Villain: Blastaar, Sandman

Guest Appearance: Crystal, Triton

Gadgets & Technology: Cement Gun, Blastaar Power Supression Helmet

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Johnny and Crystal are enjoying a walk through the city when they spot a cavalcade of policemen marching towards Blastaar and Sandman. The policemen deploy a Cement Gun against Sandman, gluing him inside a rock-hard surface. Blastaar frees him with a force blast from his fingers, but soon the Human Torch has arrived on the scene. The Sandman observes Blastaar's rage growing into an intense and maddening fury, so he attacks the Torch with equal ferocity to show he's a match for him.

The Thing shows up to help Johnny against the villains, and their combined attack sends the Sandman running away, but Blastaar is only angered more. He raises his hands to blast at the Thing, but Ben grabs hold of his hands and aims them right back at him. Blastaar is gifted enough at hand-to-hand combat, however, that he flips the Thing over his head, but Ben lands a heavy dose of "Clobberin' Time" on his jaw.

At the Baxter Building, Reed helps rejuvenate Triton in a liquid bath, and then sets his mind to finding a way to defeat Blastaar- a way which will involve the Negative Zone! Sandman returns to the battle, sucking the Thing up inside a giant ball of sand and then rolling down the street towards a city pier, where he sheds his huge cargo into the water below. Disoriented, it takes him a few moments, but the Thing's mighty lungs save him from drowning, and he swims back up to the dock, where an arrogant Sandman assumes victory. Blastaar has made the mistake of tangling with Crystal, who shocks him with a blast of elemental force, and Johnny responds to the attack against his girl with an intense blast of nova flame. But Blastaar is able to suck the energy into himself and threaten to turn it back onto the Torch!

The Thing blasts up under the Sandman at the pier, sending his sand form dissolving into the water of the river. Back at the battle, Reed has shown up with a helmet that he fits onto Blastaar's head, releasing the pressure that builds up inside Blastaar that allows him to deploy his force blasts. This renders his powers inert, and enables them to take him into captivity and return him to where he belongs- the Negative Zone!

--synopsis and panel images by Gormuu