Fantastic Four vs. the X-Men

Fantastic Four vs. the X-Men is a four-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics in 1987. Written by longtime Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont, pencilled by Jon Bogdanove, and inked by Terry Austin, the series revolves around the quest to find an effective medical treatment for the dying X-Man, Kitty Pryde. Along the way, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men come into conflict with each other, and what appears to be a sinister secret regarding the Fantastic Four's origin comes to light.

Publication history

This series functions as an unofficial epilogue to the 1986 "Mutant Massacre" storyline from the X-Men titles, wherein Kitty Pryde, Colossus and Nightcrawler were all critically injured by the Marauders, a group of mutant terrorists. Following the series, Pryde and Nightcrawler appeared regularly in Excalibur, a series AbOUT a Britain-based team formed in 1987 after the X-Men were believed to have been killed.

Plot summary

Franklin Richards, the mutant son of Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) and the Invisible Woman (Susan Storm Richards), has a terrifying nightmare, wherein his father murders both the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. In the dream, Reed subsequently opens his journal from his college years at State University, and then reveals himself to be the FF's archenemy, Doctor Doom. Waking in terror, Franklin finds his parents and tells his mother about the dream. As Susan unpacks boxes, Franklin is shocked as she finds Reed's college journal -- the same book from Franklin's dream. She later shows the journal to Reed. Meanwhile at Muir Island off the coast of Scotland, the X-Men and geneticist Moira MacTaggert are in dismay. Kitty Pryde's phasing abilities have gone awry, as the atoms of her body drift farther apart, endangering her life. Magneto, reformed and now a member of the X-Men, suggests seeking assistance from Reed Richards. Traveling to Four Freedoms Plaza in New York City, Magneto manages to persuade the Fantastic Four (including the She-Hulk, a former team member) to help.

Later on Muir Island, members of both teams notice that Reed seems troubled, unaware that he is worried about making a major mistake (like the one which gave the Fantastic Four their powers) and [...] Kitty. When Reed states that his molecular reintegrator device cannot help Kitty in her advanced condition, a fight ensues. After Storm and Moira eventually diffuse the situation, the teams are interrupted by a holographic communication from Doctor Doom (who used one of his robots to INFILTRATE Muir Island). Doom offers to duplicate Reed's research, reconstruct the molecular reintegrator and save Kitty himself. Reed protests vehemently that Doom cannot be trusted, but Storm and Moira order the Fantastic Four off the island. Despite their misgivings, the X-Men subsequently agree to accept Doom's offer. Later at Four Freedoms Plaza, Susan reveals the contents of Reed's journal to the rest of the Fantastic Four. In the journal, Reed makes note of the research of Charles Xavier, who predicted the eventual emergence of mutants such as the X-Men (the group that Xavier would secretly found). However, a key passage of the book implies that Reed planned to counter the potential mutant threat by turning normal humans into super-powered beings -- starting with Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Susan and himself. Although Reed denies writing the inflammatory passage, the team members now believe that Reed may have purposely allowed cosmic radiation to bombard their rocket many years ago -- giving the four their powers and turning Ben into the monstrous-looking Thing. Ben, Johnny and the She-Hulk leave Four Freedoms Plaza, with the Fantastic Four on the verge of disbanding.

In Latveria, Kitty prepares to commit [...] in order to PReVENT the X-Men from indebting themselves to Doom for her sake. Franklin, present on the scene via one of his "dream-selves", begs Kitty not to do so, and manages to change her mind. While Reed wonders if he might have subconsciously planned for the cosmic radiation to bombard the rocket years earlier, the other members of the Fantastic Four eventually realize that Reed could not have written the passage from the journal, Sue citing his CASUAL relationship with his son, responding to Franklin as a parent where the clinical man in the journal would never have done such a thing, and return to FF headquarters. Feeling compelled to help Kitty despite the X-Men's objections, the team travels to Latveria (with Franklin in tow). Upon their arrival, another fight ensues. However, The Two teams relent when Franklin arrives (via Kitty's dragon companion Lockheed) and reminds them that saving Kitty is what is truly important, and that the fighting adults are acting like "a bunch of stupid babies". As the groups head toward Doom's castle, Doom notices the journal that Reed is carrying and is quite pleased.

When Reed claims that Doom has made a crucial mistake in the reintegration process, Doom refuses to listen. However, Franklin convinces him to put his pride aside and let Reed help. While Doom taunts him with doubts about the journal, Reed successfully navigates the problems with the reintegration, saving Kitty's life and causing her molecular structure to begin its slow return to normal. While the Fantastic Four and the X-Men make amends, Susan confronts Doom, having realized that he forged the journal and planted it among Reed's things many years ago. After issuing a veiled threat that warns Doom not to attempt such a scheme again, Susan delights in the fact that the her "family", the Fantastic Four, has survived the "hardest, cruelest shot" Doom has ever taken at them.

Collected editions

The series is collected in the trade paperback Fantastic Four vs. the X-Men (ISBN 0871356503), first printed in 1991. Additionally, the series can be found in the Marvel Premiere Classic hardcover X-Men vs. Fantastic Four (ISBN 0785138072), released in 2010.