Issue(s): Fantastic Four #90, Fantastic Four #91, Fantastic Four #92, Fantastic Four #93
Published Date: Sep-Nov 69
Title: "The Skrull takes a slave!" / "The Thing -- Enslaved!" / "Ben Grimm, killer" / "At the mercy of Torgo!"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Jack Kirby - Penciler
Joe Sinnott / Frank Giacoia - Inker

Review/plot:
The debate on how to treat the Mole Man continues now that the FF have rested up a bit. The Mole Man eventually escapes and blows up the house that the FF bought.

The Thing is captured by Skrull slavers who have decided that they really, really like gangster movies. The Skrull that captures him uses a plastic Reed Richards head to ensure that he emulates Reed correctly while impersonating him.

The Thing is forced to fight in an arena against other weird monsters.

Eventually he convinces the other gladiators to rebel, including his main opponent, the robot Torgo.

The rest of the FF show up to rescue him.

Not sure what the deal here was. Maybe Kirby just wanted to stretch out into a different genre. Not my cup of tea, that's for sure.

These issues show that the Skrulls were investigating the Earth as early as the 1930s.

Sue is left behind on the rescue trip. She is told that she needs to stay behind and look after the baby. Sue reasonably points out that Alicia can look after the baby, but the rest of the team is against her. Incredible.

The best thing about these issues is when the Thing fights a guy who clearly swallowed a giant magnet. He's a Skrull-bred Magno-Man, and his magnets work on the Thing, who i guess has a lot of iron in his diet.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 2

Chronological Placement Considerations: The Fantastic Four are still in the Mole Man's house, so this continues directly from Fantastic Four #89 and no FF appearances should occur in between.

References:

• The Fantastic Four captured a Skrull flying saucer in Fantastic Four #2.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: Marvel's Greatest Comics #72, Marvel's Greatest Comics #73, Marvel's Greatest Comics #74, Marvel's Greatest Comics #75

The "gangster world" was inspired by a recent episode of Star Trek. Kirby tended to watch a lot of science fiction programs at the time.

The Human Torch's method of travel to Skrullworld along with the rest of the FF displays really bad science compared to what we've previously seen in this title, and it shows off the lesser interest Kirby is showing in this book, as he was extremely unhappy about his situation at Marvel at that point.

I absolutely love Ben's expression in that last panel.

I've read Sinnott wanted to take a break so #93 is inked by Frank Giacoia (who also spelled Sinnott back in 1967--Giacoia inked the lead story in FF Annual #5, though it was miscredited back then to Sinnott). Giacoia's work can be seen above in the panel with Crystal, Johnny, and Reed(trying to look chic in their Bonnie and Clyde outfits).

UHOMCC confirms Giacoia on #93. Added him. Thanks.