TITLE: Fantastic Four vol. 1, Issue #40
YEAR: July 1965
COMPANY: Marvel Comics
Written by Stan Lee
Illustrated by Jack Kirby
Inker: V. Colletta
Letterer: Artie Simek
Dr. Doom has taken control of the Baxter Building, the headquarters of the Fantastic Four.
And now the Fantastic Four and Daredevil are trapped, while Dr. Doom uses Reed Richard’s security system and weaponry against them.
Unfortunately, the Fantastic Four has lost all their powers and Ben Grimm has reverted to human form and now they must find a way to get to the top floor to take on Dr. Doom.
As Daredevil wants to stall time in order for the Fantastic Four to get to the top floor, that means he must take on Dr. Doom on his lonesome.
Can the Fantastic Four find a way to beat Dr. Doom?
The release of “Fantastic Four” issue #40, was rather interesting. For one, the Fantastic Four is without their powers and Ben Grimm was back to normal.
Daredevil was like Batman or Iron Man with expensive technology and more uses with his billy club and holding his own against Dr. Doom, which I wouldn’t see that happening ever from the ’80s-present.
Back then, Marvel Comics made Daredevil edgy and cool and a man without fear, but its rather interesting to see the juxtaposition of the Daredevil today, a Matt Murdock that carries a lot of emotional baggage and the Daredevil of the past.
As the issue shows Reed Richard’s intelligence, the biggest shock is Reed turning Ben Grimm back to the Thing. Ben who has his wish of becoming human, was turned back to the Thing, in order for the Fantastic Four to have a chance to fight Dr. Doom, but by doing so, Ben has had enough and threatens to quit the group.
People must remember that in the earlier “Fantastic Four” issues, Ben Grimm was a fighter that was self-conscious and had a low self-esteem due to turning into the Thing and really considering himself like a monster. And finally becoming a human, to see Richard, with one final blast left (that can turn Ben to the Thing or the Thing back to Ben Grimm human), turns Ben back to the Thing. And the Thing uses that anger to take it on Dr. Doom.
But Ben no doubt has had enough of it and he threatens to quit the group.
Overall, a cool issue and team up between the Fantastic Four and Daredevil but also to see how Dr. Doom uses his intelligence to counter Reed Richards.