Monday, July 31, 2006

Where It All Began, Part 3!

I could go on and on about Fantastic Four #1, but hundreds of other issues are begging for attention.  A few words are in order, however, about the villain introduced in this issue:

THE MOLE MAN

Sorry.  It’s just mean to show the poor guy out of costume.  Let’s try that again:

TREMBLE AS YOU GAZE UPON—THE MOLE MAN!

Much better. 

Apparently Mole Man is supposed to be very, very ugly.  We know this via—expository panels!

Like many villains, Mole Man turned against humanity because he was an outcast.  And because he got schooled by a dandy with a thin moustache and a green pinstripe suit.  There’s no way to continue a civilized life after an experience like that. 

So Mole Man has a plan to destroy the world with underground monsters.  Not surprisingly, he is foiled by the FF.  You can fill in the details using your imagination.  It’s not that hard. 

Reed captures Mole Man as the team escapes from the underground lair.  But once outside, a teammate notices that Mole Man is nowhere to be seen:

Good thinking, Reed.  Except you’re wrong.  Wrong, wrong, WRONG!  Too bad he didn’t say, “if Mole Man returns, I’ll eat Thing’s boxer shorts!” Because (SPOILER) he would totally have had to do it.