BOB
& CAROL LANDERS
Real
Name: Bob
Landers, Carol Landers
Identity/Class: Normal humans
Occupation: Farmers
Group
Membership: None
Affiliations: Aquarian
(Wundarr), Dr. Crawford,
the Fantastic Four (Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Invisible Girl (Sue
Richards),
Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), Thing (Ben Grimm)), Willie Lumpkin, Jeanine
O’Connell,
Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Franklin Richards
Enemies: Dragon
Man, Namor the Sub-Mariner
Known
Relatives: Each other
(they were married to
one another)
Aliases: None
Base
of Operations: Their farm
in rural Pennsylvania,
USA
First
Appearance: Fantastic
Four I#134 (May, 1973)
Powers/Abilities: Bob and
Carol Landers had no
superhuman powers but were skilled farmers and were familiar with the
use of
various farm equipment. Carol was a skilled horse rider and Bob was
very brave.
History:
(Fantastic Four
I#134) – During a time in which Sue Richards
had left her husband Reed, she visited the Pennsylvania farm of her
childhood
friend Carol, and her husband Bob. While Carol and Sue enjoyed
horseback
riding, Bob Landers watched Sue’s son Franklin. When Bob commented
about how
Franklin had been sitting and staring at an anthill, watching the ants
go in a
circle as if being directed to do so, Sue asked Bob if she thought
anything was
wrong with Franklin. As Bob was commenting that Franklin just seem to
enjoy
nature, the android Dragon Man erupted from the ground and attempted to
capture
Franklin. Dragon Man soon managed to grab up Sue and Franklin despite
them
being encased in one of Sue’s invisible force fields and as the android
began
to fly away, Bob leapt onto Dragon Man, grabbing the android’s leg and
yelling
for Carol to phone Reed Richards. Dragon Man easily swatted Bob to the
ground
and continued to fly off with Sue and Franklin. Shortly thereafter,
Carol
phoned Reed, who marched off to save Sue, leaving the rest of the
Fantastic
Four behind with no explanation as to where he was going.
(Fantastic
Four I#139 – BTS) –
Following Sue and Franklin’s rescue at the hands of the Fantastic Four,
Sue and
Franklin returned to Bob and Carol’s Pennsylvania farm.
(Fantastic
Four I#139) – While at
the Landers farm, Sue was shocked to see Franklin scream and yell as if
mad.
Terrified, Sue called for Carol, who came running, thinking that
perhaps one of
the Landers’ horses had hurt Franklin. Carol quickly asked Sue if she
could
send Bob after Doctor Crawford but Sue opted against it when Franklin
soon
calmed down and fell asleep.
(Fantastic
Four I#140) – The following
day, Sue prepared to return home with Franklin after the fit he had
suffered
the day prior. When Sue attempted to contact the other Fantastic Four
members
via her car’s video screen, she found that it did not work and began
having
doubts about whether Reed had cut off communication with her. Carol
reminded
Sue that despite their recent differences, she knew that Reed still
loved Sue
and that Sue loved Reed. Bob commented that perhaps it was time for Sue
to
return home and Sue mentioned that she did not have much of a choice
after
Franklin’s fit. Carol then asked Sue if Franklin’s fit was the only
reason she
was returning home, to which Sue replied she did not know.
(Fantastic
Four I#142) – After Reed
used a device on Franklin to quell his budding mutant powers, Sue and
Franklin
left Reed once again, returning to Bob and Carol’s farm. Surprised to
see Sue
back already, Carol asked what had happened and a teary-eyed Sue
explained the
whole situation while Bob and Carol comforted her.
(Fantastic
Four I#143) – As Sue
remained by the comatose Franklin’s bedside, Carol came in and
explained that
while Sue was recovering from a recent shock, she could not stay in
Pennsylvania forever. Sue explained that she realized that but after
what Reed
had done to Franklin, she did not feel there was anyone she could trust.
(Fantastic
Four I#147 (fb)) – Bob
and Carol disagreed with Sue’s decision to send divorce papers to Reed,
prompting Sue to lock herself in her room at the Landers farm. Shortly
thereafter
hearing arguing voices coming from Sue’s room, the Landers busted their
way
into the room in time to see Namor the Sub-Mariner holding an
unconscious Sue. Before
they could react, Namor flew out of the window with Sue.
(Fantastic
Four I#147) – Human Torch
and the Thing burst into Bob and Carol’s country home, demanding to
know where
Sue was. Bob revealed to the two heroes that Sue was not there, having
been
kidnapped by Namor. Carol informed Thing and the Human
Torch of
the recent events involving Namor. Human Torch quickly asked about
Franklin and
Bob explained that Franklin had simply vanished. Carol then burst into
tears,
blaming herself for not being with Sue and stopping Namor. Bob
comforted Carol,
telling her that the Human Torch and Thing would find her. The Human Torch and
the
Thing then left to find Sue.
(Marvel
Two-in-One I#74) – Bob and
Carol Landers were invited to the Fantastic Four’s Christmas party at
the
Baxter Building, where they mingled with many of the guests there.
Comments: Created by Gerry
Conway, John Buscema
and Joe Sinnott.
Bob
and Carol were not identified
at the Christmas party in Marvel Two-in-One I#74 but one party-goer
seemed to
definitely be Carol Landers and there is a man at the party that could
be Bob,
although he appeared to be sharing a drink with a black-haired woman
who was
not Carol. Perhaps he was just mingling?
Bob
and Carol’s hair started out
with Bob having short light brown hair and Carol having short dark
brown hair
but by their later appearances, Bob’s hair had become dark brown and
Carol had
long, light brown hair.
Profile
by Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Bob and Carol Landers
have no known connections to
- any other "Bob," “Carol,” or
"Landers" characters
images: (without ads)
Fantastic Four I#134, p8, pan5 (Bob & Carol Landers, main image)
Fantastic Four I#147, p10, pan5 (Bob & Carol Landers, headshots)
Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#134 (May, 1973) – Gerry Conway (writer), John Buscema,
Joe
Sinnott (art), Roy Thomas (editor)
Fantastic Four I#139 (October, 1973) – Gerry Conway (writer), John
Buscema, Joe
Sinnott (art), Roy Thomas (editor)
Fantastic Four I#140 (November, 1973) – Gerry Conway (writer), John
Buscema
(pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Fantastic Four I#142 (January, 1974) – Gerry Conway (writer), Rich
Buckler
(pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Fantastic Four I#143 (February, 1974) – Gerry Conway (writer), Rich
Buckler
(pencils), Frank Giacoia (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Fantastic Four I#147 (June, 1974) – Gerry Conway (writer), Rich Buckler
(pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Marvel Two-in-One I#74 (April, 1981) – Mark Gruenwald (writer), Frank
Springer
(pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Last
updated: 11/20/13
Any
Additions/Corrections? please
let me know.
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