By Mark Millar (Writer), Bryan Hitch (Pencils and Inks), Andrew Currie (Inks), Paul Mounts (Colors)
Have I mentioned how much I love Mark Millar’s Fantastic Four? Millar strips the FF right to the core: the Four are not superheroes, never have been. Sure, they do heroic stuff when the need arises, but they function as a family first, and as a group of explorers and “imaginauts” second. In this issue, Millar continues his trend of showing how the lives both “ordinary and extraordinary” of the Four intersect and affect each other.
As Ben goes on a double date with his new girlfriend, Debbie (to the premier concert of Johnny’s band, no less), we see that Johnny’s usual luck continues and it’s all bad. Lightwave, the father of Psionics, the super-villainess that Johnny recently dumped, encounters his daughter’s ex-boyfriend, and saying that he is less than happy would be an understatement. As the two fight (and eventually Lightwave’s teammates join him), penciller Bryan Hitch delivers some of his best action scenes yet. While Hitch is an extremely talented artist, his last few fight scenes have seemed slightly muddled with flying debris and it was therefore difficult to discern exactly what was happening. This is not the case here – the brutal destruction of the surroundings is crystal clear.
We also get a very brief focus on Reed, just long enough for Millar to remind us how cool he is. In this case, he demonstrates Reed exercising most of his brain to concentrate on one problem, while using his subconscious to focus on another. Sue, on the other hand, has a rather mysterious meeting with Alyssa, in which it is revealed that the “Earth Trust” group (the creators of Nu-World), may not have the best of intentions. (Ha! I knew there was something sinister about that organization!) Still, Alyssa herself seems to be acting suspiciously. Forget Skrulls, this situation in and of itself has me wondering “who do you trust?” Especially because I think the Earth Trust is somehow connected to these “New Defenders” who have captured Doom.
And speaking of a captured Doom, if you thought last issue’s big reveal of who is leading this new team was shocking, wait until you see who else they have captured. While this ending surely has me wondering just what the crap is going on, I’m loving every minute of this confusion. Seriously, why are you still reading this review and not the actual issue already? (Grade: A)
-M. Staples
Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews Tagged: | Andrew Currie, Bryan Hitch, Comic Book Reviews, comic books, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four #559, Mark Millar, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Paul Mounts
[...] Comic Books: What’s the Story within the Story Saved by oldschoolundertaker on Mon 29-12-2008 Fantastic Four #559 – Review Saved by lilwesd on Wed 17-12-2008 Comic Books: Straczynski’s Spider-Man Saved by zjb3165 on [...]
Didn’t really dwell on the “leukemia patients” thing as I read it, but that’s the whole thing that I couldn’t put my finger on. Millar just doesn’t get these characters.
During my read, I’m like “okay Johnny’s late goofing off”, but after reading Marcus’ line above, he’s got it. In the Stan and Jack run, or Byrne’s run, Johnny may have been a goof, but he wouldn’t be banging centerfolds and doing the leukemia thing. Millar should just go back to appealing to the Lowest Common Denominator on Kick Ass.
[...] My review can be found here. [...]
Everyone has their own definitions of what each comic book series should be about. Joe Quesada argued that Spider-Man has always been about youth, and used that as the reason to “de-marry” him. I’ve always felt Spider-Man is about responsibility, and I still miss the “Spider-Marriage.” I’m not professing to be a Fantastic Four expert (and I certainly am not). But this, to me, feels like what a Fantastic Four story should feel like. There may be plenty of people who disagree with me and my opinion, and they are perfectly entitled to that, but I can’t express anyone’s opinion but my own. I liked it for the reasons stated above, and this space is exactly for what you guys have used it for: to agree or disagree with the review. Even if I don’t agree with you, I’m glad to have your opinions to have “the other side of the equation.” Keep it up!
Thanks!
-M. Staples
Feeling marcus on this. I came on board as soon as they started their run, but have slowly been thinking to jump ship now. I just don’t think millar as keyed in on the four (hitch still looks pretty nice) and especially with this last one I come away feeling as it being too quick a read not enough content in the issues. Not really that happy with too much millar is doing right now to tell the truth.
It baffles me that anyone who seems to “get” the FF (as you seem to) could enjoy any of this bastardized crap Millar is churning out. In this issue alone, he has taken a huge dump on the character of Johnny Storm, who is reduced to LYING about visiting LEUKEMIA PATIENTS for God’s sake. Is that supposed to be funny or show what an A #1 jerk Johnny’s suddenly become? Nevermind the now-amoral Johnny looking the other way so he can get laid by a VILLAIN. Millar hasn’t the first clue how to write these characters. His first issue featured Ben Grimm sex-talking a school teacher IN FRONT OF HER STUDENTS. So out of character it’s absurd. And then there was that all-time low point for the book a few months ago, with Ben Grimm pleading for his life on the cover: “Please don’t kill us, Cap!”
He may as well have been pleading with Mark Millar.
Jack Kirby is SPINNING in his grave. If Hitch weren’t illustrating his crap, Millar’s star would not shine nearly so bright.