Q-BOMB

Classification: Terrestrial technology

Creator: Wizard (Bentley Wittman)

User/Possessors: Frightful Four (Medusa/Medusalith Amaquelin, Sandman/William Baker, Trapster/Peter Petruski, Wizard/Bentley Wittman)

First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#38 (May, 1965)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Q-Bomb was a powerful atomic explosive device. The effects of its radiation upon the Fantastic Four caused them to lose their powers.

History:
(Fantastic Four I#38 (fb) - BTS) - The Wizard discovered an abandoned lab on a remote and barren atoll in the Pacific Ocean, where a "powerful Asiatic nation" had been conducting underground nuclear tests. He salvaged an atomic Q-Bomb which, under his scientific genius, became one of the most potent explosive devices in the world. The Wizard then formulated a scheme to use the nuclear bomb to destroy the Fantastic Four.

(Fantastic Four I#38) - After capturing the Invisible Girl, the Frightful Four took her aboard their anti-grav ship and flew to the atoll, where they planned to detonate the bomb when her teammates came to rescue her. The Wizard activated the atomic device and set the timer, then the Frightful Four returned to New York City and lured the three remaining Fantastic Four members to the atoll; the Frightful Four then destroyed the heroes' Pogo Plane just as it was landing, marooning the Fantastic Four there.

The Fantastic Four managed to rescue the Invisible Girl, but discovered that it was too late to disarm the Q-Bomb, and the Frightful Four had already fled in their anti-grav ship. With no way off the atoll, the Invisible Girl used her force field to shield the four of them from the atomic blast. The atoll was completely destroyed by the detonation of the Q-Bomb, but the sphere of invisible force containing the Fantastic Four was hurled away, and it landed in the waters of the Pacific Ocean--although rendered unconscious by the ordeal, they all survived, but the radiation from the Q-Bomb removed their superhuman powers.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Chic Stone.

In the following issue, the powerless Fantastic Four had drifted helplessly on the high seas for more than 24 hours, until the exhausted quartet was rescued by the crew of the U.S.S. Seahawk, an American nuclear submarine that was cruising in the area.
--Ron Fredricks

With their powers neutralized by the radiation of the Q-Bomb, the Fantastic Four used special equipment which simulated their powers for a short time (see Operation: Artificial Powers).

The Fantastic Four later regained their powers using the Stimulator.

New and additional images by Ron Fredricks.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Q-Bomb should not be confused with:


images: (without ads)
Fantastic Four I#38, p10, pan3 (Q-Bomb; Invisible Girl, Trapster, Sandman, Medusa, Wizard [background])
Fantastic Four I#38, p20, pan3 (mushroom cloud forms as Q-Bomb explodes)
Fantastic Four I#38, p20, pan4 (Fantastic Four [inside force field] hurled away by blast of Q-Bomb)
Fantastic Four I#38, p20, pan6 (after explosion, Fantastic Four begin to lose their powers)


Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#38 (May, 1965) - Stan Lee (writer), Jack Kirby (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Sam Rosen (letters)`


First Posted: 02/12/2006
Last updated: 10/02/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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