As Bendis wraps up the first story arc of the series (as well as his run on the title), he offers up the weakest issue thus far... and one of his weaker efforts in recent memory. It's not that the storytelling here is bad. It's fine, really, but it's completely and utterly ordinary. The script is full of personality and pep, but it lacks any convincing sense of emotion, and the super-hero action and plotting is surprisingly ordinary. The artwork is a bit sketchy at times as well, and the exaggerated new look for the villain on the piece is way too over the top.
Reed Richards, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm, newly empowered with fantastic abilities, venture into an underground realm where they find Susan Storm, who has also developed her own set of unique powers. They also come face to face with Dr. Molekevic, the creepy little scientist who once served as one of their instructors at the Baxter Building. Molekevic believes the super-powered teens will help him exact revenge on Johnny and Sue's father for kicking him to the curb, but once it becomes clear that dream of revenge will not come true, he sets his legions of underground minions upon them.
Kubert's art is unfortunately sketchy at times here, and the panel progressions across the two-page spreads can be a bit confusing at times. Still, he handles the action fairly well here; he conveys the Thing's power incredibly well. Kubert's depiction of the Mole Man puts me in mind of Todd McFarlane's Clown character from Spawn. He's so exaggerated and inhuman in appearance that it's difficult to really see him as a character. The Mole Man works best as a tragic figure, but an emphasis on zits and nose hair goes to far in an effort to depict him as a disgusting little troll.
The action here is entertaining, and the overwhelming numbers of the Moloids really does give the impression of a credible threat for the protagonists. I also enjoyed the fact that the heroes' inexperience with their powers is a factor here. Furthermore, Reed's observation that Ben and Johnny take to the notion of physical conflict far more readily than himself or Sue strikes me as an interesting one, as it further separates the two young scientists from their less brainy brethren.
I think what let me down the most about this script is the notion that the heroes adjust to the surreal circumstances in which they find themselves far too easily. Sue's powers emerge far too smoothly by the end of the issue, and none of the young heroes seems all that freaked out. In Ultimate Spider-Man, Bendis did an incredible job of bringing the title character down to earth through his own disbelief and the spectrum of emotions that arise from the discovery of his new powers and strange new life. The same can't be said here. This is lighter fare. The characters are full of energy and enthusiasm, but more grounded emotions are lacking here.
