Fantastic Four #142
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeFantastic Four #142 marks the debut of Darkoth the Death-Demon — the surgically and mutagenically transformed Air Force pilot Desmond Pitt — giving the book a new villain whose tangled connection to Ben Grimm added genuine emotional weight to what might otherwise have been a routine monster-of-the-month story. Equally significant, the issue opens on a fractured Fantastic Four: Reed Richards's decision to render his infant son Franklin comatose drives the team to disband, a storyline whose domestic fallout would ripple across more than a dozen subsequent issues. The issue also serves as the launch point for a three-part Doctor Doom arc (continuing through #144) that restored Doom to the centre of the FF's rogues' gallery during the Conway era. As the opening chapter of writer Gerry Conway and incoming penciler Rich Buckler's tenure together, it marks a clear artistic transition in the book's post-Kirby history.
In "No Friend Beside Him!", the Fantastic Four face their deepest personal fractures as Reed Richards grapples with the devastating aftermath of an accident that leaves his infant son Franklin comatose—shattering both his family and the team’s unity. With Medusa the only one who stands by him, and Ben Grimm holding onto hope as Alicia undergoes a critical operation to restore her sight, the emotional weight of sacrifice and loyalty reaches its peak. Written by Gerry Conway and brought to life by Rich Buckler’s dynamic art, Joe Sinnott’s inks, Petra G.’s colors, and J. Costanza’s lettering, this 1974 issue captures a raw, human moment in the Marvel Universe, with cover art by Buckler and Sinnott.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Fantastic Four #142 was published with an October 1973 on-sale date and a January 1974 cover date, written by Gerry Conway — who had taken over the title with issue #133 — and penciled by Rich Buckler, who replaced John Buscema starting with this very issue; Buscema had held the penciling reins for more than three years (from #107 onward). Joe Sinnott provided inks, John Costanza lettering, and Petra Goldberg colors, with Roy Thomas serving as editor. Conway has noted in interviews that his run was written in the 'Marvel style' — plotting in collaboration with the artist — and that the Medusa-in-place-of-Sue-Storm lineup was a situation Thomas had put in place before Conway joined the book. The Darkoth character's true identity as Desmond Pitt, only hinted at here, was not fully revealed until Fantastic Four #193–194.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Darkoth the Death-Demon (Desmond Pitt), created by writer Gerry Conway and penciler Rich Buckler; cover date January 1974, on-sale October 1973.
- Darkoth is established as a former U.S. Air Force pilot and old friend of Ben Grimm, surgically transformed by Doctor Doom using genetic surgery and mutagenic compounds to resemble a Latverian mountain demon, with his memories wiped.
- The issue serves as the opening chapter of a three-part story arc — 'No Friend Beside Him!' — continued through Fantastic Four #143 and #144, in which Doctor Doom's plot against the FF and the world is central.
- Rich Buckler debuts as series penciler with this issue, replacing John Buscema, who had penciled nearly every issue since #107; the Buckler-Sinnott combination gives the book a fresh visual identity while maintaining continuity.
- The Fantastic Four temporarily disband at the start of the issue, with the team walking out on a shattered Reed Richards following his decision to suppress their son Franklin's mutant powers by rendering him comatose.
- Medusa remains with Mr. Fantastic as the only team member to stay, while Ben travels to Eastern Europe to be with Alicia Masters, who is about to undergo an operation to restore her sight.
- The issue has been reprinted in: Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 14 (2012 hardcover, collecting #142–150); Fantastic Four Epic Collection Vol. 8: Annihilus Revealed (2022); Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 5 (2024); and various international editions including French, Italian, and Scandinavian publications.
- Full creative credits: Script — Gerry Conway; Pencils — Rich Buckler; Inks — Joe Sinnott; Letters — John Costanza; Colors — Petra Goldberg; Editor — Roy Thomas; Cover — Buckler and Sinnott.
Cast · 16 characters
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Reprints
Reprinted in Fantastic Four #31 (1973), Fantastic Four #32 (1974), Atlantic-serien [Fantastiske Fire] #5/1980 (1980), Atlanticserien #5/1980 (1980), Nova #51 (1982), Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends #562 (1983), Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four #14 (2012), Fantastic Four : L'intégrale #1974 (2015), Fantastic Four Epic Collection #8 (2022), Fantastic Four Omnibus #5 (2024), Doctor Doom Epic Collection #2 (2026), I Fantastici Quattro #140, The Complete Fantastic Four #10
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