Fantastic Four #600
by William Hood
Story by: Jonathan Hickman
Art by: Steve Epting, Carmine di Giandomenico, Ming Doyle, Leinil Francis Yu and Farel Dalrymple
Covers by: Gabriele Dell'Otto, Joe Quesada, John Romita Jr and Arthur Adams
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $7.99
Cover Date: November 23, 2011
The 50th anniversary issue of the Fantastic Four!
We all knew it was coming, as a matter of fact if I may indulge a bit, I CALLED IT! I TOLD EVERYONE THAT WOULD LISTEN THAT FF WOULD GIVE WAY TO FANTASTIC FOUR BY ISSUE 12/600 and we would have a big anniversary issue with the return of Johnny Storm. Should I have put "spoiler alert" there? Maybe? I don't know, Marvel sort of spoiled that little plot thread in all of their own solicits over the past months, but, yeah, Human Torch IS back, I'll get back to him in a minute.
This month we begin the 5-part conclusion to the story that began over some issues ago...25? 30? I don't really know, but this has been coming for some time.
The story is really rather grand, with the end of the world at the hands of a Kree invasion, an insurgence from the Negative Zone, the resurrected Supremor, and a newly focused Inhumans, and the multiple Reeds. All trained on Earth for one reason or another.
Coming from the events that have transpired in FF over the past year and continuing seamlessly from FF 11 in particular, Fantastic Four 600 covers all the bases and admirably brings everyone up to date on the various crises and what has been going on without feeling forced.
The FF, the Avengers, and a multitude of other heroes fight to defend Earth from the invasion, and actually use a brilliant bit of comic book science in the usage of Iron Man's armor and Invisible Womans force shields.
In the course of the main battle, we see Negative Zone nasties in the Baxter Building attacking Alex Power, Leech, Franklin, Val, and the others, with the Panic Floor experiment that had been threading through the pages of FF come to fruition, as the kids are shunted out of danger and Reed sees the top portion of the building disappear and sends Spider-Man to check things out.
Fighting through Negative Zone creeps, the portal opens and Spider-Man is greeted by Johnny Storm, complete with new duds, and a strangely armored arm. Torchs first reaction to making it home? He asks Spidey what he's wearing. That made me smile.
The Kree/Ronan/Crystal thread and the Inhumans thread is here, as well as a nice bit with a Reed alternate. There is also a really good sequence showing just what Alicia means to Ben, even in the middle of an invasion, but the main story and the invasion and return of Human Torch is truly the center of attention.
Comic folks are used to death and rebirth, with Phoenix, Superman, Batman, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Bucky, Captain America, and a host of others. It's a cheap gimmick to boost sales and garner attention, with some lame explanation as to why they aren't dead anymore.
Usually.
This return didn't feel like that at all, as the back up feature demonstrated that Johnny was never dead...well, he wasn't allowed TO die. Spending time as a gladiator of sorts and hostage to Annihilus, Johnny would die inn occasion, or experience deadly wounds and be revived over and over again by...well, by worms. I know, yuck, right? He befriends a group of prisoners and fashions a way out, and back home. This explains why a.) he is still alive and b.) it took so long to get back home.
Bearing in mind that we never saw a body when Johnny sacrificed himself, and the way this story picks up immediately after that sacrifice...it fits, it works, and it works very, very well.
Welcome back, matchstick.
Additionally, we have more back up stories that tie things together nicely, and set up potential future storylines. Leinil Yu has a nice run at Galactus picking up on some things that were previously laid out, showing Galactus monitoring of Earth and his possible successor. It's crafty and intricate, and beautifully rendered, never expected less from this creative team.
Also, there is a nice back up to the Kree Invasion, the Ronan/Crystal arc and the overall plight of the Inhumans, good stuff, but more background to the main story and doesn't really stand on its own like the Johnny, Galactus or Franklin back up.
Franklin? He's just a kid, right? Yeah, but an uber-powerful kid who is getting help from some mysterious stranger using and expanding his newly re-established abilities.
I can't say enough good about this creative team. Hickman guides a handful of artists through the world of the FF/ Fantastic Four and the artists, even with very diverse styles, do not disappoint.
It looks like the Fantastic Four and the FF will run simultaneously, like all the Bat titles, the Avengers and others.
I think I'll follow both. I think you should too.
William Hood is Creative Director for Dream In Color Entertainment. He can be reached at wjh1170@gmail.com
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