“Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it!” The FF replaces Ben Grimm with Power Man, as the Thing is now powerless. The Wrecker wreaks havoc, and Ben decides to prove himself to his old team. But does he have what it takes without his powers?

Last issue the Thing turned back into Ben Grimm and, this time, the change seems permanent. Reed Ricahrds hires Luke Cage, "Hero for Hire", as a replacement for the Thing since he has to do so legally : the charter of Fantastic Four Inc. says that they have to have permanently four super-beings. On the other hand Johnny Storm asks for a leave of absence for an inderteminate period but Reed refuses. Ben Grimm does not fare well either, he is not used to have lost his celebrity and does not accept that he has no longer any power and is just a normal human being. Things get even worse when he learns that nobody wants him anywhere, not even the journalists on TV and that Luke Cage is being paid to be part of the Fantastic Four. They are all interrupted by an alarm : the Wrecker is attacking one of the bank where there is one of the FF safety deposit box ! The five of them go stop him and it starts to go wrong when Ben attacks the Wrecker, is stunned and the Wrecker threatens to kill him if the FF do not leave now. Reed and Luke Cage manages to beat him and to save Ben, who is upset by the events and leave, complaining he is worthless.

Notes

• Features the Hostess Cup Cakes ad, Spider-Man And The Cupcake Caper
• Power Man (Luke Cage) fills in for the powerless Ben Grimm in The Fantastic Four until issue #170.