Ultimate Fantastic Four: Crossover, Part 1
Issue: #21
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: Greg Land
Inker: Matt Ryan
Colors: Justin Ponsor

A Tyrannosaurus-style dinosaur rears up over Ben Grimm, who turns around and punches it hard enough to knock it out. He and the rest of the Fantastic Four have traveled back in time to find a group of eco-terrorists. Reed and Ben are 150 millions years back; Sue and Johnny are in the exact same spot 200 million years back. As Sue comments about a rock formation they can all see in both time periods, the terrorists step out of the forest and tell her to call the United Nations. The terrorists plan to kill the first living creature to crawl out of the seas and live successfully on land, unless they’re paid 10 billion dollars. Reed, stepping through the time portal, tries to argue with them. Sue finally just knocks them out with her force fields while Reed catches their amphibian victim.

All four return with their prisoners to the present day, where they find the Ultimates preparing to come back through time after them. Johnny explains that computer hackers copied Reed’s plans for a time machine. The Fantastic Four then have to wade through a crowd of reporters, who ask about the increasing number of super-villains, and how the team knew about the eco-terrorists.

At the Baxter Building, Professor Storm scolds Reed for being irresponsible and playing super-hero instead of working on the practical assignments given him by the people who fund his work. Reed promises to get back on task – while holding his fingers crossed behind his back. Later, Sue finds Reed is still working with information from the N-Zone. He’s been communicating with an alternative Earth, and he’s going to have to postpone their evening plans. Sue stalks off. Another voice tells him not to worry – his Sue used to behave the same way. Standing behind Reed is an older version of himself, with a little boy beside him.

We learn that this is the alternate Earth version of Reed Richards and his son, Franklin. The alternate Reed comments on the similarities and differences between the two Earths, and that Reed should have shared his findings with the rest of Professor Storm’s science teams. The younger Richards tells his older self that his help was all he really needed and that he’s ready to transport to the alternate Earth for the meetings of the minds the older Richards has set up.

When Reed materializes, however, he discovers that there is no alternate Reed waiting for him. There isn’t much of anything waiting, except a completely decimated city of New York with bodies and wreckage piled up. Four figures walk out of the mist – disfigured versions of this world’s Fantastic Four.

Submitted By: Seldes Katne