JUST OUT OF REACH...

Okay, so I've played this one before, but who's

counting?  Frazzled nerves, too much stress in your

life?  Then get the headphones on and give this song

a listen - you'll feel far more relaxed at the end of it

than you did at the beginning.  Trust me.

SUE And ALICIA - PEAS In A POD...?

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

When the November-dated first issue of The FANTASTIC FOUR debuted in August of 1961, there was a suggestion that BEN GRIMM carried a torch (no pun intended) for his teammate SUSAN STORM.  That was repeated in FF #4, but I can't recall if there were ever any further examples between that fourth issue and the eighth, in which we were introduced to ALICIA MASTERS.

As you'll no doubt remember, Alicia unwillingly impersonates Sue, to whom she  fortuitously bears an uncanny likeness.  (And gasp at how quickly Alicia's step-father, The PUPPET MASTER, knocks up a duplicate costume.)  It's clear from JACK KIRBY's art that Alicia has her hair cut 'n' dyed to match Sue's, but STAN LEE's dialogue refers to it as a wig.  However, when Alicia pops up again later in the tale, although her hair is back to its natural colour, it's still styled after Sue's, which is shorter.

So, Ben might not win Sue's love, but he does end up with a Sue Storm lookalike, which is something I'd like to have seen explored to some degree.  Years later, in a back-up tale in FF #118, legendary writer ARCHIE GOODWIN revealed that, in an alternate universe somewhere, Ben actually did marry Sue, as, on that world, he was Mr. FANTASTIC, and REED RICHARDS was The THING.  So take heart  if you're a loser in this world - on an alternate one you may well be a winner!

Ain't it strange though, that no one ever referred to Sue and Alicia looking like twins after that one issue?  Just think what someone like ALAN MOORE would've done with that dangling plot-thread.  Who knows?  Maybe one day.

RECOMMENDED READING: FANTASTIC FOUR OMNIBUS VOLUME THREE...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Here's the latest addition to my OMNIBUS collection - the third volume of The FANTASTIC FOUR, containing #s 61-93 and Annuals 5-7.  Normally, I go for volumes featuring an original JACK KIRBY cover, but they were sold out, so I had to 'settle' for an ALEX ROSS alternate cover instead.  (I'll probably acquire a Kirby dustjacket at a later date.)

This volume reprints the four-part classic tale where The SKRULLS capture Ben Grimm, The THING, and take him to a planet modelled after the roaring 1920s & '30s in the USA during the period of Prohibition to fight in 'The Great Games'.  This was the last continued adventure under the helm of Kirby and STAN LEE, the remainder of their run consisting of single ish stories until Jack's final issue, #102.

Mighty Marvel Magic at its bombastic best!