Warren Ellis's second story arc continues in the same vein as the first, celebrating the, ahem, fantastic nature of the premise and characters by examining their powers from a realistic point of view. This is a strong, accessible issue, boasting dramtic tension and some comic relief. Of course, the strength of Ellis's writing doesn't come as a surprise. What did surprise was the polished look of Adam Kubert's line art. In the past, Kubert's work has boasted a sketchy look, and that often suited the stories he was telling. Here, the heavy sci-fi riff calls for a sleeker, cleaner look, and Kubert's collaboration with John Dell seems to have achieved just that.
Unable to get Doom to reveal the coding changes he made that resulted in their physical transformations during the first N-Zone experiment, Reed Richards continues to study the dimensional transportation between Earth and the N-Zone. Only by studying the N-Zone can he hope to discover the answers he needs to restore himself and Ben Grimm to normalcy. Meanwhile, Ben laments his lot in life, while Johnny Storm revels in his new powers and status as a super-hero... even though he might be placing his health at risk as a result.
Dave Stewart's colors play a key role in the energy and magic of this super-hero title. The computer effects and dazzling colors he brings to the mix really reinforce the sense of wonder that's such an integral part of the Fantastic Four concept. Kubert and Dell's meticulous depiction of the Thing makes the idea of a walking rock pile work, and the floating, morphing invention Reed Richards unveils in this issue is weird and wondrous and, well, cool. Kubert's depiction of Reed in the blast room really makes the explosion gag work as well.
The Ultimate version of Susan Storm is perhaps the best improvement over the original concept. She and Reed are equals. She is just as brilliant as he is, just in different fields of science. The Thing may be able to toss a bus like a football, but Susan is definitely the strongest character in the core cast.
What I find most fascinating about Ellis's Fantastic Four is his exploration of how their powers work. He makes the impossible seem plausible. Here, he delves into how a Human Torch could produce flame and remain unhurt, and I love the explanation. The notion that Johnny Storm is literally burning body fat -- even to the point of compromising his system -- is brilliant, and it brings these god-like characters down to a level on which the reader can relate to them a little better. 9/10
