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FANTASTIC FOUR: 1234 #3
"3: Darkness and the Mole Man"
Recommended (8/10)
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Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights imprint
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Jae Lee
Colors: Jose Villarrubia
Letters: Comicraft
Editors: Nanci Dakesian & Stuart Moore
Price: $2.99 US/$4.50 CAN |
Morrison's tribute to the
Fantastic Four continues, and this time out the focus is on the Human Torch.
Well, sort of. It seems that this is the character Morrison had the least to say
about, because this is really a continuation of last issue's Sue Storm/Namor
interaction, as well as the more overt introduction of Doom's plot and a couple
of other old Fantastic foes. Basically, this issue breaks from the "one
character-one issue" formula and starts putting the whole thing together, as
Lee's artwork helps to give the sense of a building climax as well. Driving
rain, massive destruction and a conglomeration of foes all come together as Doom
goes to confront Richards for the last time. This is a classic Fantastic Four
story done up in unusual modern style, and the result is one of the strongest
Fantastic Four stories I've read in ages.
There are two ways to come at the Fantastic
Four. You can explore the mad explorer ideals of the team or the family
dynamics. I'd have expected Morrison to focus on the former, but instead he has
given us a solid and perceptive look at the latter. This is not subtle
characterization, mind you. Johnny as hothead, Sue as conflicted lover, Reed as
the thinker and Ben as the indomitable protector pretty much describes it. This
is an archetypal version of these characters, exploring their essence with an
almost two-dimensional level of focus. But because of Morrison's unusual way
with words and Lee and Villarrubia's incredible way with pictures, the book
feels ultramodern rather than retro.
Lee's work here is beautiful as always. His
visions of Doom and the Mole Man are suitably monstrous, and the depiction of
the rain pouring down on the city is incredibly oppressive and powerful. The
physical storm of nature rolling in just as Doom's own storm of personality
comes to New York makes for some really nice symmetry, and Lee gives us a nice
look at a tortured and broken world that reflects the psyche of the Four and the
dark tone of the story.
Morrison has really shown us the Fantastic
Four at their worst, their most base of instincts driving them. While Ben
struggles with his self-pity (his biggest weakness) and Sue with her attraction
for Namor, Doom is triumphant and the Mole Man and Namor are both enjoying
victories of their own. However, Morrison also holds out hope in the midst of
all this, with Namor doing his usual turnaround from noble villain to noble hero
and Ben's determination outweighing his pity. More to the point, there are
moments, such as a depowered Torch still rising to battle for Alicia, that show
the heroic spirits of these characters unbroken.
The most sublime of these moments comes at
the close of the issue, with a simple line from Reed Richards that speaks
volumes. Next issue is the final issue of the series, and the conclusion of this
confrontation between the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom. I expect it to be
suitably pyrotechnic and imaginative, in words and pictures, and I would think
it will satisfy fans of Morrison and the Fantastic Four alike.
Email Randy Lander comments about this review. |
