At the center of this story, we have the wealthy Mr. Gregory Gideon—described as the world’s richest man. But for Gideon, what he has is not enough. He makes a bet with his peers, wagering his fortune to acquire theirs if he can accomplish any challenge they set for him. His task: eliminate the Fantastic Four. His method: using his wealth to turn them against each other through traps and misinformation.

Artwork

Jack Kirby’s artwork brilliantly captures the action, conflict, and emotion of the piece, portraying a depth that draws us into the story and keeps us engaged from beginning to end. Dynamic and captivating—this is comic art at its best.

Originality & Continuity

This story works well as a mostly stand-alone piece, with little reliance on previous events. The Fantastic Four have always been great at squabbling like any family, but introducing an unseen and unpowered villain who uses his wealth to pit them against one another? That’s a fantastic twist.

Characters & Development

Our heroes don’t undergo much change or development in this story. The status quo remains intact, but this allows Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to deliver the story’s moral: family matters more than money.

This is the lesson Mr. Gideon learns when his pursuit of the Fantastic Four leads his son to try and help our heroes, only to fall into the Time Trap himself. The apparent loss of his son forces Gideon to realize the error of his ways and his desires. He ends up begging the very heroes he was trying to destroy for help.

Story

It’s this element—the moral and Gideon’s growth—that elevates the story. If I had one wish for it, though, it would be for it to have been a two-issue arc where the team has to go back in time to save the boy, rather than resolving it so quickly in the final pages.

The Value of Family

Teaching morals, reinforcing values, influencing society while also being entertaining—is that not the heart of storytelling? This issue brilliantly teaches that some things are more important than money, and it does so in an engaging and relatable way. But please, tell me what you think about this issue, and Mr. Gideon.