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A review by jekutree
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus, Vol. 2 by Jonathan Hickman
5.0
Hickman finishes his seminal Fantastic Four run in a, well, fantastic fashion.
The first of this book has him wrapping up his run with Forever, an epic arc that is the culmination of everything that came before. The scale of this book is unlike anything else I've read in a marvel book before (Nothing beats Final Crisis), but this is my first marvel Hickman run. That being said, I am more than satisfied with this run. Hickman nails the characterization of every character and even makes me forget I'm reading a Marvel book. The way he writes this book is like it's a bunch of scientists trying to save the world and some of them happen to have some crazy powers. For the most part in this run, Reed doesn't really use his powers and that's ok. Speaking of Reed, he really really shines in this run. Hickman fleshes Reed Richards out more than any writer before him and I cannot see any writer topping his version of Reed. He also nails the family dynamics of all the characters, especially between Reed and his kids. Valeria and Franklin shine brighter in this run than any other FF story, they're the central piece that makes this whole story work and Hickman approaching writing them from that angle is awesome. Putting emphasis on Valeria, Franklin and the future of the FF is really fitting.
Hickman makes Reed and the whole Fantastic Four by extension feel like the most important people in the Marvel Universe. He does it so seamlessly and organically that when the President chooses the FF over the Avengers to solve a problem, you don't even bat an eye. As a massive fan of Marvel's first family this makes me really happy.
The narrative of this run is so well planned it's ridiculous, every issue matters and every issue comes into the forefront and is addressed. All the ends are wrapped up and the run ends in such an optimistic and hopeful way you can't help but smile.
In my review of the first omnibus, I said Hickman is the on;y writer to really make the FF feel modern. I stand by that statement and this volume makes that statement all the more true. The FF feel serious and important and it doesn't feel forced at all. Hickman cares about these characters and crafts a story that makes these characters important. Hickman's run stands as the defining modern take on The Fantastic Four and it's really no contest. It deserves to stand next to Kirby's run as the best run on Marvel's First Family.
10/10
The first of this book has him wrapping up his run with Forever, an epic arc that is the culmination of everything that came before. The scale of this book is unlike anything else I've read in a marvel book before (Nothing beats Final Crisis), but this is my first marvel Hickman run. That being said, I am more than satisfied with this run. Hickman nails the characterization of every character and even makes me forget I'm reading a Marvel book. The way he writes this book is like it's a bunch of scientists trying to save the world and some of them happen to have some crazy powers. For the most part in this run, Reed doesn't really use his powers and that's ok. Speaking of Reed, he really really shines in this run. Hickman fleshes Reed Richards out more than any writer before him and I cannot see any writer topping his version of Reed. He also nails the family dynamics of all the characters, especially between Reed and his kids. Valeria and Franklin shine brighter in this run than any other FF story, they're the central piece that makes this whole story work and Hickman approaching writing them from that angle is awesome. Putting emphasis on Valeria, Franklin and the future of the FF is really fitting.
Hickman makes Reed and the whole Fantastic Four by extension feel like the most important people in the Marvel Universe. He does it so seamlessly and organically that when the President chooses the FF over the Avengers to solve a problem, you don't even bat an eye. As a massive fan of Marvel's first family this makes me really happy.
The narrative of this run is so well planned it's ridiculous, every issue matters and every issue comes into the forefront and is addressed. All the ends are wrapped up and the run ends in such an optimistic and hopeful way you can't help but smile.
In my review of the first omnibus, I said Hickman is the on;y writer to really make the FF feel modern. I stand by that statement and this volume makes that statement all the more true. The FF feel serious and important and it doesn't feel forced at all. Hickman cares about these characters and crafts a story that makes these characters important. Hickman's run stands as the defining modern take on The Fantastic Four and it's really no contest. It deserves to stand next to Kirby's run as the best run on Marvel's First Family.
10/10