Random Happenstance

I wasn't regularly reading the title at the time, but I'm pretty sure I noticed the glaring absence of John Byrne in Fantastic Four #296. (Also, Jim Shooter plot? Was that necessary, or him getting in on the anniversary cash?) And now I wonder how much Byrne had checked out by this issue for the Superman books: from 1986, Fantastic Four #290, "Risk" Written and penciled by John Byrne, inks by Al Gordon.

We're back in the Negative Zone today, as Annihilus has beaten--or at least knocked down--three of the FF; before having to deal with the betrayal of Blastaar. I'm thinking Marvel Two-in-One #75, but those guys had double-crossed each other multiple times by this point already, right? Sue gives some backstory to newbie She-Hulk, before trying to save Reed, but she can't: he had been sucked into the Zone while in a S.H.I.E.L.D. battlesuit, and was still positive matter in the negative universe: if he touched anything, it would be a massive explosion!

The team had some back-up, in the form of Nick Fury, who warns them of the arrival of Blastaar's people and their fleet; which Annihilus immediately turns on. They had figured Blastaar would turn on them, and had a weapon to defuse him; so they could invade earth without him, but Annihilus drives them back with his Cosmic Control Rod. Annihilus takes off, and Reed tries to go after him, only to be stopped by Sue's force-field: she knew Reed intended to sacrifice himself to stop Annihilus. Reed argues, there was no way around it: billions could die if Annihilus made it to their universe. Sue sadly lets him go.

While Nick and the team follow in a Quinjet-looking ship, Byrne goes with tell rather than show, as Reed transmits back his final message. Well, Byrne does draw Sue going through it, and the Quinjet returns through the distortion zone, back to our universe...but at what cost? (Even though he was about to die, Reed still notes: "...Annihilus seems to be yelling something...I can't read his lips...")

They return to the S.H.I.E.L.D. space station--the really boxy old one they had!--and Fury orders scans for Reed. Sue is not optimistic: assuming he wasn't completely blown apart, how long could he survive in space? A tech in a doofy helmet relays the findings: nothing. With only one small anomaly, what appeared to be a weather balloon...seems kinda obvious, but Sue says they have to accept Reed's death. (She's very obviously in shock, and kind of knows it; like she'd probably keep it together until she had to tell Franklin.) Nick gives the three a ride back to earth in his flying car, but on the approach to New York City, doesn't pick up the usual homing signal, or see the usual skyline--because they've somehow returned to 1936! An odd cliffhanger, but one that puts what's left of the team into a situation they would usually need Reed to take care of.