Before the Fantastic Four: Reed Richards
Encyclopedia
Before the Fantastic Four: Reed Richards was the second of three mini-series
from Marvel Comics
(the other two being Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm and Logan
and Before the Fantastic Four: The Storms) showing adventures the core members of the Fantastic Four
had in the days before they received their powers. Reed's story was a semi-humorous archaeological adventure, very much in the vein of the Indiana Jones
movie series.
.
In Paris, Reed meets with his former professor Roderick Van Nuys, who suffers from Sebert Syndrome, a fictional disease causing muscular degeneration. The professor has been studying the magical Claw of Bast, and knows that the scepter Reed has is one of three parts necessary for its assembly. Reed is attacked by an assailant in his own home, but escapes, and meets with Professor Francesca Fisher, who reveals the complete truth about the Claw of Bast, and manages to convince him to seek out the other components, with her as his partner.
After another flight to another unnamed Asian country, Reed, Francesca Fisher and Alyssa Moy retrieve the second component, the Eye of Bast, although Fisher is captured by Reed's mystery assailant, a man named Ko-Gar, who is working for Doctor Doom
. Ko-Gar transports Fisher to Latveria
for an audience with Doom, who hopes to use the magic of the Claw of Bast to repair his face. Reed and Moy follow, to effect a rescue.
After all three escape Doom's clutches, they travel to Giza, because the Claw can only be completed at the Sphinx
. The two components allow them to enter the Sphinx, but they inadvertently allow Doom the same access, and he combines all three components (the third being the Claw itself), completing the artifact. However, before Doom is able to put it to use, the Sphinx itself rises up, possessed by the spirit of Khafre
. Using this distraction, Reed freezes Doom with a "Cryo Sphere" and retrieves the Claw from his frozen hand. Coincidentally enough, Francesca Fisher knows an "ancient Egyptian transfer spell" and is able to siphon Khafre's energy into the Claw from the Sphinx, rendering it a mere tourist attraction once more. Reed returns to Paris and uses the claw to cure his old professor, after which the claw is destroyed.
At the end of the series, in present day continuity while Reed is telling this story to his son Franklin
, General Lao-Tse appears and uses magic to ensnare Reed, demanding to be told where Prince Bayan might be. Franklin throws one of Reed's "cryo spheres" at Lao-Tse, freezing the man solid. Reed comments that he's going to drop the frozen wizard off with Doctor Strange
.
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
(the other two being Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm and Logan
Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm and Logan
Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm and Logan was the first of three mini-series from Marvel Comics showing adventures the core members of the Fantastic Four had in the days before they received their powers...
and Before the Fantastic Four: The Storms) showing adventures the core members of the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
had in the days before they received their powers. Reed's story was a semi-humorous archaeological adventure, very much in the vein of the Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
movie series.
Plot
A prince named Bayan flees his (unnamed) Asian country to escape the evil General Lao-Tse (aka Lao-Tse the Mystic), who hopes to use the prince to open the Lopnor Gateway. Although he once tried to have them executed, Bayan is assisted in his flight by archaeologist Reed and his partner Alyssa Moy. On the run from Lao-Tse's henchmen, Reed fakes the trio's death by causing a landslide. After the rescue, Prince Bayan rewards Reed with the Scepter of Bast, an ancient artifact once belonging to KhafreKhafra
Khafra — also Khafre — was an Egyptian pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty, who had his capital at Memphis. According to some authors he was the son and successor of Khufu, but it is more commonly accepted that Djedefre was Khufu's successor and Khafra was Djedefre's...
.
In Paris, Reed meets with his former professor Roderick Van Nuys, who suffers from Sebert Syndrome, a fictional disease causing muscular degeneration. The professor has been studying the magical Claw of Bast, and knows that the scepter Reed has is one of three parts necessary for its assembly. Reed is attacked by an assailant in his own home, but escapes, and meets with Professor Francesca Fisher, who reveals the complete truth about the Claw of Bast, and manages to convince him to seek out the other components, with her as his partner.
After another flight to another unnamed Asian country, Reed, Francesca Fisher and Alyssa Moy retrieve the second component, the Eye of Bast, although Fisher is captured by Reed's mystery assailant, a man named Ko-Gar, who is working for Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
. Ko-Gar transports Fisher to Latveria
Latveria
Latveria is a nation in the . It is an isolated European country ruled by the supervillain Doctor Doom, supposedly located in the Banat region. It is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, and also borders the Symkaria to the south. Its capital is Doomstadt.-Publication history:Latveria first...
for an audience with Doom, who hopes to use the magic of the Claw of Bast to repair his face. Reed and Moy follow, to effect a rescue.
After all three escape Doom's clutches, they travel to Giza, because the Claw can only be completed at the Sphinx
Great Sphinx of Giza
The Great Sphinx of Giza , commonly referred to as the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining or couchant sphinx that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt....
. The two components allow them to enter the Sphinx, but they inadvertently allow Doom the same access, and he combines all three components (the third being the Claw itself), completing the artifact. However, before Doom is able to put it to use, the Sphinx itself rises up, possessed by the spirit of Khafre
Khafra
Khafra — also Khafre — was an Egyptian pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty, who had his capital at Memphis. According to some authors he was the son and successor of Khufu, but it is more commonly accepted that Djedefre was Khufu's successor and Khafra was Djedefre's...
. Using this distraction, Reed freezes Doom with a "Cryo Sphere" and retrieves the Claw from his frozen hand. Coincidentally enough, Francesca Fisher knows an "ancient Egyptian transfer spell" and is able to siphon Khafre's energy into the Claw from the Sphinx, rendering it a mere tourist attraction once more. Reed returns to Paris and uses the claw to cure his old professor, after which the claw is destroyed.
At the end of the series, in present day continuity while Reed is telling this story to his son Franklin
Franklin Richards
Franklin Richards is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character in Fantastic Four.Franklin is an Omega-Level mutant with vast psionic and reality-manipulating powers...
, General Lao-Tse appears and uses magic to ensnare Reed, demanding to be told where Prince Bayan might be. Franklin throws one of Reed's "cryo spheres" at Lao-Tse, freezing the man solid. Reed comments that he's going to drop the frozen wizard off with Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
.