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joshbrown's review
5.0
Hickman: "Space-Time"
Me: 5 Stars!
Some truly wonderful sci-fi storytelling that explores really big ideas without losing focus on character. I think what is making me love Hickman so much is that I see a lot of Claremont in his writing. They both have that great balance of making individual issues stand on their own while also weaving storylines over the course of years.
Me: 5 Stars!
Some truly wonderful sci-fi storytelling that explores really big ideas without losing focus on character. I think what is making me love Hickman so much is that I see a lot of Claremont in his writing. They both have that great balance of making individual issues stand on their own while also weaving storylines over the course of years.
mattquann's review
5.0
Jonathan Hickman is a man with plans, big plans. In an industry where plot lines can be introduced without any follow-up, or resolved in unsatisfying fashion, Hickman provides resolution and has far reaching ideas that pay off in spectacular fashion. Though the "Fantastic Four" are presently a somewhat maligned property with their disastrous film and uncertain future in publishing, but this first volume of Hickman's run remains not only a landmark in the characters' history, but essential comic reading for any Marvel fan. There are a few things that make Hickman's FF so enjoyable, but it is largely due to the big, loud, comic-y situations that he cooks up. While there is tons of Kirby crackle on the page, weird creatures, and high concept sci-fi, Hickman never loses sight of the core of the FF: family. Though each character is given a spotlight throughout this first volume, there is an overarching presence of the family unit that guides the characters through their adventures.
This volume's main attraction is the superb arc "Three", which sees the death of one of the FF. This arc brings the proceedings of the earlier stories home to roost in a very, very big way. Pulling from what may seem like a throwaway scene or plot line, Hickman deftly handles complex interacting plots while each of the members of the team deal with big, tense problems. It all leads to a powerful scene in which one of the four fall, providing the climax to the first half of Hickman's epic. This volume also contains the first arc of the Future Foundation. Though it largely keeps what has come before in plot and characterization, this new team has even bigger problems to deal with, and the fallout from "Three" continues to play a huge role. Throughout all the arcs, the art remained consistently good despite rotating artists. Steve Epting comes in for "Three," and while he's typically been associated with noir comics, he excels in his depiction of the crazy antics in which the Fantastic Four find themselves.
Finally, Hickman is a smart dude with big ideas, and it really shows when he gets to handle the Marvel universe's smartest human. The story's structure is smart enough, but the subject matter shows a deep respect for science fiction and Reed finds himself in situations that are plausibly difficult for him. While it takes a while for him to arrive, Dr. Doom and Reed playing off one another is Hickman in full force. This comic is excellent. It revels in Marvel comics lore, it takes full advantage of the opportunities available in a science-adventure comic, and it is a compelling read to boot. If you like your ideas big and you've never taken the dip with a Hickman comic, you should definitely give Hickman's "Fantastic Four" run a try. Now on to volume 2!
This volume's main attraction is the superb arc "Three", which sees the death of one of the FF. This arc brings the proceedings of the earlier stories home to roost in a very, very big way. Pulling from what may seem like a throwaway scene or plot line, Hickman deftly handles complex interacting plots while each of the members of the team deal with big, tense problems. It all leads to a powerful scene in which one of the four fall, providing the climax to the first half of Hickman's epic. This volume also contains the first arc of the Future Foundation. Though it largely keeps what has come before in plot and characterization, this new team has even bigger problems to deal with, and the fallout from "Three" continues to play a huge role. Throughout all the arcs, the art remained consistently good despite rotating artists. Steve Epting comes in for "Three," and while he's typically been associated with noir comics, he excels in his depiction of the crazy antics in which the Fantastic Four find themselves.
Finally, Hickman is a smart dude with big ideas, and it really shows when he gets to handle the Marvel universe's smartest human. The story's structure is smart enough, but the subject matter shows a deep respect for science fiction and Reed finds himself in situations that are plausibly difficult for him. While it takes a while for him to arrive, Dr. Doom and Reed playing off one another is Hickman in full force. This comic is excellent. It revels in Marvel comics lore, it takes full advantage of the opportunities available in a science-adventure comic, and it is a compelling read to boot. If you like your ideas big and you've never taken the dip with a Hickman comic, you should definitely give Hickman's "Fantastic Four" run a try. Now on to volume 2!
nigellicus's review
5.0
Was never that much of a Fantastic Four reader, um, mostly because there were no such things as Fantastic Four comics anywhere near where I grew up. This goes for pretty much all superheroes, now that I think of it. I think I once had an X-Men comic. Anyway, I like Hickman, and this seems like a pretty decent start to what will no doubt be something vast and epic.
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