Fantastic Four (1961 series) #37

Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm are trying on their suits for a rehearsal of the wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm (and they've only just had the engagement party!). But suddenly Reed enters to show off his new Power-Ray invention. But he forgot to turn it off (it must be love!) and it causes Human Torch to flame on, destroying his suit. He explains that it's a power amplifier that draws its power from he-knows-not-where (remember this, there'll be a quiz later). Ben's girlfriend Alicia pops in to tell Reed that Sue's upset. On the way to her Mr Fantastic grabs some flowers from a vase which his extendable arm proffers to her. But flowers won't cut it this time. Sue says she needs justice from the Skrulls for murdering her father (in #32).

Meanwhile (whatever that means in a universe based on Einstein's Relativity) in the Skrull galaxy (Andromeda) Warlord Morrat and his love Princess Anelle are planet-hopping in his spaceship. He's angry because her father the Emperor won't agree to their marriage (because he distrusts his most powerful Warlord's ambition) even after Morrat arranged for Franklin Storm to die when he was returned to Earth. Despite loving him Anelle still finds actions like that heartless, and she also tries to dissuade him from hunting harmless creatures on the planet below.

Back in the Baxter Building Reed and Sue announce that the wedding rehearsal is postponed until Dr Storm's murderer is brought to justice, which means they're going to the planet of the Skrulls. Ben protests against them taking on a whole planet but Alicia tells him not to worry about leaving her alone to worry, he must support his friends. Ben responds that as usual she's right.

The Fantastic Four set off from Cape Kennedy on a Saturn booster rocket in a prototype spaceship powered by a thrust drive based on Reed's power ray which gives them space-time warp capability. He explains as they enter sub-space that they're inside the expanding 'ball' that is the expanding curved universe of Einstein's General Relativity enabling them to take a shortcut. And they pop out into normal space near the Skrull planet (which Reed located back in #37).

They land and exit their craft, frightening some plant-creatures. But they're immediately attacked by Skrull warriors who recognise them. Invisible Girl's forcefield protects them but it quickly collapses. Human Torch retaliates but very soon his flame fails. Thing takes over and lifts a giant boulder to throw only to collapse under its weight. Mr Fantastic forms his arm into lasso but then his elasticity fails too. So they have no defence against an immobiliser ray.

They're taken to Morrat and locked in a room where Reed theorises that something in the Skrull atmosphere has sapped their powers. Anelle tells Morrat that he must tell her father about this. He assures her before sending her away, but then he tells his warriors his plan - they will kill the FF and then the people will realise that *he* is the greatest Skrull. They free the FF from their prison room only to face the guns of the foe. Thing wants to fight but MrF stops him and pleads for their lives. He tells Morrat that he can give him unlimited power. The other 3 are aghast at Reed's cowardice but Morrat agrees to talk.

Meanwhile Anelle has returned to her father. When she asks him to look with favour on Morrat the Emperor says that the Warlord covets his crown. The Princess mentions the FF who Morrat has captured, assuming that her love has told him about it. But of course he knows nothing about it and his anger grows.

MrF has shown Morrat the Power-Ray and now he demonstrates it on his comrades. But of course the Skrulls then grab it and use it on *him*. And of course what it does is increase their diminished powers, back to their normal level. Then a proper battle ensues between the FF and the Skrulls. Our heroes survive having iso-missiles and demolo-guns used against them and handily thrash the enemy.

But then the Emperor and his daughter arrive with more troops. However they are here to arrest Warlord Morrat whose own warriors won't fight the superior force. The traitor is about to be executed when Anelle throws her self in front of him as the troopers fire. Morrat is hit and dies but she miraculously survives. However Mr Fantastic reveals that it was Invisible Girl's forcefield that saved her and the grateful Emperor offers him any reward. Reed asks for the Skrull responsible for the death of Franklin Storm. The Emperor says it was (the conveniently dead) Morrat, and he claims that it was all the Warlord's idea to try to conquer Earth so they won't be troubled again.

The FF fly their spaceship back to Earth and crash into the ocean near New York. Torch uses his heat to cause a vacuum spout which carries the 4 to the Baxter Building where Alicia is waiting for them with Reverend Miller, and they have the wedding rehearsal as planned, but in their FF uniforms.