First Appearance: Blastaar

Villain: Blastaar, Sandman

Guest Appearance: Crystal, Lockjaw, Black Bolt, Karnak, Gorgon, Medusa, Triton

Gadgets & Technology: Trans-Barrier Phone, Magna-Crane, Adhesion Suit, Atomic Nullifier, Automatic Translators

Letters Page: Page One • Page Two

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Ben remembers that he can use the Trans-Barrier Phone to reach Reed as the team leader hurtles towards his death in free-fall in the Negative Zone. They reach him and Reed pleads with them to attempt no rescue, as it will be impossible to save him, only risking their lives in the process. He tells Ben to tell his wife how much he loves her, and makes his last regards to his best friend as a living man. As his voice dies out in the phone, the rest of the team stands in stark terror as the situation begins to sink in. Just then, Crystal appears with Lockjaw, overjoyed to see Johnny Storm once again. Johnny can't believe he's seeing her, but the only thing he can do is share with her the events that are unfolding. As they watch Reed float to his doom in the Negative Zone, on a giant monitor screen, Crystal overcomes the hopelessness around her and decides to go back to her family, the Inhumans, and seek their help to save Reed.

As Crystal and Lockjaw teleport away on Earth, a security team in the Negative Zone deposits a lethally-endowed but unconscious prisoner on the backside of an asteroid that orbits the same radioactive belt that Reed is nearing. Stuck inside a power-suppressing suit, the unknown power just sits there, as Reed watches the security team fly away. He has no idea he's floating on the same asteroid the powerful being has been deposited on.

At the Inhumans' European island hideout, a paramilitary force takes over the beach, preparing to deploy its Atomic Curtain device so that they can use the island for their own sinister purposes. But Black Bolt is not about to let his island retreat be taken over, and he and the rest of his Inhuman family take on the troops and destroy their weaponry. Triton is busy at sea, ably dispatching the enemy submarines which prowl around the island. Crystal lands among them with Lockjaw and explains what tragedy has befallen their friends the Fantastic Four, and Black Bolt commands one of their own to accompany her back to the Baxter Building, the only Inhuman who could possibly meet the demands of rescuing Mister Fantastic.

Back at the FF HQ, Ben is so frustrated with having to watch his friend die in slow motion on the video screen, he bashes it in with his fists, destroying it. Through a teleportal comes Crystal with Lockjaw, and the Inhuman who is to help them: Triton! As a seafarer used to navigating vast oceans, he declares his fitness for helping save Reed Richards in the similarly patterned Negative Zone environment. He plunges into the Space-Time Chamber and floats toward his target by aid of a personal jet gun.

He finally spots Reed Richards, clinging to an asteroid rock which floats perilously near the radiation belt. Triton will not stand down from the rescue attempt, no matter how much Richards tells him to, and Reed finally grasps hold of his hand and is pulled to freedom. But the unknown occupant on the other side of the rock breaks free of the bonds of the imprisoning suit, and blasts himself away from the asteroid. His name is Blastaar, and he watches as Reed and Triton head back to Earth. He decides to follow them, to try his lot away from the planet that exiled him.

Ben and Johnny expectantly wait at the Space-Time chamber door, and suddenly, their greatest hopes are realized! Triton carries Reed Richards through! With the FF reunited, they have no idea that Blastaar has also followed after them, lying low in the shadows while he tries to figure out his new surroundings. He goes out the window of the Baxter Building and comes across the Sandman, who he senses would be a good person to show him around the planet he intends to dominate with his great powers. An uneasy alliance is formed by the two badmen, while the FF, along with Triton and Crystal, enjoy each other's company after the life-and-death rescue of their leader, Reed Richards.

--synopsis and panel images by Gormuu