Fantastic Four #395

Issue Details

Synopsis

"Payback!" Waiting at the Last Gas Saloon on the New York docks, Wolverine reflects back on a moment where he allowed his anger to get the better of him and he slashed the Thing's face scarring it forever. Hoping to atone for this mistake, Logan waits at the bar for the Thing to arrive so they can talk it out. However when Ben Grimm arrives he is not in the mood to talk. Outside, a seemingly innocuous looking homeless man notes that the Thing went into the bar and radios to his employer the Mad Thinker to inform him that everything is going according to plan. Satisfied, the Mad Thinker sets his next plan in motion and deactivates his simulacrum, transferring his mind back into his physical body which is still incarcerated in the Vault prison in Colorado. There he gloats how Wolverine's recent attempts to apologize for scarring the Thing has given him the perfect opportunity too slay one of the last surviving members of the Fantastic Four. As the seemingly homeless man skitters away to initiate his plan he is unaware that he was being watched by Ant-Man, who had stowed away aboard the Fantasti-Car in case Ben needed any help. Meanwhile in Oklahoma the Human Torch practices his abilities with the She-Hulk. Afterwards when they stop they talk about the loss of Reed and how the Fantastic Four have broken up. When Jennifer offers to rejoin the Fantastic Four on a temporary basis again, Johnny tells her that he's never going back to the group. When he spies the strange blonde woman who has been eyeing him the entire time he's been out on the archaeological dig, Johnny excuses himself to go and talk to her. However before Johnny can catch up with the woman he is stopped by Professor Simon Janson who thanks Johnny for saving his life after he became a vessel for Raptor the Renegade. While Johnny is distracted, the woman (secretly Lyja in disguise) bumps into Bridget O'Neil who is interested to know who this stranger is. Back in New York, the Thing is uninterested in having a drink with Wolverine, telling the mutant that he only drinks with his friends. Wolverine explains that he has asked Ben to come out so he can apologize for slashing his face earlier in the hopes they can make amends. The Thing wishes to do nothing of the sort, angrily smashing the bar with his fist in a fit of rage. With the situation deteriorating rapidly, Logan decides to oblige the Thing and pops his claws. The two are about ready to fight it out when they are interrupted by Ant-Man who tries to warn them they are about to be attacked when suddenly three men armed with high tech weapons come busting through the wall. At that moment in Latveria, Nathaniel Richards has Doom's Servo-Guards working dilligently trying to find the location of his son -- but he is not talking about Sue's missing but presumed deceased husband, Mister Fantastic. Sue demands answers as to the identity of this long lost son, and there whereabouts of her husband, but when Nathaniel tells her that he can answer her but she won't like the answer he provides if he were to tell her now. Sue concedes and agrees to do things Nathaniel's way... for now. Out in the hallway, Sue is suddenly visited by the flaming apparition that she and the rest of the Fantastic Four saw previously. The flaming spirit tells her counterpart to listen to Nathaniel as he is the key before vanishing once again, leaving Sue more confused than ever. The battle rages on in New York, but the high tech assassins prove to be no match for the three heroes. As Ant-Man mobilizes an army of ants, Wolverine disables the merc armed with a freeze thrower, while the Thing takes down a man with mechanical gauntlets and another with a hydrolic whip. With the three enemies down, the battle is far from over when they are joined by a synthetic being called the Super Android F-4, which can mimic the powers of the Fantastic Four. While back in Oklahoma, Lyja introduces herself to Bridget O'Neil as "Laura Green" and they get to talking about Johnny Storm. Much to Lyja's surprise, Bridget and Johnny are not dating and are only friends. More so, Bridget tells "Laura" that Johnny has been more interested in her since the mystery woman appeared on site. O'Neil warns "Laura" to stay away from Johnny because he is healing from a broken heart. Lyja reflects how she is the author of this pain. The Super Android gives the Thing and Wolverine a run for their money, with it's ability to utilize the Fantastic Four's powers. Watching from the sidelines, Ant-Man feels more useless than ever and wonders how he can help in the battle that is raging on. While in Latveria, Sue demands an explanation as to who they are looking for. Nathaniel begins explaining that during his travels through time he ended up in Latveria in the past where he collapsed from injuries sustained in battle. He was taken in by a woman who nursed him back to health and they soon fell in love. Nathaniel explains that before he left to continue his quest, she was pregnant. He finishes his recollection by revealing that this other son is apparently Kristoff Vernard, the future heir of the Latverian throne, a revelation that Sue finds impossible to believe. Back in New York, both the Thing and Wolverine are not gaining any headway battling the Super Android. Finally, Ant-Man has a solution and after slingshotting himself at their foe, he douses the android with his Pym Particles, causing the Super Android to shrink in size. With their foe shrunk down to ant size, the Thing then flicks him into the Hudson River. When the Thing is about ready to start his fight with Wolverine again, Ant-Man steps in and tells them they really should talk. After discussing things, they quickly realize who was responsible for sending their attackers. The following day the Mad Thinker waits in anticipation for reply from his hired assassins when one of the guards comes with a mail call. Opening the envelope, the Mad Thinker is frustrated when he finds a photograph of the Thing, Wolverine and Ant-Man having beers together with a note on the back reading "Having a wonderful time, wish you were here!"