retro-the-best....: [New post] The end of the Fantastic Four is almost here

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

[New post] The end of the Fantastic Four is almost here

The end of the Fantastic Four is almost here

dailypop | January 12, 2011 at 3:37 pm | Tags: fantastic four three hickman | Categories: Fantastic Four | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-2fi

The founding family of the Marvel Universe, the Fantastic Four could be responsible for the company's success in its mission to modernize the superhero genre. By introducing 'heroes with problems,' they added a layer to the adventure comic allowing the main cast of characters to be more than just a square-jawed hero outwitting evil masterminds.

Over the course of its long print run, members have come and go with Mister Fantastic dying at one point, being replaced by Ant Man only to return again. Ben Grimm also died during Mark Waid's run on the comic only to be brought back to life by God as played by Jack Kirby. Just last year Millar and Hitch released a story entitles 'The Death of the Invisible Woman' with somewhat less than impressive results. In fact the only team member to not face death's domain is Johnny Storm, the Human Torch.

Everyone has a favorite adaptation of the Fantastic Four, be it the original Stan and Jack, Roy Thomas and John Buscema or the legendary John Byrne era, but the comic has also had long periods of soul-searching for a direction. Regaled for his series the Nightly News, Jonathan Hickman has made the Fantastic Four an outrageously entertaining read, both funny, exciting and brilliant all at once. If you have missed out on Hickman's run and are enraged to read that this stranger is killing off a member of the Fantastic Four, it is well worth your nickles to buy up a few trade paperbacks and catch up in time for the big event.

In previous issues, the team has discovered a new mutated race of the Mole Man's Moloids, a hidden pocket of Atlanteans,

The current story line titled 'Three' has connected the various plot points that Hickman and co. have crafted over their run. Sue Storm has arranged for a peace meeting between Namor and the 'lost' Atlanteans, Johnny and a de-powered Ben are battling a siege of monsters from the Negative Zone while Reed is attempting to save an entire planet's population from Galactus' devouring revenge. The latest issue is a remarkable three-way cliffhanger that looks bad for all.

In February, issue 588 will hit the stands clad in a sealed black plastic bag so that no one will know the identity of the doomed team member until the bag is opened. The following month, expect a new series simply called FF starring the surviving members.