Issue(s): Micronauts #40
Cover Date: Apr 82
Title: "The fugitives, the frenzy and the Fantastic Four! (Well, almost!)"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Gil Kane - Penciler
Dan Bulanadi - Inker
Ann Nocenti - Assistant Editor
Al Milgrom - Editor

Review/plot:
The Micronauts had resolved to contact humans that knew how to get back to the Microverse at the end of last issue, but then their spaceship Endeavor was washed into a storm grate. This issue begins with the Micronauts fighting off rats.

It's noted in this issue that the character Devil has lost weight due to all of the increased activity he's experienced with the Micronauts since leaving his portion of Homeworld. This addresses the changes in the way he's been drawn since his first appearance (including changes in the number of fingers he has, which a letter complains about in the lettercol for issue #42).

I really liked his stranger earlier appearances. He looks a lot more like the Beast at this point (with, granted, digitigrade style legs).

The Endeavor is badly damaged, but Devil rigs its Astrostation to operate as an independent flying craft, and after a scene with Bug trying to use a pay phone, the Micronauts head to the Baxter Building.

Most of the FF are out on the town, but the Thing is home with Franklin, and it's Franklin who lets them in.

He takes them to his father's Reducta-Craft, but they find it is being eaten by Antrons (you can also see in these panels an ongoing concern where Bug feels like his friendship with Acroyear is threatened by Devil).

The Thing helps the Micronauts fight them off, and then directs them to Dr. Doom's upstate castle. Dr. Doom is "under wraps". But the equipment that he used to create Liddleville would still be there.

Back in the Microverse, Force Commander continues to rev up his use of the Body Banks, both on others and himself.

Gil Kane begins his run on the Micronauts with this issue, but Dan Bulanadi's inks continue to come through strong, and since i'm not a big fan of Kane's art but i think he's good at storytelling and layouts, it's a good combination. This period continues to be a fun break from the space epic stuff that happens when the Micronauts are in the Microverse. Seeing them small (even if not microscopic) helps demonstrate the fact that they are indeed Micronauts, and interactions with the larger Marvel universe are always appreciated.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The Fantastic Four's Reducta-Craft is destroyed in this issue, placing this before Marvel Two-In-One #87 (which, ironically, has the Thing and Ant-Man traveling to the Microverse, so if the Micronauts had just stuck around....).

References:

• Biotron was killed and Acroyear's planet Spartak was destroyed in Micronauts #26-28.
  
• Commander Rann says that if they could beat Baron Karza, as they did in Micronauts #11, they can beat Force Commander.
  
• The Micronauts expand on the list of people that entered the Microverse. Last issue they noted Professor Prometheus and Ray Coffin in Micronauts #6 and the Fantastic Four in Micronauts #15. But this issue adds SHIELD's probing from Micronauts #26-28 and Dr. Strange's visit from Micronauts #30-35.
  
• The FF had also traveled to the Microverse prior to ever meeting the Micronauts. They traveled there in Fantastic Four annual #5 to fight Psycho-Man (who killed Bug's ladybug Jasmine in Micronauts #17.
  
• Franklin Richards has Micronauts toys, like the ones seen in the toy shop last issue. The toys were created by Professor Prometheus in Micronauts annual #2 and now that he's gone, they are just regular toys. It's also said that Mr. Fantastic created a custom Bug toy for Franklin since he wasn't part of the original line.
  

• Dr. Doom "was playin' with ways of makin' things little" in Fantastic Four #236.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A