Moloids cause chaos in New York City, enter the Baxter Building, and announce the arrival of their leader, Mole Man, who bursts through the floor and begs for help.
It seems an old city designed by High Evolutionary with a built in “ascension engine” has re-emerged. The city was supposed to evolve its residents at a rapid rate, but instead devolved them–and High Ev abandoned the experiment and buried the city. It seems, though, that the experiment’s survivors now plan to raise it to the surface once again–and they’ve kidnapped all the moloid children to evolve them.
Most of issue #575 shows the team passing through various underground worlds–which is very nice. It is another great example of Jonathan Hickman bringing this book back to its science fiction roots.
Once they reach the city, Thing goes in to rescue the kids and immediately devolves.
Ben does save them (and they now will become regular cast-members).
We’re told in the aftermath of the issue that Ben reverted to his non-develoved state. The city did in fact break through and became known as the “Forever City,” an independent nation within the borders of the United States.
This is technically part of a four-issue arc that introduces the “four cities” that previously were foreseen by Franklin Richards; however, this issue is a self-contained story as well, so it gets its own post.
Shoes for the Ben!
https://i.imgur.com/ULbYw8W.jpg