BRONZE AGE MINUTE: Fantastic Four #260

Marvel; November 1983
Cover by John Byrne

Title: “When Titans Clash!”
Synopsis: A shorthanded Fantastic Four does battle with Doom and Tyros. Luckily, the Silver Surfer is nearby to lend a hand.

Writer: John Byrne
Penciler: Byrne
Inker: Byrne

Review: With the exception of setting up a Sub-Mariner subplot (which continues into Alpha Flight #4), this issue is turned over to an all-out battle royal: the Fantastic Four! Silver Surfer! Doctor Doom! Tyros the Terrible (aka the villain formerly known as Terrax the Tamer)! As Fantastic Four writer, John Byrne regularly displayed a knack for the little character moment; here, he shows he’s a master of big punching, too. He also has a nice touch when it comes to cosmic prose, an essential skill for authoring a title like Fantastic Four. And his fight choreography – in both story and art – is excellent.

Grade: A-

Cool factor: Big! Punching!

Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 75¢ Canadian variant of this issue. …According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jeweler variant.

Character quotable: “Then ‘no one’ rides a shining silver board!” – The Silver Surfer, reminding us all that he’s a silly concept that strangely works

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