Fantastic Four

Lore & Background

The Fantastic Four's origin stems from a space mission exposed to cosmic rays, granting each member unique abilities. In the 2007 limited series Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, written by Jeff Parker and illustrated by Mike Wieringo, the team is split when the H'Mojen invasion begins. Reed and Sue are on vacation with their children Franklin and Valeria, leaving Johnny and Ben in New York. Spider-Man, after encountering the Impossible Man disguised as the Silver Surfer, brings news of the alien mothership that has landed in Central Park. The Imperator announces Earth will be the 13,742nd planet to be "H'Mojenized." When the team regroups, Reed deduces that individuals with DNA sufficiently different from base humanity—such as superhumans—are not affected by the merging process. This includes Franklin, Valeria, and Alicia Masters. The team splits up to find answers, visiting locations like the Sanctum Sanctorum (where Doctor Strange and Wong have been merged) and Mount Wundagore. Eventually, they seek aid from Doctor Doom in Latveria, who helps create a device to prevent the merging. The story concludes with the Imperator absorbing the Poppupian race and taking them to an uninhabited planet to merge with the H'Mojen.

In Their Own Story

Peter Parker crouched on a gargoyle overlooking the shimmering spire of the Baxter Building. Below, the city buzzed with mundane life, unaware of the alien mothership that had landed in Central Park. He adjusted his mask, remembering the Impossible Man's warning about the H'Mojen invasion. A burst of orange flame lit the sky as Johnny Storm flew past, leaving a trail of heat. Peter smiled behind his lenses; some problems needed webs, but others needed the First Family. Together, they would face the Imperator, who had already assimilated Captain America and Iron Man, and discover that the key to victory lay in a single cell of the Poppupian race inside Spider-Man's own body.

Reader's Guide

In the 2007 limited series Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, the team's dynamic is tested by the H'Mojen invasion. The Imperator's mothership lands in Central Park, and his repulsor rays leave Spider-Man unconscious and seemingly destroy the Impossible Man. The next morning, Spider-Man limps to the Baxter Building to inform the Human Torch and the Thing. Reed and Sue are called back from vacation. The team discovers that the merging process does not work on those with sufficiently different DNA, including superhumans like Franklin, Valeria, and Alicia Masters. A TV broadcast reveals that assimilated heroes like Captain America and Iron Man are subduing non-assimilated ones like Ms. Marvel and Luke Cage. The team splits up: Johnny and Spider-Man visit the Sanctum Sanctorum (finding Doctor Strange merged and only able to perform card tricks), while Sue and Ben try to stall the Imperator. Reed runs simulations but cannot reverse the merge without killing both entities. He leaves in an experimental shuttle to study other merged galaxies, naming Spider-Man as his replacement. The remaining Four then seek aid from Doctor Doom in Latveria, who creates a device to prevent merging. The climax occurs in the African Serengeti, where Spider-Man vomits up the entire Poppupian race (rebuilt from a single cell inside him). Reed returns from space, disrupting the Imperator's time/space technology. The Imperator absorbs the Poppupians into his ship and takes them to an uninhabited planet to merge with the H'Mojen, pleasing both races. Back on Earth, a cat hacks up a piece of green glop that pops up into the Impossible Man.

Did You Know?

• The 2007 limited series was illustrated by Mike Wieringo shortly before his death.
• The Imperator announces Earth will be the 13,742nd planet to be 'H'Mojenized.'
• Doctor Strange, after being merged with the H'Mojen, is only able to perform card tricks.
• The Poppupians are based on Winnie-the-Pooh characters.
• The entire Poppupian race is contained in a single cell, as every DNA strand of the race is identical.