Articles: Fantastic Danglers

You may notice a tendency for this list to have more recent stories than older ones. Rather than blaming newer writers for an increase in the amount of danglers, I would like to point out that older stories, simply by being around longer, have had more opportunities to be wrapped up.

If you know of a FF dangler -- or where one of these was followed up on -- please contact me at kleefeld@ffplaza.com. For the record, I am not listing anything that has been at least touched upon in the last year. I consider those stories current enough to be "active" and part of an ongoing sub-plot.

Valeria is a blue-skinned princess of the 5th Dimension. Johnny has occasionally suggested they start a serious relationship, but had a tendency to forget about her quickly. Last seen: Fantastic Four #161. Last referenced: Fantastic Four #163.

Willie was a child with the mutant power to manifest his dreams into reality. After the death of his mother, he was captured by Project: Pegasus and subsequently "liberated" by Iron Man and X-Factor. Releasing much of his power, he apparently killed himself but left behind his frog-like manifestation of his repressed anger. Last seen: Iron Man Annual #8.

Randolph, after being seriously injured by several thugs, used an experimental device on himself that evolved him into a more powerful entity, whom Blastaar dubbed the Futurist. He then left to explore the wondrous corners of the universe. He was captured by the Stranger and eventually freed by Quasar, left once again to explore the universe. Last seen: Quasar #15.

A pod of alien parasites landed on Earth and devolved their unwilling hosts to obtain their main source of sustenance: oil. A pod of six landed, but only five were destroyed. Last seen: Fantastic Four #227.

Occulus was an extra-dimensional villain that kidnapped Franklin, hoping to use the child's latent mutant powers. The FF managed to drive off the would-be tyrant, but both the locals and the FF expressed concern that Occulus would return to cause even more damage. Last seen: Fantastic Four: Foes #1. Last referrenced: Fantastic Four #366.

Raphael accidentally obtained Lyja's "laserfist" power blasts and sought the FF for help. It has never really been explored what he has done with his powers (if anything) after briefly assisting Johnny and Lyja. Last seen: Fantastic Four #392.

Obviously the culture had long since died out by the time archeologist Ken Robeson found their temple. Judging by Ben's reaction to his frequent changes using the temple's equipment, it seems likely that the cosmic rays that granted them Thing forms eventually killed the original tribe. This was not explored, however, since Reed dismantled the equipment to help fight Onslaught. Last seen: Fantastic Four #405. Last referenced: Fantastic Four #416.

Although he felt a great deal of resentment for her when he initially discovered her true identity, Johnny Storm was able to work things out in FF #415. After his apparent death, however, Lyja left to seek out her place in a human world. Last seen: Tales of the Marvel Universe #1. Last referenced: Fantastic Four vol. 3 #2.

After the apparent death of the FF and Dr. Doom during Onslaught, Kristoff and Nathaniel Richards reclaimed Latveria. The mutant Stryfe, however, seemingly displaced them when he crashed his ship into Castle Doom. Last seen: Tales of the Marvel Universe #1. Last referenced: Spider-Man Unlimited #16.

After the apparent death of the FF and Dr. Doom during Onslaught, Kristoff Vernard and Nathaniel reclaimed Latveria. The mutant Stryfe, however, seemingly displaced them when he crashed his ship into Castle Doom. Last seen: X-Force #63. Last referenced: Spider-Man Unlimited #16.

Near the end of the "Heroes Reborn" saga, Susan announced to Reed that she was pregnant; however, the heroes were soon engulfed in a crisis that required they leave the dimension. Since doing so, Sue's pregnancy has not been addressed in any capacity.

In the original story, it was implied that Iconoclast and his race would be explored further, possibly in connection with Susan's powers. Although Reed did do some exploration of Iconoclast's origins, they've apparently led to a dead end. Last seen: Fantastic Four: Foes #1. Last referenced: Fantastic Four vol. 3 #3.

At some undetermined point, the Red Ghost lost most of his intellect, seemingly transferred to his apes. There was initially some postulation that the transfer was a side-effect of being imbued with cosmic radiation and that the FF may be affected at some point as well. Last seen: Fantastic Four: Foes #1. Last referenced: Fantastic Four vol. 3 #4.

The silhouetted figure has not been identified. Although it has been suggested by some fans to have been Lyja, it seems unlikely that she would be living in the sewers beneath Yorkton, Canada. Last seen: Fantastic Four vol. 3 #4.

The Moloids have been experiencing an outbreak of lethal reactions to mankind's pollutants. Although the Fantastic Four were alerted to the problem, they have not provided any direct assistance. The Moloids were last seen stealing an outdated sewage treatment plant. Last seen: New Warriors vol. 2 #6.

Why Zota has not continued to work with Wladyslav Shinski and Maris Morlak (who both assumed the identity of Crucible) has not been brought up. Last seen: Spider-Man Team-Up #7.

Spider-Man and the Human Torch found a young, dog-like creature in Fantastic Four vol. 3 #9 and brought it back to Pier 4 as a present for Franklin. The puppy appeared to be the progeny of Lockjaw, but the issue was never specifically addressed. When Franklin was sent off to Haven, the dog went with him, but it has not been seen since. Last seen: Fantastic Four vol. 3 #24.

She began mutating further than she could emotionally handle. Her mental capacity became severely diminished and she was coerced into serving with the Wizard's Frightful Four on multiple occassions, but seemed to be taken in by Wyatt Wingfoot in the end. Last seen: Fantastic Four vol. 3 #29.