Random Happenstance

It's the busy season at my job, as well as the dead of winter out; so I didn't love last week, but I did pick up a couple more Marvel Essentials that I'm 60, 70% sure I didn't already have! I need to reorder that entire shelf, but one of the levels is Satana's bar. I may have to check if this issue is included in one of those new ones, though: from 1974, Fantastic Four #143, "The Terrible Triumph of Doctor Doom!" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Frank Giacoia. 

The cover proclaims, "Get set for the greatest battle issue ever!" which is a bold statement. Feel like it should just be 19 pages of violence then, no subplots or anything, just get in the pit and tear this bitch up. (Channeling Tagalongs there!) The FF is not only broken up when this one opens, but Doom has already captured the Thing, as he confronts Reed, Medusa, and...the college football coach? Presumably a grudge from his time at university. Reed and Medusa are trapped by a trapdoor, then the coach knocked out when he tries to rush Doom; leaving Doom to monolog with the coach's wife, since he obviously wants to tell somebody how great his scheme is. Reed wakes up in time to get most of it: with the Thing and Darkoth hung up like trophies, Doom explains his new "vibration bomb," which allegedly can "erase all previous emotional ties" leaving only devotion to Doom. He mindwipes two turncoats in his ranks, then forces them to kill each other, just as an example. 

Meanwhile, in Buffalo, Wyatt Wingfoot has managed to calm down the furious Human Torch (over what Reed did to Franklin, in the previous issue!) but the cops are pissed at them for property damage. Sue is left to fret over the comatose Franklin; while Doom considers just how swell the world will be with him in charge of it. But, Darkoth has broken free: Doom calms him down, claiming to not only be his master, but his creator. Still, we don't get into that here, since Doom is off to Buffalo, after the Torch. Can't very well rub his nose in Doom's victory if he's not there, right? Doom and his men attack the jail, capturing Wyatt and Johnny; but back at his base, Darkoth turns on him, freeing Reed, Ben, and Medusa...to be continued!? Ah, was that "greatest battle ever" blurb supposed to go on next month's issue? I'm not overly familiar with this stretch, but I do know Darkoth would return, around FF #193 or so.