What did you think of it? It was my first true-blue FANTASTIC FOUR purchase. Up until then, I'd been reading Stan and Jack material from a British weekly called THE MIGHTY WORLD OF MARVEL. I think it was Junior Gerry Conway's first major-Marvel book script, as well. He was twenty. The plot was Roy Thomas'. It's a hell-nutty comic, in my book. I think Ben gets creamed far too easily by Thundra. (And she extinguishes the Torch's flame with some waving around of a huge Times Square clock big-hand arm. As if!)

But I adore the darn thing. Strangely, it's penciled by my favourite AQUAMAN artist, Ramona Fradon. (Has any other woman ever drawn a regular issue of FF?) The inking, with all the stylistic "seriousness" and bitumen of Joe Sinnott in his absolute prime, is a strangely successful clash of styles. Methinks.

I agree with Blue Beetle about Arkon. I've liked AVENGERS and X-MEN stories featuring him, but somehow, he's about as captivating as my back steps. Thundra made him more interesting perhaps. But saddled with him, she's a whole lot less interesting herself.

So the Hulk has another kiddiewink... ??

Say, what colour's this one?

Corn - Fradon's AQUAMAN even exceeds the Aparo and Cardy renditions

Reading: Assorted LITTLE AUDREY and BABY HUEY from Harvey and LOIS LANE and JIMMY OLSEN from DC, AFTER 1984, a poetry chronicle by Judith McNeal and KAVALIER AND CLAY by Michael Chabon.
Listening: I'm Bored and The Passenger by Iggy Pop, God's Away on Business by Tom Waits, Black Betty ("Woah, Black Betty bam-ba-lam Woah...") by Ram Tam, 96 Tears by Question Mark and the Mysterions, Who's That Lady? by The Isley Brothers, Temptation by Heaven 17, and Beat the Clock and No 1 in Heaven by Sparks
Watching: THE THIN BLUE LINE and WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLF?
RIP: BO DIDDLEY