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This page may contain some of the same content as the Marvel Database article. A more complete and current article is at the Marvel Comics Database Fantastic Four Vol 1 369. |
Appearing in "With Malice Toward All!"
Featured Characters:
- Fantastic Four
Human Torch (Johnny Storm) - Invisible Woman (Susan Richards) (merges with Malice)
- Thing
Supporting Characters:
Adversaries:
Other Characters:
- Alpha Flight
- Guardian (Heather Hudson)
- Sasquatch (Cameo)
- Shaman (Cameo)
- Avengers West Coast
- Dr. Druid (Cameo)
- Dr. Strange
- Lyja
- Nova (Frankie Raye)
- Nova (Rich Rider)
- Quasar
- She-Hulk
- Uatu
- X-Factor
- Havok
- Polaris (Cameo)
- Strong Guy
- X-Men
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "With Malice Toward All!"
Having teleported to another dimension in search of the Magus, a collection of heroes including three of the members of the Fantastic Four have been caught in a battle between the Infinity Watch and Thanos, who they believe to be in league with the Magus. As Sue tries to make sense of the situation the battle rages on, its combatants are unaware that they are being observed by the Magus himself, who orchestrated this battle. Suddenly the battle is interrupted by the arrival of Galactus in his ship. On board the ship with Galactus are Dr. Strange, the Silver Surfer, and Nova, who decide to take all gathered below aboard the ship to inform them of what is going on. Suddenly, all the heroes and Thanos on the planet surface are brought aboard in a stasis beam. Witnessing this, the Thanos doppelganger warns Magus that Galactus should not be underestimated. The Magus is ill concerned, as with the heroes pre-occupied, he can now lay claim to their world and activates a switch.
Meanwhile on the planet Earth, Alicia Masters is entertaining her step-father the Puppet Master and is concerned as she has been trying to get a hold of the Fantastic Four with little success. After his encounter with the Thing doppelganger, the Puppet Master suspects that the Fantastic Four might be dead and struggles with telling everything he knows to Alicia. Deciding to tell the truth, he is about to explain what he saw when suddenly every living being on Earth is put in a state of suspended animation. All except for Aron the Rogue Watcher, who decides to take advantage of the situation at hand.
At that moment back aboard Galactus' ship, the world devourer decides to activate a brain scan in order to learn the events that have led the heroes to this very moment. But Galactus warns that the device could cause unforeseen circumstances. As the energies from the mind probe wash over Sue, she suddenly finds herself face to face with Malice, the dark side of her personality. Malice is intent on taking control over Sue once again and unleashes an attack of invisible force daggers. Sue tries to defend herself with invisible spheres and shields, but Malice merely mocks her for not having the ferocity needed to win the battle. Trying to crush Sue with an invisible cylinder, Sue holds back with a shield of her own. Malice is so focused on killing Sue that a sudden eruption is all it takes to break her concentration and allow Sue to regain the advantage. Knocking Malice out, Sue decides that it is time to come to terms with this segment of her psyche, and instead of defeating it again like she has in the past, she decides to merge with her Malice persona. As Malice begins to merge with Sue, she warns Susan that she will take control eventually, Sue is willing to wait and see. Suddenly, Sue snaps awake aboard the ship, when Johnny asks her if she is all right, Sue tells him she is doing better than ever, putting on a sinister looking smile.
While back in Earth's solar system, the Watcher suddenly detects the presence of Aron the Rogue Watcher and witnesses as his former charge suddenly teleports into the apartment of Alicia Masters and absconds with her. Due to his vow of non-interference, the Watcher can do nothing but observe events as they happen.
Back aboard Galactus' ship, the Human Torch takes to some exploring and takes a pause to check out Psylock of the X-Men and considers trying to make a move on her. Johnny decides not to, considering the fact that he hasn't gotten over the loss of his wife Lyja and his strange situation with the real Alicia Masters. Unknown to Johnny, Psylock is a telepath who read all these thoughts, and is disappointed that he didn't take a chance. Johnny rejoins the others and learns that the Infinity Watch have reassembled the Infinity Gantlet and that Galactus is about to leave with Gamora to petition the greatest forces of the universe to allow them to utilize the Infinity Gauntlet once more. No sooner is Galactus gone, does the Magus and his Thanos doppelganger appear to try and snatch Adam Warlock and the Infinity Gauntlet. Both the real Thanos and Thing try to stop them, but the two slam into each other when diving at their foes, and the Magus manages to escape victoriously.
At that moment in deep space, the ship carrying Devos the Devastator and Paibok the Power Skrull continues on their way to Earth. Within Paibok continues to alter Lyja's genetic structure so that they can use her as a weapon of revenge against the Fantastic Four. Back aboard Galactus' ship, Captain America informs the gathered heroes what happened, and that the Magus is now nearly omnipotent with the power of the Infinity Gauntlet. When Sue says they should face him no matter what, the Hulk chides her for volunteering them all for a suicide mission. Sue takes offense and everyone is shocked when she unleashes her invisible force powers on the Hulk, sending him crashing into a nearby wall. The Hulk is impressed and decides that he will cut her some slack for now. Seeing this Johnny and Ben wonder if there is anything wrong with Sue. Preparing for battle, Thanos offers to lead them, but Captain America declines. Opening a portal to the domain of Magus, they soon find themselves face-to-face with a horde of evil doppelgangers. As the battle rages on, the Magus observes from his monitors before gloating over his acquisition of the Infinity Gauntlet to a defeated Adam Warlock.
Notes
- This issue is part of the "Infinity War" crossover event, focusing on the events of Infinity War #4 involving the battle between the heroes and the Infinity Watch, Galactus taking them aboard his ship, and the reactivation and loss of the Infinity Gauntlet. The battle between the heroes and the doppelgangers at the end of this story takes place during the events of Infinity War #5. The battle between the heroes and the Infinity Watch is also expanded upon in Alpha Flight #111, Wonder Man #14, Quasar #38, Silver Sable and The Wild Pack #5, and Warlock and the Infinity Watch #9.
- This issue is reprinted in:
- Infinity War Omnibus hardcover (2019);
- Fantastic Four Epic Collection vol. 22: This Flame, This Fury trade paperback (2021).
Trivia
- The Malice persona seen here is not one of the Magus' doppelgangers, but a portion of Sue's psyche. It was created by the Psycho-Man's Hate-Monger back in Fantastic Four #280–281.
See Also
- Write your own review of this comic!
- Discuss Fantastic Four Vol 1 369 on the forums
- Images from Fantastic Four Vol 1 369
Footnotes
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