FANTASTIC FOUR #57
"The Ever-Lovin' Blue-Eyed End of the World, Part 1 of 3"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer/Inks: Adam Warren
Pencils: Keron Grant
Inks: Derek Fridolfs
Colors: Liquid! Graphics
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
This story arc is a final fill-in storyline before the new Mark Waid/Mike Wieringo stint on the title begins with the nine-cent 60th issue. I had high hopes for this arc, as it features the work of writer Adam Warren and penciller Keron Grant, the creative team behind the entertaining and inventive Marvel Mangaverse: Fantastic Four one-shot from earlier this year. While they provide a fun, action-oriented romp, this story lacks the edge and imagination of that previous collaboration.
As Reed works on the creation of a short-lived pocket universe, Ben Grimm, AKA the Thing, kicks back after a long night luggin' gizmos 'round ol' Stretcho's lab. He's awakened from a quick nap, though, to discover that his rocky hide is sprouting destructive, angry, quipping versions of himself, whose only purpose is clobberin'. The question remains whether or not the Thing and Reed -- not to mention all of New York -- will survive Ben's odd fatherhood experience.
Grant brings plenty of energy and detail to the art here. His variations on the Thing design are goofy and grotesque all at once; I'm surprised that the same strength isn't to be found in Warren's cover. The colors are a bit too dark at times, though, and therefore weren't in keeping with the light, adventure-oriented quality of the story. Grant's human figures were a little on the inconsistent side, but overall, the art is strong. Mind you, it doesn't boast the same eye-catching strength of the Mangaverse one-shot that saw him tackle the FF in January.
The plot here has a charming, Silver Age quality to it. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but it does open the door to plenty of fun and some further extra-dimensional plot possibilities. Warren also touches on the title team's sense of family ever so briefly, but in sort of a sitcom kind of way. All in all, he offers up some fun, light reading... a pleasant diversion, nothing more, nothing less.
Still, I found I was a bit disappointed, if only because the creators had set the bar much higher in their Mangaverse efforts. Of course, the reason for the divide between that book and this one is clear: with his previous FF story, there were far fewer limits on Warren. He could turn Reed Richards into an ass. He could turn the First Family of Marvel Comics into something a bit edgier and mature, and the more extreme tone of the story made for some more imaginative and detailed sci-fi storytelling.
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