REDUCTA-CRAFT
Classification: Terrestrial technology
Creator: Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards)
User/Possessors: Fantastic Four (Ant-Man/Scott Lang, Human Torch/Johnny Storm, Invisible Woman/Susan Richards, Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards, She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters, Thing/Ben Grimm)
First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#75 (June, 1968)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Reducta-Craft is designed to shrink itself and its occupants in size, and can use this function to enter the Microverse. It can fit four people inside, and can fly in earthly and alien environments.
History:
(Fantastic Four I#75 (fb) - BTS) - At some point
following the Fantastic Four's first battle with the Psycho-Man
(@ Fantastic Four Annual I#5), Mr. Fantastic built the
Reducta-Craft, in the event that the team ever had to face the
microscopic menace again.
(Fantastic Four I#75) - When the Silver Surfer fled to the Microverse in order to avoid Galactus, Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Thing learned that he would have to be retrieved in order to save the Earth. Mr. Fantastic unveiled the Reducta-Craft in order to pursue the Surfer.
(Fantastic Four I#76) - Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Thing shrunk the Reducta-Craft down to size, and entered a slide on Reed's microscope in order to pick up the Silver Surfer's trail. They found the Silver Surfer within the Microverse and pursued him in the Reducta-Craft, finally abandoning it in order to confront him face-to-face. When the Surfer bested them, they returned to the Reducta-Craft to follow him, but they were attacked by the Murder Machine, a robot sent by the Psycho-Man. After the defeat of the Murder Machine, the three heroes departed in the Reducta-Craft to set after the Psycho-Man.
(Fantastic Four I#77 - BTS) - The three heroes returned to Earth without the Reducta-Craft, but presumably retrieved it behind-the-scenes (...or else they just abandoned the original, and Reed later built another).
(Micronauts I#15) - After the Psycho-Man broke into Reed's Submolecular Studies Lab and stole a suit of his armor which had been left in the FF's custody, Mr. Fantastic, the Thing and the Invisible Girl used the Reducta-Craft to enter the Microverse and investigate his actions.
(Micronauts I#16) - When the three heroes caught up to the Psycho-Man, they found the Micronauts already battling him, and joined forces with them. They were later joined by the Human Torch, who had used the Prometheus Pit in order to enter the Microverse.
(Micronauts I#17) - After Psycho-Man's defeat, the Thing, Invisible Girl and Mr. Fantastic returned home aboard the Reducta-Craft, while the Human Torch again used the Prometheus Pit.
(Micronauts I#40) - When the Micronauts became stranded on Earth, they went to the Baxter Building to use the Reducta-Craft in order to return to the Microverse. However, an army of Antrons had been sent by Prince Argon to destroy the vehicle, and despite the efforts of the Micronauts, Franklin Richards and the Thing, the creatures devoured the Reducta-Craft.
(Fantastic Four I#282) - In order to pursue the Psycho-Man after he had tormented the Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic rebuilt the Reducta-Craft from memory at Avengers Mansion; afterwards, he, She-Hulk, the Human Torch and Invisible Girl journeyed into the Microverse with it, then set after the Psycho-Man on foot.
(Fantastic Four I#284 - BTS) - The Fantastic Four presumably recovered the Reducta-Craft in order to return to Earth.
(Fantastic Four Unlimited#8 (fb) - BTS) - With the destruction of Four Freedoms Plaza, the Black Panther (T'Challa) assisted in rebuilding the equipment the Fantastic Four lost -- including a new model of the Reducta-Craft.
(Fantastic Four Unlimited#8) - The Human Torch, the Invisible Woman, and the Thing, along with Ant-Man (Lang) used the new Reducta-Craft in search of the missing Reed Richards. Their quest took them to the Microverse, where they once again encountered Pearla and fought the Psycho-Man. Afterwards, the heroes used the Reducta-Craft to return home.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.
The Reducta-Craft is called the "Reducto-Craft" in Fantastic Four I#282.
It should be noted that the
Microverse is not actually a tiny realm existing within atoms and
molecules as once thought. Rather it is a different dimension that is
accessed via the energies of shrinking beyond a certain point.
--Snood
Thanks to John Kaminski for including the Fantastic Four Unlimited appearance with image. Thanks to Ron Fredricks for a few additional images.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Reducta-Craft should not be
confused with:
images: (without ads)
Fantastic Four I#282, p16, pan1 (Reducta-Craft (side view); Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic, She-Hulk, Human Torch (background))
Fantastic Four I#76, p13, p2 (original Reducta-Craft traveling in Microverse)
Fantastic Four I#282, p17, pan2 (activated Reducta-Craft begins to shrink)
Fantastic Four Unlimited#8, p6, p1 (rebuilt Reducta-Craft; Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Thing, Ant-Man)
Fantastic Four Unlimited#8, p8, pan2 (rebuilt Reducta-Craft traveling to Microverse)
Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#75-76 (June-July, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks)
Micronauts I#15-17 (March-May, 1980) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Howard Chaykin (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks/editor)
Micronauts I#40 (April, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Gil Kane (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Fantastic Four I#282 (September, 1985) - John Byrne (writer/pencils), Jerry Ordway (inks), Michael Carlin (editor)
Fantastic Four Unlimited#8 (December, 1994) - Tom Brevoort & Mike Kanterovich (writers), Dante Bastianoni (pencils), Ralph Cabrera (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
First Posted: 06/05/2005
Last updated: 05/26/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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