Fantastic Four #3 Review

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: Mark Bagley

This has been a very interesting series so far, and I'm happy that it's finally hit a higher gear. Although the last two issues weren't bad they didn't really progress the story much, and could have been squeezed into one issue, so I'm happy that we finally get to see the Fantastic Four's adventures.

Plot

This issue sees the Fantastic Four finally start their adventures, but they find more than they'd bargained for in this one.

Review

This was a brilliant issue, and the best in the series so far. Matt Fraction has really done a tremendous job on this series, and is starting to make me like the Fantastic Four more than ever. I have never really been a huge Fantastic Four fan, but I jumped on Jonathan Hickman's run during the storyline which would feature the death of a Fantastic Four member, and also got some of his work prior to that, and after. Although there were some good stories, the others were average, or bellow, and I almost gave up on them. Fraction has however made Fantastic Four fun again, and I am happy he has finally started telling their adventures, as I was starting to get bored by the end of the previous issue (due to the long build up). I've also loved that Fraction has been able to write the Fantastic Four as a family really well, but I'll talk more about that further on in my review.

I've really enjoyed Mark Bagley artwork over the series so far, and his style of art really suits this series. I've always loved Bagley's art, ever since seeing it in Ultimate Spider-Man, and although I've not bought anything since the combination of his art and Fraction's writing is what made my final decision to at least try this series, and I'm glad I did. I also think that this is the best art he's done so far in the series, as the last couple had the odd panel lack of detail, whereas this issue has little to none, with the few having them in the distance. This issue also showed the amazing, and eccentric looking things that Bagley can draw. I also loved the way Bagley drew the interaction of the Fantastic Four family, as it really expanded on the brilliant writing that Fraction already provided showing that although they're going on adventures that this is still a family, with is probably shown more now than it's ever been.

As I've said a couple of times already I really enjoyed that this issue has shown the Fantastic Four as a family. Although Hickman used Franklin, and Val in his run it showed more of their education, and didn't really show enough of them as kids. It also didn't show enough of them with their parents, and that's what I love about this series, you're reminded that they are still children, and that they add to the family. It was nice seeing them interact with their parents, and that how they fought over who should land on the new planet first. It was also nice to see Reed (Mr. Fantastic) have a bit of fun, as he's been worrying about his Unstable Molecules decaying, and whether the rest of the team have a similar problem.

Who's Going First

I felt really sorry for Ben (Thing) in this issue as he's the only person who has to sit out this adventure (at least most of it). It's bad enough that he's the least human looking out of them, but the fact he can't join in on their fun is another blow to his confidence. He did however get a moment to shine later on in the issue which kind of made up for this, which was nice for the big lump of rock.

WARNING: POSSIBLY SMALL SPOILERS!

This issue could have also been considered a slow issue if it wasn't for the reaction the planet had to the Fantastic Four's presence. The planet appears to have sentinel thoughts, as it attacks the Fantastic Four. This was a terrific sequence, and it gave a brilliant opportunity for Bagley to show of his amazing skill as an artist. It also gave a chance for Ben to get involved in the action, and feel part of the family which was also nice to see. My favourite part was however a line from Sue (Invisible Woman) saying that she expected this journey to be, "less action, more adventure," which really put Reed in his place. I also liked how Reed had to warn Johnny (Human Torch) about flaming on, due to there being no oxygen.

It's a Trap

Final Verdict

This was a great issue, and a really fun, showing ton's of promise for the future of this series. I would highly recommend both this issue, and the other two issues in this series, and am really looking forward to the next issue.

Rating: 4.5/5

Fantastic Four #2 Review

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Mark Bagley

This series had a very good start and I'm starting to really like the Fantastic Four again (as I wasn't a fan on Jonathan Hickman's run). This series looks like it will be a lot of fun but unfortunately this issue is still setting things up.

Plot

This issue sees the Fantastic Four recruit the team that will replace them in case they are gone for more than four minutes.

Review

This was a very good issue but I would have preferred to see the Fantastic Four in action. I appreciate that this issue shows the grouping of the team that will replace them in case something goes wrong, as I don't plan on getting FF, but I'd still rather see them on their adventures. Matt Fraction has however done a tremendous job of writing this issue, and it looks like he's wanting to link his two series perfectly. He also really knows how to write these characters, as he has them all down to a t, whether it's the competitive Thing, or the forgetful Johnny Storm.

The art in this issue was also very good and Mark Bagley has once again done a tremendous job. His artwork is simly amazing, and really suits this series. Bagley also has a brilliant ability of knowing when to make a panel look fun or serious, and I love how you can feel the atmosphere throughout the characters through his art. I also like how he puts ton's of detail in his art, and whether it's drawing the group gathered round, Johnny and Darla facing Dinosaurs, or Ant-Man (Scott Lang) examining Reed Richards' arm, it's always beautiful.

The way that each member of the team was able to choice their replacement was also very nice, and I liked how they got to hang out with their respected replacements also. The funniest one was Thing and She-Hulk, as both characters are very competitive, and whilst lifting weights (in the ton's) they both keep upping the ante. It was also fun to see how She-Hulk reacted when Thing called her a dummy. Thing shouldn't be calling any one a dummy, and especially She-Hulk, as she's a very smart person, being a lawyer. I also thought it was nice seeing She-Hulk in a Fantastic Four comic again as it's not the first time she's been a member of the Fantastic Four, but it has been some time.

Reed Richards' choice of Ant-Man to replace him was also a very smart decision, as they are both very smart characters, and the replacement team needs someone like Ant-Man to lead them. I also liked how Ant-Man was shocked with what he found whilst examining Mr. Fantastic, and how to him it looked, "evil,". I was also happy that it was the Scott Land, Ant-Man that Reed chose as he's not been in much recently and Eric O'Grady, and Hank Pym have had a lot more notice.

Sue Storm's choice of Medusa as her replacement was also very interesting, and I liked how Madusa was perplexed when the children didn't bow to her. It was also nice seeing Madusa back in a Fantastic Four issue as an ally, as she's been around the Fantastic Four with the Inhumans for years, and was actually introduced in the first Fantastic Four ongoing series.

Johnny's choice for his replacement was probably the most interesting overall, as he asked Darla, who he was on a date with last issue to take his place. This was a weird choice cause as far as I'm aware she as no superpowers. This also shows how lazy Johnny is at picking a replacement, and due to him believing that they will be back in four minutes he doesn't see why he should go out of his way. I'm sure FF will give more information on the Darla character, and from what I've read I know she gets a Thing suit, and goes under the name Ms. Thing, but seriously Johnny should have thought of someone better to replace him.

Final Verdict

This was a good issue but I would have preferred to have seen the Fantastic Four on their adventures. I would still recommend this issue, as it was good, and once it kicks into a higher gear I expect this series to be brilliant.

Rating: 4/5

Fantastic Four #1

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Mark Bagley

I have always liked the Fantastic Four but have never been a huge fan. This is probably due to poor stories and films and although there has been some Fantastic Four stories I liked (Mark Millar and J. Michael Straczynski's runs and a couple of Jonathan Hickman's stories) but there have always been some poor stories in between. I was actually not planing on getting this series as besides a couple of stories I didn't like Hickman's run but being a fan of Matt Fraction's work decided to give F4 one more try.

Plot

This issue sees the Fantastic Four return from a trip in time (2.6 Million years ago) and Reed has injured his arm and discovers the Unstable Molecules that cause his powers are breaking apart, and him along with it. As Reed is trying to solve his problem Johnny is on a date with Darla, Thing has a run in with the Yancy Street Gang and Sue is making sure the children are in bed.

Review

This wasn't a bad first issue and although this issue was a bit slow, due to being more of an introduction issue it was, and not Fraction's best start to a series a good start for this series. Fraction does however seem to understand the Fantastic Four characters and their individual characteristics. I also liked that Fraction kept most of the side cast from FF in this series and although a few are missing (Spider-Man most noticeably) he's kept the more important ones.

I have been a fan of Mark Bagley work since he worked on Ultimate Spider-Man and was happy to see he was doing this series. I think Bagley's did a great job on this issue and due to the series fun and silly nature think that his art work suited it perfectly. The detail throughout the issue was brilliant whether it be space, Reed's injured arm or even just Franklin scared in bed and although there was the odd panel which wasn't perfect overall it was still very beautiful work. Paul Mounts colours throughout this issue were also amazing and made Bagley's art look even better than it already was.

Reed's problem with the Unstable Molecules looks like it might be interesting and has potential for a great story line whether that during the current story or later. I would have preferred to have learned more about it this issue as we only really learn about Reed discovering that his are breaking apart in this issue. It will also be interesting to see if any of the other members have similar problems or not and if so how they will react when they find out that Reed already knew.

Johnny's date with Darla in the Negative Zone was very entertaining and very funny. I wont go into detail about the date to avoid spoiling it but thought I'd mention that I though it was the most entertaining out of the (apparently) irrelevant sequence.

I thought the "fight" (not a proper fight) between the Yancy Street Gang and Thing was fun but a bit too silly and more of a filler as I don't think we will see any progression to this any time soon. I also thought that the Yancy Street Gan took Thing down to easily and even though Thing wasn't prepared for a fight and that a lot of the members rushed him that it would have still taken more to knock him down.

I felt really sorry for Franklin this issue as he's a child who's parents go on all these crazy adventures and has only robots and a Dragon for a nanny to comfort him when he has a bad dream. This shows that even though the Fantastic Four are a superhero team going of to save the world most of the time that they still need to think of their children and although both Reed and Sue love their children lots which is shown later in this issue and during the previous series that sometimes whilst they're away that one of their children might need them to make them feel better.

Final Verdict

A good start to the new Fantastic Four series and it looks like this series might be fun. I would recommend buying this issue and am looking forward to reading the next.

Rating: 4/5