Fantastic Four #244 (1982)

Julie Angel is exercising in the apartment she shares with Frankie Raye when there is suddenly a knock at the door. Answering it she finds the Human Torch just barely standing there. Absolutely exhausted, he tells her that Frankie is gone before collapsing in her arms. Julie brings Johnny to the couch and then makes an emergency call to the rest of the Fantastic Four. Not long after, both Reed and Sue arrive at Julie's apartment and she learns that Johnny went missing five days previously after what happened to Frankie. Reed tells Julie that what he is about to tell her is incredible.... Galactus has fallen in battle against the Fantastic Four and the Avengers and is on the very brink of death. However, Reed Richards is unwilling to let anyone -- even the devourer of worlds -- die. After explaining the series of events leading up to this battle to the Avengers, Reed insists that they must save Galactus. While they all discuss the ethics of deciding if Galactus should live or die, they all eventually agree that they need to save him. Reed then sends Iron Man to collect equipment from Stark International that he will need in order to complete this herculean task. Soon Reed builds a massive device around Galactus that will re-energize him. He then commands Thor to unleash the full fury of his hammer Mjolnir. But Galactus is greedy and begins absorbing more and more energy, threatening to drain Mjolnir of all its power. Quickly thinking, Captain America tosses his shield at the device, damaging it enough to sufficiently to stop the flow of energy. Emerging from the ruins of the device is Galactus. Galactus tells the gathered heroes that he must still consume the planet Earth if he is to live. Reed offers another solution and they all head back to the Baxter Building. There, Reed uses his computers to find the location of six worlds that contain the energies that Galactus needs to survive, but without any life existing on them. Galactus notes this, but insists that there is no way to be sure unless the worlds are visited and Galactus cannot do this at his current energy level, not without a herald and so Earth still must be destroyed. Before Galactus can say anything further, Frankie Raye enters the room and offers to be the new herald of Galactus. When Galactus mentions that he has not the energy to expend to grant her powers, Frankie shows that she already has some by flaming on. Galactus finds this acceptable and agrees to make her his herald. When Johnny tries to stop her, the rest of the Fantastic Four holds him back as Frankie is transformed into a being capable of travelling through the depths of space unaided. Johnny calls out to Frankie, who embraces this new form for the freedom it brings and flies off into space. In a panic, Johnny flames on and tries to fly after her, but she flies to high up and the lack of oxygen causes his flame to snuff out and fall out of the sky. When Reed chastises Galactus for choosing the girl, Galactus tells him that she chose her own fate. He then thanks the Fantastic Four for saving his life, having now considered the closest thing to friends that a behind such as himself can get.... ... With the story done, Angel is completely floored by it. Reed and Sue then convince Johnny to come back home with them and thank Julie for her help, leaving her to think over what she has been told. Prologue One: Construction has begun in earnest to rebuild the five floors of the Baxter Building that were destroyed in the Fantastic Four's battle with Terrax, with Reed and Tony Stark overseeing the operation. Arriving by helicopter is Walter Collins, the Fantastic Four's long time landlord. He is furious over the recent damage done to his building and begins making demands. Finally having had enough of Collins' constant threats, Reed decides to take advantage of a clause in their rental contract and buys the entire Baxter Building outright. After seeing the amount on the cheque, Collins walks out without another word. Meeting up with his wife Sue, Reed then places a call to the Latverian embassy to see if they can send the inert body of their former leader Doctor Doom. The Latverian ambassador tells Reed that the FF can bring him on Thursday. However as the ambassador hangs up the phone, Doctor Doom -- or at least someone posing as him -- commends the ambassador for following orders and vows that he will destroy the Fantastic Four. Prologue Two: Reed and Sue are going out for the night and leaving Franklin in the care of Ben and his robot H.U.B.E.R.T. After Franklin's parents leave, Ben begins trying to solve a Rubik's Cube that was sent to him by his longtime tormentors the Yancy Street Gang. Giving up on the toy, Ban hands it over to Franklin to solve. The boy tries his best, but cannot solve the puzzle. Becoming incredibly frustrated, Franklin's powers flare up, solving the puzzle, but also causing H.U.B.E.R.T. to explode as well....