Fantastic Four

FF #1

/ / Comics

FF #1With the Fantastic Four heading out a time-traveling trip Reed, the Thing, Sue, and Johnny recruit a temporary team which will need to take their place for an undetermined amount of time between four minutes and indefinitely. Matt Fraction, who is also taking over the duties for the new Fantastic Four series, earns some points right away from me by choosing She-Hulk, one of Marvel Comics most criminally underused characters in recent years, as one quarter of the new team.

Honestly, I’m less exited about the rest of the team which includes Medusa, Ms. Thing, and Scott Lang who is reluctant to watch over a group of super-children while still greiving the loss of his own daughter.

There’s not much to this first issue other than gathering the new team and re-introducing the members of the Future Foundation (including Bentley and Dragon Man), but Matt Fraction and artist Mike Allred have fun simply showing off the various characters. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay with the title (I felt the last series grew tiresome rather quickly), but I’m glad I picked it up. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Fantastic Four #600

/ / Comics

fantastic-four-600-coverThe 50th anniversary issue of the Fantastic Four is a super-sized issue featuring Annihilus and his army attempting to breach the Negative Zone with the help of the Council of Reeds, Galactus preparing for the worst, the Avengers and the Future Foundation banding together to stop an all-out invasion of Earth by the Kree on the orders of the recently resurrected Supreme Intelligence, a telepathic lovers spat between Black Bolt and Medusa, and (surprising absolutely no one) the return of Johnny Storm.

For such a monumental event the comic is certainly packed with pages, but I was a little disappointed how much of the plot was only peripherally connected (or to be honest, all that interesting). Writer Jonathan Hickman is struggling to juggle so many characters and stories perhaps it’s not surprising than some fall flat.

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FF #7

/ / Comics

ff-8-coverAfter a two-issue interlude which derailed the current story arc on the Council of Reeds to focus on Black Bolt‘s whereabouts since his apparent death in War of Kings, writer Jonathan Hickman finally gets back to the story we’ve been waiting for.

Maybe it’s the fact that this issue is two months too late, or the fact that Hickman’s jammed the final battle with far too many characters such as the Reeds, their subordinates, the Inhumans, the High Eveolutionary‘s minions, and the expanded roster of the Future Foundation, but still doesn’t go anywhere new with the story.

There are moments including Sue‘s dialogue with her father-in-law and Valeria‘s escape from her room, but the main battle (including a far too obvious double-cross) feels rushed, messy, and unfocused. We are given a couple of hints that everything Reed thinks he knows about his other selves might be wrong, but here’s yet another issue that’s not really about the Council of Reeds. At least this one does have the Future Foundation in it. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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FF #4

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ff-4-coverAs Reed Richards and Valeria meet with the council Doctor Doom has brought together, the rest of the team separately try to wrap their heads around the situation that’s called for them to invite a handful of their worst enemies into their home.

Spider-Man and the Invisible Woman have a nice scene together where they discuss the situation as she makes sandwiches for the children – without crust. (We also learn that Spider-Man hates mayonnaise – something I can totally agree with.) It’s a nice surprise that the Sue/Spidey relationship is one of the strongest bonds the Web-Head has made on the team even if he has more time fighting alongside with the Thing and more in common with Mr. Fantastic.

All isn’t quiet for long on their front, however, as Spidey, Sue and Alex Power (breaking out the much cooler black versions of the Future Foundation costumes) are called to the Peak of Old Atlantis which is under attack not only the Chordai and Mala, but the Mole Man‘s private army, and a very special guest. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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FF #3

/ / Comics

ff-3-coverThe FF and Doctor Doom team up to take down not one, but four Reed Richards. And they’re also enlisting the help of several of the Fantastic Four’s old foes (including the High Evolutionary, Diablo, the Mad Thinker, and the Wizard) to help.

It seems Valeria made a bad mistake by releasing four Reed Richards from other worlds into our own. And these men haven’t exactly been idle since entering our reality and they’re more than willing to sacrifice our world for their own ends.

Even if this one is mostly backstory fill-in, it’s a solid issue all around and includes some fun moments such as the various villains being summoned to the Baxter Building for an evening with Victor von Doom. Classic.

On the negative side, this is at least the third time I’ve seen the Watcher make an appearance in as many months. That’s far too often, especially here when his appearance isn’t warranted in this issue. Instead it’s used to over-hype the events that may occur in the next few issues. I like the Watcher, but if he starts showing up for every calendar event the entire point of his character is made worthless. Just sayin’. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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