10 Brutal Times The Fantastic Four Lost
6. Doom Sends Franklin Richards To Hell - Fantastic Four #500 (2003)
Tired of tasting defeat by the Fantastic Four's hand, Doctor Doom vowed to destroy the quartet of heroes using a different strategy - magic. By mastering the dark arts, the masked menace summoned a horde of demons to kidnap Reed and Sue's son, Franklin Richards, and banish him to Hell.
After the Fantastic Four rescued Franklin, Reed cast Doom into the infernal dimension, hoping he would be rid of his mortal enemy forever. Just as the portal to Hell closed, Doom blasted Reed's face, leaving him horrifically scarred. Because of Reed's malleable skin, he knew that no technology or medical treatment on Earth was able to heal his wounds.
But that wasn't even the worst part. Despite the fact Franklin suffered no physical harm while in Hell, he was left traumatised by the experience. He was so rattled, he believed he was still trapped there even after being rescued. When Ben and Sue took him to a carnival to cheer him up, Franklin became hysterical, certain that demons were closing in on him. Doctor Doom may have been imprisoned in Hell but this moment is still regarded as one of his greatest triumphs over the Fantastic Four.