Fantastic Four #20
Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #20 (August 1999) is a pivotal chapter in Chris Claremont and Salvador Larroca's run on the title, deepening the integration of Valeria von Doom — the alternate-future teenage Marvel Girl — into the Fantastic Four's extended family after her debut in issue #15. The issue runs two interlocking storylines simultaneously: the core team battling the Ruined in Paris while young Franklin Richards, Caledonia, Alyssa Moy, and Marvel Girl face down the interdimensional bounty hunter Bounty and the cyber-ninja Bacchäe at Pier Four. Claremont's introduction of Valeria von Doom across this run ultimately seeded one of the few genuinely enduring characters created in the late-1990s Marvel era — a figure later reborn and reimagined as the genius infant Valeria Richards, whose storylines would run through the 2000s and into Jonathan Hickman's acclaimed run.
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Fantastic Four Vol. 3 launched in late 1997 under Scott Lobdell, but Marvel replaced him with veteran X-Men writer Chris Claremont beginning with issue #4. Claremont paired with Spanish artist Salvador Larroca — whose sleek, dynamic figure work gave the book a distinct visual identity — under editor Mark Powers and Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras. Issue #20 falls squarely in the middle of Claremont's run (issues #4–32), a stretch he used to establish a new Pier Four base for the team, introduce supporting players like Alyssa Moy and Caledonia, and build the slow-burn mystery of Valeria von Doom's true origins. Claremont had intended to resolve the Valeria storyline himself, but he ultimately did not get the chance before the title transitioned to a new creative team.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published August 1, 1999, as Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #20 — the third volume of the series launched in 1997–98.
- Written by Chris Claremont, penciled by Salvador Larroca, inked by Art Thibert, colored by Liquid!, and lettered by Richard Starkings.
- Continues the active role of Valeria von Doom (operating under the alias Marvel Girl), a teenage time-traveler from an alternate future who first appeared in Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #15 — she is later revealed to be an alternate-future version of Reed and Sue's stillborn daughter Valeria Richards.
- Dual-narrative structure: the Fantastic Four battle the Ruined — other-dimensional beings previously encountered in issue #1 — who are transforming Paris into structures of bone and stone; simultaneously, Franklin Richards, Alyssa Moy, and Alysande Stuart face Bounty (an interdimensional hunter hired to recapture Caledonia/Alysande Stuart) at Pier Four headquarters.
- Alysande Stuart transforms into her warrior persona Caledonia during the Pier Four conflict, while the Bacchäe (cyber-ninjas serving the Olympian Amazon Hippolyta) intervene and subdue all parties with a concussion grenade.
- Introduces Reno, an agent of the French Secret Service, as the FF's on-the-ground ally in the Paris storyline.
- Features Margali Szardos — the X-Men-connected sorceress — as a key figure in the Ruined's ceremony in Paris, where she is held captive for sacrifice.
- Valeria von Doom's identity as the true daughter of Reed and Sue Richards (not Doctor Doom) is a long-running mystery seeded across this run, not resolved until Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #49, with her ultimate rebirth as an infant in issue #54.
Cast · 20 characters
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Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
The Fantastic Four rescue Margali Szardos from the Ruined. At Pier Four, a teenage girl suddenly appears. Franklin recognizes her as Valeria, remembering her from his special dreams. Bounty arrives to arrest Caledonia. The Bacchae show up to take vengeance on the Fantastic Four.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).