Venom: Gotta Love That Nasty Tongue!

The first ten issues of the 2003 Venom series raise more questions than they answer. An extra-violent version of the Venom symbiote gets free from an Arctic laboratory, spreading mayhem and destruction as he goes. But if this isn’t the Eddie Brock Venom, what is it?

Issue #11 begins to bring in all the back story and reveal the insidious plot behind this new Venom. Here, we have the opening scene where the Fantastic Four and Spider-man round up the Brock symbiote. In all the excitement, they leave behind a big chunk of Venom’s nasty tongue. And someone else decides to take it home…

Collector’s Guide:
- From Venom #11; Marvel, 2003-2004.
Story by Daniel Way. Pencils by Francisco Herrera, cover by Mike Deodato.

Who Could be Playing the Piano so Beautifully?

Who Could be Playing the Piano so Beautifully? WHO BUT DR. DOOM!!!

Yes, we love it when Dr. Doom takes a moment from sociopathic megalomania to pursue the finer things in life. In this scene from John Byrne’s Fantastic Four, Sue Richards comes across Doom in one of his more artistic moments. Escaping from yet another one of his sick traps and sneaking through his castle, she finds out that Doom can really tickle the ivories!

Collector’s Guide:
- From Fantastic Four #236.
- Reprinted in the Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus

And now to find… the Fateful Stimulator!

The Kree robot called The Sentry searches for the Fateful Stimulator which will result, in true Fantastic Four style, in the destruction of the entire planet and all life as we know it. Script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby. Joe Sinnot, inks; Artie Simek, lettering.

Collector’s Guide:
- from Fantastic Four #98, as reprinted in Marvel’s Greatest Comics #79.

Ego the Living Planet! John Byrne’s Fantastic Four

John Byrne created some of the most memorable Fantastic Four epics during his run on Fantastic Four #234-292 and Annuals #17-19. We will share with you a few of our favorites. With five years of work to pick from, it wasn’t easy choosing just a handful!

Today’s Feature: Ego – The Living Planet! Taking the reins of the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine with #234, Byrne wasted zero time getting our adventurers into the most cosmic kinds of trouble he could imagine. Here, they take on a planet with a huge brain that’s gone horribly insane. And guess who gets stuck lugging a modified rocket engine down to the brain in the planet’s core to blow it all to smithereens? You bet your Aunt Petunia – it’s the ever-lovin’ blue eyed Thing! Whatta Revoltin’ Development!

Collector’s Guide:
- From Fantastic Four # 234-235.
- Reprinted in the Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus – Volume 1, 2011.
- Byrne’s run spans Fantastic Four #234-292 and Annuals #17-19.

This Land is Mine! John Byrne’s Fantastic Four

John Byrne created some of the most memorable Fantastic Four epics during his run on Fantastic Four #234-292 and Annuals #17-19. We will share with you a few of our favorites. With five years of work to pick from, it wasn’t easy choosing just a handful!

Today’s feature: This Land is Mine! Dr. Doom captures the Fantastic Four to explain that ever since they kicked him out of Latveria, the whole country has gone to hell!

Mark Millar more recently paints a completely evil portrait of Doom. Byrne, on the other hand, made him a more complex character by revealing the deep love he had for his homeland and the people there. We always enjoy this scene where a woman from Latveria is thrilled to see the return of Doom! Yes! But don’t get too lovey-dovey with the man in the iron mask. The boy he saves when the woman is killed? Later, Doom erases the boy’s mind so he can store his own consciousness there. Dude, what an evil $#%&-er!

Collector’s Guide:
- From Fantastic Four #246 & #247
- Reprinted in the Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus – Volume 1, 2011.
- Byrne’s run spans Fantastic Four #234-292 and Annuals #17-19.

Trial of Reed Richards! John Byrne’s Fantastic Four

John Byrne created some of the most memorable Fantastic Four epics during his run on Fantastic Four #234-292 and Annuals #17-19. We will share with you a few of our favorites. With five years of work to pick from, it wasn’t easy choosing just a handful!

Today’s feature: The Trial of Reed Richards! In an earlier issue, Reed saved the life of Galactus. The other heroes had some misgivings, but they all chipped in to build a giant framistat powered by Thor’s hammer. (It’s comic book science…)

Well, the Big G showed his thanks by not eating Earth, but soon proceeded to eat some other perfectly nice planets! The Shi’ar – the X-Men’s intergalactic pen pals – are so ticked off that they put Reed on trial for aiding and abetting a world-eater. Odin shows up to drop some knowledge about the Origin of Galactus, along with the Watcher and Eternity himself! Are you ready for the cosmic truth to be revealed?

Note: This story came out in Assistant Editor’s Month. Lots of goofy stuff happened that month. Byrne used it as an excuse to insert himself into the story, going on an interstellar mission to report on the FF’s adventures firsthand. His (assistant) editor hears the tale and thinks John might be smoking too many of his own pencil shavings!
Read more about Assistant Editor’s Month at a blog dedicated solely to it.

Collector’s Guide:
- From Fantastic Four #262.
- Reprinted in the Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus – Volume 1, 2011.
- Byrne’s run spans Fantastic Four #234-292 and Annuals #17-19.

Galactus Eats the Skrull Home World!

John Byrne created some of the most memorable Fantastic Four epics during his run on Fantastic Four #234-292 and Annuals #17-19. We will share with you a few of our favorites. With five years of work to pick from, it wasn’t easy choosing just a handful!

Today’s Feature: Fragments! Galactus is always a huge hit here on Mars. But what Galactus collection would be complete without the story of the day he devoured the Skrull Homeworld?! Few cosmic moments bring us as much joy as watching the Big G eat an entire planet.

And let’s face it, the Skrulls are scum. Nova made a great pick of all the possible planets out there to have for lunch. Featuring a special guest appearance by… Death!

Collector’s Guide:
- From Fantastic Four #257.
- Reprinted in the Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus – Volume 1, 2011.
- Byrne’s run spans Fantastic Four #234-292 and Annuals #17-19.