by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Neil Edwards (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Paul Mounts (colors), and Rus Wooton (letters)
The Story: The Great Hunt concludes and the older Val and Franklin try to save/create reality and the future.
What’s Good: One of the things that I love about comics, or serial publications in general, is that now and then, you’ll be reading an issue and the thought will flash through your head, clear as day, as much a thought as a feeling. It usually sounds something like this: “goddamn, I love this book.”
That’s pretty much how I felt about Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four last month, and that’s how I feel this month as well. Though this month’s issue isn’t quite as strong as last month’s, it’s still a triumph of Hickman’s imagination.
The Great Hunt is awesome concept and the fight between Nathaniels is really well-done, as is the montage showing evil Nathaniel’s elimination of the other Nathaniels. Hickman’s narration of this sequence is really strong, and in one page, it manages to build up this evil Nathaniel into something truly horrifying.
The fight itself is great if only because it shows glimmers of what Reed, Doom, and Ben will become. Reed’s humanity is highlighted, while young Doom is an absolute joy under Hickman’s hand. The character is so ridiculously bombastic and arrogant that it’s impossible not to love the guy. Hickman has the character’s voice completely down to a science, and I cannot wait to see him write the “real” Victor von Doom.
This issue is interestingly divided into two distinct halves, with the other being devoted to the trials of the future, older Val and Franklin. Though a more complex read, it’s enjoyable on a different level, mostly due to the strong characterization of Franklin and Val. Franklin appears at times to be truly god-like, while his bond with Val is really touching. This leads to a truly magnificent ending for the issue, one that touches upon this sibling bond, making clear their love for each other without beating us over the head or coming across saccharine. It’s a really affecting moment of sacrifice that also once again focuses on Hickman’s idea behind Fantastic Four, that being an ethos that rejects limitations and impossibilities.
While I’m thrilled to have Steve Epting aboard next month, Neil Edwards has really found his stride over the last couple of issues. His depiction of the battle with Nathaniel is fiery, dynamic, and downright exciting and his depictions of Franklin’s powers and mind-bendingly apocalyptic events is pretty impressive.
What’s Not So Good: Unfortunately, those apocalyptic events fall into the “I think I sort of get it but not really” category that Hickman’s work often falls into. The phenomenon Hickman tries to describe is a bit confusing and convoluted and while there’s enough for me to think I’ve grasped it, I can’t say with any confidence that I fully and completely understood what he was getting at. Readers of SHIELD will probably know very well what I’m talking about. It’s that same mystifying sense of really enjoying the creativity of what you’re seeing described, but not being entirely sure of your full comprehension.
Also, while Neil Edwards’ work is great, he does say goodbye with a couple of his awkward faces and some odd figure work. It’s better than previous months, but I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t at all present.
Conclusion: Despite a little head-scratching, this remains one of the best books Marvel is putting out. Read it!
Grade: B+
-Alex Evans
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Conclusion