Fantastic Four 300

"Aw, Alicia... a bride shouldn't be cryin' on her weddin' day! 'Specially one as purdy as you!"

―The Thing

"Dearly Beloved..."
Fantastic Four
Title:	"Dearly Beloved..."
Volume:	1
Number:	300
Cover price:	.75
Cover date:	March, 1987
Publisher:	Marvel Comics
Credits
Chief:	Jim Shooter
Writers:	Roger Stern
Pencilers:	John Buscema
Inkers:	Sal Buscema
Cover artists:	John Buscema
Cover inker:	Sal Buscema
Colorists:	Glynis Oliver
Letterers:	John Workman
Assistants:	Daryl Edelman
Editors:	Don Daley
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"Dearly Beloved..." is the the three-hundredth issue of the first volume of the American comic book series Fantastic Four. It was written by Roger Stern and illustrated by John Buscema and Sal Buscema, who also provided the cover artwork and inks. It was colored by Glynis Oliver and lettered by John Workman. The issue shipped to retailers with a March, 1987 cover date.

Synopsis

Johnny Storm goes to the Daily Bugle to argue with Robbie Robertson over the fact that the Bugle ran a press announcement detailing the events of his wedding.

Elsewhere, the Thing is mulling over the fact that his best pal is marrying ex-girlfriend. To make matters worse, the Yancy Street Gang decide to take advantage of the Thing's glum demeanor and taunt him with piles of garbage. Ben crunches up a nearby abandoned car and throws it towards them forcing the gang to scatter.

Later, Sue, Alicia and the She-Hulk work on Alicia's wedding dress. Crowds of reporters try to sneak a peak at the popular bride-to-be, but Sue keeps them at bay by turning the bridal party invisible.

Meanwhile, the Puppet Master teams up with the Mad Thinker and the Wizard to try and sabotage the wedding. The Puppet Master cannot believe that his beloved daughter has broken up with one member of the Fantastic Four only to marry another. He crafts a voodoo doll of Franklin Richards and uses it force the real Franklin to spy on his family, thus learning where the wedding is being held.

At the ceremony, the priest begins officiating the wedding and Johnny and Alicia exchange their vowels. The Puppet Master is hidden away in another section of the church. He intends on taking control of the Thing and using him to crush Johnny's skull after everything concludes. But then, he notices how happy Alicia looks with her new husband, and realizes that he could never do anything to upset her. He decides to betray the Wizard and the Mad Thinker.

The Puppet Master summons the Dragon Man and has it attack the Wizard and the Thinker at the Thinker’s secret compound. The Thinker summons an army of his androids, but the Dragon Man easily smashes through them. During the fight, the Dragon Man punches the Wizard and sends him barreling into the Mad Thinker. It is now revealed that the Thinker is only a robot, containing the consciousness of the real Mad Thinker who still languishes away in prison. The Wizard manages to flee the scene before the Dragon Man can lay another hand on him.

Back at the wedding reception, everything goes on without incident. The guests notice that a large wedding gift has arrived from Latveria. After scanning it with security devices, they open it up to find that it is filled with fresh cut flowers and a note from Doctor Doom pledging, "...a truce between us for as long as these flowers bloom..."

As soon as they place the crate down, the flowers begin to wilt away.

Appearances

Featured characters Fantastic Four Mister Fantastic Invisible Woman Human Torch She-Hulk The Thing Supporting characters Alicia Masters Doctor Doom Dragon Man Franklin Richards Robbie Robertson Wyatt Wingfoot Villains Mad Thinker Puppet Master The Wizard Minor characters Police officer Sheldon Bachman Brian, Johnny's friend (Behind the scenes only) Gurdon Brewster The Wyeths (Behind the scenes only) Unnamed photographer

Organizations Frightful Four Medusa The Sandman The Trapster The Wizard Yancy Street Gang Races Inhumans Skrulls Locations New York New York City Manhattan Daily Bugle Four Freedoms Plaza Yancy Street Long Island Latveria Doomstadt Items The Puppet Master's puppets The Wizard's Typhoon Sphere The Mad Thinker's roboids Vehicles None

Notes & Trivia

• This issue is reprinted in the Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four trade paperback, the Fantastic Four/Silver Surfer: The Complete Collection CD-ROM collection and the 44 Years of Fantastic Four CD-ROM collection.

• Part of Marvel's 25th anniversary event.

• Despite the fact that this is the 300th issue, it is only a standard page length.

• The Trapster, the Sandman and Medusa appear in a flashback to the first appearance of the Frightful Four, which was in Fantastic Four #36.

• The real Alicia Masters does not appear in this issue. The Alicia that marries Johnny Storm is actually a spy for the Skrull empire named Lyja. The revelation of Alicia's true identity will not be made known for quite some time.

• This issue includes a flashback to the first appearance of the Wizard from Strange Tales #102.

• Police officers from the New York City Police Department appear in flashback to events from Strange Tales #102 only.

Recommended Reading

Fantastic Four, Vol. 1 Fantastic Four, Vol. 2 Fantastic Four, Vol. 3 Fantastic Four 2099 Fantastic Four Unlimited Fantastic Four: Atlantis Rising

Fantastic Four Unplugged Fantastic Four: WGCM Ultimate Fantastic Four FF Fantastic Four Collections Fantastic Four One-Shots

See also

Fantastic Four Fantastic Four films Fantastic Four comics Fantastic Four programs Fantastic Four characters

Fantastic Four villains Fantastic Four images Fantastic Four creators Fantastic Four cast & crew Fantastic Four miscellaneous

External Links

• Fantastic Four #300 at MDP
• Fantastic Four #300 at Comics.org
• Fantastic Four #300 at Comic Vine

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