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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This was a collection made up of issues of the new Fantastic Four line and the alternate team under the title FF. It made sense to collect the two lines as they intertwine at this point where the storylines are set up.
The set up of Reed forming an alternative team while the real FF are off travelling in time and space is interesting but is a set up so there's a lot of introduction. The problem is apart from Scott I'm not enamoured with any of the other characters. I love the Human Torch, he's one of my first comic book loves, and I've read a lot of versions of the Human Torch but Johnny is an obnoxious arse in these stories.
Great artwork.
I've got the next collection in the Fantastic Four line to read but as for the FF line I don't know if I'm invested enough in the characters to read this. *sigh* Who am I kidding, this has another version of Johnny Storm in it, of course I'll read it.
The set up of Reed forming an alternative team while the real FF are off travelling in time and space is interesting but is a set up so there's a lot of introduction. The problem is apart from Scott I'm not enamoured with any of the other characters. I love the Human Torch, he's one of my first comic book loves, and I've read a lot of versions of the Human Torch but Johnny is an obnoxious arse in these stories.
Great artwork.
I've got the next collection in the Fantastic Four line to read but as for the FF line I don't know if I'm invested enough in the characters to read this. *sigh* Who am I kidding, this has another version of Johnny Storm in it, of course I'll read it.
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reed Richards is dying and plans an expedition through all of space-time to find a cure with the rest of the Fantastic Four and the two Richards kids. Before they leave, the FF recruit their substitutes; Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and some chick the Torch was boning. The FF is only planning on being gone for four minutes of Earth time. What could go wrong?
Confession time: I have over 100 issues of Fantastic Four scattered in the various comic boxes in the Dan Cave. When I saw Marvel was doing a non-standard Fantastic Four series with Mike Allred doing the art chores, I waited patiently for this very volume to fall into my clutches.
This volume is split into two threads. The iconic Fantastic Four lineup preparing to leave earth for parts unknown, and the subs, Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and Miss Thing. I pretty much only picked up this volume for the second thread.
While the stuff with the iconic lineup is pretty good, I found the storyline of the subs trying to fill the shoes of the real deal to be far more interesting. I love future Human Torch coming back to warn the new team of a menace and the homage to Fantastic Four #1 from way back in 1961 in the form of Mole Man attacking the surface world.
Matt Fraction's storyline is very intriguing but I'd be lying if I didn't say Mike Allred's art is the main reason I was up for it. I've been a fan of his pop art style since Madman and love what he does with the Fantastic Four here.
Even though this volume is short, it stands alone pretty well on its own while leaving enough unanswered questions to get me to read the next one. Four out of five stars.
Confession time: I have over 100 issues of Fantastic Four scattered in the various comic boxes in the Dan Cave. When I saw Marvel was doing a non-standard Fantastic Four series with Mike Allred doing the art chores, I waited patiently for this very volume to fall into my clutches.
This volume is split into two threads. The iconic Fantastic Four lineup preparing to leave earth for parts unknown, and the subs, Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and Miss Thing. I pretty much only picked up this volume for the second thread.
While the stuff with the iconic lineup is pretty good, I found the storyline of the subs trying to fill the shoes of the real deal to be far more interesting. I love future Human Torch coming back to warn the new team of a menace and the homage to Fantastic Four #1 from way back in 1961 in the form of Mole Man attacking the surface world.
Matt Fraction's storyline is very intriguing but I'd be lying if I didn't say Mike Allred's art is the main reason I was up for it. I've been a fan of his pop art style since Madman and love what he does with the Fantastic Four here.
Even though this volume is short, it stands alone pretty well on its own while leaving enough unanswered questions to get me to read the next one. Four out of five stars.
Not even the FF can redeem this book when Reed Richards is a giant dick.
The premise here is pretty great. The Fantastic Four is about to go off into some other universe or some such nonsense, and FOR ONCE they decide that, just in case, they better find some replacements to take their place.
It's almost a running joke. Reed Richards has figured that due to some sci-fi magic-science-drunken-god stuff they should be gone a year, but on Earth it will be only four minutes. But JUST IN CASE something goes wrong, they'd better find replacements.
They keep saying JUST IN CASE and ONLY FOUR MINUTES, but it's almost like the characters already know that something is going to be terribly screwed up. Because why else would you even seek out replacements?
What's confusing is that this collects two different series, Fantastic Four and FF. FF concerns the replacements and what they have going on. Fantastic Four follows the quadro (is that like Duo except four?) we all know and love. Or...at least sort of like.
I have to admit, the FF stories were a lot more interesting. Watching 4 people try and fill those big, flaming, stretchy, sometimes invisible shoes was a lot more interesting than watching the normal characters do it. Fish out of water.
It's almost a running joke. Reed Richards has figured that due to some sci-fi magic-science-drunken-god stuff they should be gone a year, but on Earth it will be only four minutes. But JUST IN CASE something goes wrong, they'd better find replacements.
They keep saying JUST IN CASE and ONLY FOUR MINUTES, but it's almost like the characters already know that something is going to be terribly screwed up. Because why else would you even seek out replacements?
What's confusing is that this collects two different series, Fantastic Four and FF. FF concerns the replacements and what they have going on. Fantastic Four follows the quadro (is that like Duo except four?) we all know and love. Or...at least sort of like.
I have to admit, the FF stories were a lot more interesting. Watching 4 people try and fill those big, flaming, stretchy, sometimes invisible shoes was a lot more interesting than watching the normal characters do it. Fish out of water.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Marvel had a great idea combining the first comic books for both the Fantastic Four and the FF (Future Foundation) in a single Volume, giving us a good overview of everything that is happening in the greatest superhero family.
The Fantastic Four are going away for a year in a space and time faring machine, and given the time travel part of it only 4 minutes will pass on Earth if everything goes as planned. To nobody's surprise nothing goes as planned, so the backup team they left to cover for them for four minutes end up more involved than planned.
I love the focus on family the team has, as well as the fact that the Future Foundation is still a thing - it felt that it would be a short term plot during the whole Johnny Storm death storyline (2011)
The Fantastic Four are going away for a year in a space and time faring machine, and given the time travel part of it only 4 minutes will pass on Earth if everything goes as planned. To nobody's surprise nothing goes as planned, so the backup team they left to cover for them for four minutes end up more involved than planned.
I love the focus on family the team has, as well as the fact that the Future Foundation is still a thing - it felt that it would be a short term plot during the whole Johnny Storm death storyline (2011)
Surprisingly interesting and enjoyable. A clever mix of old familiar characters and new. I've never been an FF fan - but I've been a Franklin Richards fan ever since Power Pack (Lentil Soup my Favorite). Compared to the other dreck I've been reading in the Marvel Now, this has a real plot and a rationale for each character to be there. Sure its goofy but in a good way. With good enough writing and good enough art.
I always hear so much about Fraction and his Iron Man has been the only thing that does it for me. The idea of the Fantastic Four leaving and having replacements is kind of fun, but this just felt all over the place combining the issues of both Fantastic Four and FF. The art styles are so different too. I also don't enjoy most of the characters in FF and the floating alien heads are too silly for me.