Schedule Monthly Number of issues 3 Colorist(s) Christie Scheele Penciller Duncan Fegredo | Format Mini-series Inker(s) Walden Wong Writer Peter David Publisher Marvel Comics | |
Publication date September–December 2000 Main characters Mister Fantastic, Doctor Doom Similar Before the Fantastic Four: Ben, Fantastic Four: Unstable, Fantastic Four 2099, Marvel 1602: Fantastic, Fantastic Four: 1234 | ||
Before the Fantastic Four: Reed Richards is the second of three mini-series from Marvel Comics (the other two being Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm and Logan and Before the Fantastic Four: The Storms) showing adventures the core members of the Fantastic Four had in the days before they received their powers. The series centers on Reed Richards (the future Mister Fantastic), and is a semi-humorous archaeological adventure, very much in the vein of the Indiana Jones movie series. Reed's primary opponent in this tale is Victor von Doom, who would become his archrival Doctor Doom.
Plot
Bayan flees his Asian country to escape the evil General Lao-Tse, who hopes to use the prince to open the Lopnor Gateway.
In Paris, Reed meets with his former professor Roderick Van Nuys, who suffers from Sebert Syndrome, a fictional disease causing muscular degeneration. The professor has been studying the magical Claw of Bast, and knows that the scepter Reed has is one of three parts necessary for its assembly.
A man named Ko-Gar, who is working for Victor von Doom. Ko-Gar transports Fisher to Latveria for an audience with von Doom, who hopes to use the magic of the Claw of Bast to repair his face. Reed and Moy follow, to effect a rescue.
However, before von Doom is able to put it to use, the Sphinx itself rises up, possessed by the spirit of Khafre. Using this distraction, Reed freezes von Doom with a "Cryo Sphere" and retrieves the Claw from his frozen hand. Coincidentally enough, Francesca Fisher knows an "ancient Egyptian transfer spell" and is able to siphon Khafre's energy into the Claw from the Sphinx, rendering it a mere tourist attraction once more. Reed returns to Paris and uses the claw to cure his old professor, after which the claw is destroyed.
Reed comments that he's going to drop the frozen wizard off with Doctor Strange.