this is Reed's world! This is why he has no time, no sympathy, for those who don't do things HIS way! FF122 - Reed is not good at explaining, so does not - just expects obedience 120 - as soon as Reed is downed, Gabriel summons Galactus! Everything depends on Reed! Or so it seems to him. ff117: irony - team of people who are all (except Sue) self centered. The story of the FF is how they finally learn to put others first. Reed - considers ONLY his ideas have merit. FINALLY listenms to Sue and realizes that there are other ways to save the world. Johnny - thinks the only solution is for Crystal to join "the team" meaning HIS team (she already did - but he never considers joining HER team. For other ways he lost her, see Crystal.html) FINALLY (214,285,300) sees beyond hot-hweaded fun. Ben - being alone - "do you want to be like me?"FINALLY - stops feeling sorry for himself FF118 - foreshadowing - Reed realizes that his great ideas do not always work; Ben sees another Thing who has it even worse than him. FF114-116- Fatal flaw of genius: no matter how god you are, there is ALWAYS somebody better (or, in the rare cases where you are the best, somebody sho is close enough to cancel out your ability). So cooperation is the better strategy. Doom is the ever present reminder of this hubris. "Overmind" is well named. Doom as Reed's mirror: Twice temporarily replaces Reed in the team: 116 (against the over-mind, 318? (against Beyonder). Each time, as with Reed, we find the ultimate power is not as ultimate as we thought, there is always something bigger (Overmind versus Stranger, Beyonder as part of cosmic cube). also FF116 - Reed's relationships - Sue and Franklin - more powerful than his personal genius ff115 - Overmind simply amplifies Reed'sexisting hubris. So story becomes a morality play, exaggerating themes for greater effect. ff114 - distrust from the publis is stirred up by an enemy, as with issue 7 (Planet X.) But soon (Gabriel) will see that the public does not need to be stirred up - will quickly turn iof they see it is in their interest to do so. Showing the major theme: being the lone fantastic person (or group) does not help: you have to work WITH people, not APART from them. Note Sue's interest in celebrity, and in children. E.g. circa 40? +TV (Byrne) + 190-ish + clothes, etc. Mass culture matters. ff113 - what they really think. Reed losing control. Sue defensive (nopte: when she regularly uses her powers offensively = when at greatest despair). Ben secretly does not want to change. Johnny, deep down, only thinks of self. ff111 - see also 'how strong is Thing' for how he normally holds back (this time holds back less, and so is tronger) - Spider-Man is about power and responsibility, and later about how he never grows up (he does not use his power eficiently) but Ben Grimm is MORE about responsibility: must always hold back; fear of hurting, and fear of losing power and disappointing. FF111 shows what happens when restraints removed. Uses his power purely for his own short term benefit. 111b: Reed promises to put Sue and Franklin first - but only after the present crisis (and there is ALWAYS a crisis). 110b: Sue's methods -defeats evil Thing through non-agression 110: final demonstration of Reed's pure heart (by contrasting with evil Thing) so we have sympathy with him during the following years of his hubris and long decline. 109: main themes: Sue's way is best, but Reed cannot see it; irony: real solution is Franklin, but at this stage none of them can see it - but should guess: this is the first(?) return of annihilus, which should remind them of Franklin, and how Franklin is powered by the cosmic control rod! 108: the danger of Reed's way -Janus shows the two faces of Reed. And n ote that he still does not share what he knows - feels he must do it all himself. General: "bad Thing" lasted many issues - to 113. This is the major, memorable failure, to crown what Reed always considwerd his greatest failure, his inability to cure Ben. (original 108: ancient artefact caused the split: rearranged from Kirby's original design - Marvel published the lost FF story a few years back. 102: infantalizing Ben, the fighter pilot - not involving others - e.g. creating a missile to retaliate - a waste of time - Reed had a choice and he wasted his time. A team member making a mistake when ill was only a matter of time. _______________________________________ Giant Size, etc not part of a bigger picture - can be read at any point - and it shows - just like modern comics. These kind always sold less. _______________________________________ Most annuals only loosely tied to chronology. Only the exceptions are here. FF annual 11 acknowledges the ex-skeleton, and FF annual 12 repeats some of the themes of the early 1990s, but adds nothing. By Marv Wolfman, who only wrote one issue (the fill-in summary, 191). It is arguable whether Mantlo had a deep understanding of the FF, but if nothing else, annual 12 gives us the only insight into Johnny and Crystal durign a crucial period (after the marriage, and before Maximus' mind control pushed her over the edge). FF annual 13 by Bill Mantlo, who wrote 182-183. This is set immediately after FF200 (starts with Johnny celebrating) and reinforces the themes of 201. Possibly just a result of Mantlo reading 201, but worth including as these themes are of such massive importance to the big story: Reed considers his work done and no longer sees any urgency. And look at his face! He's lost his purpose in life! _______________________________________ _______________________________________