Fantastic Four #411

Issue Details

Synopsis

"Black Bolt - - Berserk!" With his antenna smashed Black Bolt, ruler of the Inhumans, is going crazy. Thinking his family members are strange alien creatures trying to do him harm, Black Bolt flees across the Colorado wilderness. When Medusa, Ahura and Karnak catch up and try to subdue Black Bolt, he knocks them all out with a single blast. Shortly thereafter the Fantastic Four arrive aboard their ship the Stealth-Hawk, at a speed that Mister Fantastic finds amazing. Both Reed and Ben are interrupted by Sue who tells them that their guest has awoken. Going to the med-bay, Reed and Sue ask for more information on why Black Bolt is going insane. Gorgon explains that his king was injured during a recent battle which caused damage to the tuning fork on his brow. They have not been able to complete repairs and the damage is slowing driving Black Bolt insane. Reed realizes how serious this is, as if Black Bolt's sanity were to erode to a point where he forgets to keep his voice in check, he can cause untold damage. They quickly land the Stealth-Hawk near Hoover Dam and upon investigating the cave the Inhumans have been calling home, they find it in shambles. They all agree to split up in order to find Black Bolt faster. As the others depart, Gorgon makes mention of the dynamic changes to the team during Reed's absence and comments on how Reed must be proud. Reed is, but does little to hide his unease about the concept. The Human Torch flies over the area and his thought turn to Reed and Sue's relationship in light of recent trials. He hopes that Sue's ability to take command of the team won't sour their relationship. However Johnny is convinced that his sister and brother-in-law are destined to stay together and reflects on all of his own past relationships. Johnny's thoughts are cut off when he finds the unconscious bodies of Medusa, Karnak and Ahura. Elsewhere near the dam, Reed is able to locate Black Bolt and give him chase. When he tries to stop Bolt, he fights back, even the addition of Gorgon's hoof stomps, Black Bolt is still at the advantage despite his fractured mind. While back at the Four Freedoms Plaza, Nathaniel Richards and Lyja are making the painstaking effort of removing all the transmatter receptors that Nathaniel planted all over the Four Freedoms while he was in control of Latveria, lest the newly revived Doctor Doom take advantage of them himself. When Lyja begins to argue with Nathaniel over the secrets he's keeping from the rest of the Fantastic Four, he tells her to keep it down so as not to argue in front of Kristoff and Cassie. Once the adults are gone, Kristoff brings up their encounter with Cassie's classmate and his secret. Kristoff suggests they find him and confront him about the problem. This suggestion upsets Cassie who points out that Donald is scared enough as it is, she storms off commenting that for someone who is so brilliant, Kristoff is terrible at reading children. Back in Colorado the Fantastic Four and the Inhuman royal family continue to try and subdue Black Bolt but in vein. Bolt manages to fight off the Torch, Medusa, and Karnak. But when he runs afoul of Sue's invisible force field, it leaves him open to attack from behind by the Sub-Mariner. However, Bolt manages to send Namor sailing into the nearby dam with a single punch, causing a massive leak. Ben then steps in to pit his strength against Black Bolt as well. Ben manages to overpower Black Bolt, sending him to the ground with a punch. He revives as the others gather around him and still seeing those around him as strange creatures, Black Bolt screams. The resulting shout, sends everyone flying as well as severely compromising the structural integrity of Hoover Dam. With the dam about to burst, Sue holds it back with her invisible force powers and tells the others to get to the Stealth-Hawk. Although Namor protests and refuses to leave her side, his ability to fly is much needed in order to get everyone out in time. After Namor and the others get to safety, he flies back for Sue, telling Reed that he promises to bring her back safe, but not for Reed's sake, but his own. Down below, Sue begins to lose to the tremendous pressure, but the Sub-Mariner manages to swoop in and rescue her before the dam bursts and floods the area. At first everyone thinks they were both lost in the torrent of water but are relieved when Namor arrives with Sue safely in his arms. Later as the Stealth-Hawk flies back toward New York City, Reed is disturbed by the fact that Namor has not left his unconcious wife's side since they boarded the ship and wonders if this is devotion or something deeper and how it may impact his marriage to Sue.