I: Feature Story: "Klaw, the Murderous Master of Sound!"

Pages: 20

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek

Villain: Klaw

Guest Appearance: Wyatt Wingfoot, Inhumans: Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Crystal, Black Bolt, Maximus, Lockjaw

Origin Retelling: Klaw

Cameo Appearance: Black Panther, Dr. Doom, Silver Surfer

Marvel Milestones: First costumed appearance of Klaw

Gadgets & Technology: Vacuum Engine, Space-Time Room, Space-Time Research Visi-Phone, Neural-Stun Gun, Counter-Sonic Harness, Packet Missile

Synopsis: Sue can't distract Reed and Ben from studying the region called Sub-Space. While Sue is intimidated by the danger of Thing and Reed's interaction with Sub-Space, the duo is absorbed in the examination of a strange, bat-like creature that menaces them from beyond. In fact, they are so focused they don't notice that the villainous Klaw has arrived to attack them by surprise, sending a shock wave across the room that knocks them down. The villain has been transformed into living sound and captures the two men in the Sub-Space laboratory behind a wall of solidified sonic waves.

In the Great Refuge, Black Bolt's mighty scream has worn him out. Knowing the Absorba-Bomb would have killed his people before destroying the barrier, he was forced to defus it with his scream. It appears to the others that Maximus is now the only one who knows how to free the Inhumans but is too mad to relate the information, leaving Medusa to despair of the state of their isolation, and the fate of her betrothed, the great Black Bolt.

Having trapped Reed and Thing, Klaw goes after the Invisible Girl. Her force field protects her but she is astonished at Klaw's transformation into a creepy-looking creature of sound. He exults to her that after suffering defeat at the their hands (see FF #53), he dove into his own sound generator in a mad attempt at gaining more power. The force remade his body into living sound. He pressures Sue's force field and she runs to grab a Neuro-Stun Gun. The weapon does no good as Klaw's body reflects the force back at her.

Reed and Ben are trapped in the lab, but desperately trying to get out. No amount of force can pierce the sound barrier- not even the mighty strength of the Thing- but Reed quickly develops a Counter-Sonic Harness which, when donned by the thing, allows the orange-skinned giant to burst through the sonic force wall! Reed cannot follow, so Thing is left on his own to pursue Klaw.

Sue has turned invisible but Klaw amplifies her footsteps to track her. The Thing charges Klaw and the backlash from the sonic force blasts hitting him shakes the very Baxter Building to its foundation.

Lockjaw has bonded with Johnny and Wyatt. He teleports them to bizarre places around the world, and through space, but unfortunately brings them no closer to the Inhumans.

Back at the Baxter Building, the Thing collapses and Klaw allows Sue to rejoin with Reed. But Reed realizes this was a trick so Klaw could destroy them together! But just at that moment, as Klaw cackles at his targets with villainous zeal, a rocket from Wakanda zooms in carrying bands made of vibranium. Reed wraps them around his fists and pounds Klaw into submission, with the vibranium absorbing Klaw's vibrations. Finally, Reed's pliable body smothers him to bring him to a sound defeat. Thing destroys Klaw's weapon and the threat is over. They report to their friend, the Black Panther, that his last-minute aid to them proved to be the measure of success against Klaw.

Meanwhile, a new threat arises as a strange figure catches sight of the Silver Surfer flying across the skies of Eastern Europe....

--synopsis by Jonathan Clarke, aka doesitmatter, with Gormuu

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