- "I dare go no closer. I'm only a few feet from the event horizon. Only my line is keeping me from being drawn across the point of no return..."
- ―Reed Richards
| "The Annihilation Gambit!" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fantastic Four | |
| Title: | "The Annihilation Gambit!" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 256 |
| Cover price: | .60 |
| Cover date: | July, 1983 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Jim Shooter |
| Writers: | John Byrne |
| Pencilers: | John Byrne |
| Inkers: | John Byrne |
| Cover artists: | John Byrne |
| Cover inker: | John Byrne |
| Colorists: | Glynis Oliver |
| Letterers: | Jim Novak |
| Assistants: | Ann Nocenti |
| Editors: | Al Milgrom |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Fantastic Four #255 |
| Next: | Fantastic Four #257 |
"The Annihilation Gambit!" is the 256th issue of the first Fantastic Four ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It was written, penciled and illustrated by John Byrne. Coloring was by Glynis Oliver and it was lettered by Jim Novak. The story was edited by Al Milgrom with Ann Nocenti as assistant editor. This issue shipped with a July, 1983 cover date and carries a cover price of .60 cents per copy.
"The Annihilation Gambit!"[]
Featured characters
- Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards
- Invisible Girl, Susan Richards
- Human Torch, Johnny Storm
- The Thing, Ben Grimm
Supporting characters
- Alicia Masters
- Captain America, Steve Rogers
- Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau
- Galactus
- Julie Angel
- Nova, Frankie Raye
- Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff
- Sharon Selleck
- She-Hulk, Jennifer Walters
- Thor Odinson
- Wasp, Janet van Dyne
Villains
- Annihilus (Apparent death)
Minor characters
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Powers
- Elasticity
- Energy projection
- Flight
- Force field projection
- Self-sustenance
- Superhuman strength
- Thermal propulsion
- Winged flight
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Fantastic Four were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. They first appeared in Fantastic Four, Volume 1 #1 in November, 1961. By and large, the roster of the Fantastic Four has remained the same over the years, consisting of Reed Richards as Mister Fantastic, Susan Storm as the Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm as the Human Torch and Ben Grimm as the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing. Occasional transitory members of the FF have included Crystal Amaquelin, Luke Cage, Scott Lang, and T'Challa.
- "The Annihilation Gambit!" redirects to this page.
- The cover to this issue carries the approval stamp of the Comics Code Authority.
- According to Amazing Heroes #22, the direct market edition of this issue shipped to retailers on March 22nd, 1983. The newsstand edition shipped on April 12th, 1983.
- This issue is reprinted in the 44 Years of Fantastic Four digital media collection, published by Graphic Imaging Technology, Inc. in May, 2005. It is also reprinted in the Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Volume 3 trade paperback collection, released in January, 2005. It is also reprinted in the Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus, Volume 1 hardcover collection, published in November, 2011. It is also partially reprinted in the Avengers: Absolute Vision collection from 2013.
- This issue brings to a close the "Negative Zone" story-arc, which began in Fantastic Four #251.
- Julie Angel tells Sharon Selleck about how her last roommate "went cosmic" on her. This is a reference to Frankie Raye, who was imbued with the Power Cosmic and became a herald of Galactus in Fantastic Four #244.
- Shenanigans involving the Baxter Building continue to evolve over in Avengers #233.
- The Fantastic Four's uniforms undergo an alteration in this issue. Exposure to energies from the Negative Zone changed the color on the outfits from a two-tone blue to dark blue with white gloves, boots, and neck-piece.
- Annihilus "dies" in this issue. But of course, this is a comic book, which means... nobody actually ever dies.