Even before this story starts the Thing has created a big problem for himself by giving Johnny false hope that Reed and Sue are alive. I understand why he did it but the pressure on Ben because of this lie is a constant pressure that could have been avoided. Anyway, what's done is done . . .
Alicia knows of Ben's deception and her counsel is wise but she does not press the point.
Reed left something located in the site of 'their first adventure'. So off Ben and Johnny go in the classic "bathtub" Fantasticar. Destination: Monster Isle. The Four's first adventure was the Mole Man adventure.
Here is the breathtaking approach to Monster Isle.
Funny I should mention the Mole Man.
The Thing and the Human Torch walk in on an election. Yes, an election. The leadership of the subterranean realm is being contested by the Mole Man and Googam. Googam is the monster to the right that has a resemblance to Karnak of the Inhumans.
Anyway with the arrival of the pair, the election route has been discarded. The leadership will go to whoever beats the the Human Torch and the Thing.
Googam gets it from the Thing.
The Torch isn't faring so well, actually he's about to be defeated. At a critical moment we have a new arrival.
I believe he's calling himself Iron Man these days. The Thing has a knee jerk reaction to Doom but he is shunted aside.
In a hilarious turn, the denizens of monster Isle proclaim Doom as their new leader.
Continuing the fun, as his first edict, Doom orders the Mole Man and Googam from the area into the depths of the Earth.
The cherry on top of the ice cream Sunday is this.
Doom leaves. Having become the rightful ruler of the Mole Man's domains he cares absolutely nothing for it. Classic Doom.
Doom doesn't have a monopoly on arrogance (after all Namor and Quicksilver are still around). Alhthough he's been arrogant ever since. Her he is in front of Reed and Ben gloating over his win of a science prize.
Here are Reed and Ben sneaking into school after hours to prank Von Doom.
And the prank is this.
All this Ben remembers. This was the first adventure. Not Monster Isle. This. So Ben and Johnny go back to that trophy and . . .
