Issue - 503

Writer - Mark Waid

Art - Howard Porter

 

Summary:

On the border between Latveria and Hungary, the Latverian volunteer army struggles to defend their borders from the invading army. The Fantastic Four suddenly appear and join the battle on the Latverian's side. Reed Richards wants to insure that not invaders get their hands on Doom's technology. After entering the castle, Reed proceeds to order the team to begin dismantling or destroying Doom's equipment. After a long night of labor, the team awaken to find the Latverians protesting their presence. The team is then shocked when instead of heading home, Reed announces his intention to stay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

Issue - 504

Writer - Mark Waid

Art - Howard Porter

 

Summary:

At the UN, a representative of Hungary formally complains of the FF's actions. Nick Fury defends their actions stating that their presence will keep things stable until the UN can come to a decision. The UN rep however warns that the FF are private citizens and their actions will bring severe repercussions. In Latveria, Reed leads the team to Doom's secret abattoir. He has Sue turn the walls invisible so that Latverians can see for themselves the horrors that Doom committed. After Reed becomes agitated by the Latverian's lack of reaction to being free, the team try and talk Reed into returning home. Reed responds by showing them that Doom has a nuclear arsenal under his castle. He explains that he believes that Doom is coming back, he always does. His objective is to make sure that when he does, he has nothing. No technology, no weapons, no power base, not even his people. The four agree to stay until the job is done.

 

 

 

 

Notes:

 

 

Issue - 505

Writer - Mark Waid

Art - Howard Porter

 

Summary:

Addressing the Latverian people, Reed outlines the teams objectives and invites the people of Latveria to enter the castle and unleash their pent up anger with Doom's former reign. The people come in droves and begin to loot and pillage the castle. As the people run rampant, Ben observes that Reed encourages a pair of mobbers to destroy a portrait of Doom's mother. At the UN, the council decides, despite US protest, that unless Reed and the other leave Latveria, a coalition will declare war and forcefully remove them. Reed, Sue and Ben see Franklin off after a short visit. The boy is clearly distant, especially from his father. After he is gone, Ben confronts Reed about the painting and about his behavior. Eventually they argue with Sue siding with Reed and accusing Ben of not understanding their position because he isn't a parent. Ben storms off to find Johnny who is supposed to be tracking down the Latverian resistance. Ben quickly tricks a Latverian into leading them to the resistance HQ. Before they can reason with the rebels, a force of Doombots break through the walls of the building. Ben and Johnny struggle to defend the rebels from the Doombots but are soon overwhelmed and gassed. As Ben falls unconscious, he glimpses Reed controlling the Doombots.

 

Notes:

 

Issue - 506

Writer - Mark Waid

Art - Howard Porter

 

Summary:

Coalition forces led by the US surround Latveria and prepare to invade. Nick Fury pleads with Reed to leave Latveria, but he refuses. When Sue walks in looking for Johnny and Ben, Fury is surprised that Reed has told his wife nothing of the deadline. After he leaves, Reed takes Sue to Johnny and Ben who are laying in cells. Awakening from the gas induced sleep, Ben then breaks out of his cell and grabs Reed angrily. Reed explains that he used the Doombots to catch the rebel leaders and that he has now unleashed more Doombots on the villagers. The team, minus Reed, go out to combat the Doombots. After defeating them, they return to the castle where Reed further drives a wedge between himself and the team by accusing Sue of failing to protect their children. Finally he tells them of the impending war and the UN forces at their door. The three rush to where Nick Fury's forces are camped and plead with him to give them time to get Reed. Fury refuses on the grounds that if they go back, they will branded as traitors of the US government. In the castle, Reed looks on and leaves a final note to his family.

 

 

 

Notes:

 

Issue - 507

Writer - Mark Waid

Art - Howard Porter

 

Summary:

Despite Fury's warning, Sue, Johnny, and Ben return to the castle to get Reed. Meanwhile, in Hell, Doom is being tortured by demons when suddenly he disappears. He reappears in a large chamber with Reed waiting for him. He explains to Doom that it is his intention to hold and watch over him in this cell, forever. Doom refuses to believe that Reed would abandon his family. He attempts to switch minds with Reed, but Reed reminds him that there is nowhere to go. Suddenly the rest of the team appear through the portal which Reed used to enter. He urgently warns them to get out and close the portal before Doom escapes. In Latveria, coalition forces break into the castle. When they reach the lab, they find the whole team laying on the floor. When Reed awakens he hysterically looks around for any sign of Doom. Suddenly the soldiers are murdered by an invisible weapon. Reed look on in horror as he sees that Doom has projected his mind into Sue's body.

 

 

 

 

Notes:

 

Issue - 508

Writer - Mark Waid

Art - Howard Porter

 

Summary:

After murdering soldiers and disabling the weapons of others, Doom exits the castle and into the villages. Using Sue's ability to generate force fields, he is protected from the bullets of invading soldiers. Fury arrives behind the rest of the FF and calls off the soldiers firing at Sue. Reed has Ben pound on her force field giving Doom feedback which scrambles his control of Sue's body. Unfortunately Johnny gets too close and Doom hops into his body. Before they can subdue him, Doom hops once more, this time into Ben's body. He grabs hold of Johnny who is still shaken from being possessed and goads Reed into killing him. Fury holds a weapon especially created to kill Ben. Reed pleads with Ben to find a way to beat Doom's control. Ben briefly manages to regain enough control to beg Reed to kill. Finally Reed snatches Fury's weapon and shoots Ben. The three gather around Ben as he slowly dies.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments:

Although Doom is MIA for most of this story, this is definitely an arc you need to read from start to finish. I have to admit that I am not fond of either Unthinkable or this story. However I like Authoritative Action a lot more than Unthinkable. Mark Waid's exploration of the consequences of a Doomless Latveria is very interesting. It has been done before but never quite like this. The first time that the FF have had to deal with the consequences of their removal of Doom from power was back in FF #200. The team left Latveria in the hands of Zorba. To their horror this did not turn out well and they were obligated to depose Zorba and reinstall Doom in FF #247. Some of the discoveries the team make here should not be surprising to the reader, but for whatever reason they are to the FF. Case in point, Doom's arsenal. Reed and co. have been Doom's lab before, it should not surprise them that he is stockpiling weapons. Perhaps its just awe at seeing. I also have an issue with Doom's abattoir. Apart from the fact that Doom has enough power in his gauntlet pinky to disintegrate a person, he has killer robots all over which can probably do the same. Does he really need a guillotine? An oven? The oven in particular conjures up images which I would more readily associate with the Red Skull, not Doom. Evidently this characterization of Doom takes the stance that if they did it to his people, he can do it to any one he likes. Not my personal take on the character, but its a valid one. It also one held by many. From what I see on message boards, this and Unthinkable are quite popular and seen as emblematic of what Doom should be like. The saddest part of it all is that Waid really set things up in way that opened up interesting new explorations. We all knew that Doom would come back, but come back to what? Reed really took everything away. When Doom finally makes his return in FF #536 backed by an army of Doombots, it really undermined what Authoritative Action accomplished. A wasted opportunity. Oh well. Bottom Line: **** out of 5

 

Notes:

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