I’ve never been a huge Fantastic Four fan. It is one of
those comics that is made or broken by the storyline, guest-stars, and
villains. So really, Matt Fraction’s take was sort of doomed for me from the
start. By limiting the cast to only the core team (and Franklin and Valeria),
my interest always had a ceiling. Bouncing the team around space in time from
one mad situation to another is certainly in keeping with the tone of the FF,
but again, there isn’t anything to maintain my interest.
The only unifying plot is a big one; something is wrong with
Mr. Fantastic, and his stretching abilities are breaking down, possibly killing
him in the process. That’s a strong motivation, but I’m not exactly worried
that the FF are going to die. I hate to be one of those people that need
violence and angst to maintain my interest, but when I don’t love the
characters, I do need a bit more drama than what this book is currently
delivering.
Fraction has a great take on the whole team, including the
kids. There are numerous moments that as a parent, just feels recognizable and
real. Franklin and Val’s need for their Mom after a nightmare in particular
looked like a glimpse into the Fraction/DeConnick household. It’s quite telling
that the Thing and Human Torch come off wonderfully too. The Torch is perhaps a
bit more stupid than he’s been in recent years, but there is no debating how
funny he is. And the Thing’s tough guy dialogue is cranked to 11, even while he
maintains that sadness that is so central to the Thing’s character.
But Reed Richards and Sue Storm. I just don’t care about
them. How telling is it that my favorite scenes between the two of them are the
flashbacks of their college days? The secret-keeping, the drama, I’ve seen it
between the two of them before. It just isn’t compelling enough.
The art is perfect. Mark Bagley was born to draw the FF. His
take on the power sets, the alternate uniforms, and the Kirby-esque science of
the settings is fantastic. There is a scene where the Thing catches on fire
where he looks awesome, and Bagley’s depiction of the FF tech is fun. But
thinking back, I’m trying to remember how often we’ve seen the whole team
involved in fisticuffs. It has been at least two months since the whole team
had to get involved and get their hands dirty.
I’m reading this book with my daughter, but she now
routinely asks for X-Men instead of this one. (That said, she loves FF!)
Fair
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