FF #15 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Nick Dragotta (pencils), Mike Choi (inks), Chris Sotomayor & Guru eFx (colors), and Clayton Cowles (letters)

The Story: Franklin receives guidance from his imaginary friend as the kids race to prepare Sol’s Anvil.

The Review:  Before I get to the real meat of the review, let’s all do a little happy dance that Juan Bobillo has officially departed from the title.  Hurray!

Now that we’re through with that, this is actually a somewhat troubling issue.  It’s certainly not at all poorly written: it’s technically a well-crafted script by Hickman, as you’d expect, with big cosmic hullabaloo combined with little injections of humour.  The problem is that no matter how I think on this issue, I can’t really think of a bona fide reason why it had to be written at all.

Put simply, there’s not a whole lot of significance that occurs here beyond what we already knew from the last issue of Fantastic Four and the new events that we do witness could easily have been assumed to have occurred off panel.  Hell, it even ends on the same cliffhanger splash page (albeit, not as well drawn).  It’s hard to see why this issue had to exist at all either than to give some of the kids a little screen time.  Really, I’m left feeling that this issue is akin to your favorite band putting out a collection of b-sides.  It’s kind of cool as a collectible or an oddity, but it’s not at all a must-have, nor does it stand at the same level or gravity of a full album, ultimately being “for completionists only.”

The weirder thing is that, while this issue doesn’t do much above and beyond what Fantastic Four #603 already rocked our brains with, it also can’t be read without having read that issue.  I can’t imagine FF #15 making a lot of sense at all if you’re not reading Fantastic Four.  In fact, it becomes even more useless.  So ultimately, if you’re reading Fantastic Four, you’re sort of getting an issue narrative “extras” a bit lacking in necessity and substance while, if you’re not reading Fantastic Four, this won’t be of any worth at all.

Fantastic Four #584 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Steve Epting (art), Paul Mounts (colors), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: Ben takes the Future Foundation’s potion and, along with Johnny, enjoys the first day of his week as a normal guy.

What’s Good: Amidst all his huge ideas, it’s easy to forget that Jonathan Hickman is just as good at writing those heartfelt, “little” moments.  His best Fantastic Four issues usually feature a sprinkling of it here and there, but this month, Hickman reminds us of his capabilities in this arena by giving us not a sprinkling, but almost an entire issue’s worth.

If you’re a Ben Grimm fan, it’s hard not to be touched by the events of this month.  Seeing Ben enjoying his life is a genuine treat, as are his contentedness and habitual caution and self-awareness, so suddenly unnecessary.  There’s something deeply satisfying here, all the more if you love Ben and, really, what comics reader doesn’t have at least a small place in their heart for him?  This issue truly cuts to the emotional core of the character and actually gives him something of a small victory.

However, just as much as this issue is about Ben, it’s also about his unique friendship with Johnny, which has always been one of the funnest things about the Fantastic Four.  Hickman shows that he has a firm handle on this relationship, and never has it been clearer how much these two buds care about one another and that for all his bluster and arrogance, Johnny has a soft side for Ben and, for all the jokes, is perhaps more attuned and sympathetic to his friend than any other member of the family.  Johnny’s urging Ben forward and taking him out on the town was quite heart-warming to read and the last destination that Johnny brings Ben to leads to a truly feel-good moment.

All of this goes on to make the cliffhanger all the more startling and possibly the most effective cliffhanger of any book I’ve read this month.  It’s a total 180 in tone and substance and comes out of nowhere.  It’s so sudden, yet so massive, that you might get a chill when you see that last page.

I also adored Hickman’s new take on the Yancy Street Gang.  It’s so ridiculous that I couldn’t help but laugh, as Hickman combines contemporary politics with Silver Age cheese in a way that must be seen to be believed.

Fantastic Four #579 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Neil Edwards (pencils), Andrew Currie (inks), Paul Mounts (colors), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: Tired of self-limitation among the scientific community, Reed looks to prepare the next generation of thinkers.

What’s Good: This is one of those issues of Fantastic Four that demonstrates why the title is perfect for Hickman, linked as it is with ideas he’s had since Transhuman.  That is, specifically, the refusal to accept limitations and glass ceilings and a simultaneously idealist and escapist belief in infinite potential and boundless possibility.

This is laid out in the book’s strongest scene, an extended speech by Reed at a conference scientists, where he condemns them for their inertia and self-limiting.  It’s a beautiful fusion of Romanticism and scientific thought, and a bold, exciting message of hope.  It’s also highly relevant to our world as well, with Reed actually calling out the decision to suspend manned space missions.  Reed’s speech is some of the finest writing I’ve ever read from Hickman particularly because it’s so pertinent to the human condition and contemporary society in its ideas and sentiment.  It’s also, of course, perfect for the Heroic Age.  Simply put, the sky is the limit but, in Reed’s eyes, we’ve stopped looking up.

This idea of “no limits” extends to a conversation between Reed and the Wizard.  The Wizard is wonderfully written by Hickman, stark raving mad and spewing just barely incomprehensible pseudo-science babble.  Reed’s explanation for his reasons behind taking in the Wizard’s clone is very well linked to the speech with which he opened the issue, almost as though Reed is putting his own words into practice.  He will raise the boy in order to prove that there are no limits to human potential; genetics, destiny, and predestination are bunk in the face of a nurturing environment.