'FANTASTIC FOUR IN THE NEGATIVE ZONE' - Spec Script (PART 3)

PROLOGUE: “The discovery of an infinite multiverse gave us access to an inhabitable dimension parallel to our own (called the N-Zone) that has revolutionized all space programs, as well as the trucking, postal service, and waste management industries by using the Negative Zone to take shortcuts through the earth. The main antagonists to the construction of a trans-dimensional superhighway are an indigenous species of flying insects called Arthosians, a savage yet intelligent group of hive-minded spacefarring lifeforms. The Gideon Trust mining operation suffered an influx of astronaut fatalities when the alien swarm synchornized an assualt on their station, and humanity's prospects for subspace exploration weren't reopened again until the world's top-ranking scientists assembled a group called Future Foundation to assume control of the Zone.”

PLOT SYNOPSIS: "Fantastic Four in the Negative Zone' follows two airmen, brilliant military scientist Dr. Richards and ace test pilot Ben Grimm, recruited by Central City's aerospace division to clear some debris out of N-Zone trade routes. As the astronaut equivelant of two garbage men, Ben and Reed make a discovery that threatens the entire Air Force operation; a large colony of alien insects are burrowing hive structures into humankind's asteroid-size trash piles left floating in subspace. Before seeing the job through to its end, Reed is asked to join 'Future Foundation' a Manhattan-based think tank where he reunites with his old mentor Frank Storm, fraternizes with Sue and Jon Storm who've grown up since they last met, and forms a rivalry with Storm's new apprentice Viktor von Doom. Their conflict is put aside when Viktor discloses to Reed that an explorer named Harvey Elder is keeping an interdimensional warlord called 'Annihilus' in a cave on Monster Island.

"REED NATHANIEL RICHARDS a former child prodigy with special aptitude in mathematics, physics, and mechanics, he had enrolled in college by the age of 14, having attended such prestigious universities as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Columbia University, and the fictional Empire State University. By the age of 20, he already had several masters degrees in the sciences under his belt. Reed is depicted as one of (if not the) most intelligent character in the Marvel Universe; an inspired machine-smith and a visionary theoretician, he has made breakthroughs in such varied fields as space travel, time travel, extra-dimensional travel, biochemistry, robotics, computers, synthetic polymers, communications, mutations, transportation, holography, energy generation, and spectral analysis. Although Reed's expertise is mainly in physics he also has Ph.D.s in Mathematics, Engineering and holds multiple doctorate level degrees in theoretical and applied physics fields; most of his patented inventions are so invaluable that he's able to bankroll the FF without any undue financial stress."

DR. FRANKLIN STORM: the world-renowned physicist who devoted his life to establishing a think tank and government research lab in Manhattan called Future Foundation. The organization's central hub is based out of his home in The Baxter Building, a 35-story midtown Manhattan skyscraper, where he and his family renovated and occupied the upper five levels to conduct inter-dimensional experiments in a safe environment. However, as the scientific community gained access to an endless multiverse, Dr. Storm grew dissatisfied with how they viewed its practical applications. He began to gather international physics prodigies to the Baxter Labs, where his diverse network of scientists could channel their combined knowledge through young minds at an academic setting, an entire student body was destined to become the next generation of N-Zone scientists. The U.S. military funded the project because his quantum field experiments were so well-documented and largely successful, especially in teleportation.

DR. VIKTOR VON DOOM: the leading authority on robotics and nanotech hails from a small gypsy village just outside of Hassenstadt, Latveria, in the mountains of Eastern Europe. An uncharismatic person who began cracking algorithms as a mathematics prodigy, can now be considered one of the top mortal minds in existence. Viktor began to branch out with a company called BioMAV (Biologically Inspired A.I. for Micro Aerial Vehicles) wherein he developed a Mosquito AR Drone and kept it for himself. Certain members of Latverian royalty were rumored to have poured money into spy drone miniaturisation, Viktor's highly-influential connections and diplomatic immunity have granted him access to enough military hardware to mass-produce these bio-inspired microdrones. Future Foundation however, is more concerned with his secret developement of a self-sustaining, powered body armor. That, combined with his quest for absolute power, which he once described as "an all-consuming passion," makes Viktor von Doom potentially the most dangerous human being on the planet.